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Dish

When it comes to food-related events in Richmond there's one that outranks them all. I'm speaking, of course, of Restaurant Week . The granddaddy of food events in which Richmonders get to eat their way through the city's finest restaurants for a discounted price.

It happens every October and, to most Richmonders, the week-long event is far too short.

However, the current word on the street is that a second Restaurant Week may be in the works. Aline Reitzer , co-owner of Acacia restaurant and mastermind behind the original Restaurant Week, says a late winter/early spring Restaurant Week may happen in 2009.

"We have talked about it. It's not going to happen this year, but probably next year. We're still going to do the one in October and we'll probably try to add another one in January, February, March [2009] timeframe," Reitzer said.

Reitzer considered starting a second Restaurant Week this year, but (as reported in a previous " Dish ") with the search, closing and remodeling of Acacia's new Cary Street location, she's been a little short on time.

It took more than a year for Aline and her husband, Acacia chef Dale Reitzer , to secure the new location. They wanted to find a building they could buy instead of rent and the new space almost doubles their square footage. The Reitzers hope to have the new Acacia open in early June.

"We're not trying to change who we are or what we've done for 10 years. We're just in a new space," Aline said. "A comfortable modern feel is what we're going for. The menu will be a little bit larger. We felt like the stairs and the space of the building really limited our customers. We're really trying to be a lot more approachable in this space."

The new space will be decorated in earth tones with environmentally-friendly fabrics, bathrooms and products. The restaurant will have an open kitchen, private dining room, bar, lounge space, a dining room that seats 90 and a large window in front that the couple hopes to be able open to make up for the lack of a patio.

Of course, now that the weather is finally nice again (fingers crossed it'll stay that way) patio dining is all the rage. Last week's " Eat Beat " gave diners a guide to all the patio spots around town, but as early as this weekend, Richmond could have one more.

Carytown's New York Deli (2920 W. Cary St., 804-358-3354) has added a backyard patio just off the dining room. Construction is almost complete and it should be up and operational for patio dining no later than next week. The space has a New York street theme and will eventually boast its own bar and genuine New York street lamps.

And the West End's newest sushi spot, Umi Sushi Bistro (11645 W. Broad St., 804-360-2077) , not only has a fantastic little patio, but a sleek, cozy dining room as well. The place has been open about a month, but the early word is that it's already as good as its sister restaurant Ichiban (10490 Ridgefield Pkwy., 804-750-2380). You can check out the full menu for both restaurants by clicking on the name.

Church Hill residents should rejoice as they're about to get a new restaurant, too. Patrick Henry Grill and Pub will be opening in the space formerly occupied by Acapella. Nothing's been released with regard to an opening date or menu, but check back with "Dish" and we'll keep you posted.

Finally, Six Burner (1627 W. Main. St, 804-353-4060) has a few events coming up. On Monday, April 14 they're hosting a wine class from 5:30 to 7 p.m. featuring five American northwest wines. Appetizers will be served along with the wine. The cost is $25 per person.

And on Thursday, April 17, Six Burner is hosting a benefit dinner for The Virginia Home , a nonprofit treatment and rehabilitation center for severely injured and impaired individuals. Sixty-five percent of the proceeds from the four-course prix fixe meal will go to The Virginia House. The menu is cold pea soup, roasted skate with eggplant raisin puree and olive tapenade, leg of lamb with roasted garlic mashed potatoes and red wine sauce and banana tapioca pudding with chocolate and hazelnut mousse and banana cake. The dinner is from 5 to 9:30 p.m.; call 804-353-4060 for reservations.