"Great Plates of Downtown" is set to bring 48 restaurants in Fort Collins into the limelight for two weeks in March of 2023. Here's 10 that you must check out.

The event, into its 18th year, helps to raise funds for the Food Bank for Larimer County; over the nearly 20 years of its existence, they've raised over one million dollars. In 2022 alone, Great Plates raised nearly $135,000 for the food bank. Wil you be helping in 2023?

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Great Plates is a great way to get out and enjoy some great food in Downtown Fort Collins, while helping the community. If you're unfamiliar with how it works: Between March 1 and March 14 of 2023, participating restaurants feature menu items for $25 or $2.50. These are really great deals, so the idea is that you'll take some of the money that you've saved and donate that to the Food Bank for Larimer County.

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For 2023, 48 restaurants will be involved with Great Plates; dining at all of them would be very dauting. How about a "guide" as to why you should take advantage of ten of the restaurants deals? These might be suggestions based on the money-saved, the "historical value" of said restaurant, or the "fun' of the deal. One of these deals is all of those, wrapped into one.

10 SUGGESTIONS FOR THE 2023 GREAT PLATES OF DOWNTOWN'

  • WALRUS ICE CREAM

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Walrus Ice Cream is not the only "treat" or dessert that will be available for Great Plates 2023, but this one dates back over 45 years. Walrus will be featuring hand-made ice cream sandwiches for only $2.50. Have you ever had one? Yum.

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  • RIO GRANDE MEXICAN RESTAURANT

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Fort Collins dining out history would not be complete without mentioning The Rio. With Great Plates 2023, you'll have a great reason to get in there and see how they look after having remodeled because of a fire. The Rio will be featuring a delicious 3-course dinner for two (including Chicken and Texas Sausage fajitas) for $25.

  • BEAU JO'S COLORADO STYLE PIZZA

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With Beau Jo's you'll not only find Fort Collins history, but Colorado history as well. Having been establish in Idaho Springs, Beau Jo's is celebrating its 60th year in 2023. The one in Fort Collins, now at LaPorte and College, has three things you may not know about it, yet. Beau Jo's $25 Great Plates deal features a 2-course dinner for 2 with salads and a 2-pound pizza pie with two toppings.

RELATED: WILL NEW MEXICAN RESTAURANT IN LOVELAND SUCCEED IN 'CURSED' LOCATION?

  • SONNY LUBICK STEAKHOUSE

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Sonny Lubick is the beloved former Head Coach of the CSU Rams Football team. Sonny was Head Coach from 1993-2007, winning the hearts of college football fans, and the Fort Collins community. The field at Canvas Stadium is name after him for good reasons. Also, this spot used to be home to a very popular restaurant before Sonny took it over: Catacombs. You'll find a lot of history at Sonny's while you enjoy their $25 Great Plates deal: A 3-course dinner for one that includes a 7 oz. slow-roasted prime rib.

  • FoCo CAFE

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Fort Collins' FoCo Cafe fits right into the "helping the community" side of Great Plates 2023. The cafe is the first non-profit restaurant in Fort Collins, where people pay "what they can." Instead of a cash register, they have a donation box. If you "Have less" pay less. If you "Have more," think about paying more. You can also work at the cafe to earn a free meal. FoCo Cafe will be offering a $25 2-course lunch for one during Great Plates 2023, featuring Mongolian Ground Beef and Noodles with a honey sesame puff pastry.

  • JAY'S BISTRO

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Jay's Bistro has been in Downtown Fort Collis for decades. Our radio stations had several Christmas parties at Jay's back in the day when Jay was still the owner. Currently owned by two men who love Fort Collins and love Jay's. it's a vey stylish restaurant, and you'll be able to really get in there and enjoy it with their $25 Great Plates feature: A 2-course dinner for one, with wine. You'll have wide options for your course two, and of course, wine.

  • RODIZIO GRILL

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Rodizio Grill's deal for Great Plates is always popular, because you are (generally) saving a lot and getting a lot of food. For $25 you'll get their large salad bar; you can definitely fill yourself up with that. They're also letting you upgrade to the full menu for just another $10- still a good deal compared to everyday pricing.

  • CHOICE CITY BUTCHER AND DELI

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It seems like there is always the rumor of the very cool Choice City Butcher and Deli closing or being sold, so getting in and grabbing their Great Plates deal would be a wise idea, as they approach 20 years in Downtown. Their deal is a simple and tasty dinner for two: Two burgers and two of their 19th anniversary beers.

  • COOPERSMITH'S

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Another of the long-standing restaurants/pubs in Downtown Fort Collins is Coopersmith's. It was years ago, that Coopersmith's took over what was a Comedy Works across the alley, and turned it into Coopersmith's Poolside. Poolside recently shuttered, but the pub lives on and is offering another wonderful $25 Great Plates feature: A one-course dinner for two, with five different entrée options for two people to choose from, including a New York Strip Steak, Bangers and Mash and their Black Bean Burger.

  • SILVER GRILL CAFE

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Yes, yes, yes. How could a Great Plates of Downtown take place without the famous and wildly popular Silver Grill Cafe? This year, Silver Grill has two $25 options for Great Plates: Option one includes one of their famous cinnamon rolls and two meals. The second option really catches the eye: Build-Your-Own Mimosa with a liter of orange juice and a bottle of champagne. Tough call on which one to get, right? Why not get them both?

Again, these are 10 of the 48 restaurants participating in Great Plates of Downtown March 1-14, 2023.

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