DES MOINES, Iowa — People looking to try high-end restaurants across the metro have a way to sample items from multiple without breaking the bank.

Des Moines Restaurant Week features 37 restaurants in downtown and across the metro. The event started Aug. 15 and ends on Sunday, Aug. 24.

Restaurant week is designed to give people a chance to experience exclusive menu items from participating restaurants. Many include multi-course meals with 2-3 different options for each course. Meal prices start at $15 for lunch and $40 for dinner.

George Formaro is the chef-owner of Centro in downtown Des Moines and said his restaurant comes up with a theme each year, and this one is extra special to him.

“Here we’re doing coastal seafood,” Formaro said. “They (chefs) actually made this fantastic spaghetti that reminded me of something my mom used to make. So it’s this, you know, cooked spaghetti dish – its cheesy, buttery, it’s fantastic. So, you know, anytime they make anything that reminds me and my mom, I always give that an extra… heart tug there.”

To see a full list of participating restaurants and their menus for the last day of restaurant week, click here.