Restaurant Week: Our Picks in the South End

It's the most wonderful time of the year. To live in the South End. 

Boston Restaurant Week is back for the summer, and runs from Aug. 19-24 and Aug. 26-31. From a trendy meal in Back Bay to a classic dining experience in the North End, it's the perfect time to experience a restaurant you've never been to before, and explore the many culinary options Boston has to offer. You can follow RestoWeekBoston on Twitter for the latest news, recommendations and peeks at local menus.

And of course the price is right:

• 3 Course Dinner for $33.12
• 3 Course Lunch for $20.12
• 2 Course Lunch for $15.12

With more than 200 restaurants to choose from, and sixteen participating restaurants in the South End, there's something for everybody. You can search by neighborhood at RestaurantWeekBoston.com. But to make it easy, here's some of our favorites in South End:

• - (569 Tremot St.) A South End staple, you can't call yourself a fan of French food in Boston without having Aquitaine high on your list. The cuisine mixes traditional french flavors with modern twists, the decor is romantic, and the flavors are perfect. You'll be extremely tempted to stray from the Restaurant Week menu, but the Crispy Blue Crab Beignets with Hazelnut Tomato Romesco and the Seared Merlu with Provençal Mussel stew and Saffron Rouille sound fantastique. 

•  - (541 Tremont St.) With a large Restaurant Week menu, you can't go wrong at the Beehive. Where else could you try a Grilled Octopus Salad or Truffled Potato & Cheese Pierogies? And if you haven't yet experienced one of their bubbly cocktails like the Persian Kitty or the Beelini, add it to your list. 

• - (647 Tremont St.) Although the best time of the week to go is probably for their Pajama Brunch on Sundays, you're also in for a treat to try this trendy spot for lunch or dinner. Andy’s 1st Place Ribs (wicked good sauce, jalapeño mac ‘n’ cheese, bacony collards) sounds like something that can't be missed. 

•  - (1166 Washington St.) Oshii hasn't yet posted its Restaurant Week menu, but you can bet as the only Asian restaurant in the South End participating this summer, it's not going to disappoint. Try to find something you don't like on their extremely modern menu, which includes various steak, lobster, and of course - fish - entrees. And if all that hasn't sold you, it won Best of Boston this year for Best Sushi. 

•  - (1704 Washington St.) What's not to love about tapas? You get to pick up to 10 tapas for a party of four, and with the options at Toro, it's going to be hard to choose. The Pato con Membrillo (Smoked duck drumettes with quince glaze) or the Costilla de Buey (Kabayaki glazed beef short ribs with chilled farro, cucumbers, radish and hazelnuts) will have you wishing the plates weren't so small. And don't forget to try the house special, Maiz Asado, (grilled corn topped with alioli, lime, pepper and aged cheese).

Readers, where else do you recommend? Tell us in the comments.