Restaurant Week is a boom to participating restaurants but that doesn’t mean its the only deal in town. Here are some restaurants that either by geography or choice are not included in the official Center City District Restaurant Week but are still offering deals.

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Snackbar is celebrating its third anniversary with a special 3-course dinner for $30. The deal is offered from Sunday January 24th through the 29th. Everything on the menu is fair game including the potato pierogies with chive crème fraîche and caviar that is among Philadelphia Magazine’s “239 Best Dishes” article. Check out the full menu after the jump.

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Checking out Twitter feeds we see a couple of interesting menu items tonight. Oyster House has fried Ipswich clams back on the menu and Snackbar has a new dessert, soft pretzel bread pudding with pretzel praline and fleur de sel creme anglaise.

Craig LaBan looks back on the year that was in Philadelphia’s thriving dining scene and along the way he makes some adjustments to earlier grades.

Five restaurants were revisited with two getting bumps and one an unceremonious demotion.

• Meme went from two to three bells.
• Alison two went up from one bell to two.
• El Camino Real didn’t fare any better in its re-review, the Tex/Mex bar remains at one bell.
• LaBan had another “see-saw meal” at Noble: American Cookery and the stylish space sticks with one bell.
• Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House got slammed even harder in its December inspection and LaBan dropped the steakhouse to the dreaded No Bells.

What 2009 put on our tables [Philadelphia Inquirer]

When we walked by the outdoor seating in front of Snackbar on Saturday afternoon we snapped the above photograph and posted it to Twitter, admiring Snackbar’s optimism. Snackbar then tweeted that they were willing to offer a free 5-course tasting menu to anyone brave enough to sit outside to enjoy it. Low and behold about 24 people took Snackbar up on the offer and enjoyed apple-turnip soup, foie gras, duck confit and more.

Snackbar on Ice [TwitPic]
The b-b-b-blue plate special [The Insider]

Craig LaBan wrote a piece for the Inquirer’s I Magazine listing restaurants where you can dine fireside. He also used the opportunity to bump up Snackbar from two to three bells.

After a few years of noodling with avant-garde small-plate preciousness, Snackbar has lowered prices into the neighborhood-friendly range and finally nailed the happy medium between innovation and accessibility – for which it earns a third bell. Rising-star chef John Taus (ex-Zahav, James, Tangerine, Bliss) has a knack for stunning updates to familiar comforts, whether it’s popcorn tossed in brown butter and fleur de sel, killer pierogies with chive cream and caviar, a croquette of crispy pig trotters and chanterelles over jalapeno grits, or a schmaltz-infused pastry round of chicken pot pie with a smear of creamy sage gravy on the side.

LaBan isn’t the only praising Snackbar, SipsBitesandSites tips us off to the delicious sounding deconstructed chicken pot pie that you have to know about to order, as it isn’t on the regular menu.

Blazing Good Eats [Phillly.com]
Weekly Bites: Snackbar [SipsBitesandSites]
Snackbar [Official Site]

Snackbar has been getting lots of good write-ups recently. Try out their happy hour menu where food and drink is between $5 and $7 between 5 and 7pm.

Craig LaBan says that Rittenhouse Square’s Snackbar has finally struck the right cord and its harmony is best exemplified in the chicken pot pie deconstructed.

Good Taste [Philadelphia Inquirer]
Snackbar [Official Site]

Adam Erace enjoys the details as he eats and relaxes at Snackbar.

As a former sous chef at Zahav, 27-year-old Taus brings a clear culinary focus that has eluded snackbar. The menu feels very American, very loose and likeable, with a collection of plates that are neither small nor large. Taus’ food is suited to grazing, but fortunately the servers don’t get all mathematical about your order. Start slow and order more when you get hungry again, seems to be the practice here, echoed by Makar, who says he actually encourages staff not to turn tables.

Eyes on the Guise [Philadelphia Weekly]
Snackbar [Official Site]

Build your own Restaurant Week with Grub Street’s prix fixe picks for every day of the week. [Grub Street]

Snackbar has added a special food and drink menu between 5 and 7 with all items between $5 and$7.

Derek’s is celebrating 18 years in Manayunk with a 3-course meal for just $18. The bargain has been extended through August. [The Latest Dish]

Illadelph does its own deal dump just on $1 oysters. Oyster House, Union Trust and Pub & Kitchen are all offering bargain bivalves. [The Illadelph]

With a name like Miel Patisserie, you might not expect a great deal. But that’s just what you’ll get at the 17th Street spot. $5.35 for a sandwich, water and dessert bar. [Meal Ticket]

The $24 “Appetite Stimulus” lunch at Lacroix features 3-courses including a Gouda burger with double-smoked bacon plus fries topped with truffle oil, Parmesan and shallots. [Restaurant Club]

Want to try new Liberties Walk restaurant Sonata? Hit up any store on the walk for a 10% off coupon. [Meal Ticket]

There are lobster specials at Bridget Foy’s through mid-August including a $29 lobster boil featuring a 1 1/4 pound lobster, chorizo, mussels, corn and potatoes. [Meal Ticket]