Denver Restaurant Week got off to a divinely delish start Saturday night with anecdotal results that tickled many a taste bud. The fourth annual discount dining week - which offers three-course meals at $52.80 for two or $26.40 for one at nearly 200 metro-area eateries - earned a big fork's up from diners and restaurateurs I talked to over the weekend.

Rich Grant, the Visit Denver mouthpiece and DRW spokesmodel, said many delighted diners Twittered their experiences from the restaurants. "Web site visits at denverrestaurantweek.com were up 42 percent in January 2009 compared to January 2008," the giddy Grant said.

One caveat: The menu you see on the DRW Web site isn't necessarily the menu you will see at the restaurant. Every eatery reserves the right to switch things up, depending on product availability and chef's choice.

Here are a few noshing notes from the weekend:

* The Palm - Had 600 reservations on the books Saturday night for the opening night of DRW. The steak palace inside the Tabor Center is known for its typical steakhouse high prices, so folks flocked to try out the meal deal.

* Luca D'Italia - Owner Frank Bonanno flew between Mizuna, Bones and Luca - all nestled close together at Seventh Avenue and Grant Street - to check on his sold-out restaurants. Mr. On the Town had dinner Saturday night at Luca and gave it an excellent review.

* Table 6 - The neighborhood eatery at Sixth and Corona hummed along Sunday night with near-perfect service and menu choices. I tried the bibb lettuce salad (huge) and the mahi-mahi entree (best mahi I've ever had).

* Rioja - Local notable chef-owner Jen Jasinski dished out 10 fewer dinners Saturday than on Valentine's Day, a night that's typically the busiest for restaurants.

No reservations? Go to denverrestaurantweek.com. If you're flexible about dining time, you still may be able to nail down a reservation at a top eatery. If your preferred place is "fully committed," check the Web site for the 140-plus eateries that have signed up to extend the special-price menu through March 6 or 7.

On my plate? Rioja on Larimer Square Monday night; Oceanaire at Arapahoe and 14th Street on Thursday. Add your DRW comments to my blog: blogs.rockymountainnews.com /penny_parker_on_the_town/.

BEERY VICTORY: Cody Christman, a Golden electrical engineer, took home the title of Beerdrinker of the Year during competition Saturday at the Wynkoop Brewing Co. Christman is the first Coloradan to earn the title, which entitles him to beer for life at the Wynkoop. See the video at beer taptv.com.

THE SEEN: Honduran President Manuel Zelaya and delegation dining on buffalo and sipping Buffalo Bill cocktails at the Buckhorn Exchange Sunday night. They were in town to tour the National Renewable Energy Lab in Golden on Monday.

Kathryn Adams, mother of Oscar nominee and Castle Rock native Amy Adams, at the Denver Film Society's Party With Oscar on Sunday at the Starz Film Center. Also, seen at the scene was the Oscar statuette that Denver's Donna Dewey won for best documentary in 1997 and loaned to the Denver Film Society for the event.

EAVESDROPPING on a woman following Party With Oscar, where spilled wine, beer bottles, sopping-wet napkins, plates and food littered the theater floor: "Geez, this place looks like a scene out of Slumdog Millionaire."

Penny Parker's column appears Tuesday through Saturday. Listen to her on the Caplis and Silverman radio show between 4 and 5 p.m. Fridays on KHOW-AM (630). Call her at 303-954-5224 or e-mail parkerp@RockyMountainNews.com.