The restaurant business has taken a hard hit, with the recession claiming newcomers as well as veteran venues, so hopes are high this fall for Dine Out Lauderdale.

Restaurateurs are counting on customers to take advantage of the $35 prix-fixe, three-course meals at some of Broward's priciest dining spots -- many of them places where you could normally spend $30 on an entree alone.

In its third year, the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau program runs Thursday through Nov. 12 and features 37 restaurants from Pompano Beach to Hollywood.

``It's like a double-helping of dessert,'' said Nikki Grossman, the bureau's president. ``It gives the higher-end restaurant, really the ones feeling the economic pinch more than any other restaurant, an introduction to the marketplace and it gives the discriminating diner the opportunity to afford top-shelf restaurants at the most affordable price you're ever going to find.''

More haute hot spots have jumped on the Dine Out bandwagon this year, including Johnny V, The Capital Grille, Bin 595 and Ruth's Chris Steak House.

``Sales have affected us like everyone else in the industry,'' said Joel Padin, general manager of Ruth's Chris in Fort Lauderdale, where Dine Out entree choices include salmon, braised short ribs and a six-ounce filet with grilled shrimp. ``We've been running a $39.95 special and that helped traffic, so we expect this to do so as well.''

You can also get a taste of Fort Lauderdale newcomers Truluck's, da Campo Osteria, Bova Prime, E Spot Restaurant & Bar and the downtown branch of Morton's The Steakhouse.

Dine Out Lauderdale, Broward's answer to Miami Spice, also brings back popular participants such as China Grill, Ireland's Steakhouse, Cero, Mai-Kai, 3030 Ocean and Chima.

Despite the program's name, it covers much of Broward County. In Pompano Beach, Café Maxx presents a generous four-course menu, with entrée choices of petite three-peppercorn filet mignon, double lamb chops, sweet onion-crusted snapper, jumbo shrimp scampi or breast of chicken Milanese.

Le Bistro in Lighthouse Point takes it a step further, offering four courses plus a finale of ``ever-changing cheeses'' served with a shot of port. The Le Bistro menu, offering lamb osso bucco, beef tenderloin, paella or snapper, is available every day but Monday. Most participants offer the Dine Out promotion Sunday to Thursday.

Mai-Kai throws in its Polynesian Islander Revue Sunday and Tuesday-Friday along with its three-course Cantonese-American meal. (Yes, you can get the pupu platter, big enough for two.)

If you're looking for a view, consider China Grill, Grille 66, Charley's Crab or 15th Street Fisheries on the Intracoastal or oceanfront Cero, Ilios and Trina. There's also vegan Sublime with its ``caviar,'' piccata and chocolate Nirvana.

To find the best deals, study the menus on the program's website. Be sure to read the fine print, as deals vary. Some restaurants make daily or weekly menu changes, so it's worth calling to check.

Be sure to mind your Dine Out manners: Don't ask for special preparations or substitutions. And if service is good, tip extra, as if you're paying full price. For their part, servers should offer the Dine Out menu without making you hunt for it.

Keep in mind that some restaurants are not offering a Dine Out menu during Boat Show Week, Oct. 29-Nov. 2.

Says Catherine Cumings, general manager of Il Lugano, home to Todd English's da Campo Osteria: ``We hope people will try the restaurant and come back.''

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