We know what you’re thinking, Is it worth it? You slave over the menus posted on CenterCity.org, ask foodie friends for recommendations, refresh Open Table every five minutes hoping for a rez before 10 p.m. And, chances are, you’ll still wind up with yet another tale of a lackluster Restaurant Week experience.

Well, this time we’ve done the work for you. Here are our picks for the five can’t-miss deals, and the five places worth passing up. (UPDATE: Restaurant Week is now Restaurant Weeks — many participating restaurants are offering their special menus through February 6th. See the full list here.)

CAN’T MISS

Mercato: Restaurant Week participants should take a cue from Mercato, which serves its complete regular menu but at the $35 price point. Plus, at a BYO you won’t rack up your check with expensive cocktails.

Tinto: Two firsts, two seconds (all straight off Tinto’s regular tapas menu) and your choice between two of the restaurant’s signature desserts.

Le Bec-Fin/Le Bar Lyonnais: True, the Restaurant Week menu offered at both
Le Bec-Fin and Le Bar Lyonnais downstairs bears little resemblance to the
restaurants’ usual offerings, but you’ll still dine on a three-course
sampling from one of the city’s finest — and most expensive — kitchens at a
drastically reduced price.

Zahav: The daily selection of eight salads, two mezze plates, one of the signature kebabs grilled over hot coals, dessert, and the only time you’ll eat a full meal at Zahav for under $35.

Fork: $35 for the opportunity to feast on one of chef Thien Ngo last meals before Terence Feury takes over as executive chef, priceless.

SKIP IT

El Vez: Order one of the can’t-miss guacamoles (not featured on El Vez’s Restaurant Week menu) and signature margaritas and you’ve already tacked on an additional $20 to your check.

Smith & Wollensky: While tempting in their larger-than-life prices, steakhouses are notoriously stingy with their Restaurant Week options. Like the city’s other participating steak joints (e.g., Ruth’s Chris), Smith & Wollenksy offers diners just one steak option — in this case, as in the others, the cheaper cuts of filet — plus a chicken and seafood alternative. Who goes to a steakhouse for anything but steak? (Insider tip: If you’ve just got to have some — affordable — meat, Smith & Wollensky offers a $39 prix fixe weekdays from 5 to 7 p.m.)

Tangerine: Couple limited menu options (none of which appear on Tangerine’s regular menu) with one Philly mag staffer’s past experience of being relegated to a separate room after telling the hostess her party would be dining off the Restaurant Week menu, for a so-not-worth-$35 meal.

The Melting Pot: Sure, the menu doesn’t skimp on options for the cheese and dessert portions of the meal, but the fine print limits parties of five or less to a communal choice of one cheese fondue, one cooking style and one dessert. That leaves you with your choice of protein.

Azul Cantina: Yes, Azul goes the extra mile with a fourth course — it’s a
palate-cleansing cucumber sorbet — but even if you order the priciest
selections ($8 tomato salad, $12 shrimp tacos, $8 cheesecake) off the
Restaurant Week menu, your check barely reaches that $35 price-point. That’s
some expensive sorbet.