Move over restaurant week—it's Dine Out month.

Throughout September, nearly 200 restaurants in Maryland will offer special 20 percent discounts as part of a new program: Dine Out, Maryland!

Sponsored by the Restaurant Association of Maryland, the initiative is to help promote association members (i.e., your local restaurant businesses) during September, which is traditionally a slower month in the restaurant industry, according to the Dine Out, Maryland! Web site.

To get the discount, print out the coupon, visit a participating restaurant during the month of September, and mention to your server before ordering that you have a Dine Out, Maryland! coupon to use.

The 20 percent discount may or may not include alcohol, set meal prices or a restaurant's full menu.

The Restaurant Association of Maryland chose 20 percent as the discount because, "[according] to our survey results, 15 [percent] was not a big enouch incentive for a majority of the dining public, but 20 [percent] was. The majority of restaurant operators surveyed would participate for 20 [percent] off in the month of September to drive new traffic to their restaurant and reward loyal customers," the association's Web site stated.

Participating restaurants in or near Rockville include:

• Fresh Pizzeria
• Ledo Pizza in Derwood (Lunch only; Special Ciabatta menu)
• Ledo Pizza at Travilah Square in Rockville (Lunch only; Special Ciabatta menu)
• Ledo Pizza in Rockville (Lunch only; Special Ciabatta menu)