Eat Well While Pinching Pennies: Dining Out

(Also see the penny-pinching posts on Tasting & Classes and Food Shopping.)

I can't watch an episode of Suze Orman without cringing with shame.  It's probably just my guilty conscience, but I feel like anytime someone calls in with ten cents of debt, she harangues them for going out to eat.  I'll clip coupons and cut corners, but I just can't imagine giving up dining out, especially not in this town.

Here are some options for going out to eat that - while not always bargain basement - might save you a little bit if you are heading out to celebrate a special occasion or having guests in town to entertain.  Some might require a little advanced planning, additional organization, or eating outside the most popular days/times, but could be a way to still enjoy our Seattle dining scene in the midst of tightening purse strings.

Click through for dining promotions, specials and other bargains like happy hours and brunches.  (Also, the Other Seattle Resources page now also has a link to a round up of local sites Cheap Eats Directories, including one focused on family friendly spots.)

Dining Promotions and Specials

Reserve your spot at select restaurants through Open Table and earn dining points you can redeem for meal deals. There are only select restaurants and some limitations.

Dine Out Seattle: "30 of the Seattle area's finest restaurants offer a 3-course meal for a mere $30. This includes selections for a dinner appetizer, entrée, and dessert. Many of the restaurants also offer lunch for $15. Prices do not include beverage, tax and gratuity."

Restaurants.com has a deal where you buy a $25 gift certificate for $10 at participating restaurants. Some restaurants include Julia’s, Kabul Afghan, and Ama Ama. Be sure to read the restrictions to make sure it’s worth your while. 

TASTE at SAM is offering both a frequent diner kind of card and $2 off your bill on Tuesdays if you pay with a $2 bill. (I appreciate the gesture, but gotta be honest: the latter seems a bit like more effort than it’s worth. Then again I am extremely lazy.)

The Seattle Traveler explains the “Dinner on Us” promotion running from now until March 31 at Elliott’s Oyster House, Union Square Grill, or Metropolitan Grill.

Farestart Guest Chef Nights, with the fixed price of $24.95, can be a cheaper way to try the food of local top chefs while helping a good cause. 

Chowhounders are also tracking restaurant specials (and recommending cheap eats) and they have good noses.

The Portfolio Restaurant at the Seattle Art Institute gives you a chance to test the fare of aspiring young chefs with a $19 prix fixe menu.

Happy Hour and Brunch

Can't do a full-on fancy-times meal? How about a happy hour, brunch or other special menu? Might not be the most filling meal you have, but a cheaper way to have a night on the town.  (And if you are still hungry after the happy hour, you can always stop at Dick's.  Which, if you have an out-of-town guest in tow, is a good little high/low Seattle experience all in one evening.)

(BTW, tell Slog what your favorite Happy Hour is, and you can possibly win $20 in food and drink.)

Some pricier joints with happy hours include:

• The Pink Door  (scroll midway down page in link)
• Lola 
• Palace Kitchen
• Etta 
• Cafe Campagne 

Urbanspoon has a listing of spots noted for having Happy Hours.

TASTE at Sam is offering a “Flight and Bite” $7-8 for a cocktail like their Pear in Thyme (pear brandy, vodka and thyme) and a “nibble” (like a pecan potato pie with goat cheese and grilled mushrooms). $18 for all three pairings, which is a pretty great deal.

Olivar started a brunch on March 7^th that sounds promising based on the preview from Capitol Hill Seattle.

And it might not be fancy-times, but if you are looking for a bargain brunch, as long as you aren’t looking for a Bloody Mary, the Swedish Cultural Center’s monthly pancake breakfast is a total steal at $8 for pancakes with toppings, coffee, OJ AND SECONDS!! Children 5-12 are $4 and under 5 are free.

Image of Rachel the Pig by Flickr Creatiev Commons photographer Phillie Casablanca.

Update on Mar 12, 2009 by Leslie Seaton

Seattle Weekly's 2009 Favorites were just published and include a "Cheap" (under $10) and "Budget-Friendly" section.