Recession dining in the burbs?

[AmblerGirl]

My husband and I are in full out budget mode and have been eating out much less frequently :( I'd love to find either some inexpensive restaurants, or some good restaurant deals, so we can save some money so we can get out a bit more. Does anyone have any great inexpensive restaurants? Any dining deals you know of? Any tips for economical dining? I know this topic has been covered in Phiilly, but not so much in the burbs.

My favorite cheap dinner spots are Yalda Kabob in Horsham and Cafe Vietnam in Telford. I am also a big fan of Restaurant.com which offers $25 gift certificates at some really good restaurants for $10 (and sometimes run specials of 50-70% off of their $10 price). And I love the cupons in Clipper Magazine! I also BYO when I can, Bridgets's at 8 West offers BYO on Sundays.

[WeeThree]

We love TJ's in Paoli. They have a Birthday special where you sign up and they send a $10 gift certificate for your birthday. And on Friday and Sat nights their desserts are buy one get one free. They have a huge beer list.
Last time we went on a Sat night, we used a birthday gift certificate and got 4 desserts as well as entrees and beers and the bill was $60 for 5 adults & one child.
The food is fabulous, too - well worth the drive to Paoli.

[mrslloyddobler]

Thai Pepper in Wayne has great lunch options for under $10. Chung Sing's in Ardmore has dinner plates for around $7 - it's the perfect place for cheap, Americanized Chinese food. For more authentic Chinese, I go to Sangkee and get a noodle bowl for under $10.

[lansdalian]

For BYOB Italian, you can't go wrong with Boccelli's at the Gwynedd train station. DH enjoys Cafe Lombardi in Horsham. I will second Nadia's Thai in Lansdale but FAR PREFER their Media location (always a good crowd -- which I can't really say about the Lansdale location).

[AmblerGirl]

I found out about two specials that I am dying to try. First Allison at Blue Bell has a mid week fixed price menu for $35 and that goes Mon-Fri. Even though they have a liquor liscense, they allow BYO no corkage. Also Joseph Ambler Inn also offers a $35 fixed price menu plus allows BYO on Friday nights. Both have an outdoor patio.

[smobron]

Not sure if West Chester is too far for this discussion but Market Street Grille is open Wed - Sat and they have the full breakfast/lunch menu + a dinner menu ( nothing over $15 ) BYOB + 3-4 specials nightly ........

[keby]

The best! Where else can you get duck breast to $9.95!! Although Kerry (owner) said he may raise the price on that one - fair enough. Perfectly cooked just the way I like it - medium rare.

[gardeniagirl]

You should definitely go to Alison Two in Fort Washington. We went there for our anniversary dinner on May 2nd, and we were completely blown away by the food, the drinks, the decor and the service.They have a happy hour @ the bar for future visits where the cocktails (amazing knowledge of REAL mixology)and the bar food is 1/2 price. The baked in house potato chips (they are probably fried, and deliciously so!) are served with cocktails, and are heavenly.If you want to save money, and i am sure we all do, it would be a special treat just to eat in the bar there, it's THAT pretty, and THAT good. Do it. Go now!

[Imeeyore24]

There is a great little restaurant in Hatboro called The Corner Kitchen. Everything but their dinners on Mondays and Tuesdays are $5 a piece (sandwiches and salads). They have been running this for a few months now and as far as I know still are. Everything is very fresh and very tasty. I too like Restaurant.com or the coupon clipper for Cafe LaFontana also in Hatboro and Restaurant.com or lately signing up at their own website for Ted's Montana Grill. Love their bison burgers!

[AmblerGirl]

Adding one more. We went to Earth Bread & Brewery last night and loved it. Delicous beer ($5) and flatbread pizzas ($6-14). My husband and I ate like champions - he got one of each of the house beers (I'm pregnant so unfortunately just got a sip of each), we got a seed pizza (amazing!), pesto pizza, local cheese plate. Bill was only about $40, great place.

[Mawrter]

AmblerGirl, congratulations! That is wonderful news!!!

To be on-topic: Mayuree in Devon is a great value, IMO.

-----
Mayuree Cafe
300 W Lancaster Ave # 5, Devon, PA

[AmblerGirl]

Thanks Mawrter!

On topic - I just remembered that KC's Alley offers half price burgers on Monday and most everything on their menu for $5 on Wednesdays.

[Bob Loblaw]

GF and I have found that getting 2 small pizzas gets you more bang for the buck at EB&B than one large. Their beers are very reasonably priced, too.
It's not the burbs, but it is near the burbs.

[jujuthomas]

OH! I almost forgot - Fuji Mountain on 309 has 1/2 price sushi and rolls on Monday and Tuesday. It's a special menu, the fancy rolls are not included, but a friend and I had lunch there last week for $20.

[givemecarbs]

great idea for a thread! Thai Nadia in Lansdale has a popular lunch special too, three courses and 9.99 I think. I like my trips to Assi market and the food court too. I can grab some fresh produce and delicious yaki bons from the supermarket area and while my bons are cooking I can order spicy chicken vegetable soup or ramen or maybe a smoothie Oh and Pho Thai Nam also in bluebell. Got their lunch special yesterday, it is main course, choice of a spring roll or the tom yum soup.and a soft drink for 10.00. I got the brisket pho and my friend got delicious pineapple chicken fried rice. I had a nice chat with one of the women about all the beautiful colorful paper cranes that form a window curtain. She told me it took her and her friend a looong time to make them. I guess for me when I am trying to save money I look to the East. :)

[DaisyM]

Uzbekistan in the NE! Try to go with a group...the portions are HUGE and the food is amazing. It is a byob and most people bring vodka. You will feel very welcome there.

[jujuthomas]

have you tried the new mexican place in Plymouth meeting? DH and I ate there last night for $30. See the post on Plaza Azteca. it was very tasty!

[crazyspice]

We are totally in super budget mode! We have been celebrating special occasions cooking at home with friends and rarely dining out. But I really love the 3 course lunch for $9 at Thai Orchid on Dekalb in E. Norriton (Blue Bell to some)

[watercress]

I was going to say Vietnam Cafe, but would also add Mi Ranchito in Souderton, Teryaki Chef in Q-Mart, and Tiajuana Tacos (shoot-- how do you spell it?) in Quakertown.

[bucksguy14]

I'm with you on the money saving mode. But, how can you bring up Bridget's 8 West in a discussion of inexpensive restaurants? I'd add to your list From the Boot in Lafayette Hill and Basile's in Perkasie, both BYO.

[AmblerGirl]

Well, Bridget's offers gift certificates on Restaurant.com. So combine the cupon/certificate with the BYO night!

[bucksguy14]

Maybe we have to redefine cheap. We went last Sunday with a certificate. We split an app, each had an entree, split a dessert, and did BYO, and the bill came to $70+ with tip. Not my idea of cheap!

[AmblerGirl]

I was thinking cheap dinner spots plus dining deals as well (I'd consider something like a BYO night, or fixed price mid week menu a deal, even if not technically cheap). For example alot of nice cc restaurants are offering $35/pp "recession menus, while not cheap, definitely a deal compared to normal prices.