Ledger

Issue date: 5/18/06 Section: Arts & Entertainment

Are you tired of Top Ramen?
Mac'n'cheese? Do you like beer or
cocktails? I guess what I'm asking
is, how does eating out cheaply at
reputable restaurants sound?
If you're saving your hardearned
change to buy more Top
Ramen to enjoy in the security of
your own home, I can't stop you.
If you'd prefer to dine out in
Tacoma and treat yourself to atmospheres
you typically can't afford,
you're in luck because I've broken
cheap dining down for you into
three simple lists: Value (great prices
in mediocre restaurants,) Limited
(one happy hour in a decent restaurant)
and Fancy Pantsy (dress up
and take advantage because you
wouldn't be able to afford it any
other time.)
If you're feeling daring and risqué,
feel free to mix-and-match
some of these. After all, you're saving
money now that you're going to
invest in your education, right?
VALUE
Chevy's (3:30-6:30p.m. M-F):
Many $2.99 appetizers, flavorful
$3.50 margaritas. Oh yeah, they
throw in free chips and salsa at no
charge. Imagine that.
Red Robin (3:30-6:30p.
m., 9 p.m. - close, every day):
Half-priced appetizers, $2.75
margaritas, discounted beer. Do
"clucks'n'bottomless fries" get any
better? Yeah, you get to watch the
high school kids give each other
noogies.
TGIFriday's (4-7p.m., 9p.m.-
close; every day): Selected halfpriced
appetizers, most drinks and
beer $3-5. Try not to think of "flare"
while you look at the waitstaff's
uniforms.
The Varsity (3-6p.m., M-F):
Half-priced appetizers, cheap beer,
daily specials. Hey, it used to be
Jillian's and now it's a sports bar.
Cheers.
I SUGGEST: The Ram (9p.m.-
close, every day). With revolving
daily specials, there's always a deal.
The Ram in Lakewood -- if you're
up to the trek -- takes 50 percent off
your entire bill (drinks included) on
Sunday nights. Breathes new life
into your Sunday night, doesn't it?
LIMITED
Chopstix (Open-10p.m., Tues.-
Thurs.): "Tightwad Tuesdays," $2
draft beers for guys on Wednesdays
and ladies call any drink for $3 on
Thursdays. Go just to say you've
gone (these three days are the only
"no cover" days so bring a request
for the piano players).
The Harmon (3-6p.m., M-F):
Daily specials (all-you-can-eat on
many days,) cheap homebrews and
did I mention free peanuts?! Oh
yeah, and it's stumbling distance
from school.

Continued...

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