Best Bargain Dining 2008
Meals 2 Share 4 Under $25

(May 2008)

By Warren Rojas

Short of your being an oil magnate or an OPEC board member, chances are money’s a little tight these days.

Record gas prices, plunging stock values and illusory lending practices have hit home hard this year. And if history is any kind of guide, most people are probably already doing some serious belt-tightening in case things get worse before they get better.

We feel your pain.

That’s why for this year’s bargain dining, we curbed our own freewheeling ways and instead sought out cost-conscious, two- and three-course meals for under $25 to share between friends, spouses or whoever else you can convince to step out for a bite during these lean times.

Need some added incentive to open that wallet? Sample our off-beat treats , cheer-worthy chicken dishes, mid-day bargains and myriad vegetarian creations, and you’ll see that full flavor can still be had on a shoestring budget.