Remember Thanksgiving “dinner” starting at 4 in the afternoon, or meeting grandma and her new “friend” Milton for dinner before the clock struck 5? What the heck is the deal with eating so darn early?
Dining before the sun begins to set isn’t just good for your health; it can also be good for your pocketbook! Really – what you lose in inches around your waist you will gain in your wallet – and restaurants are thrilled to be hosting people as soon as their doors open for dinner. Everyone wins!
The best way to get a spectacular deal on dinner any day of the week is do it well before the rush. That’s right! It’s time to reclaim the early bird special. It’s the new happy hour!
The following early-bird specials take place at seriously good restaurants. No need to suffer poor quality just to save a few bucks!
Just how good are these deals? How’s a $15 three-course meal sound? That’s what you’ll get every day of the week at Gratzzi Italian Grille from 4pm-5:30pm (order must be in by 5:30pm) and 400 Beach Seafood & Tap House between 3pm and 6pm. As these are the same times as their respective happy hours, you can also score some deeply discounted drinks to accompany your meals. Just don’t forget to be nice and tip your servers as if you were paying full price!
Need a pre-movie or pre-theater meal? Score Parkshore Grill’s three-course early bird for a slick $18 between 11am and 6pm, or Sea Salt’s scrumptious, pre-sunset menu daily for $28 from 4pm-7pm.
From 5pm-7pm on Fridays, upscale Italian eatery Il Ritorno offers a $65 dinner for two that includes two cocktails or glasses of wine, an appetizer, and two pasta dishes. Not too shabby for a delicious weekend dinner date, eh? Groupon prices without having to look like a cheapskate!
Options further increase when you get a little creative and expand your early bird horizons to include happy hour food specials that go beyond basic bar snacks. Offerings at certain spots can easily be turned into full meals for under $15, if you play your cards right.
Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse is a great example, with their $9 “Sizzle, Swizzle and Swirl Happy Hour,” from 4:30pm-6:30pm Mon-Fri and on Sundays. On top of killer drink specials, $9 will also score you seared ahi tuna or a steak sandwich with fries, among other options. A $9 dinner at a steakhouse? Yes, please!
Central Ave’s fave Vietnamese joint, La V, has a whole mess of $4 meal-worthy menu items during their 4pm-6pm happy hour. Lemongrass chicken salad, anyone? Perhaps some fried rice and chicken pho? Get both for less than 10 bucks!
Ceviche is famous for their “Tapas Tuesday,” but every day between 5pm and 7pm, you can nab their $5-7 tapas specials. Split three or four plates with your date, and you’ve got yourself a pretty swell early bird meal.
Head over to Historic Kenwood for Beau & Mo’s Italian Eating House between 4:30pm and 6pm Tuesday-Thursday, and belly up to the bar for $5 sandwiches to accompany your $5 craft cocktail. Offerings include Petite Filet, Eggplant Parmesan, and Chicago Italian sausage.
Early bird specials are back, baby! Give your Great Aunt Paula a high five for being such a trendsetter, and enjoy your early-evening meals at a fraction of their late-evening prices. Long live the early bird!
