Food + Dining: Tasty Deals, Full Wallet

Early-Bird Special
Perhaps the Campiello in Naples, Florida, inspired the local outposts to create an early-bird prix fixe. Place an order by 6 p.m. and nab a generous starter and main course, plus a glass of red or white wine, all for $21.95—less than the price of many of Campiello’s entrées. Start with the Twin Cities’ best calamari or a salad, followed by a killer hanger steak or succulent grilled salmon. 1320 W. Lake St., Mpls., 612-825-2222; 6411 City West Pkwy., Eden Prairie, 952-941-6868

Rolling with the Swells
We know, the dining room at La Belle Vie is fancy. And pricey. And the lounge looks equally upscale—but don’t mistake classy for pretentious or stiff. In the lounge, you can get James Beard award–nominee Tim McKee’s impeccable food, beautiful surroundings, and top-notch service without the dining room’s steep price. The $11 grilled bread with foie gras and bitter orange marmalade and the $12 pappardelle with rabbit bolognese warrant multiple orders. If foie gras and bunny seem scary, there are fries with curry béarnaise for only $7. 510 Groveland Ave., Mpls., 612-874-6440

Punch in the Pocketbook
Getting a pie delivered from a national chain will run you about $20, so what if we told you the Twin Cities’ best pizza could be had for $5.95, end of story? Punch Neapolitan Pizza sells a basic Margherita or Napoli pie for less than six bones. It’s not only cheap, but it’s exactly what a pie should be—golden brown crust, real tomato sauce, and just enough gooey cheese. Add a salad, some of that drippy artichoke dip, and you’ve still got change from the prefab pie you almost purchased. Four metro locations, including 704 Cleveland Ave. S., St. Paul, 651-696-1066

Kids Eat Free!
There are scads of national chains that feed your kids for free one night a week, but your stomach will pay. D’Amico & Sons, on the other hand, offers free fare for kids on Sunday, and the food is about as good as quick-serve Italian can get. Plus, meals come with a free drink and cookie. Seven metro locations, including 975 Grand Ave., St. Paul, 651-227-9933

112 Ways to Cheap Out
112 Eatery shows no sign of giving up its reign as the nexus of cool foodie value. Check out all the bottles of wine under $35—or all the glasses under $10. Many pasta dished are available in two sizes for value hounds. The $7 bacon–fried egg–harissa sandwich remains our favorite barometer of cheap treats—decadent, delicious, and simple. 112 N. 3rd St., Mpls., 612-343-7696

A Foodie’s Happy Hour
You might find it odd that saffron, one of the food world’s most expensive ingredients by weight, is also the name of an underappreciated local restaurant with one of the cheapest gourmet bar menus around. Try Saffron’s value carte of Middle East/Mediterranean fare, which includes a genius $3.50 lamb BLT with tomato jam, arugula, and tarragon or $3.50 charmoula burgers with cucumber yogurt and pickled onions—both are available during the early and late happy hours. 123 N. 3rd St., Mpls., 612-746-5533

Abu Nader for Next to Nada
Abu Nader Deli serves simple but superb Middle Eastern classics—from the area’s best falafel sandwich topped with homemade turnip pickles to incredible homemade pita bread, hummus, tabbouleh, baba gannouj, and spinach pies. Meatatarians will love the schwarma. And the food at Abu Nader costs almost nada. Combo platters with a bit of everything never top $8 and most of us can eat for around $5. 2095 Como Ave., St. Paul, 651-647-5391

University Avenue for $6 (or Less)
We’ve touted Va Lor’s green papaya salad all year—made in a stone mortar, redolent of fresh lime, garlic, chilies, and fish sauce—it’s Southeast Asia on a plate. Everything at this place is $2 to $6, from the hot-and-sweet shrimp rolls to fried sausages with purple sticky rice. This is humble food for the people, made with lots of love. 371 University Ave. W., St. Paul

Go for Broke Bargain
We know, the best brunch you ever had was at Bally’s in Las Vegas in 1995. There was so much Champagne, the servers were practically pouring it over you—but brunch in these parts is a little classier. Our suggestion: Get right with God, then get right to Wolfgang Puck’s 20.21 for an all-you-can-eat feast of brioche French toast with cinnamon apples, omelets made to order, pastrami hash with poached eggs and béarnaise, smoked salmon pizza, blue cheese potato gratin, and more, all for $28—plus a complimentary Champagne cocktail. Walker Art Center, 1750 Hennepin Ave., Mpls., 612-253-3410