by Judy Lin

Created on: May 10, 2008

Saving money while dining out is kind of an oxymoron, in my book: you can't really do both at the same time. Still, I have to confess, I'm a bit of a foodie at heart, and Charles is a bigger one, but we don't exactly have the means to drop $50 on a T-bone. Saving money begins with cooking at home, but every now and then, it's nice to have someone else bring the food to you. If food is that important to you, there are ways to minimize what you spend.

- Decide how much you're willing to spend on dinner, and then find a restaurant where the prices come close to what your limit is. If you only want to spend $50 between four people, Philadelphia's Le Bec Fin probably should not be on the plan. On the other hand, a little Italian restaurant on a side street would probably fit within your budget. Of course, it helps to know what the prices are beforehand. Some restaurants, though by no means all, will have their menus online. Or you can peruse the Food & Dining section of the newspaper (or the equivalent) for ideas as to the approximate cost of eating out.

If you live in a major city, keep an eye on the newspapers for "Restaurant Week", or the equivalent, where you can go to restaurants you couldn't afford otherwise and have a three-course meal for $30 or thereabouts. $30 is, admittedly, still a lot of money, but for food such as the stuff served at Xochitl (don't ask me how it's pronounced), it can be worthwhile. Menu options will be limited, alas, but there is almost always some distinctive and delicious items. If you go with friends, you can all order one of each and share-such deals allow you to experience the food while still staying within the confines of affordability (barely, but who's counting?).

Realize, though, that most of what you pay for is the ambience, and not the food. There is usually no difference between the quality of the sourdough bread rolls at the dressed-in-Western-Texan-BBQ-grill and the little corner bistro that sells sandwiches. I have never been able, for instance, to determine the difference between a $6 grilled portabello mushroom sandwich, and a $12 grilled portabello steak. I mean, yes, the dressings are different, but it's a mushroom, for Pete's sake! At the price ranges people-who-have-to-be-concerned-with-money can afford, there's virtually no difference between "low" and "high" end stuff. If you can afford $80 entrees, then you've got no business reading this. So if it's food you're after, go for food. If you want candlelights

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