Eat Beat: Cheap Date Nights
So here's how it got started.
A little over four years ago I inherited a column on Richmond.com called "Eat Beat." The column was occasional restaurant news compiled from press releases by whoever was caught looking idle on weeks when there were holes in the editorial schedule.
So I was idle one week (actually though, I think I was on my way to the bathroom).
But what did I care, it was a column and columnist sounds fancier than staff writer or, more accurately, unpaid intern. So I grabbed onto it with both hands and when I squeezed the last drop of restaurant news out of it I started looking for themes.
Cheap Date Nights seemed appropriate enough. Avenue 805 had one that everybody knew about it and so did Metro Grill , though no one knew about that one. I wondered if anyone else offered discount dining specials.
It turns out they did. I did the research, compiled the list and posted it to the site.
So here we are, four years later, and it's time for a Cheap Date Nights dining specials update.
From discounted wine to two-for-one deals and a few not-so-subtle Cheap Date Nights, plenty of Richmond restaurants offer some fabulous weekday dining specials that make it possible to dine out … even in the midst of the worst financial crisis ever.
Acacia mid-town: A swanky new location isn't the only thing that's new at Acacia, so are its prix-fixe dinners. Every Monday through Thursday (that's right, I said EVERY) you can get a three-course meal for just $23 a person. You can even get the specials on Friday and Saturday from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Since Acacia only uses the freshest ingredients, you'll have to stop in to see the menu, but I promise you won't be disappointed. And on Tuesdays you'll find the best deal yet, prix-fixe meals and half-price wine by the bottle. What are you waiting for? 2601 W. Cary St., (804) 562-0138
Avenue 805: Avenue 805 is home to the original "Cheap Date Night". In fact, its Cheap Date night inspired this column. The ownership may have changed in the last year, but not only did the new owners leave its signature special in place, they even added a new one. Just as it's been for years, every Monday and Tuesday and, just in, Wednesdays too is Cheap Date Night: a choice of a large house or Caesar salad to split, a large bowl of pasta, a dessert and a bottle of house wine all for only $35. Five bucks more and you can add chicken, shrimp or mussels to the pasta. 805 N. Davis Ave., (804) 353-2505
The Boathouse: Wednesdays are wine nights at the Boathouse. That means selected bottles from its 147-bottle (and Wine Spectator award-winning) wine list are half-price on Wednesday nights. 4602 Millridge Pkwy., (804) 744-2545
The Border: The Border in the Fan is Richmond.com's stomping ground. As a result, many of our staffers can be found there on Monday night for All-You-Can-Eat Crab Night. For just $22.95 you get all-you-can-eat crab legs and hush puppies all night long. 1501 W. Main St., (804) 355-2907
Cafe Rustica: Sunday night is Family-style dinner night at Andy Howell's fabulous downtown spot. For only $15 per person you get three courses with a monthly rotating menu. There's always a "salad-like appetizer," a dessert and "an unusual bunch of stupid cheap wine deals (Mendocino Merlot for $16, French Lirac for $12)." The first Sunday of each month the entrée is roast chicken, for the second Sunday the entrée is pot roast, followed by Cioppino! (shrimp, scallops, mussels, sausage, fennel/tomato broth) on the third, roasted salmon and a chef's surprise (if there ever is a fifth Sunday of the month). 414 E. Main St., (804) 225-8811
Capital Ale House: There's simply no deal like it in town. The downtown, Midlothian and the Innsbrook Capital Ale locations celebrate Mondays by practically giving away food. From 5 p.m. till 1 a.m. the burgers cost $1. A buck! It's like Capital Ale wants to go out of business. And my bet is (if you get there early enough) you can see plenty of people try and drive them. (Dine-in only and beverage purchase required). The food deals continue into the week with two-for-one chicken wings on Wednesdays. 623 E. Main St., 14000 Midlothian Turnpike and 4024-A Cox Road, (804) 780-2537
Cha Cha's Cantina : Shockoe Slip's favorite cantina seems to always have a food special. On Mondays all five menu quesadillas are $2 off, Tuesdays its $2 off tacos, on Wednesdays burritos are $2 off and on Thursdays all entrees are $2 off, $2 off fajitas on Fridays and on Sunday it's $1 tacos and 25-cents wings.1419 E. Cary St., (804) 726-6296
Curbside Café: One of Robinson Street's favorite corner bar and grill has Taco Night Tuesdays when tacos are just 75 cents each. It's half-price burgers every Wednesday, 25-cents wings on Monday and half-price appetizers on Sundays (all of the specials are good from 5 to 9 p.m.) 2525 Hanover Ave., (804) 355-7008
Cous Cous: Richmond's favorite Mediterranean and Moroccan offers up its special on Mondays when its buy one meze get one free (up to three) from 5 to 7 p.m. 900 W. Franklin St., (804) 358-0868
Europa: If you're searching for delicious European flavors that won't break the bank, head down to Europa. Every Monday it's Pasta Night when all pastas are just $9. Choose from Gorgonzola, carbonara and many more. Then it's a three-course meal for just $16 on Tuesday, Wednesday it's all about the wine, with half-off bottles (up to $40) with the purchase of two entrees, half-price tapas on Sunday and Ladies Night (with food specials) on Thursday. 1409 E. Cary St., (804) 643-0911
Havana '59: The flood didn't get them down and neither will a crappy economy, One Tuesdays this Shockoe Bottom spots offers ½ off bottles of house wine with dinner and, ½ off mojitos on Wednesday and 1/2 appetizers on Thursday. 16 N. 17th St., (804) 780-CUBA
The Hard Shell: It's all about the shellfish at this Shockoe Slip classic. Sundays it's all-you-can-eat crab legs (snow, Dungeness or king) for $12.95 to $18.95 a pound. Then Monday nights are Lobster Night. Indulge with lobster and shrimp pasta, whole Maine lobster (1 ¼ lb.) or stuffed Maine lobster, stuffed with lump crab cake and topped with a sorrel remoulade and drawn butter, all at a discounted rate. 1411 E. Cary St., (804) 643-2333 Every Sunday Night!
Hondos: Every Sunday night every bottle of wine is half-price at this West End steakhouse. Every bottle. It's a fantastic deal, especially considering that this wine list won the 2002 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence. 4024-C. Cox Road, (804) 968-4323
Michelle's at Hanover Tavern: With its delicious southern-inspired dishes and gorgeous setting, Michelle's is always a crowd pleaser. And on weekdays you can sample it all at a discount. On Tuesdays all "tavern standards are $2 off and Wednesdays you can buy two entrees and get half off any bottle of wine. But Sunday is the best night of all, when Michelle's has its version of a Cheap Date Night. That's soup or salad, two entrees (tavern standards) and one dessert for only $39.95 per couple. It's the perfect way to sample this Hanover favorite. 13181 Hanover Courthouse Road, (804) 537-5250
The Metro Grill: Tuesday night is date night at The Metro Grill. Two entrees, two salads, one dessert and one bottle of house wine for $45 – it's a fabulous date with plenty of money left over for a movie. Entrees include salmon Monterrey, ginger teriyaki stir-fry and Asian grilled tuna. Monday nights are pasta nights (all pastas, $11) and Sundays are half-price wine night (with the purchase of two entrees). 301 N. Robinson St., (804) 353-4453
Mojo's: OK, let me just take a breath and try to get Mojo's specials right. Monday: 35-cents wings, $1 off cheese steaks plus mad drink specials; Tuesday: Cheap Date nights, two pastas, one appetizer ($15) plus mad drink specials; Saturday and Sunday: buy one cheese steak get the other half off, $2 off large pizzas plus mad drink specials; Sunday: $5 burgers plus mad drink specials; Wednesday: $4 cheese steaks plus mad drink specials. 733 W. Cary St., (804) 644-6676
Northside Grille: This Northside fave celebrates its Date Night on Wednesdays with pasta, Caesar salad and a bottle of wine for two, all for just $30. 1217 Bellevue Ave., (804) 266-4403
Patrick Henry's Pub and Grille: Church Hill residents like to keep this little spot to themselves, but too bad for them the secret is out and with date night, it's going to spread. Every Wednesday Patrick Henry's serves up a dinner for two: two entrees, one appetizer and a bottle of wine, for just $30 a couple. 2302 E. Broad St., (804) 644-4242
Pescados: Local foodies know that Pescados is one of the best restaurants south of the river, but do you know they offer a Cheap Date Night? That's right, every Thursday, with the purchase of two entrees; you get a bottle of house wine for only $4 (Chardonnay or a Shiraz-Malbec Blend) and a dessert (entrees range from $14.95 to $28.95). And on Tuesday you can get two tacos with coconut black beans and achiote rice for just $10. 13124 Midlothian Tpke., (804) 379-7121
Que Pasa: This Church Hill fave is new to the dining specials, but they make up for it plenty. Mondays are $1 burger night, Tuesday it's 20-cents wings, Wednesday are $1 tacos and Thursdays are half-price bottles of wine and half-price desserts. 623 N. 25th St., (804) 402-7502
Richbrau Brewing Co. and Restaurant: The Slip's favorite brewery always knows how to please the guys. Tuesday is Big Nasty Nacho and Brew Night (nachos and one-half pint for $4) from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. On Wednesday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. it's all about the steak. On Steak Night an eight ounces Delmonico steak, French fries and a veggie with only set you back $11. And Thursday its Double Trouble with pitcher specials and $1 hot dogs. 1214 E. Cary St., (804) 644-3018
Ruth's Chris Steak House: From now through the end of May, Ruth’s Chris is offering a Ruth's Classic Menu to help Richmond diners not break the bank. Each meal includes a side dish, dessert, and a soup or salad choice (steak house salad, Caesar or seafood gumbo), but the big deal is the entrée. For $39.95 you can get a 6 oz. filet with shrimp, stuffed chicken breast, barbecued shrimp or the fish selection. For $49.95 you can choose a filet, ribeye, the lamp chops or an 8 oz. lobster tail.11500 Huguenot Road, (804) 378-0600
Shackleford's: Shackleford's raw bar has been a Richmond favorite for more than a decade and on Mondays and Wednesdays you can sample it at a discount with half off the price of steamed shrimp. If Monday and Wednesday aren't your thing, stop in on Tuesday nights for half-price Shackleburgers or Sunday nights when the children's menu items are half off, plus half-price snow crab legs. 10496 Ridgefield Pkwy., (804) 741-9900
Sí: Every Monday bottles of wine are half-price. 214 N. Lombardy St., (804) 257-7940
Six Burner Restaurant & Bar: Want to sample one of the hottest restaurants in town for around $20? You're in luck. Every Monday through Thursday Six Burner offers a three-course prix fixe dinner menu for just $23. The entrees rotate, but choices can include salmon, chicken and scallops. On Mondays, bottles of wine are half-off (under $50), glasses are half-off on Tuesday and Wednesday it's the carafes' turn. 1627 W. Main St., (804) 353-4060
Sticky Rice: For a small window every Monday and Friday, Richmond's favorite bar / sushi bar turns into Sushi Heaven. Sushi Heaven meaning a selection of fabulous rolls are half-off. And it's only from 10:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. on Mondays and 5 to 6 p.m. on Fridays. Sushi Heaven indeed. 2232 W. Main St., (804) 358-7870
Strawberry Street Café: I've said it before and I'll say it again: Strawberry Street serves up some of the best burgers in town. And on Mondays those burgers (including the ham and bean burger) are half-price. For those not in the mood for burgers, the quiche is half-price as well. And college students and professors get a break on Tuesday when a flash of the school ID gets you 20 percent off your food. And on Wednesday kids 10 and under eat free with the purchase of an adult meal (one kid meal per adult meal). 421 N. Strawberry St., (804) 353-6860
Verbena: This hot Fan restaurant celebrates Sundays as Date Night. Every Sunday from 5 to 8 p.m. you can get a three-course meal for just $35 per person (the whole table has to order it though). It's the perfect way to sample this new spot. 2526 Floyd Ave., (804) 359-3122
Zed Café: Fresh, local ingredients and a commitment to quality is what sets this Northside place apart and on Wednesdays you can sample all the goodness on the cheap. Zed's offers a three-course prix-fixe menu (plus a shared dessert and two glasses of wine) for only $38 per couple. Want to up it to a bottle? Then it's $48 per person. On Thursday it's half-price bottle night with the purchase of dinner. 5109 Lakeside Ave., (804) 261-5656
Did we miss your favorite Cheap Date Night special in town? Send an email to kpeifer@richmond.com and we'll add it to the list.
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