Where to Eat For Cheap

By Christine Heilman

The majority of Charleston’s summer residents tend to be current students (like myself) whose funds might be a little limited. Whoever it may be, I’m sure everyone enjoys saving a little money in this economy. One of the great perks of Charleston is the wide variety of restaurants throughout the city. Whether you want a five star sit down meal, a quick grab-and-go lunch, or a fun night out you can find it somewhere on the peninsula. Lucky for us (and our wallets) almost every restaurant in the area has weekly specials. Here’s a run-down of the week in food, drink, and entertainment specials with a little guidance from a Charleston student:

Monday

Moe’s- $5 burrito, drink, and chips.

This is one of my friends’ favorite weekly deals. Nobody likes Mondays, but who doesn’t like $5 for a whole meal? My favorite is the Homewrecker burrito which consists of your choice of meat (chicken, steak, or ground beef), beans, rice, shredded cheese, pico de gallo, lettuce, sour cream and guacamole. Personally, I like to substitute queso for guacamole, which you can do and still keep the $5 price! Moe’s also offers a vegetarian burrito for those who don’t prefer meat.

Yo Burrito—Taco Madness $1.50 tacos or basket of 4 for $5

Apparently Monday and Mexican food go hand in hand. Yo Burrito makes fabulous tacos at an unbeatable price on Mondays. They offer rojo chicken, tomatillo chicken, veggie, tofu, carnitas, steak, ground beef, shrimp, or mahi. The tacos also come with guacamole, lettuce, cheese, and salsa cruda. I prefer the tomatillo chicken. The food and setting are a little bit of a step up from Moe’s but you don’t really get the same “bang for your buck” because the tacos are small and the special doesn’t include chips and a drink.

Tsunami—1/2 off most items

Tuesday

Kickin’ Chicken –10$ for 2 entrees

This special is great for a little date night with a boyfriend, best friend, or a whole group. Kickin’ Chicken offers another $5 meal but this time with an array of choices, unlike Moe’s and Yo Burrito. They offer everything from their classic Kickin’ Chicken sandwich to a light grilled chicken salad. Also, if you’re willing to spend a little extra I love the buffalo chicken dip appetizer along with my $5 buffalo chicken wrap with ranch and French fries.

Midtown—1/2 off burgers all day

Wednesday

King Street Grill—5$ burgers (dine in only)

King Street Grill’s $5 burgers have been one of my favorites since I moved to Charleston. This is a great casual place to go to watch the latest sporting event or just hang out with friends. Their burgers are one of a kind. The best part about them? All of their burgers are served on soft pretzel rolls. You can personalize your burger with whatever you want on it and get a side of waffle fries for just $5. Although the special only applies to dine in orders the restaurant has a laid back atmosphere, so this is a great excuse for a enjoyable meal out.

Midtown- $10 bottles of wine and champagne

Thursday

Charleston Riverdogs –“Thirsty Thursday” $1 beers, $1.50 for two mini hotdogs

A great idea for a fun night out is a local Charleston Riverdogs minor league baseball game. Tickets are cheap (usually around $8) and the games are filled with entertaining giveaways, relays between innings for kids, and fun theme nights. I’ve gone to games with both my friends and my family and it’s a great night for all ages. Thirsty Thursday games sell out almost every week. They’re great to take friends to from out of town or just a way to start an exciting night out with friends. Who can beat $1 beers and $1.50 hotdogs? This can be a very American night out!

Friday

Theatre 99 $10 tickets

Theatre 99 is another way to have a great night out. Every Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday Theatre 99 puts on great comedy shows. On Friday nights the tickets are only $10 and I guarantee you will laugh all night. Shows include improv, sketch and stand up, cabaret, music, and other wild entertainment. The shows are all based on audience suggestion so you control the fun (that’s my favorite part). There’s a cup holder in every seat so stop by the bar and grab a drink before the show, but cash only so don’t forget to stop at the ATM in the lobby before you begin your night! Theatre 99 might not be for everyone but for those who enjoy off-beat entertainment and something a little different than the norm I would definitely recommend Theatre 99!

Saturday

Midtown-- ½ price appetizers and pitchers all day

Midtown is an great new place to go during the summer. Offering an outdoor patio Midtown is perfect for lunch or dinner on a warm afternoon or evening. My friends love to go here with a big group of friends and split an array of appetizers and a pitcher of beer. My personal top three favorite appetizers? The hummus and pita wedges, spinach and artichoke dip and pita wedges and of course nachos. Although these are my favorites, all the appetizers are great with a pitcher of some beer on tap and good company.

Sunday

Yo Burrito—Half off all food 7-9 pm (dine in only)

Another great Yo Burrito offer! Half off the entire menu for two hours (not to mention primetime dinner hours) sounds great to me. Since you’re already getting your meal for half off I suggest you “splurge” and spend a little extra to get some tortilla chips because Yo Burrito offers a fabulous salsa bar full of different options. This is a great place to go to wrap up your weekend and grab a nice meal with your friends or boyfriend/girlfriend. Since you probably already had the tacos on Taco Madness Monday I suggest the tortilla salad. I like it with chicken and the chipotle ranch. It’s also available with any of the meats, fish, or veggies offered for tacos and a vinaigrette dressing as well (a still yummy but healthier choice than the chipotle ranch). If you’re looking to wind down before a long week of work starts up again grab a margarita in a mason jar to go with it!

Coast—$3 Tacos and half-priced wine bottles

Coast is one of Charleston’s best restaurants. I usually go here with my parents when their wallets are the ones being tapped into instead of mine. However, on Sundays we can all eat like we’re spending our parents’ money! As long as you’re ordering the tacos, that is. Coast offers buffalo shrimp (my preference) and fish tacos (Mahi-Mahi). I know the selection isn’t that great but Coast is known for having some of the best seafood in the Charleston area and will usually cost you a pretty penny. Also, all wine bottles are half-priced, this is another great option to wind down and relax before a long work week if you’re feeling like some fish instead of Mexican!

Everyday Specials

Slightly North of Broad (SNOB)— $9.99 express lunch

“This lunch special changes everyday, and it comes with a starch (like beef, meatloaf, etc.) and a veggie. Also comes with an iced tea and soup/salad.”

This is a great way to eat amazing food from one of Charleston’s finest restaurants for cheap. This is great for the workingman or woman. A different meal everyday to grab during your lunch breaks, make everyone at the office jealous when you bring it back and try new dishes every day.

Pita Pità Daily Pita $5 (Changes daily)

Pita Pit is a Charleston student favorite during any hour of the day or night. Open until 2 AM Monday-Wednesday, 3 AM Thursday-Saturday and 12 AM Sunday a pita is a healthy meal for lunch or late night snack. The Daily Pita special is different everyday so it’s also an easy way to try new things.