Eating à la menu may traditionally seem like a more expensive prospect than cracking open a box of KD, but in recent days we’ve noticed a slew of our local boîtes offering up cheap eat choices for every bon vivant’s budget.

Bar_One – Pasta Bowls for Under $10

We love us some Bar_One brunch, not just for the top notch original flavours (hello hello ovo buco), but also because of the über value—a trend that extends to the dinner hour. With eight pasta bowls gracing the menu—seven set and one fazzoletti of the day for those fans of handkerchiefy surprises—you’re bound to find at least one of them drool-worthy. We took a spin with the Carbonara ($6)—done up proper sans cream, chockers with parmigiano, unexpected fennel and those oh so necessary pancetta bites—and the Marinara ($8)—deliciously plump scallops, light flaking white fish and some healthy sized mussels drenched in a white wine tomato sauce that was seasoned just so, with a hint of bite to round it off. The menu declares these are sized small, but don’t be fooled—there’s enough here to fill your tums and then some.

The Beaconsfield – The Five to Seven

Our fav local’s kitchen has been throwing out the Five to Seven for some time now, which only further demonstrates their already established awesomeness (in the form of recessionary foresight). From Monday to Friday, at the eponymously appointed hour, you can be the proud and beaming owner of a pint of 50 (unquestionably Labatt’s hippest achievement) and a tasty dinner for just $8. We’re big fans of the Southern Mac n’ Cheese on Tuesdays—creamy cheesiness topped with a corn flake crust—and, keeping with indulgent comfort, the Thursday Chili Fries are choice.

These are but only two of a slew of restos with wallet lovin’ menus on the go—prix fixe is becoming the plat du jour all around town, with even some of the shmancier places getting on the trolley (think Le Sélect and Perigee). Sure, Macca’s was always an option for mere pocket shrapnel, but we’d rather not feel like ass after we’re done dins, and with these dishes on offer we can feel good and still have leftover cash for something pretty. Swish!