Picked up this news item the usual way, through Google News with a search term of “Cheap Eats”. I’ve been experimenting with finding articles on cheap food lately in different cities and it seems to be pretty on target for a number of stories. I’ve got to start reviewing some local hidey-holes of my own, but this definitely helps to review restaurants in places other than California.

This review of a place called Coffee Odyssey and Eatery was from Carrie Seidman from The Albuquerque Tribune. Now, as I’ve said before, I’ve got a soft spot for coffee shops and coffee related places even though buying coffee instead of making it is definitely not on the Cheap Eats philosophy checklist. But I especially like these small tiny places and prices can often be cheaper than the larger diners. I don’t usually go for the coffee drinks anyhow. It’s the food I’m after.

From the article:

The menu isn’t what you’d call innovative. Carne adovada breakfast burritos and something called “Lisa’s tortilla sandwich” are big sellers when the doors open at 7:30 a.m., and there’s a run on tacos, burgers and sandwiches before closing time at 1:30 p.m.

But everything save a steak sandwich is less than $5 and made with plain but fresh and unadulterated ingredients…

Innovative can be thrown out the door as far as I’m concerned with places like these. Simple food and cheap prices are the reason I head for places like these. It’s interesting that she says that the eatery is in the midst of an office park… I’ve also found that if you can locate them (and if they can stay in business), small eateries like this are hidden Cheap Eats gems.

Carrie says that she got a chicken salad sandwich with chips and pickle for $3.95 with tax which is not bad for a sit down sandwich.

When I was working for a certain big unnamed electronics company, I used to eat at a tiny place 8 table luncheonette tucked between a two parking lots. I used to wonder how they hell it was that they stayed in business because the building was not visible from ANY street. The only way you could find it was to accidently stumble upon it. It had amazingly been in business for over 30 years. They serve delicious pseudo American Japanese brunch diner food. I guess good customer loyalty and patronage is enough to keep some of these smaller places open.

Cheap Eats Score: 5/10

Source:
The Albuquerque Tribune
Coffee Odyssey and Eatery

I came across a sort of fun article about a student at Chico State U. which is sort of in the inland empire of SoCal Northern California. The premise sort of goes like:

Dan Cline is a senior at Chico State University. Each week he cruises the Chico area with $6.75 in his pocket (one hour’s minimum wage), sampling local eateries for ambiance, service and most of all, cheap eats.

That’s a great idea… I’ve been thinking about doing something like that for awhile, a Rachel Ray’s $40 a Day theme but with less money. But I’d probably try to attempt something impossible like $6.75 a DAY…

Anyhow, in addition to providing food Moxie’s Cafe is apparently an art gallery slash indie music venue. When searching for a pic of the place, I did come across numerous shots of bands playing (I saw Mates of State did a show there) but not many about the actual place.

In this article, he mainly talks about pancakes. I’m more of an omelette and potatoes person, but pancakes are still delish when done right and not breaking your wallet. At $4.50 for a flapjack, even if as he says it’s gigantic…

A Moxie’s pancake is big. So big the cup of syrup they give you isn’t enough. It’s so big I have to eat from the center out so stickiness doesn’t splosh on their posh marble tables, (a solid foundation to our meal).

is little much, though if it’s REALLY big I guess it’s not such a bad deal. They seem to have these “Oops” 25 percent off coupons that students use so maybe that makes it a better deal. They also specialize in vegetarian and vegan food which may be good news to some.

In any case, I’ve got a soft spot for breakfast cafes and diners so I’m willing to compromise a bit. I might try make the drive there one of these days from L.A.

Moxie’s Cafe & Gallery
128 Broadway
Chico, CA

Cheap Eats Score: 4/10

Source:
Chico Enterprise Record
Starving Student Column: Moxie’s Cafe

The Detroit Free Press has a popular column by Matt Helms about Cheap Eats. This article he wrote was on a place in Detroit called “House Of Reuben”. I looked everywhere for a picture of the House of Reuben but couldn’t find one so you’ll have to be content with a borrowed pic of a Reuben Sandwich. Anyhow, I have a soft spot for diners and while sit-down restaurants are always more expensive (because of tip, drinks not coming with meals, etc.) I’m often willing to sacrifice just a teeny bit of dough if it’s a good enough diner setting with good enough food. This one sounds pretty good, though it’s all the way in Michigan. They feature Reuben Sandwiches, as the name implies.

Continue reading “House of Reuben” …

True cheap eating requires some sacrifices. Or at least they’re sacrifices to most people. I think one of the greatest inflators of restaurant bills are drinks. And never mind the horrors that will be afflicted upon your tab if you get ALCOHOLIC drinks. Damn expensive. Well, at least those get you buzzed. I’m talking about the average soda, iced tea, orange juice or god forbid mineral water. If the price of your lunch is say 5 dollars and you get a dollar soda, you’ve just increased your bill by 20%. Don’t fall into that trap, especialy at a sit down restaurant. Ask for water if it’s available. Or if you aren’t embarassed, bring a drink from home.

It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking an all you can drink soda is a good bargain at a fast food joint. In actuality, this is where they really clean up on. Sugar water. You’re basically paying a dollar for sugar and water. The average person is only going to get one drink plus a 1/2 cup refill anyhow, unless they’re deliberately trying to waste it. They’re dealing in volume anyhow so it’s not going to hurt them if you drink above the average. Why do you think that combo meals exist? To try and get you to pay for that drink. Skip it.

Continue reading “Skip The Drink” …

People who’ve been to Souplantation® before will note that this is not the usual Souplantation graphic that is used on the stores. Why? I couldn’t find a handy graphic to use. The only one I could find is the parent company which is Garden Fresh Restaurant Corp. who also owns a franchise called “Fresh Tomatoes”, whatever that is.

From the Garden Fresh Restaurant Corp site:

Garden Fresh Restaurant Corp. was founded in 1983 and currently operates over 90 salad buffet restaurants in 15 states. The Company seeks to provide fresh wholesome food with a strong emphasis on salads, which are featured on two 55 foot bars that include a wide range of salad offerings featuring three freshly tossed salads as well as a large assortment of fresh cut produce, dressings and toppings and several signature prepared salads. Various offerings include made from scratch soups, a hot pasta bar, a bakery which serves a variety of hot muffins, focaccias and other breads and a dessert bar centered around a frozen yogurt station with toppings complemented by fresh fruits and puddings

I’m almost sad to run Souplantation through the Cheap Eats grinder, because except for COST they hit nearly every other thing that makes a buffet restaurant great squarely on the head. First, it’s damn healthy because the main fare consists of salad and soup. Their salad selection is extensive and their soups have improved beyond the always popular Chicken Noodle and Clam Chowder to include specials and seasonal items like Gumbo and Turkey Pot Pie.

Continue reading “Souplantation” …