More bang for your dining buck More bang for your dining buck (June 22, 2001)

Palo Alto Weekly staff picks cheap eats

by Mary Orlin

With the dot-com fallout, people are cutting back on discretionary spending -- clothes, travel, entertainment and yes, dining out. I've recently noticed restaurants are less crowded -- you can walk into certain hot spots on a weekend night without a reservation and get a table. And although people are still ordering wine, they're ordering less expensive bottles.

But even in these times of dot-gones, rolling blackouts and gas running over $2 per gallon, it is possible to dine out and not spend a lot of money.

But where to go? I figured who better than journalists to ask where to get a bargain bite. After all, as a bunch we're mainly cheapskates, but like to eat well. So I put out a challenge to the Palo Alto Weekly staff -- tell me about your favorite cheap-eats place, with these guidelines: No fast food chains; dinner -- not lunch -- for one had to come in at $10 or less for food, drink (non-alcoholic, but if a beer or glass of wine made the cut, all the better), tax and tip; it had to be a place where you sit down and eat - no standing counters or takeout. I also requested places other than pizza-by-the-slice or burrito joints.

A tough challenge indeed, but the Weekly staff was up to it. I double checked all prices and added 'em up, calculating 8.25 percent tax and 15 percent tip, if applicable. Out of 21 restaurants and 15 staff participants, here are the Top 10 cheapest eateries, which met the criteria ranging in order from least to most expensive.

Los Gallos Taqueria ($6.50 total)The cheapest of the cheap, a place that's "light on atmosphere," but friendly and speedy, nominated by graphic designer Gat Slor (who also nominated four other bargain bites). At Los Gallos, Slor likes to order cheese enchiladas, topped with salsa and melted cheese ($4.75 for two, with guacamole, Spanish rice and refried beans) plus the best horchata (a very sweet rice and almond drink spiked with cinnamon; $1.25 small).

The total came out to $6.50. Slor could order beer here for $2.50 and still stay under the limit. One of her dining companion's orders, carne asada (at $7 the most expensive menu item), came paired with horchata, raising the cost to $8.93. But there's no tip required at this counter-service restaurant that offers "bottomless tortilla chips with a free salsa bar," Slor points out. Los Gallos Taqueria, Marsh Manor Shopping Center, 3726 Florence St., Redwood City, (650) 369-1864. Hours: Daily 9 a.m.-11 p.m. Cash only.

Palo Alto Little League Ball Park. ($5 total) Technically the grill at this baseball park is the cheapest, but since it's open only during ball games (start times are 5 and 5:30 p.m. weekdays) it can't really claim for the top spot. Staff Writer Daryl Savage describes it best:

"It doesn't have a name, it doesn't have a phone number and it doesn't have an address. But it's for real . . .the kitchen consists of a grill. Period. It's a Kenmore, the kind people have in their back yards . . .The delicious barbecue smell can be detected a block away. The cheeseburgers are to die for. Made to order, and just the right amount of seasonings, and two slices of cheese . . .when you take your first bite, all the meaty juice drips out the other side. Plenty of napkins are required."

And what a deal. A cheeseburger is $3.25, soda is 75¢ and a fruity snow cone is $1. The total comes to $5, including tax. That includes the free entertainment on the baseball diamond.

"The whole experience is reminiscent of the past. It's simple, it's hearty and it brings us all back to our childhood years," Savage says. Palo Alto Little League Ball Park, on Middlefield Road near E. Meadows in Palo Alto. Cash only.

Pluto's ($6.60 total)

This cafeteria-style eatery is where Assistant Editor Carol Blitzer likes to go for salads.

"The food is fresh, and the salad toppings have a nice variety -- fennel, jicama, sugared walnuts," she says.

Blitzer's choice -- a small salad with chicken ($4.95) and soft drink ($1.15). The total is $6.60. Add in a California microbrew ($2.75) or glass of wine ($3.50) and the bill still stays under $10, since there's no tip. Her dining companion's top choice, carved turkey ($3.75) with vegetables ($1.60) and stuffing ($1.60), is also a deal, costing $9.96 with a regular beer ($2.25). Pluto's, 482 University Ave., Palo Alto, (650) 853-1556. Hours: Sun.-Thu. 11:30 a.m.- 10 p.m.; Fri.-Sat. 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m.

Whole Foods Market ($7.01 total)

You may know that Whole Foods is a great place to shop and get take-out, but did you know you can get hot meals to eat on the premises too? That's what Arts & Entertainment Editor Robyn Israel likes to do.

"I'm particularly fond of their vegetable lasagna. For less than $5, I can usually get a piece that's big enough for two dinners!"

She's right. The hot, grilled vegetable lasagna goes for $5.99/lb., and even if she did get a pound and a bottle of 365 house-brand water for 49¢, her tab is cheap. The total is $7.01. Leftovers are a bonus.

Whole Foods has other hot items -- lamb stew, mashed potatoes, baked potatoes, a soup and salad bar, sandwiches and wraps and sushi, all ready-to-eat at tables inside the market. Whole Foods Market, 774 Emerson St., Palo Alto, (650) 326-8676, www.wholefoods.com. Hours: 8 a.m.-10 p.m. daily

New Bamboo ($8.39 total) Soups are big enough to qualify as a meal, and main-dish portions are large enough to split at this restaurant, one of Palo Alto's newest. But salads are the bargain bites here. Special Publications Sales Manager Connie Jo Cotton favors the red cabbage, grapefruit and jicima salad ($5.75) and the Chinese chicken salad ($6.50). With a soft drink added to the red-cabbage salad, plus tax and tip, the meal is as cheap as it is tasty. The total comes to $8.39. Even with the slightly higher priced chicken salad, Cotton still spends only $9.31. The New Bamboo, 543 Emerson St., Palo Alto, (650) 473-0212 and 3130 Alpine Road, Portola Valley, (650) 851-2627. Hours: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday; 5 to 9 p.m. on Sundays.

Rosotti's Alpine Inn. ($8.40 total)

You can get something to eat, wash it down with a brew and still stay under $10 at this Portola Valley hangout (also known as Zot's to old-timers) with a grill, great bar and even greater beer-bottle collection Education Reporter Jennifer Deitz Berry goes for cold, cheap beer ($1.25 for a small draft) with a cheeseburger ($4.25) and fries ($2.25). The total is $8.40. The other attraction at this dive bar -- outdoor seating.

"I like it best on a sunny day when you can sit out on one of their fabulous picnic tables under the trees and look out at the creek," Berry says. Alpine Inn, 3915 Alpine Road, Portola Valley, (650) 854-4004. Hours: Mon.-Fri. 11:30 a.m.-10:30 p.m.; Sat. 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sun. 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Cash or checks only.

Rangoon ($8.41 total)

This Burmese and Chinese restaurant in downtown Palo Alto has "good food for lowish prices," according to Editor Jay Thorwaldson. Vegetable dishes are the best deals -- curried mixed vegetables or snow peas, bamboo shoots and black mushrooms for $5.50, or even black pepper soup with vermicelli noodles for $5.25 makes a meal. Add a side of coconut rice, free hot tea, plus a tip, and you've got a real deal. The total adds up to $8.41. Rangoon, 565 Bryant St., Palo Alto, (650) 325-8146. Hours: Mon.-Sat. 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m.; Mon.-Thu. 5-9:30 p.m.; Fri.-Sat. 5-10 p.m.

CaffË Verona (total)

Editorial Assistant Tyler Hanley finds many reasons for liking this Italian-style cafe, besides the price. After eating here an estimated 30 times, he's yet to have a bad meal, finds the wait staff very friendly and enjoys the outdoor seating with heating lamps. His favorite meal at this place he calls an "oasis" is the spinach quiche ($7.95), which comes with a side salad and baguette. No tip is required, and if he just gets plain water (free), the total is $8.61. Add in sparkling water ($1.50) and the bill comes to just 23¢ over the $10 limit. Caff`e Verona Restaurant & Bar, 236 Hamilton Ave., Palo Alto, (650) 326-9942. Hours: Mon.-Fri. 7 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sat. 8 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sun. 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

Garden Fresh ($9.62 total)

Another nomination from Gat Slor, who calls this place "vegetarian heaven." But you won't miss the beef in any of these dishes, as meat is replaced by soybean gluten, a filling meat substitute. Slor savors sweet and sour vegetarian pork ($7.25) and jasmine tea (85¢). Brown rice comes with the meal. The total, including tip, is $9.62, including tip.

"I've found their food fresh and hot, and the service very friendly and prompt, even on very busy nights," Slor says. She also recommends Hunan-style vegetarian chicken ($7.50), which kicks the bill up just over the limit, to $10.35. Garden Fresh, 1245 W. El Camino Real, Mountain View, (650) 961-7795. Hours: Mon.-Thu. 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m., Fri. 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sat. 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sun. 11:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. $15 credit card minimum.

Pasta? ($9.05 total)

How could we do a cheap eats story without Pasta?

"The prices are extremely reasonable for the quantity and quality of food and the service and ambience are excellent," says Display Advertising representative Monica Manno.

Quite an endorsement, especially at a place with several pasta dishes at $7.25, including spaghetti al pomodoro, penne all'arrabiata and rigatoni con broccoli, all served with bread. Forgo a drink for free water; add in tip, and the total comes to $9.05. Go for an Italian sausage sandwich ($6.50), which comes with a side salad, and add in a soda ($1.50 with free refills) for a tab of $10.49. Pasta? 326 University Ave., Palo Alto, (650) 328-4585. Hours: Daily 11:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m.

In case you're wondering about the staff's other nominees, here are additional places where you can also get more bang for your dining dollars:
Bangkok Cuisine in Palo Alto, Miyake in Palo Alto, La Morenita in Palo Alto (free chips and salsa and one free soda refill), The Doctor's Bar & Grill in East Palo Alto (big screen TV and domino games are a big attraction, along with very tasty soul food), the dinner buffet at Passage to India in Mountain View ($9.95 on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday nights), La Fiesta in Mountain View, Estrellita in Los Altos (both feature free chips and great salsas), Woodside Thai Spot in Redwood City, Los Portales in Mountain View (free chips and salsa), Cool CafÈ at Stanford, and La CosteÒa in Mountain View (dirt cheap burritos and good horchata, but no seats).

Readers, do you have a favorite cheap-eats place we haven't named here? If so, we want to hear from you. Send in your bargain bites nomination to Mary Orlin, Food Editor, Palo Alto Weekly, 703 High St., Palo Alto, 94301, or fax (650) 326-3928, or email morlin@paweekly.com. Please stay within the guidelines: dinner for one, plus drink, tax and tip (if applicable) costs $10 or less per person. No fast- food chains or takeout. If we get enough responses, we'll publish your list at a future date.