One of the major challenges our favorite local restaurants face is rising costs for everything from labor and ingredients to utilities and insurance. Diners are facing increased costs as well: at home, at the gas pump, at the grocery store and when dining out.
The economic challenges have created a reality where those who love dining out and want to support the local culinary scene can’t afford to visit a restaurant as often as they’d like — or at all. But restaurants and the people who run them and work in them are scrappy, and recognize that offering deals to entice business, particularly during off-times, is an old strategy that has new importance today.
While hitting up happy hours is one way to make the bill easier to swallow, many spots also offer deals on certain days of the week that aren’t limited to a set time period. We’ve rounded up the best of them, so the next time you’ve got a Tuesday date or a weekend visitor to entertain on a budget, refer to this guide for our favorite food specials that are both delicious and easy on your wallet:
Monday
Atomic Cowboy: At its five metro locations, Atomic Cowboy doubles as Denver Biscuit Company in the mornings before transitioning to Fat Sully’s. Every Monday, its top-tier smash burger is just $8 (you can score the same deal every weekday from 4 to 6 p.m. during happy hour).
Angelo’s Taverna: On Mollusk Mondays at both the East Sixth Avenue and Littleton locations, get a big bowl of mussels with bread for $7, or clams and linguine with a soup or salad for $17.
Blue Island Oyster Bar & Seafood: Get $1.35 permium oysters all day during Shuck Mondays at both the Cherry Creek and Lone Tree locations.
The Crypt: While this Uptown bar has an impressive mostly-vegan food menu, it also offers a damn tasty traditional beef burger, which is available with a can of Hamm’s for $10 on Mondays.
Dough Counter: Created by the owner of Marco’s Coal-Fired, this spot on South Colorado Boulevard has solid pizza (including a gluten-free version), gluten-free tenders, salads and more. Get 15 percent off your entire bill on Mondays when ordering on the restaurant’s website using code WEB15.
The Irish Rover: This classic Irish pub is known for its cheap food specials, including $1 sliders (beef, pork or chicken) on Mondays.
Reckless Noodles: Take advantage of this spot’s all-day happy hour on Mondays for food deals like Lobster Rangoon Bao for $7, the $4 caramelized pork roll, a roast duck crispy roll for $6 and a $5 hand-pounded papaya salad.
Revival Denver Public House: This Uptown spot with a killer happy hour also serves 75-cent wings and $2 oysters from 3 to 11 p.m. every Monday.
Tuesday
Taco Tuesdays at various locations: We can’t talk about food deals without a shoutout to Taco Tuesday. Some of the cheapest tacos are served at the Irish Rover ($1), Adelitas Cocina Y Cantina ($2), Chivis ($2) and El Camino Community Tavern ($2).
The Castle Bar & Grill, Littleton: This old-school spot does indeed look like a castle and has a sunken bar where you can enjoy some of the best burgers in town. On Tuesdays, they’re buy one, get one half off.
GB Fish & Chips: This fish and chips eatery offers several weekly offers at its locations on South Broadway, in Arvada and in Edgewater. Our favorite is Haddock Tuesday, when you can get a massive piece of fried fish for $10.
Wednesday
The British Bulldog: This downtown bar serves English pub fare alongside Indian dishes. On Wednesdays, dig into chicken masala for just $10.
Helga’s Haus & Bier Garden: A traditional German spot in Aurora, Helga’s has been a staple for decades and still offers its popular, all-you-can-eat schnitzel dinner on Wednesday. Choose from the traditional platter ($23.70) or go Jäger-style ($26.70), and then settle in for as much fried meat as you can handle.
La Diabla: Chef Jose Avila’s Ballpark hotspot for pozole and tacos has several great weekday deals, but the best of the bunch is Jose’s Gone Fishing Wednesdays, when you can get two al pastor tacos and a margarita for only $5, two fish tacos and a margarita for $7, or two free al pastor or fish tacos with any cocktail purchase.
Rocky Top Tavern: This casual Regis neighborhood hangout has affordable bar food all the time, but we’re partial to its 75-cent wings on Wednesdays.
Thursday
Adobo: Located on Federal Boulevard, this brick-and-mortar offshoot of a popular food truck serves both New Mexican and Filipino fare. Get a BOGO deal on its Grandma’s Chicken Adobo Bowl every Thursday (that’s two for $16.49).
Hops & Pie: This Tennyson Street favorite for beer and several styles of sourdough-crust pies is particularly popular on Thursday, when you can get a Detroit-style cheese pie for $7.50 all day (add toppings for $1.60 each).
Music City Hot Chicken/Instagram
Friday
Music City Hot Chicken: Now with a full liquor license, MCHC has one of the few Friday deals around: an $8 lunch available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. that includes a sandwich with your choice of chicken or tempeh, house sauce, and pickles, on a brioche bun, plus a bag of chips.
Weekday lunch specials
Historians Ale House: With rooftop views and cheap booze, this Baker bar is a favorite, especially on weekdays when you can score a $10.95 cheeseburger, fries and 10-ounce draft beer, well drink or soda from open until 3 p.m.
Homegrown Tap & Dough: This homegrown pizza chain now has six metro area locations, all of which offer a lunch special from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday, which includes your choice of any individual pizza and salad starting at $14.50.
Lady Nomada: This upscale Mexican concept with three locations serves its $14 lunch special from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday. The combo includes a choice of two items, such as a chicken tinga quesadilla or Baja fish tacos, plus soda or tea and a side of rice and beans; or a bowl loaded with birria, chicken tinga or mushrooms paired with crema, guacamole, pico, cheese, rice and beans, plus soda or tea.
Woody’s Wood Fired Pizza
Everyday deals
Cart-Driver RiNo: Get a Daisy pie topped with tomato sauce, mozzarella and basil for $9 from 10 p.m. to midnight (regular price: $17).
Edgewater Inn Pizza: Stop by for the Locals Spesh, available all day, every day, to score a half-Caesar salad and slice of cheese pizza plus a fountain drink, Coors Light draft or house wine for $12.
Steuben’s: The Happier Meal is a classic at this Uptown modern diner, available from 2 to 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. to close daily. Enjoy a burger, fries and PBR for just $13.
Woody’s Wood-Fired Pizza, Golden: Salad bars and buffets are rare these days, but Woody’s, a true Colorado classic, still offers all-you-can-eat pizza, soup and salad for $17.99 anytime.
Know of a great deal we missed? Email cafe@westword.com.
