February 28, 2008

Dinner on the cheap
Tasty evening meals for $10 or less!
By Susan Ware • food@hippopress.com

Food often tastes better when someone else cooks it for us, but eating out often can mean a major hit to your wallet if you aren’t careful. However, you really don’t need a posh eatery with a double-digit-priced appetizer to feel like you’ve had a great meal.

When you think of a dinner for less than $10, you probably think subs, pizza and combination plates in Chinese restaurants. All highly craveable dining options. Fortunately, however, southern New Hampshire is bursting with other options for a quality bite to eat for less than $10 per person.

Many of them are neighborhood joints, mom & pop places and even pizza shops with menus that stretch beyond the almighty pie. At places like this, it is good to ask the staff what the specialty is — you might just find that the owner makes a killer eggplant parmigian, sitting quietly on the menu at half the price charged at the sit-down restaurant a block away.

Today, $10 doesn’t stretch far; three gallons of gas (maybe), a Sunday paper, large coffee and donut or a martini. Here are more than 100 dinners for less than $10. 

EARLY BIRD
(These spots are open until at least 4 p.m. but close at or before 6 p.m. on some days.)
• Two ham and cheese (or tomato, basil and feta) croissants ($4.50) Madeleines, 124 N. Main St. in Concord, 224-5353. Open Tuesday and Wednesday from 7:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. and Thursday and Friday until 8 p.m., Saturday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Turkey panini ($5.95) Gala Café, 967 Elm St., Manchester, 624-7979 Open daily until 5 p.m.
• Ham, Swiss and pineapple panini ($6.19) J. Beaner’s Café, 25 Route 101A, Amherst, 672-3332 Open Monday through Friday until 6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday until 5 p.m.
• Western poach — eggs with peppers, onions and ham served over jalapeño Focaccia with potatoes ($7.50) Jewell & the Beanstalk, 733 Somerville St., Manchester, 624-3709 Open until 4 p.m., Tuesday through Friday, until 2 p.m. on Saturday and Noon on Sunday.
• Maryland Blue crab cake puttanesca on toasted focaccia ($7.95) Riverwalk Café & Coffee House, 35 Railroad Sq., Nashua, 578-0200 Open Monday through Saturday until 5 p.m., Sunday until 1 p.m.
• Open-face steak sandwich with mashed potatoes and vegetable ($7.95) Suzie’s Diner, 76 Lowell Road, Hudson, 883-2741. Open until 4 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, until 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, until 2 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. on Sunday.
• Kibbi dinner, a lamb-beef meatloaf stuffed with sautéed onions and pine nuts served with roasted potatoes and a salad ($8.95) Elizabeth’s Kitchen, 26 Pleasant St., Concord, 225-0599. Open Monday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. but Tuesday and Wednesday until 6 p.m., Thursday and Friday until 8 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Shrimp, artichokes and Roma tomatoes tossed in a pesto cream sauce with farfalle ($9.95) Harold Square, 226 Rockingham Road, Londonderry, 432-7144. Open Monday and Tuesday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. but Wednesday until 6 p.m., Thursday and Friday until 9 p.m. and on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

ASIAN NOODLE SOUP
• Beef noodle soup with rare steak ($5.95) Pho Golden Bowl, 124 Queen City Ave., Manchester, 622-2000
• Nam Vang region soup (shrimp, crabmeat, fish cake and sliced pork with rice noodles) ($6) Vietnam Noodle House, 138 Main St., Nashua, 886-4566
• Seafood rice noodle soup ($7.95) Jasmine Palace, 116 West Pearl St., Nashua, 882-9168
• Chicken udon ($8.50) Yuki Japanese Grill, 377 S. Willow St., Manchester, 666-6678
• Spicy beef udon/soba ($8.50) YouYou, 150 Broad St., Nashua, 882-8337
• Shrimp tempura udon ($8.95) Asian Breeze, 1328 Hooksett Road, Hooksett, 621-9298
• Yaki udon with chicken ($8.95) Taipei & Tokyo, 7 Colby Court, Bedford, 622-2588

BARBECUE
• Pulled pork sandwich, grungy pilaf, baked beans and cornbread ($9.50) KC’s Smoke Shack, 837 Second St., Manchester, 627-RIBS
• Half rack barbecue ribs, potato and vegetable ($9.95) Shenanigan’s Restaurant & Pub, 586 Nashua St., Milford, 672-2060

BEEF
• Sauteed steak with onions, rice, green plantains and salad ($8.50) Rincon Colombiano, 34½ Canal St., Nashua, 595-1670
• Sizzling Mongolian beef with black pepper sauce, served with rice ($9.25) Peking Garden, 967 Elm St., Manchester, 623-8880
• Bibimbab — beef, sautéed vegetables and a fried egg over rice ($9.95) Goong Choun, 13 Broad St., Nashua, 882-8644
• Sirloin tips, fries ($9.99) Jake D’s Roast Beef & Pizza, 14 West Broadway, Derry, 432-1811

BREAKFAST MOST OF THE DAY
• Brie, ham and spinach omelet with home fries, toast ($7) The Bridge Café, 1117 Elm St., Manchester, 647-9991
• Nine-ounce Sirloin steak, two eggs, home fries and toast ($8.95) Poor Boy’s Diner 136 Rockingham Road, Londonderry, 432-8990
• Marinated steak tips, eggs, home fries and toast ($8.99) Joey’s Diner, 1 Craftsman Lane, Amherst, 577-8955

BURGERS
• Brimmer 8-ounce Burger ($6.95) The Black Brimmer American Bar & Grill, 1087 Elm St., Manchester, 669-5523
• Saturday Night Burger with baked beans and brown bread ($6.99) Elisha’s, 437 Nashua St., Milford, 249-9353
• Bacon cheddar burger ($7.50) Martha’s Exchange, 185 Main St., Nashua, 883-8781
• Maytag burger — stuffed with bleu cheese and topped with crisp bacon ($7.99) Murphy’s Taproom, 494 Elm St., Manchester, 644-3535
• Burger topped with Swiss, Gorgonzola and sautéed mushrooms, with fries, coleslaw ($8.25) Varick’s, 24 Depot St., Manchester, 668-7425
• Cheeseburger club ($8.95) J.W. Hill’s, 795 Elm St., Manchester, 645-7422
• Mini lamb burgers topped with cheddar and Old Bay mayonnaise ($8.95) Peddler’s Daughter, 48 Main St., Nashua, 821-7535
• Bisson sliders ($8.99 for six) Billy’s Sports Bar, 34 Tarrytown Road, Manchester, 622-3644
• Granite Ledge burger, coffee-crusted ($9.95) The Barley House, 132 N. Main St., Concord, 228-6363
• The BBQ burger — cheddar, bacon, sautéed onions and house-made barbecue sauce ($9.99) Depot Square Steak House, One East Broadway, Derry, 437-4200

CHICKEN
• Country fried chicken supreme, mashed potato, vegetables ($6.49) Norton’s Classic Café, 233 Main St., Nashua, 883-4340
• Rotisserie chicken dinner, potato and coleslaw ($ 7.29) Chicken ’n’ Chips, 12 W. Hollis St., Nashua, 889-2001
• Chicken kabobs, fries, onion rings and coleslaw ($7.75) Pano’s Roast Beef Restaurant, 233 Lowell Road, Hudson, 595-7827
• Chicken Shawarma with fries ($8.25) TJ’s Pizza, 150 Bridge St., Pelham, 635-9906
• Sliced chicken with spicy tea sauce ($8.75) Lilac Blossom, 650 Amherst St., Nashua, 886-8420
• Choila (jerked chicken with fresh cilantro, onion and chiles) and an order of herbed flat bread ($9) Cafe Momo, 1065 Hanover St., Manchester, 623-3733
• Orange chicken, fried with red pepper with rice ($9.20) Dragon Star, 75 S. Main St., Concord, 226-2423
• Eggplant with chicken and garlic sauce served in a hot clay pot ($9.50) North Garden, 715 Mast Road, Manchester, 668-5099
• Mango chicken with rice ($9.75) Red Leaf, 295 DW Highway, Nashua, 888-7999
• Chicken mac & cheese with salad ($9.99) Pinkerton Tavern, 13 Manchester Road, Derry, 425-6665
• Chicken pad thai ($9.99) Dynamite Sushi, 30 Lowell Road, Hudson, 889-0055
• Pressure-fried chicken with jo-jo potatoes ($9.99) DW Pizzeria, 78 DW Highway, Merrimack, 883-4900

FROM THE SEA
• Shrimp with rice noodles ($7.95) San Francisco Kitchen, 133 Main St., Nashua, 886-8833
• Fish & chips, coleslaw and fries ($8.25) The Front Anchor, 31 Massabesic St., Manchester, 641-3474
• Fried oysters with fries ($9.50) Makris Lobster & Steak House, 354 Sheep Davis Road, Concord, 225-7665
• Red curry shrimp ($9.50) Tiya’s Restaurant, 8 Hanover St., Manchester, 669-4365. (Open for dinner Thursday through Saturday from 5 to 10 p.m.)
• Haddock boat with choice of side ($9.75) Clam King, 791 Second St., Manchester, 669-2868
• Fried haddock plate ($9.95) The Lobster Claw II, Route 28 Bypass, Derry, 437-2720
• Fried native sole with fries, coleslaw ($9.95) Lobster Tail Restaurant, 4 Cobbetts Pond Road, Windham, 434-8245
• Swordfish kabobs with onions, tomatoes and peppers, bed of rice ($9.99) Tinker’s Seafood, 545 Hooksett Road, Manchester, 622-4272

GREEK
• Souvlaki plate with salad and rice ($7.25) Souvlaki, 256 Bridge St., Manchester, 625-9354
• Stuffed grape leaves with rice ($8.95) Athens Restaurant, 31 Central St., Manchester, 623-9317
• Baked lamb shank, rice and green beans — Thursdays only ($9.25) Annula’s Pizza, 525 Chestnut St., Manchester, 669-2005

INDIAN
• Baingan bhartha — grilled eggplant simmered with onions, tomatoes and herbs ($9.95) India Palace, 493 Amherst St., Nashua, 546-0425
• Daal makhani — black lentils, kidney beans cooked with tomatoes and spices ($9.95) Mehmaan Restaurant, 295 DW Highway, Nashua, 891-1616

ITALIAN
• Eggplant parmigiana, spaghetti and salad ($6.95) Sopranos Pizza, 23 Main St., Nashua, 880-0443
• Spaghetti and meatballs, garlic bread ($7.25) Pizza Mia, 460 Rte 101, Bedford, 472-8878
• Chicken parmigian ($7.49) Ferrari’s Pizza & Pasta in Manchester at 777 S. Willow St., 657-7111, or 444 Second St., 622-3333
• Pesto chicken ziti ($7.95) Luisa’s, 19 S. River Road, Bedford, 668-0581, or 671 Hooksett Road, Manchester, 625-1331
• Chicken parmigian with pasta dinner ($8.95) The Pizza Man, 254 West River Road, Hooksett, 626-7499
• Lasagna with garlic bread and salad ($8.95) Pappy’s Pizza, 1531 Elm St., Manchester, 623-3131
• Spaghetti carbonara ($8.95), Cucina Toscana, 427 Amherst St., Nashua, 821-7356
• Fettucine alfredo ($9.95), CC Tomatoes, 209 Fisherville Road, Concord, 753-4450
• Linguine bolognese ($9.99) Fratello’s Ristorante Italiano, 155 Dow St., Manchester, 624-2022

MEAT & POTATOES
• Shepherd’s Pie made with ground sirloin ($4.95) Humble Pie, Milford, 672-9130, or Goffstown, 497-5001 Open Monday through Friday until 7 p.m., Saturday until 5 p.m., closed Sunday.
• 12-oz hamburger steak topped with sautéed onions, side mashed potatoes and vegetable ($6.50) Red Arrow Diner, 61 Lowell St., Manchester, 626-1118
• Meatloaf, gravy and mashed potato ($7.99) Blake’s Restaurant, 353 S. Main St., Manchester, 669-0220
• Bangers (a mild British sausage) and mashed with gravy ($8.99) Wild Rover Pub, 21 Kosciuszko St., Manchester, 669-7722
• Chopped sirloin with mushroom gravy, mashed potato ($9.95) Puritan Backroom, 245 Hooksett Road, Manchester, 669-6980
• Meatloaf and mashed potatoes ($9.95) Strange Brew, 88 Market St., Manchester, 666-4292
• Pot roast with mashed potatoes ($9.99) Airport Diner, Brown Ave., Manchester, 623-5040

MEXICAN
• Pierna torta — grilled, crusty bread stuffed with roast pork, refried beans and vegetables ($5.25) Consuelo’s Taqueria, 36 Amherst St., Manchester, 622-1134
• Baja fish tacos (two for $6.75) Dos Amigos Burritos, 26 North Main St., Concord, 410-4161
• Chicken and black bean enchiladas, rice and beans ($8.95) Tortilla Flat, 595 DW Highway, Merrimack, 424-4479
• Roasted chicken enchiladas with refried beans ($9.95) Amigo’s Mexican Cantina, 20 South St., Milford, 673-1500
• Chile salad, choice of beef or vegetarian on a bed of tortilla chips ($9.99) Hermanos, 11 Hills Ave., Concord, 224-5669

MIDDLE EASTERN
• Baked kibbah, rice and hummus ($9.50) Cedars Café, 379 Amherst St., Nashua, 578-0700
• Falafel plate, homemade and served with hummus and salad ($9.95) Benvenuto’s, 100 Hanover St., Manchester, 625-4200

PORK
• Pork pie with gravy and sides ($6.25) Rita Mae’s, 280 N. Main St., Manchester, 668-4077
• Roast pork pad Thai ($6.75) Bamboo Garden, 329 Lincoln St., Manchester, 624-0009
• Spicy double-cooked pork with white rice ($7.75) China Gourmet, 25 Main St., Goffstown, 497-3631
• Szechuan spicy pork chop dipped in lotus flour, fried and served on crispy noodles ($9.35) China Kitchen, 173 Hanover St., Manchester, 668-6988
• Szekler goulash — tender pieces of pork cooked with sauerkraut ($9.50) Lala’s Hungarian, 836 Elm St., Manchester, 647-7100
• Wild Boar Basil: tender pork pan-fried with mushrooms, peppercorns, basil and hot chilies in a spicy curry sauce ($9.95) Siam Orchid, 581 Second St., Manchester, 647-5547

SALAD
• Fattoush salad ($5.99) Mezza Lebanese Bistro, 6 Elm St., Nashua, 883-4224
• Steak tip salad ($6.99) Checkmate Pizza, 201 Hanover St., Manchester, 606-3026
• Chef salad with ham, salami, chicken and provolone ($7.25) Mangia, Londonderry Turnpike, Hooksett
• Steak tip Caesar ($7.99) Nadeau’s, 1095 Hanover St., Manchester, 606-4411; 100 Cahill Ave., Manchester, 669-7827, or 776 Mast Road, Goffstown, 623-9315
• Honey Dijon chicken salad with bacon ($8.95) Pasta Loft, 241 Union Square, Milford, 672-2270
• Roasted chicken Waldorf salad ($8.99) Giorgio’s, 524 Nashua St., Milford, 673-3939
• Caesar salad with grilled chicken, Meyer lemon and roasted garlic dressing ($9) 900 Degrees, 50 Dow St., Manchester
• Chicken avocado salad ($9.50) Casa Blanca, 230 Route 101, Bedford, 472-3656
• Salmon avocado salad ($9.75) Takumi, 197 DW Highway, Nashua, 891-1717
• Caesar salad with sugar cane skewered shrimp ($9.95) La Hacienda, 4 Taggart Dr., Nashua, 888-3353
• Roasted chicken tandoori balsamic ($9.99) Gill’s Bar & Grill, 245 Maple St., Manchester, 627-3054

SANDWICHES
• Hot roast beef sandwich ($5.25), Giovanni’s, 379 S. Willow St., Manchester, 644-5757
• Hot carved turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce and gravy ($5.95) Gourmet Grille, 25 Indian Rock Road, Windham, 537-1671
• Stuffed turkey sandwich ($5.95) Jerome’s Delicatessen, 44 Nashua Road, Londonderry, 425-1820, or 393 Bridge St., Manchester, 623-5388
• Eggplant pita ($7.50) Nathaniel’s Family Eatery, 537 Amherst St., Nashua, 883-4052
• French Dip ($7.50), Penuche’s Bar & Grill, 96 Hanover St., Manchester, 626-9830
• Rueben with fries, coleslaw ($8.50) The Red Blazer Restaurant & Pub, 72 Manchester St., Concord, 224-4101
• Spicy turkey sloppy Joe with cole slaw ($8.95) The Black Forest Café, 212 Route 101, Amherst, 672-0500
• The Moe Joe — a three-layer linguica club sandwich with sautéed peppers, onions and garlic with fries ($9.95) Moe Joe’s, 2175 Candia  Road, Manchester, 668-0131

VEGETARIAN
• Eggless egg salad sandwich ($5.25) Café Indigo, 128 Hall St., Concord, 224-1770 Open until 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
• Gundruk (a spicy vegetarian soup made with cured mustard leaves) and an order of flat bread ($7) Cafe Momo, 1065 Hanover St., Manchester, 623-3733
• Mac & cheese ($8) Fody’s Great American Tavern, 9 Clinton St., Nashua, 577-9015
• Combo plate of spinach enchilada, chile relleno and green cheese enchilada served with black beans ($9.50) Casa Blanca, 230 Route 101, Bedford, 472-3656
• Aloo mutter, potato and peas in a spicy sauce ($9.95) Gills Bar & Grill, 245 Maple St., Manchester, 627-3054.