• the217
• Food + Drink
• R is for Real Deals

This week, I want to point out some of the amazing food deals we have in town. Often, I write about foods and wines that may be too expensive for a student budget, but it's important to note that it's possible to satisfy your champagne and caviar tastes on a ramen noodle budget (well, maybe not Cristal, and certainly not Russian or Iranian caviar, but we'll do the best we can).

Several restaurants in town offer good specials during the week. Tuesdays tend to be slow for restaurants, so this is a good day to head out: you'll get better service (fewer customers) and, possibly, lower prices. Milo's (Lincoln Square, Urbana) offers an early bird special Tuesday through Thursday until 6 p.m. There are usually three entrees available for less than $10, which includes soup or salad. In addition, the menu always features delicious "upside down" pizzas for $9. These filling pizzas are loaded with cheese and goodies such as wild mushrooms or chicken with rosemary and potatoes.

Zorba's (627 E. Green St., Champaign) also offers specials on Tuesdays, with half-price classic gyros (yeer-ohs), half-price fries and $1 veggie pitas.

Another good idea is eating lunch at a restaurant that might not fit your budget for dinner. For example, the lasagna tradizionale at Biaggi's (2235 S. Neil St., Champaign) is $8.95 at lunch, but $10.95 at dinner. Persimmon Grocery (111 N. Walnut St., Champaign) offers a sandwich menu (all $6), with seating and drink service next door in Bacaro. Wines by the glass are half price at lunch. By shifting your big meal to the middle of the day, you could save a lot of money.

A favorite low-budget and big taste choice of mine is Strawberry Fields (306 W. Springfield Ave., Urbana). For less than $5, you can get a half sandwich and soup or a full sandwich with your choice of fruit or chips. Two people could easily get a meal and share one of the cafe's fabulous desserts for less than $10. I also like the sandwiches at Sunsinger Wine Bar Cafe. Most are less than $6 and come with cornichons, Mediterranean olives and a choice of vegetable chips or deli salad. I also recommend splitting a wine tasting with a friend.

Ethnic restaurants are another good source of low-cost eats. For example, most of the menu offerings at Basil Thai (locations in Champaign and Urbana) are less than $7. Lunch at Bombay Indian Grill (403 E. Green St., Champaign) is $4-$6 and includes pakoras, naan and salad. Jerusalem Middle Eastern Restaurant (601 S. Wright St., Champaign) has sandwiches ranging in price from $2.50 for vegetarian options (falafel, baba ghanoush or hummus) to $4.95 for a beef kabob sandwich. Add shorabat adas (pureed lentil soup) or Jerusalem salad for $1.75, or end with a piece of baklava for $1.

Buffets are another good way to eat a lot for a low price. Basmati's (302 S. First St., Champaign) buffet is a popular choice and is available for lunch or dinner. I like Miko's (407 W. University Ave., Urbana) lunch buffet, which is $8.95 and is served Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The restaurant offers Thai, Korean and Japanese dishes. I like to load up on the maki rolls and crab rangoon, as well as the selection of vegetable tempura and kimchi.

I did say earlier that you could fulfill you champagne tastes on a ramen noodle budget, and I wasn't lying. Try attending a Saturday wine tasting at The Corkscrew or Piccadilly. For $2 (more for specialty tastings), you can try some wonderful wines picked by the staff (including champagne).

As for caviar, this is a little tougher. I suggest getting good quality salmon roe from the Pacific Northwest. Use this along with cräme fraiche (sour cream can be used in a pinch) to fill blini or crepes (thin pancakes) for a decadent (but not so expensive) snack.

Happy bargain hunting and eating!