Best Early Bird Dinner Savings

Apr 21st 2011 12:00PM / by Nanette Wiser

Before Groupon, Open Table and the Daily Deal, your grandparents' counted on the early bird suppers to save money and sample new restaurants beyond their budget. With restaurants begging you to friend them, more upscale eateries now purvey early bird gourmet specials including Rumba's, Salt Rock Grill, Madfish, Middlegrounds, Island Way Grill, Grillsmith, The Wine Cellar, and more. Foodies rejoice, and double your pleasure on Wednesday when many restaurants offer 1/2 price wine bottle discounts.

Bernini's: Explore innovative Italian cuisine (1/2 price daily 4-7 pm) and impeccable service as well as $2 Finlandia martinis Mon.-Fri. 11 am-7 pm Veal carbonara, shrimp orecchiette, clam linguini, crispy duck, pork osso bucco and chicken madeira range between $9.50-$14.
1702 East Seventh Ave., Ybor City; 813-248-0099
Cafe Alma : In addition to Monday's all you can eat crab legs or prime ribs and Tuesday's half-price wine/tapas menu, you can enjoy Alma's early bird prix fixe (salad, entree, dessert and soda/ice tea) Mon.-Fri. 4:30-6 p.m. After the Alma house salad with figs and feta or Caesar, go wild with the petite sirloin with roasted garlic demi-glace and veggie medley, linguini (shrimp pesto or ground sirloin meatlballs/chorizo) or blackened catch of the day with saffron rice.
260 1st Ave. South, downtown St. Pete;727-502-5002
The Palm Restaurant :From 5-7 pm (and 9 pm to close), you can order dinner from the Palm's Prime Time Bar Bites menu for only $4.50/dish featuring Nova Scotia lobster BLT sliders, crispy blue corn fried oysters, mini crab cakes with chipotle tartar sauce or the charcuterie plate. Oysters on the half shell are only $1.50 and a jumbo shrimp cocktail $2.50. Mangia!
205 Westshore Plaza, Tampa; 813-849-7256
Red Mesa: The $14/person sunset TexMex menu includes choice of sangria, margarita, draft beer or soft drink (4 -5:45 pm, order by 6 pm). Exceptionally spicy entrees reign from seafood (Chimayo chile grilled salmon with black bean sauce; grilled mahi with avocado tomato salad) to carne (pork carnitas with morita chile sauce, carne asada). And if you're going to Push Ultra Lounge, enjoy Red Mesa Cantina downtown.
4912 Fourth St. N,, St. Petersburg; 727-527-8728