Budget Crunch: 10 delicious deals to devour now

Got $10 and a friend? Then Kevin Korinek has 10 tasty deals you must try now.

1. For classier digs in a relaxed atmosphere, check out Vin de Set in Lafayette Square. From 2 to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, the classic, French-inspired bistro offers $3.25 drafts and $6 glasses of wine. But the real crème de la crème of this deal is in half-priced hors d'oeuvres and crepes. You can’t go wrong with spicy crab beignets or the butternut squash crepe, a perfect summer dish. Get there early and enjoy great views of the city from their amazing rooftop patio. Bienvenue!

2. Bonefish Grill in Brentwood is rocking a great daily special from 4 to 6:30 pm. Enjoy $5 cocktails and signature martinis alongside a satisfying menu of $6 bar bites. I've got my eyes (and taste buds) on the Blueberry Lemon Drop martini and wagyu beef sliders, served on a potato bun with a signature sauce.

3. Anytime you can combine cocktails and dessert, you get the best of both worlds. I’m glad The Fountain on Locust feels the same way. Stop by the Midtown dessert shop and café during the workweek from 3 to 6 p.m. and get a $6 ice cream martini. The Toblerone martini with coffee and hazelnut liqueurs and luscious, Zanzibar chocolate ice cream is the best way to have your cocktail and eat it, too.

4. If you’re feeling a taste for exotic locales and exciting flavors, try a taste of South America. Head to Tango in St. Charles and enjoy traditional Argentine spicy beef empanadas cooked to order for $3 each. On Wednesdays and Thursdays, you can get 10 percent off your entire order. There are also vegetarian options, like the empanadas de humita, filled with creamed corn, Romano and Parmesan cheeses. Save on the plane ticket and travel time – splurge on some amazing Argentinian eats.

5. If South America isn't your ideal vacation spot, try a taste of the Mediterranean. Go to Aya Sofia in Lindenwood Park, serving up exceptional Turkish fare and a perfect $10 lunch special – one chicken or beef kebob served with tabbouleh, rice pilaf and some of the tastiest in-house hummus you’ve had. These colorful plates are sure to fill your eyes and, subsequently, your stomach.

6. Case of the Mondays? Not anymore. At Mona’s on The Hill, get your week started with its $10 burger and beer special. Enjoy its new burger – a juicy, beefy single patty, topped with provolone fondue and hardwood smoked bacon. Wash all that loveliness down with a local draft while you enjoy springtime vibes on the patio. Take that, Monday.

7. Pretty soon you’ll can catch a trolley and peruse the best that The Delmar Loop has to offer, grab a half-priced drink Tuesday through Friday from 2 to 4 p.m. at Piccione Pastry. My money is on a refreshing Italian cream soda or a delectable iced mocha. If you can’t make it that early, stop by from 7 to 9 p.m. for half-price cannoli. Nab yourself a sugary treat like a birthday sprinkle cannoli. It’s somebody’s birthday somewhere, right?

8. For those on the Illinois-side, make a plan to visit The Wine Tap in downtown Belleville on Wednesdays for burger night. From 4 to 6 p.m., you can have a gorgeous, gourmet burger with all the fixin’s, served with a heaping side of loaded potato salad for only $4. Just remember, you can’t enjoy a burger without a tall, cold draft. Luckily, you’ve got extra pocket change now.

9. One of the best happy hours in St. Louis goes down at HandleBar in The Grove. Every Tuesday, happy hour lasts all night – yes, you read that right. Enjoy half-off heavenly 12-inch pizzas and $1 off draft beers and signature cocktails. With a pool table, outdoor patio and a rotating list of DJs and events, you have several happy hours in store.

10. I've saved the best for last, even though this one breaks the rules for coming-in $1 more than my Budget Crunch limit, but all-you-can-eat fried chicken is a huge deal – I challenge you to pass it up. On Wednesday nights, Two Shamrocks in O’Fallon, Missouri is giving us our fried chicken fix for $11, so we might as well get with the program. Served with hearty portions of mashed potatoes and green beans, this is a meal that is sure to fill you up until the next day. Prepare for a fried chicken food coma. And for leftovers.

Kevin Korinek is a freelance writer and photographer with a passion for making homemade pie.