Bar and Restaurant Deals in Boston

When you hear the name Rialto, you probably don't think "bargain." But on Monday nights, you can dine like a prince at Rialto while spending like a pauper. Beginning at 5:30pm, oysters are just $1 each in the bar and lounge.

Dorado offers some of the most traditional and authentic Mexican food in Boston. The restaurant is best known for its fish tacos--beer-battered fish, cabbage, salsa fresca, pickled onions and Baja crema on soft corn tortillas--and on Wednesdays, fish tacos are $1.99 each.

Here's a secret: Harvard Square has an abundance of good pizza, and most of it is pretty inexpensive. Nobody, however, beats the $5 pie at Oggi. Stop by any Monday evening when an entire tomato basil pie is $5.

Enjoy a comfort food staple elevated to fine dining status--at a jaw-droppingly low price. Every Tuesday, Dante serves up a new kind of grilled cheese for just $2. Past mouthwatering varieties have included the Roman Holiday with buffalo mozzarella, pistachio pesto, sun-dried tomatoes, and pepperoncinis and the Godfather with La Tur cheese and fennel salami pressed on miche bread.

Indian food buffets are a delicious but dangerous thing as it's almost impossible not to eat three times as much as you should. Be prepared to stuff yourself with fantastic Indian food at Bombay Cafe's $7 lunch buffet. Go ahead, indulge till you can't eat any more.

Though Boston might not be permitted to offer alcohol-fueled happy hours, there's no law against one centered around cupcakes. The last Monday of every month, Kickass Cupcakes holds Cocktail Cupcake Happy Hour, with free cupcakes in cocktail-inspired flavors.

Getting a deal on food doesn't have to mean just pizza and tacos. At Tapeo, tapas are just $5 from 5pm onward Monday to Thursday and noon until close Friday through Sunday. Choose from delectable favorites such as Spanish tortilla and marinated anchovy fillets.