suggestions on CHEAP places to eat

[Arkiegirl]

We just returned from a few days in Branson--we spent a FORTUNE on food for our family of 5.

I am in need of some suggestions for cheap places to eat (other than McD's--just cant do that one).

I am all about eating a good, fun places. But the reality is its a big waste of a LOT of money that could be used else where.

We even did things like big breakfasts and then late lunch/early dinner with snacks, used coupons, etc. I just would love to hear of any places you are found to be very reasonable.

[DalmationDad]

Like Pizza? If yes, Luigi's generally has some great $5 lunch specials, and it is great food.

[Cheesecake]

When I had small children we saved money on eating, so we could do alot of stuff.............

We had our own camper, so we ate there. We grocery shopped and ate food we fixed ourselves.

When we stayed in a Motel, we got one with a small refrigerator (this was before microwave ovens)....and we grocery shopped. WE had cold cereal and milk and fruit and fresh veggies, bread and lunch meat and cheese, and we ''had picnics''.

Now with Microwaves, you could soup and cracker, or get some of the small tubs of macaroni and cheese etc etc. Plastic forks and spoons and everything goes into the trash afterward.

When we ate out we ordered the lower priced meals, we never drank anything but water with the meal. We had soda then from the car, that we had purchased at the Grocery store, afterward.

In other words, we didn't eat in restaurants, .... we fixed our own, in a park or parking lot...and we never starved.

[Branson Queen]

Pizza World buffet is one of the cheapest that we like.

[lucyann]

Always have water with our meals unless a kids meal includes the drink. Portions are so big at some places that we share. For example, Dana's BBQ, we order 3 entrees for 4 people and have plenty of food. At burger places, hubby and I will share a combo. A third lb burger is plenty to share. Never, ever order dessert or appetizers. Our kids know better than to grumble. This is the only way we get to go out. Sometimes you have to be careful even with coupons. Coupons may be a good deal for a particular establishment. But is there a place to eat cheaper than the coupon deal? Depending on where you're eating breakfast, that can be the most expensive meal eaten out. Juice and milk prices at restaurants are astronomical. We usually stay at a very reasonably priced hotel that has a good hot breakfast included. Take along a cooler with bottled water and snacks.

[scrapingChick]

We are in the same boat as you. We try to cut as many corners as we can while still getting a decent meal. We like pizza and mazzios had the best deal when we were in Branson. 2 large 1 topping pizzas for 18.99. They also had 2 liters for 1.99 and they gave us free cups. Buffets are also a cheap way to go if you like buffets. Just don't go to the Baldknobbers! Also order water when dining in. It's much cheaper!

[Mellie]

Vacations mean different things, to different people. When DH and I go on vacation, dinner at a nice restaurant every night is very important. So, we usually do like Cheesecake suggested, and take something with us for our breakfasts and we usually eat lunch at McDonalds dollar menu, or something like that. We have also been known to pick-up sandwich stuff for lunch, if there's a fridge in the room.

For those who don't find eating out that important, I would bring stuff for every single meal. There is no reason to eat out at all, if you don't find it that important. You can request a room with a fridge and microwave. Or even if you can't have a fridge/microwave, pack a big crockpot. Then, run to the store in the morning, and throw everything in the crockpot to cook while you're out during the day. When you come back to the room, the meal will be ready.

[hhawkins]

I have to go with Millie. Eating out is a big part of the enjoyment for my family. If you could see us, would you would have no problem believing that.

We try to be as cheap as possible and still do a good breakfast. We often do one of the the $3.99 or $4.99 buffets with water. At lunch and dinner, we do enjoy ourselves. Neither of us have expensive tastes, and $15 a person is a lot for us. So eating out is still not too bad, but I can see that it could become very expensive as our family grows.

We do often order just water to drink. But that is the only suggestion that we ever really stick to. We often stay at our time share condo and buy food with the best intentions of cooking and eating there, but at the end of the trip we just throw lots away. We just like to eat out tooooo much I guess.

[OkieAnon]

we're not big breakfast eaters, the cont breakfast at the motel is usually enough for us.

then for lunch most times we'll have been to the malls during the morning and are kind've wore out and will grab a pizza or subs and take back to the motel, usually take along our own cokes and chips from home so lunch is pretty cheap.

for supper - (dinner for the city folk) - we'll go out someplace like Dana or Mcfarlains.

[Crazy4Branson]

When I travel, whether alone or with, say gr kids, I usually eat only 2 meals a day. It frees up time for other stuff....

Ideally, I/we eat a large brunch/buffet abt. mid-morning, then eat supper (dinner to city folks) about 5-ish. This schedule is great for Branson, so I can circumvent the crowds in restaurants....

If I have the gr kids with me, then, I have a cooler full of milk/juice/soda/water & ind. pkgs. of crackers/granola bars/oatmeal cookies/sweetened cereal/mini snickers/canned aerosol "sqeeze-cheese" & fruit. So, we have "picnics" @ rest stops/ poolside @ our motel/ theater parking lots!/ WalMart!

This definately cuts eating costs, but the main reason I do it is for schedule convenience & we don't spend literally 1/2 of our vacation days sitting in restaurants 3 times a day....just my 2cent's worth....

[ggh]

We use to eat out of a cooler a LOT - and no one ever seems to mind eating bologna and cheese sandwiches and cheetos, with homemade cookies, from home, on the edge of the lake.

I always packed the cooler with milk for cereal, fruits, and lots of frozen water bottles. If your family drinks soda, buy it at WM and drink it while you are out for .50 a bottle instead of paying $2/drink at a restaurant.

We often stay in a condo - and when we do I always stop by the grocery store. A package of Toll House cookies ready to bake is always a hit - they're GOOD warm from the oven, and keep us from wanting to go out for something sweet.

Order out, and eat it in the condo, at a picnic table or something instead of inside - it keeps the amount spent on tips, sodas, appetizers and desserts to a minimum.

Kids can always share from Danna's BBQ menu - heck, most adults I know share entree's there.

[SweetSue]

We often just eat breakfast and lunch, skipping dinner. We order water (unless the restaurant has peach tea! ). We never order an appetizer and rarely dessert. We have an RV so we fix a lot of our meals there, but we do enjoy eating out--that's part of the vacation fun for us! I don't want to come to Branson and not eat at Moon River Grill, Olive Garden, White River Fish House, Danna's, Circle B's Chuckwagon, Gilley's Texas Cafe (for the Wild Bull Chili). We try to come to Branson about once a month, so we don't eat at all of these restaurants every time! We don't eat at Silver Dollar City, usually. We will go for a long morning, then stop in town for a good meal.

[ggh]

You can eat for a reasonable price in Branson, if you're committed to doing so. I have a grown family now, but when my 3 kids were younger, I had to tell them you can spend $X on your meal, no more -otherwise my oldest would want to try the most exotic dish on the menu, and my son would want the largest Prime Rib.

Luigi's is one of my and dh's favorite spots to eat -and we can choose to have a $18 pizza plus salads, and drinks, or we could have their large cheese pizza for $10 and be just as full. Their lunch menu is a great way to make the dollar stretch $5 is a good deal for what they have to offer.

If you go into Olive Garden, you can eat all the soup and salad you want for $8/person, with the breadsticks - or you can order $20 entrees for everyone... it's like that in most places.

Eat an appetizer for an entree, skip dessert, drink water, share entree's, ........or maybe the best option is to eat LUNCH out, and eat bkfst at the hotel, and dinner out of the cooler - since most lunch menues are cheaper than dinner menu's and they offer about the same fare.

[Branson Queen]

We like to eat breakfast at the motel, our big meal at lunch, and then a sandwich or snack in the evening. Most restaurants have a cheaper lunch menu. We do it just because we don't like a huge evening meal and the crowds are a lot lighter.

[ashbris]

When we stay at BB, we eat a big breakfast, maybe a snack in the afternoon and then dinner out somewhere good. Then there is the cookies, cobbler and ice cream in the evening......you really end up saving some money on food when you stay at one of these motels!