IS 35 THE NEW 50?

Suddenly cheap is chic, and conveniently necessary.

Judging by the contents of our mail box, it would seem that Dine Out Vancouver has settled in to stay, with news of restaurant after restaurant chalking up loonie pinching menus on their sandwich boards -- most of these, as in the Dine Out formula, hovering around the $35 and even $25 price points.

Is this but a temporary measure to continue loading bums into seats during an iffy mid season; a resigned adjustment to a long term market mindset; or a last ditch effort to furiously bail and keep floating for one more month or two? Considering that our city's restaurants are vulnerable to the greater world's economic problems to widely varying degrees, it's probably some of each. At any rate,  it will be interesting to see at the end of the year if price slashing has been the cure or a curse.  Even more, who is still standing at the end of the day? Forward momentum creativity will help, but so will any solid groundwork laid in the past in the way of relationships with customers and suppliers.

Yet for the consumer, at least for those in a position to do so, it's an advantageous time to eat out.  To get started here is a list of some of the budget options out there now. We'll be adding more to this list as they come along. Look for the quick link to this section in the index of both the Restaurant Section (Best Deals) and the Daily News section (Tip Jar). 

Many consider Bishop's Restaurant at 2183 West 4th avenue to be Canada's answer to Chez Panisse. For only $38 you can enjoy the most recent version of Bishop's three-course table d'hôte every evening (including Friday and Saturday) from 5:30 to 6:30 PM.

Fraiche Restaurant in West Vancouver is celebrating its first year anniversary with a four course dinner priced at $35. The birthday menu will be available  from Tuesday March 3rd to Thursday, March 5th. Reservations may be made by calling 604-925-7595.

The Glowbal Group Restaurants will begin their Passport program as of March 16th. Enjoy the special "passport" menus at all five of their restaurants (priced between $20 and $35) and you could win a luxury wine and dine trip to Mission Hill Family Estate Winery in Kelowna. See all details and menus here. Glowbal group restaurants include glowbal grill and satay bar, Coast Restaurant, Sanafir restaurant and lounge, Italian Kitchen and Italian Trattoria.

From Papi's Ristorante in Richmond.  Table d'hote dinner of three courses at $34.95 available every evening.

If you have a  Provence Marinaside's Family Membership you qualify for the $37 price on their prix fixe menu for March. A three course menu that features such Provence favourites as seared sablefish or wild mushroom ravioli. See the complete menu here.

Senova Restaurant’s “Cuisine of the Sun” is offering a $30, three-course menu of Smoked Cod and Potato Soup, Duck Confit, White Coco Beans and finishing with a Vanilla Bean Panna Cotta and Hazelnut Churros.  604-266-8643.  Senova is open for lunch from 11:30 am, tapas at the 20 seat bar during the afternoon, and dinner from 5:30 to 10 pm daily. 1864 West 57th Avenue.

From Papi's Ristorante in Richmond.   Early Bird dinners featuring both a salad and a pasta of the day for $24.95 if you order between 5 to 6 p.m. Wine tastings are ongoing in the Wine Bar every Tuesday ... 5 wines matched with 5 tasting plates for $25.00. First come first served.

So.Cial at Le Magasin (332 Water Street) has introduced a new weekly wine tasting series. Join them in Gastown every Thursday for a one hour complimentary wine tasting in the bar. This week, February 26th, they feature Nichol Vinyard from the Naramata area of the South Okanagan along with a few small bites from Executive Chef Romy Prasad. Future tastings will feature Morning Bay Vineyard of Pender Island; Desert Hills and Van Western Vineyards, both from the Okanagan; and Pacific Breeze Winery of New Westminster. Taking place 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. every Thursday,  reservations are not required. Chef Prasad will also offer a 3 course menu paired with these wines for the remainder of the week (wine and menu changes each Thursday).   $25 per person (wine additional).  Available for 7 nights, 5 p.m. – 11 p.m.  604-669-4488.

Quattro on Fourth will be opening for lunch beginning in March on Thursdays and Fridays only. Look for their popular $10 pasta lunch specials.

Hart House at Deer Lake in Burnaby are giving a 25 percent price reduction on every bottle of wine in their cellar every Tuesday.  This deal will continue every Tuesday through April 30th, 2009.

Uva Wine Bar will be open on Sundays to offer a sweet deal on Prosecco. $5 per glass, all evening long.