Sioux City Adventures: 3 Ways to Enjoy Wine Down Wednesday for $20
Ahh, Wednesday.
For many of us, it marks the halfway point between the weekends, and provides a much-needed silver lining. No matter how bad the rest of the week gets, at least it’s almost over.
So, why not go out and have a little fun with your friends, as a reward for making it this far from Monday?
Well, if you’re anything like me, by Wednesday you’ve most likely blown through most of your weekly eat-out budget, and you’re doubting that you have enough cash to make an outing worthwhile.
That’s what was going through my mind when my friends (and co-workers) invited me to join them at Bev’s on the River last week, for Wine Down Wednesday. In my mind, there was no way I could afford to go out to a fancy place like Bev’s and have a good time.
Or could I?
Suddenly I was on a mission. I accepted the invitation, and walked into the restaurant with my awesome friends and a twenty dollar bill in my pocket, determined to have fun on a budget.
What I found out was Wine Down Wednesday offers a lot of bang for your buck.
The huge draw for most people would be the half price bottles of wine. Not just because of the price, but because, thanks to the handy screw caps, you can take the bottles home with you if you can’t finish them at the restaurant.
Since I don’t drink, I saved some of my money by getting a Diet Coke instead, which was $2.50 (with unlimited refills!).
In addition to the half-price wine, they also have the regular Happy Hour specials until 7pm, which includes $1 off all drinks, and $6 appetizers.
The apps are delicious, and thankfully I was with a group, so I was able to try a few without chipping at my own budget. I ordered the Hot Chicken Wings, with both bleu cheese and ranch (an extra twenty-five cents, but totally worth it).
My friends got the Spicy Beef Nachos and Creamed Spinach and Artichoke Dip.
The Spinach and Artichoke dip was hands down my favorite. The flavor, consistency, and portion size was perfect.
Once Happy Hour was over, I still had some cash to spend, so I turned my attention to the full dinner menu.
I thought about trying another app (at full price), but then my eyes landed on the dessert page. Specifically, I zoned in on the Lemon Paradise Cake. For an unbeatable $6.95, I knew I had to have it.
It really was like a slice of paradise, and if the chorus of “mmm’s” and “oh yeah’s” that rang out as the plate was passed around the table were anything to go by, my friends totally agreed with me.
So, I got a soda, and appetizer, and a dessert for a grand total of…$16.80! I even had enough left to give Sarah, our awesome server, a tip, which is very important.
At the beginning of the evening, I let my friends in on my mission, so throughout the night, it became a game, somewhat, to come up with ways you could spend $20 or less at Wine Down Wednesday. Here are two other examples we came up with:
Example 1: Two Twenties are Better than One
You and your friend both have $20 to spend, giving you a total budget of $40.
You can take advantage of the half-price wine, and share a bottle of Luccio Moscato. Normal price is $28, so at half-off, it’s $14. Since you’re splitting the cost, that’s only seven dollars each! Then you would both have enough left over to get two $6 apps each.
Add a $7 dessert to share, and your combined total would be about $33, plus tax. Plus a tip for your server.
Example 2: The Full Tummy Option
Wine is good. Apps are great. But sometimes, you just want to stuff your face. Am I right?
As I suspected, the majority of the items on Bev’s Dinner Menu are too pricey for a $20 budget. But, if you’re willing to skip the wine in favor of water, you could enjoy one of two pasta dishes: the Garden Tortellini for $14.75 and the Pasta Comodoro for $14.25.
If the wine is an absolute MUST, you could consider getting a glass instead of a bottle. There are many options in both red and white for $5 or $6 per glass. At that price, you could still afford an Applewood Smoked Chicken Salad or Blackened Sirloin Salad for $11.95, and your total would be around $18, not including tax. That might cut it a little close, and you wouldn’t be able to leave a tip, so I would only use this option if you have some wiggle room in your budget.*
In addition to the awesome food and affordable pricing, the atmosphere adds value to the experience. The view of the river was gorgeous, and every Wednesday, you can enjoy the live music of Shawn Lloyd Blomberg and Buckley Mills – a guitarist/violinist duo, for no cover charge.
I admit, I was skeptical at first, but my adventure at Wine Down Wednesday left me pleasantly surprised at how much I was able to enjoy myself without breaking my bank.
Where is your favorite place to socialize on a budget? Where should I go on my next adventure? Drop me a comment and let me know! I’m up for anything, as long as it isn’t dangerous, illegal, or harmful to myself and others.
* – Just to be clear, I recommend that you always leave a tip for your server, even if you’re dining on a budget. 😉
Nakia Tyler is a Project Manager at Team Creative Fire. When she isn’t exercising her creative muscle, she spends her time fan-girling over Doctor Who, playing with her adorable niece, and fueling her shopping addiction. If you see her out and about having adventures, feel free to say hi. She’ll probably be wearing pink.
About the Author
Nakia Tyler Nakia is a Web Specialist at Team Creative Fire. When she isn’t exercising her creative muscle, she spends her time fan-girling over Doctor Who, playing with her adorable niece, and channeling her inner Hello Kitty. If you see her out and about having adventures, feel free to say hi. She’ll probably be wearing pink.
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