Our favorite restaurant specials and deals

If you like to dine out but have to watch your budget more now than ever, here's a good strategy. Look for the weekly dining and drinking specials that restaurants around the city are offering like never before. Here are some of our favorites and, as you can see, they range from half-priced wines, to all-you-can-eat bar specials to two-for-one deals on hookah heads. Saturday, they're still hoping you'll spend freely.

SUNDAY

South City Kitchen: "Beer and BBQ." Huge platters of smoked barbecue with creative sides — $12.95-$19.95, depending on number of meats ordered. (1675 Cumberland Parkway, Smyrna, 404-435-0700; or in Midtown at 1144 Crescent Ave., 404-873-7358)

Shaun's Restaurant: "Family-style Pasta Night." Garlic bread, salad, pasta and homemade gelato for $12. (1029 Edgewood Ave, 404-577-4358)

Stella Pasta, Pizza, Spirits: Kids under 10 eat free; kids 10-15 eat at 30 percent off. (563 Memorial Drive, 404-688-4238)

Alon's Bakery and Market, Dunwoody location: Brunch entrees just $4.99 and sides $1.99. (4505 Ashford Dunwoody Road, 678-397-1781)

MONDAY

Melting Pot: "Girl's Night Out." The first Monday of every month features a multi-course fondue dinner for $25, with $5 drink specials. (Metro locations.)

Watershed: "Raid the Cellar." Half price on every bottle of wine on the extensive list. (406 W. Ponce de Leon Ave., Decatur. 404-378-4900)

La Tavola: "Molto Monday." Have a heaping plate of house-made pasta and a glass of wine for $15. (992 Virginia Ave., 404-873-5430)

Via Food Bar: All-you-can-eat salad and pizza for $10. (262 Pharr Road, 404-214-5404)

TUESDAY

Kozmo Gastro Pub: "Comfort Tuesday." Fried chicken with mashed potatoes or mac and cheese for $8.99 (11890 Douglas Road, Suite 105, Alpharetta, 678-526-6094)

The Wine Loft: Half price bottles of wine. (300 Marietta St., 404- 225-5105)

Ecco: A rotating roster of Spanish cuisine specials. Currently, it's fideua for two for $44. (40 7th St., 404-347-9555)

Logan's Roadhouse: Two full meals for $13.99 (available Mondays as well). (9380 The Landing Drive, Douglasville, 770-942-0181.)

Murphy's: Try 8 wines for $20 at the 6:30 p.m. wine tasting; stay for dinner and get a $5 credit. (997 Virginia Ave., 404-872-0904

Pizza Fusion: Half off select organic wines. (2233 Peachtree Road, 404-351-9334)

WEDNESDAY

Pozole Restaurant: Tacos for $2. (1044 Greenwood Ave., 404-892-0552)

Pura Vida: The first Wednesday of every month, meet the artist whose works are featured in the restaurant with complimentary tapas and a wine tasting for $10 per person. (656 N. Highland Ave., 404-870-9797)

Marlow's, Kennesaw location: "Ladies Night." Ladies get $5 appetizers, martinis and select glasses of wine. (745 Chastain Road. Kennesaw, 770-425-8777)

Parish: Wine tasting in the Market for $25, beginning at 7 p.m. (240 N. Highland Ave., 404-681-4434)

THURSDAY

Woodfire Grill: Half price on all wines on the extensive list. (1782 Cheshire Bridge Road, 404-347-9055)

Dogwood Restaurant: "All You Can Eat Mussels." At the bar only, for $20. Includes a glass of Kim Crawford Chardonnay. (Available Tuesday-Friday.) (565 Peachtree St., 404-835-1410.)

Peasant Bistro: Live jazz, $5 bar appetizers and $4 Orzel Vodka cocktails. (250 Park Ave. West, 404- 230-1724)

Little Alley: Grey Goose vodka cocktails for $5, with complimentary appetizers. (90 Holcomb Bridge Road, Roswell, 770-992-9198)

FRIDAY

Aqua Blue: Blue Moon draft beers for $3 and selected wines by the glass for $4 with live music. (1564 Holcomb Bridge Road, Roswell. 770-643-8886)

One Midtown Kitchen: "Rib Fridays." Full rack of ribs with spicy barbecue fries and coleslaw for $24. (559 Dutch Valley Road, 404-892-4111)

T.G.I. Friday's: OK, it's every day, but Friday's is serving its best-selling entrees value prices at $9.99 through April 8. (Metro locations.)