Frugal Floozie Friday - Banfield's Bar & Grill

My very dear friends Mary and Art joined Craig and me for dinner recently, at Banfield's Bar & Grill. A casual place with great inexpensive options, it's a perfect place to feature today for Frugal Floozie Friday.

Burgers were the stars of the evening, as three members of our group ordered them. Art and Mary both ordered the burger "deal of the day" (pictured above), which came in at just under our mandatory budget of $5 per person even with all the toppings - tomatoes, lettuce, pickles, and condiments - that either of them might want to choose from. Crisp french fries and pickles were also part of the deal, which was a tremendous value.

Craig ordered the Black-n-Blue Burger, topped with rich blue cheese and caramelized onions, which crept just over the budgetary limit at $5.95. But it was very good, should anyone have a craving for it and be willing to spend just a little bit extra.


I decided to try some other frugal options, and so I ordered a cup of the very rich, creamy Potato Swiss Bacon Soup for $2.50 and paired it with a platter of the cheese nachos, curious as to how generous the $4.95 serving would be. I was impressed to find that this is something that can easily be shared by a few folks who just want a snack and something to drink while they chat an evening away or watch a sporting event. Craig nibbled at them along with me as I slowed down, and we still weren't able to finish them.

Banfield's offers great, friendly service and a lot of food that meets our strict financial limits: deep fried mushrooms, onions rings, jalapeno poppers, mini tacos, and even a Veggie Tray all cost less than $5 each. The Big B Burger - with cheese, pickle, onion, lettuce, and special sauce - costs only $4.99, served with fries and a pickle. A 1/3-pound prime sirloin burger can be had for $4.75; and a grilled cheese sandwich is available for $4.95, served with chips, cole slaw, and a pickle spear.

Breakfast is served from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, and there are a number of dishes to choose from within our budget, as well: 2 eggs with hash browns, choice of meat, and toast for $4.25; a 3-egg cheese omelet, also with hash browns and toast, for $4.95; a breakfast sandwich on a grilled English muffin costs $4.25; and either buttermilk pancakes or French toast can be enjoyed for $4.50. ; Waffles with a choice of meat cost $4.25.

So head over to Banfield's, where you can find lots of comfort food options for great prices!


Banfield's Bar & Grill
3140 Packard
Ann Arbor, MI 48108
734-971-3300
Monday - Saturday: 11 a.m. - midnight
Sunday: 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.



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Frugal Floozie Friday - The Village Pub

Today's Frugal Floozie Friday feature - The Village Pub - is a boon to a hearty eater on a tight budget. Not only does it already offer very reasonable prices for generous portions of food; but my family and I found out completely serendipitously that on Sundays all appetizers - precisely what we'd ordered, without realizing there were any special circumstances - are half-price for the entire day.

So when Jeremy ordered the Loaded Fries at $4.99 for an entire plateful, we thought he was just squeaking in under our mandatory budget of $5 per person or less. Little did we know that this large serving (which he couldn't even finish, thus providing me with leftovers for an excellent breakfast the next morning) would ultimately cost only $2.50.

The chili had just the right amount of spice to it - not bland, not hot - and the fries that weren't buried were perfectly crisp on the outside and tender in the center. The potatoes weren't just an afterthought, a mere vehicle for the topping; they were excellent on their own.

Stuart and I split the Pile High Nachos, pictured above, which were laden with cheese sauce, spiced beef, onions and tomatoes; the dish is served with sour cream and a fresh salsa. These normally cost $7.99 ($4 on Sundays) and were a lot of food even for two good eaters. Both the nachos and the fries can be ordered either with shredded cheese or with the meltingly gooey sauce.

We received great friendly service, even though the bartender was manning the fort by himself and handling both bar and dining patrons. The space is sophisticated, featuring some lovely art work; it's not just a standard sports-watching venue, even though a multitude of televisions lines the walls so that junkies can get their fix of baseball, soccer, NASCAR, dodgeball, or anything else that's being played.

Cottage Inn pizza is available, and there are substantial sandwiches to halve - steak or chicken Philly, New York Reuben, grilled salmon, or chicken bruschetta - ranging in price from $7.99-$8.99. There are a number of appetizers to choose from, and they're perfect for sharing with family and friends. For $7.99, you can split Village Wings, a chicken and vegetable quesadilla, or chicken tenders; for $8.99, you can share Big Bang Shrimp or calamari. And remember, on Sundays these starters are all half-price.

Perfectly located along Washtenaw, the Pub is across the street from Arborland Mall, ready to feed hungry shoppers.  It's convenient for those travelling between Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti, those exiting off US-23 ... really, it's all about location, location, location.  And great food at that location!

The Village Pub
3452 Washtenaw Ave.
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
734-929-5370



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