Inexpensive (but tasty) places to eat?

[GEM]

I'm trying to help out a friend who is staying in a house at Emerald Island next week on a pretty tight budget. She is looking for suggestions for dinner for herself, her husband, and her six year old daughter. She wants ideas of places that are inexpensive....but still decent food. (No fast food, if they can help it!) They have budgeted $35 per dinner for the three of them...and that has to include the tip. They would like suggestions in the Emerald Island area, but don't mind driving a bit if necessary. I suggested Sweet Tomatoes. Any other ideas??

 

[KayR]

Sweet tomatoes is nice, but is about 20 mins drive from EI and is not mega cheap. $35 including drinks and tip may be a squeeze, however check online for coupons which may save some $$.

Other suggestions:

At the junction of Formosa Gardens and the 192 is a place called CiCi's Pizza. Cheap, all you can eat pizza, salad and desert. Not the best pizza in the world, but perfectly OK and really can't be beat for the price.

Near to there is also a Chinese all you can eat buffet. Can't remember the name or price, but that might be worth looking at. Again IMHO, not the best chinese in the world, but perfectly fine for the price.

Chick a fil a (From EI Formosa Gardens Blvd, take a left on the 192, its on the right about 5 mins down the road). Kind of like a KFC.

There is a McDonalds nearby, and a IHOP.

Target at Rolling Oaks Commons (192 and 429 - I think) has a food / restaurant area with Pizza Hut personal pizzas, chicken tenders and some nice salads.

Also consider getting a ready cooked chicken, bagged salad and some nice fresh bread from either Target or Publix. Nice, quick and easy meal.

HTH

--Kay

 

[dyna]

logans usually has good prices 13.99 for 2 dinners till at least 5 or6 pm

TGIFridays often has good prices

Lunch menu till 4 I think has decent prices

Golden Corral buffet serves lunch till 4 I think

Olive garden an fridays to go saves quite a bit of money by being able to take food back to their condo and drinking their own drinks plus cuts out the tip.

Stop at grocery store get chicken dinner with sides for 10 to 12.00 no tip needed

 

[isla bonita]

Some one mentioned a while back of going to Olive Garden and getting a salad, sauce and bread sticks to go and boiling their own pasta.

I remembered because mine enjoy pasta and I would never do my own sauce while on vaca.

 

[moongirl]

Well, if they are staying in a Villa with a kitchen, why not get some easy meals from the grocery store? That's cheap, easy and tasty. We got a microwavable roast beef with gravy, some pre-made mashed potatoes, and vegetables that we just heated up. This was quite tasty. They could also probably get a rotisserie chicken meal as well. Better than fast food. Also good if the little one is tired and not wanting to sit through a restaurant meal.