An Unexpected Free Dinner Out

 My husband received a $100 gift card, at Christmas time, from one of our neighbors, to dine at one of the most expensive restaurants in our area. It would be an understatement if I said $100 would barely cover a dinner for two. At first we thought we would use it at Christmas time, or maybe to ring in The New Year. At $32 to $44 per entree it just didn't seem doable for us at the time. Then we thought maybe for Valentine's Day or perhaps for our anniversary but we never got around to it. Once you add in appetizers, possibly a dessert and most assuredly a cup of decaf coffee at the end of the meal, it just didn't make economic sense. The restaurant (Italian) does sell individual pizzas and hubs and I estimated that if ever there was a time when we were just too tired to cook, we could always send out for one of their extraordinary pizzas.

Then this notice, from this expensive restaurant,  popped up in my Facebook feed last week:

For only $29.95 per person, a three course dinner (that included unlimited garlic breadsticks, coffee, tea and soda) comprised of an appetizer, entree and dessert, was on offer at this restaurant for the remainder of our winter months from Monday to Thursday. Without hesitating, hubs and I booked a Thursday night reservation and ate ourselves into oblivion. I had the filet mignon. Hubby had the roasted chicken over risotto. We both had appetizers (me the Italian rice ball over a marinara sauce and hubs had a Caesar salad) as well as dessert! Hubs had the flourless chocolate cake and I had the cheesecake!! The food was so good, I didn't have time to take a photo of anything except the desserts!!

I am so glad we waited. Who knew? The entire meal, with tax came to $70.17 (I had to pay an extra $5 for the filet mignon) which the gift card covered nicely. Tip could not be added to gift cards, which we knew and expected. We left a $13 cash tip which equaled 18% of the total. The service was excellent. It was so nice getting dressed up and going out to somewhere of importance! We have $30 left on the gift card which will cover two pizzas!! 

I got these screen shots off the restaurant's website, starting off with the breadsticks and wine (we don't drink) I had what the gentleman had, arancini which is a rice ball stuffed with cheese and peas, for Course 1. I had the filet mignon over fettuccini for Course 2 but I had the cheesecake for dessert instead of the two mini cannolis for Course 3. A freshly brewed cup of decaf coffee and hubs and I had a delightful evening out. Can't wait to tell our neighbor, who gave us the gift card, about our great evening out!

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