How to eat well in Ann Arbor without breaking the bank

Happy hour mussels at the Earle are one of the best deals in town.

Jessica Webster | AnnArbor.com

If you're looking to eat well in Ann Arbor but need to stay on a moderate budget, you might find yourself frustrated. Ed Vielmetti recently wrote up a guide to eating gourmet sandwiches on the cheap, but what about sit-down dinner service? For the most part, it's all about timing.

I'm a big fan of The Earle. I love the wine list, the live jazz, and the cozy romantic atmosphere. And, it turns out, it can be pretty affordable as long as you're dining in the wine bar. Every weekday evening, early diners can partake of a bowl of The Earle's delicious steamed mussels for just $2.75. Served in a broth of white wine, garlic and tomatoes, and accompanied by a basket of fresh bread to soak up the broth, this is one of the most delicious small plates in the city. Get there early, though. The mussels are only available between 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

Just a block away, the bar menu at Grange offers reasonably priced plates for the farm-to-fork crowd. Head upstairs to the bar for a separate menu that showcases the restaurant's featured hamburger, delicious poutine fries, spicy fried chicken bits, and more. While you're there, you might consider sampling one of the Grange's delicious cocktails - if you like that sort of thing.

The bar is the place to be at Weber's, too. My friend Molly Motherwell reports that Weber's Habitat Lounge offers its famous prime rib at a steep discount on Monday evenings. Hit the lounge between 5 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. on Mondays and enjoy the prime rib for just $9.95.

Bruschetta with locally farmed shrimp is one of the appetizers you might find offered for free on Thursdays after 9:30 p.m. at eve the restaurant.

Jessica Webster | AnnArbor.com

It doesn't get much cheaper than free, and that's the price for a rotating selection of appetizers in the bar area at eve the restaurant on Thursdays after 9:30 p.m. The night we tried it out, we arrived right at 9:30 p.m., and ordered one of Eve's famous ginger-lime martinis and a wine flight. After about 15 minutes, two trays of appetizers came out of the kitchen. We sampled some delicious shrimp bruschetta topped with Parmesan and tamarind chili-lime chicken wings. We were told there's usually a live band or a DJ, but we were happy with the Italian lounge jazz they were piping in over the house sound system.

Of course there are specials and birthday deals all across the city. You can eat at any Mainstreet Ventures restaurant for free on your birthday, and some of the weeknight specials at Zingerman's Roadhouse are very reasonably priced.Â

Do you have a favorite undiscovered dining deal in Ann Arbor? Post it below or e-mail it to me at JessicaWebster@AnnArbor.com, and if I get enough responses I will post another cheap eats roundup.

Jessica Webster leads the Food & Drink section for the AnnArbor.com community team. You can reach her at JessicaWebster@AnnArbor.com.