Cat's Meow

Sometimes you're in the mood for a dive, sometimes you're in the mood for a spot that doesn't have a beef jerky rack, but you're always in the mood to not spend money. Go swank and cheap at Cat's Meow

CM's mission's to provide irresponsibly low-priced hooch & food in a casually classy environment: a 100-seat patio; a downstairs lounge decked out in bright red walls & matching banquette; and a main barroom sporting a massive white-marble bartop and murals depicting musicians from Beck to a Ziggy Stardusted Bowie. Besides two $12 meals (6oz grilled ribeye, Alaskan salmon filet), grub's all $10 or less, including 10oz black Angus burgers, crab cake sandwiches, beef empanadas, baked mac & cheese w/ Nueskes bacon, and a six fat-shrimp cocktail that'll never leave you asking "Where's the crustaceans?". For your liver, drafts run $4 (Blue Moon, Alagash White, Guinness), 22oz Fat Tires cost $6, wines-by-the-glass're $8, and specialty cocktails max out at $9, whether it's the Maker's Manhattan, The Lebowski (Van Gogh espresso vodka, Kahlua, cream), or Mangotini: Malibu Mango rum, 3 Olives Orange Vodka, fresh mango nectar, and a garnish of your remaining dignity

For the cheap of both worlds, grab a daily combo special, like Monday's 25-cent wings/$2 Bud Lights, Wednesday's $3 mini burger trio/$5 Effen cocktails, and Thursday's blowout of $2 quesadillas, $2 PBR drafts, and $3 Jameson shots -- so whether you're in the mood for Mexican, American, or Irish, on this night they'll be in the mood for you.