It's no secret that eating out has gotten more expensive.

But there’s good news, too…the area has more recurring deals, daily specials, and weekly offers than most people realize. We looked around, found more than we expected, and put together a list of favorites.

Because the tab doesn't have to be the most memorable part of the evening…

Oysters Don't Have to Be a Splurge

If there's one thing our (landlocked) area seems to do exceptionally well on a budget, it's oysters. A number of spots around the area are running dedicated oyster specials right now…here are a few worth knowing about.

Hen of the Wood is well known for their oyster specials…they’re currently offering $2 oysters from 4 to 5 p.m. daily. Original Skiff on Battery Street follows suit, also running $2 oysters every day from 4 to 5 p.m. La Reprise is offering half-priced oysters every day from 4 to 5:30. And over in Winooski, Onion City Chicken & Oyster runs their Oyster Hour with $2 oysters on weekdays from 4 to 5 p.m. and on weekends from 3 to 5 p.m…a two-hour window that's hard to beat on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon.

Leunig’s at a Price That Might Surprise You

Leunig's Bistro has been running their Bistro Dinners for years, and it remains one of the best recurring deals in Burlington. For $28, you choose an entrée —upscale treats like Steak Frites, Beef Bourguignon, Mediterranean Salmon Pasta, and several others — plus soup or a salad. Add a 7-ounce pour of Bistro Merlot, Rosé, or Chardonnay for $7, and you have a proper dinner out for well under $40.

You have a few options in terms of timing: 3 to 5 p.m. daily, 8 to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 9 to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. That late-night window is particularly underrated…a full bistro dinner after 9 on a Friday is not something most restaurants are offering at this price.

Handmade Pasta. Great Wine. Twenty Dollars.

Gold runs a Tuesday pasta night that might be the best pure value deal in Burlington right now. Handmade pastas at $12, paired with an $8 wine pour. It’s a lovely dinner…excellent food, curated wine, sit-down restaurant, all for $20. If you haven't yet discovered Gold, make it a point to do so…just don’t take our table.

Burgers on a Budget

A few spots around the area have made “Burger Night” a weekly ritual. Guild Tavern keeps Sundays simple: your choice of LaPlatte Farms beef burger and a beer for $22. Over at The Skinny Pancake on the Burlington waterfront, burgers are half price on Mondays from 3 p.m. to closing (both Good Juju and Smashburger). And back at the Original Skiff, it’s on Wednesdays…$10 burgers and frozen drinks, with live music from 6 to 8 p.m.

Wood-Fired Pizza at a Sizzling Price

There are a couple of wood-fired spots offering deals worth knowing about when the craving hits. Pizzeria Verita takes $5 off their margherita pizza on Wednesdays…worth flagging, as it's one of the best margheritas in Burlington at any price. And out in Williston, Folino's offers a variety of pizza/soda/beer combos starting at $8 for two slices and a fountain soda. Hard to beat for a casual lunch or an early dinner.

A Family Affair at Waterworks

Waterworks in Winooski has always been one of those restaurants that earns its reputation on multiple fronts…creative American cuisine, a spectacular perch above the Winooski River, and a room that works equally well for a date night, a group dinner, or a casual weeknight out.

The fact that it also happens to have a fabulous deal for families feels almost like a bonus. Kids 12 and under eat free Sunday through Thursday, which makes it one of the more family-friendly options in the region when you factor in the quality of the food and the setting. The deal is good for dining in the restaurant, for up to two kiddo meals for each accompanying adult.

Ken’s Pizza & Pub: A Deal Every Day of the Week

There's a reason Ken's Pizza & Pub on Church Street has been packed since 1973. It's not nostalgia…it's the understanding that people want generous, satisfying food and drink at prices that don't require a second thought. That philosophy has never gone out of style, and Ken's has never abandoned it.

In addition to attractive everyday pricing, Ken’s offers a different daily special every day, and they've got personality: “Manic Mondays” bring $2 off signature cocktails. “Taco and Tequila Tuesdays” take $2 off margaritas and the Taco Grande, “Thirsty Local Thursdays” pour $2 local beers from Foam, Fiddlehead, and Zero Gravity…you get the idea.

Some restaurants offer value as a promotion. Ken's offers it as a way of life.

And Then There’s the Wine…

Wine has a way of making everything better…the food, the conversation, the evening. It also has a way of making the tab higher. Several spots are doing something about that.

Shelburne Taphouse offers “Wine Down Wednesdays“…$5 house Chardonnay or Cab, or $5 off any bottle of wine. Ken's has their own version of Wine Down Wednesdays, with $2 off any glass. Standing Stone Wines in Winooski also joins the party on Wednesdays, taking $2 off all wines by the glass. And on Mondays, The Daily Planet offers half-price wine bottles off the full list…which, if you're settling in for dinner with someone, is a very good reason to pick a Monday.

There's nothing that ties it all together like a great glass (or bottle) of wine. And these spots are helping you do exactly that without busting your budget.