Patch Picks: Cheap Eats

This week, Patch Picks highlights places nearby that offer great meals for less than $25, whether you’re in the mood for Italian, Cajun, barbecue, pizza or traditional favorites.

Sam Buca’s Italian Favorites

Sam Buca’s in East Windsor has an early-bird special on weekdays, featuring a three-course dinner for $10. Served from 4 to 6 p.m., it includes a choice of salad or pasta e fagioli, and an entree from a list including fish and chips, chicken pot pie, meatloaf, eggplant or chicken parmesan, spaghetti and meatballs, lasagna or cheese ravioli. For dessert, patrons can choose from homemade rice pudding or ice cream. The restaurant also serves pizza, grinders and more.

110 Main St., Broad Brook

860-386-6990

Dorothy and Leroy’s Southern Flavors

Dorothy and Leroy’s specializes in Cajun and southern classics. Many items on the menu are reasonably priced, with southern dinners from $9.99 to $13.99 that include a choice of three sides. Tuesday through Friday, from 4 to 6 p.m. the restaurant offers an early-bird special, with $1 off any Southern specialty entree. Senior citizens get a 10 percent discount on Wednesdays. The menu includes barbecued ribs, pulled pork and chicken, fried chicken, baked macaroni and cheese for entrees, and sides including candied yams, cornbread dressing, collard greens and fried okra.

255 Main St., Windsor Locks

860-758-7705

Danny’s Little Taste of Texas

Featuring slow-cooked barbecue, Texas style, Danny’s Little Taste of Texas in South Windsor has a recession fighter menu, with soup, salad, appetizer, pulled pork, beef, chicken or buffalo sandwiches all for less than $10. It also has eight different $10 dinner plate choices with one side. Dinners include beef or pork ribs, barbecued chicken or pulled pork, chicken or beef. Their barbecue is created with a spice rub and slow-cooked for up to 14 hours to achieve the unique flavor and tenderness.

19 Oakland Road, South Windsor

860-436-1232

Nonna’s Pizza Restaurant

With a variety of gourmet pizza choices, as well as salads, appetizers, grinders, burgers, wraps and Italian dinners, Nonna’s Pizza Restaurant in East Windsor offers something for everyone at reasonable prices. Gourmet pizzas include white pizza, chicken scampi, Mexicana with grilled chicken and jalapeno peppers, moussaka with eggplant and meatballs, clams casino and more. Many items on the menu are around $10, and large pizzas range from $14 to $16.

140 South Main St. (Route 5), East Windsor

860-903-1403

Windsor 75 Diner

For an old-time diner experience, Windsor 75 Diner in Windsor offers breakfast, lunch and dinner all day. They have an array of burgers and chicken sandwiches, as well traditional entrees including a turkey dinner with stuffing and cranberry sauce or pork chops grilled and served with applesauce. Entrees range in price from $10.99 to $16.99. They also offer appetizers, club sandwiches and classic sandwiches such as a grilled Reuben or a Monte Cristo, with most items priced at less than $10. The diner is open seven days a week, Sunday and Monday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Tuesday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

35 Poquonock Ave., Windsor,

860-925-6256