The deal: This casual south Minneapolis neighborhood bistro is all about Caribbean flavors while keeping budgets in mind. The Wednesday date night paella special — with a side of flamenco dancing — is no exception. Choose two appetizers (soup, salad, tostones or yuca frita) and two paellas (wild mushroom or Valencia-style with chicken, chorizo, calamari, shrimp, mussels and clams), both a Cuban version of the Spanish classic dish. Wash it all down with a drink, choosing from red or white sangria, house red or white wine or juice. We highly recommend the white sangria, mango avocado salad and Valencia paella.
The three-course Thursday date-night special at Copper Hen features items not on the everyday menu, including the standout beef bread appetizer (top). Entree choices include Moroccan chicken and swordfish (for an upcharge), and two cupcakes.
Cost: $55 for two; three courses.
The deal: You’ll want to stay awhile to soak in this restaurant with French farmhouse vibes and an emphasis on scratch cooking and local ingredients. Choose two appetizers, two entrees and dessert from the special menu, which features some gems not on the regular menu. There’s a lengthy list of options, making it suitable for a variety of cravings and eaters, choosing from dishes like Moroccan chicken to two kinds of burgers. As part of the special, a mystery bottle of red or white wine is $25. The wine list is well-curated, so it’s a low-risk, high-reward venture.
A la carte, the food bill would have tallied $101 before taxes and wines start at $40, making this Thursday special one of the best bargains around. Highly recommended are the beef bread, barbecue burger, Moroccan chicken and champagne cupcake.