Diners for Dating (on a student budget)

One of the many joys that comes from being a college student is learning to function creatively on a food budget (as in an, an “I don’t want to eat Ramen for dinner again, but that’s pretty much all I can afford” budget.)
 
If you’re anything like me, you’ve opened your fridge and discovered it’s void of anything but hot dog condiments. So you close the door and move on to the cabinets. If you’re lucky, here you’ll find a small jar of peanut butter and a nearly empty box of stale Cheerios. Then you open the fridge door again as if something amazing will have fabricated out of thin air. In my case, it never does. I usually complete the fridge-to-cabinet cycle a few more times, then settle on Cheerios.
 
This is nothing out of the ordinary, right? It’s kind of an everyday routine. But situations such as these are tricky when it comes to dating. First dates usually don’t turn into second dates when they involve splitting a PB&J. (Supposing you’ve splurged on the J. and the bread.)
 
So, if you’re willing to save some gas money by riding Trax for free with your Ucard, or if you’ll consider leaving your house a little earlier so you don’t have to park in visitor parking in order to save time hunting for a spot (I am so guilty of this), then we’ve got some great eateries for you to check out. They’re close to campus and easy on the pocketbook. So go ahead, tear up those couch cushions in search of loose change. Bribe your roommate out of a few bucks. Anything is better than serving your date Ramen.
 
 
B&D Burgers
Satisfy your burger craving for less than $5 a burger.
Address: 222 S 1300 E
 
The Pie 

For sure a campus favorite. And did you know they mail pizza anywhere in the US? True. See here: http://www.thepie.com/pizza-by-mail
Address: 1320 E 200 S
View the menu here: http://www.thepie.com/menu
 
Bayleaf Bar and Grub
Just looking at the menu might make you salivate. Good luck choosing what to order – it all looks pretty darn delicious.
Address: 159 S Main
View the menu here: http://www.bayleafbarandgrub.com/
 
Red Butte Café
Enjoy any meal from breakfast to dinner, and follow it up with one of their award-winning desserts. Yum.
Address: 1414 S Foothill Blvd
View the menu here: http://www.theredbuttecafe.com/menu.html
 
 
Pat’s Barbeque
Named “Best in Barbeque” by City Weekly and featured on Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.” Eat like you’re in Texas without leaving SLC.
Address: 155 West Commonwealth Avenue (2125 South)
View the menu here: http://www.patsbbq.com/pats-menu
 
L&L Hawaiian Barbeque
An authentic Asian and American fusion of awesomeness and yumminess.
Address: 358 S 700 E
View the menu here: http://hawaiianbarbecue.com/live/menu/the-ll-menu/