Best Cost-Saving Special of 2009

 

This category had the possibility of being incredibly difficult to choose.  Many top restaurants have put programs in place during the tough economic times.  The Kent Rathbun restaurants have implemented their own "Stimulus Packages."  Even The French Room offered reduced price "Date Night Menus" and went as far as to give free nights at The Adolphus Hotel with purchase of a dinner.  However, it turned out to be an easy decision.  The Best Cost-Saving Special of 2009 was at a pair of restaurants owned by La Reve Consultants, Trece & Villa-O.

If you're looking for fresh and delicious Mexican food or the best selection of top tequilas around, then Trece Mexican Kitchen & Tequila Lounge on Travis Street is the place to dine.  If you're in the mood for Italian cuisine, often with an oceanic twist, made from organic and imported ingredients, you should go just across the street to Villa-O.  The only way to top a delicious meal at either restaurant is to go on Monday night when dinner is free.

OK, I'll give you a second to go back and read that last line.  Yes, I did say "free."  Now the next thing going through your mind is, "There's no such thing as a free dinner."  Normally I would agree with you.  However, this time it's true.  The first time I took someone to Monday Night Dinner at Villa-O, I had to promise to pay the bill if dinner wasn't free, and I still don't think she believed me.

Here's how it works:

  1. Make a reservation at either Trece or Villa-O for Monday night.  (This is an important step.  Only guests with reservations qualify for free dinner.)
  2. Show up and order off the special 2-Course Monday Night Menu.  At Villa-O, you'll start with one of three salad choices or their organic vegetarian soup-of-the-day and then follow it up with the week's choice of pasta, risotto, chicken, or vegetarian dishes.  Trece will usually start you out with green salad, chicken tortilla soup, chicken nachos, or chicken quesadilla.  Entree choices recently have included their signature boudin azteca, chicken enchiladas, fish tacos, or vegetarian chile relleno.
  3. Get a bill for $0.00 and have a good night.

I know you still think it sounds too good to be true, but it's really not.  It's actually that easy, although I would like to pass along some tips for having a great evening.

  • Don't forget the value of what you are getting.  The top-notch servers at Trece and Villa-O are still giving you the same level of service you receive with a full-price meal.  Please remember to leave an appropriate gratuity.  You're getting at least $50 worth of food for free, so how hard is it to take $10 for the tip.
  • Trece and Villa-O bottle their own delicious purified water in reusable environmentally sound glass bottles in both still and sparkling varieties and will serve you unlimited quantities for only $1 per person.  If all you want is the free dinner, this is a great way to put a couple dollars on your bill so there is something to put on your credit card, allowing you to use the card for gratuity instead of bringing cash.
  • If you want to make it a special evening, take advantage of some of their other Monday Night Specials.  Villa-O has an amazing selection of reasonably priced wines.  Trece has a specialty tequila at just about any price level you can imagine.  Both tend to have great appetizer and drink specials on Mondays, so you can order just about anything you want to go with your two free courses and still keep the total amazingly low.  (I highly recommend the mussels at Villa-O and the freshly made guacamole at Trece.)
  • The managers would never say this to you, but I will:  At some point pay them back for the free dinner.  Tell coworkers to try them out for special occasions, meet friends for happy hour after work, or stop by for an incredible Sunday Brunch.

If you still don't believe me, just check out their website.  This special used to be a pretty closely guarded secret among those on their contact list, but it is now publically posted for all to see.

I'll see you there on Monday night!


Trece & Villa-O

Trece Mexican Kitchen & Tequila Lounge

4513 Travis Street
Dallas, Texas

214-780-1900

 

Villa-O Restaurant

4514 Travis Street
Dallas, Texas

214-780-1880

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