Tasty deals to please diners as venues offer great value

CLUBS and pubs are offering bargain-price meals to lure back business.

The Tweed shire is overflowing with venues offering full meals from $6.90 for lunch and $9 for dinner.

Wayne Airth, assistant manager of Dolphin's Harbourside Hotel at Tweed Heads South, said the specials were all about getting new customers through the door.

"You've got to do it to compete," he said.

Mr Airth said about 60% of the hotel's clientele were older, while families and younger people also sought the cheap meals.

Meals included rumps, schnitzels and roasts from $9.

Dean Sacchinei, manager of the Ivory Tavern in Tweed Heads, said competitive pricing was crucial to attract customers.

"I think it's something we're (clubs and pubs) all doing," he said.

"It's to get back out there in the market and be competitive in the area."

Mr Sacchinei said he wasn't surprised to see clubs and pubs trying to snatch customers from each other.

"It's just the economy. If you do a good deal others will follow it."

The Ivory's $9.99 meals include T-bone steak, fettucine carbonara or roast.

Mr Sacchinei said, however, that it wasn't likely prices would drop any lower.

Lynne Deans, marketing manager for Tweed Heads Bowls Club, said the bargain meals were like offering a "community service" to valuable clientele.

"We offer great value for our local community and to reward our members," she said.

"It drives new visitors in and also drives membership. Lots of our customers live on their own and it's easier to come in and get us to cook the meal and do the dishes for them," she said.

Russell Marchenko, head chef at Murwillumbah Services Club, said they offered nine meals for under $10 from Wednesday to Saturday, including cottage pie, bangers and mash, chicken and mushroom crepes, and grilled fish with vegetables.

They also have $7.90 lunches.

"Money is tight these days so people are looking for cheap eat," Mr Marchenko said.

The Chinderah Tavern is also famous for its cheap food, including chicken schnitzels for $8.90 on Thursdays and $12 dinners.

Cheap eats

Tweed Heads Bowls Club: $6.90 lunch (members)

Dolphins Hotel: $9 lunch or dinner.

Murwillumbah Services Club: $7.90 lunch, $10 dinners.

Ivory Tavern: $9.99 lunch or dinner.

Topics:  cheap dinners, cheap meals, clubs, pubs, tweed