STEVE DUNKELBERGER: A SATISFYING COMBO >>>

You don’t have to sacrifice atmosphere when dining on the cheap â€" at least every Monday. Paddy Coyne’s Irish Pub offers a $3.99 steak and fries â€" every Monday â€" in its beautiful Irish pub. Toss in a Guinness and the meal is $10. Good times are had by all, especially when you ask for a steak on the rare side, and it actually arrives rare.

While the steak was not something that would stuff the belly of an Irish wrestler, the meat and fries was enough to jump the barrier from "snack" to "meal" for even a big dude. I spotted one woman even leave some dead animal goodness on her plate because she was full off the four buck chunk. Of course, she only weighed 100 pounds.

In any regard, the meat, the creamy beer and the atmosphere swirl together for a nice night with a light tab.

[Paddy Coyne’s Irish Pub, Monday $3.99 Steak night, 3-9 p.m., 815 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.272.6963]