Between the cash you dropped on the iPhone for your sig other, the cashmere scarf for your mom and the sweet holiday duds for, uh, you, you’re flat broke for the New Year. At least your resolution to lose weight shouldn’t be too hard to keep, since you can’t afford to eat anyway. Not so fast—think portion control, not starvation. We’ve found eight deals on mini-meals—plus something to wash ’em down—for under $8 in ’08.

Kitsch’n River North
The Monday blue plate special will get you four mini-pulled pork sandwiches with your choice of side such as curly fries, mashed potatoes or mixed greens for $7.95.  Since all drinks on the menu cost more than 5 cents, you’re going to need to sip tap water to stay under $8; if you’ve got the cash, splurge on a Monday drink special: the $2.50 Bud Light or $5 frozen margarita.

Five Star Bar & Grill
You can’t get much for under a dollar these days, but on Mondays, mini-sandwiches are 50 cents each at this West Town hang. Choose from mini-hamburgers, -cheeseburgers, -sloppy joes and -pulled pork sandwiches. A handful of these and a $2 can of Old Style certainly won’t break the bank—but get there early (the bar opens at 4 p.m.), because this is a popular deal.

Between Boutique and Lounge
Hump Day packs a bargain at this Wicker Park lounge. Nine-ounce martinis, regularly $10, are half-price ($5) on Wednesdays and come with two free mini-burgers topped with camembert cheese, romaine and tomato-mustard jam on steamed bao buns with a side of Moroccan spiced fries. The spiced burger beauties pair nicely with a Perfect Pear martini, made with Grey Goose La Poire, Disaronno, lemon juice, simple syrup and a touch of Chambord.

Lucille’s Tavern and Tapas
Tuesdays are busy nights at this Lincoln Park spot, which offers 50 cent Miller Lite and Coors drafts as well as $1 tacos, mini-burgers and chicken sandwiches. The sandwiches are made to order; you can request mayo, barbecue sauce, tomato, lettuce, onion and more. Guzzle four beers and devour four chicken sandwiches, and you’ll still only spend six bucks.

Quartino
Small plates are the big thing every night at this bustling River North spot. Mind your $8 budget and go for two veal meatball sliders served with pomodoro sauce and giardiniera for $2 each and a quartino (quarter-liter) of Antica Osteria, a red from Italy’s Marche region, for $4. If you like it, take a bottle home from the retail shop for only $5.

Houndstooth Saloon
This Alabama football bar in Wrigleyville has country night on Thursdays, but even if you’re not a country music fan, it’s hard not to love the $1 sliders topped with cheddar cheese and grilled onions. Grab a handful and split a $5 Miller Lite pitcher with your pals, and you’ve got yourself a cheap, stick-to-your-ribs meal. Yee-haw.

Shaw’s Crab House
Sometimes all you really want to eat is dessert. This River North seafood standby has a special “Just a Bite” dessert menu that serves mini-portions at mini-prices. Hmm … sounds to us like a good excuse to eat more than one. Try the Key lime pie with an almond-and-graham cracker crust ($2), the peppermint stick ice cream with hot fudge ($1) and the shortbread sugar cookies ($1), and still have plenty of dough left for an espresso ($3.50).

Kirkwood Bar & Grill
If you’re a Hoosier basketball fan, you’ve got yet another reason to love this Indiana hoops haven in Lakeview. On Thursdays, indulge in $1 mini-burgers topped with Merkt’s cheese. Down five of these bad boys with a $2.50 Miller or Bud bottle, and you’re still coming in under $8 for a decent-sized meal.

[ Emily Hiser Lobdell is a Metromix special contributor. ]
metromix@tribune.com