Hungry? 5 deliciously cheap deals on restaurants and Halloween treats

Are you hungry? And maybe a little broke? Don't touch that Ramen stash! We've got a list of great food deals from top restaurant franchises, including Macaroni Grill, Outback Steakhouse, and the Olive Garden, plus sweet deals on treats.

1. Olive Garden's Dinner Today & Dinner Tomorrow
   Price: $12.95 

   Expires: November 18

   Is It Worth It?: As part of its Dinner Today & Dinner Tomorrow event, order yourself an Olive Garden dinner entrée for $12.95, and receive another free take-out entrée for supper tomorrow. Entrées include Lasagna Rollatini with Meat Sauce, Mezzaluna Ravioli with Five Cheese Marinara, Spaghetti with Four Cheese Meat Sauce, Five Cheese Ziti al Forno, and Fettuccine Alfredo. This deal also includes unlimited soup or salad and breadsticks. Go Olive Garden and find location near you.

2. Outback Steakhouse 1/2 Order of Wings
   Price: Free with any purchase on Thursdays
   Expires: November 8

   Is It Worth It?: Today and every Thursday through November 8, head over to a nearby Outback Steakhouse and "Wing It!" Just mention "Wing it" to your server and you'll enjoy a free 1/2 order of wings with whatever else you order. 

3. Macaroni Grill Coupon
   Price: $10 off $20 via coupon code "RMGTOGO" 

   Expires: November 6

   Is It Worth It?: Via this coupon code, take $10 off online orders of $20 or more at Macaroni Grill. An Editors' Choice deal, you can take big bites into delicious entrees like Carmela’s Chicken, Penne Rustica, Eggplant Parmesan, Fettuccine Alfredo, and know your wallet isn't feeling the pinch. This ties our mention from last week as the best dollar-off coupon we've seen for this restaurant, but unfortunately Northern California, Washington, Montana, Hawaii, and McAllen, TX are excluded from the eatin's. Everyone else: dig in!

4. Lindt Chocolate 6-oz. Bag of Lindor Truffles
   Price: Free via printable coupon
   Expires: November 7

   Is It Worth It?: Lindt & Sprüngli makes the finest Swiss chocoloate known to man — their Lindor Truffles are simply divine. We know you already like them, but show your affection for the sweets via Lindt's Facebook page and you'll receive a printable coupon good for a decadent 6-oz. bag of Lindor Truffles. Oh how sweet it is to be free!

5. Just in Time for Halloween Candy Sale
   Price: From $6.25 

   Is It Worth It?: It's almost time to stock up on Halloween treats! You already know it's never cool to be the house that gives out apples, so why not pick up a bag of Hershey's 100-Piece Snack Size Candy Assortmentfor $12.77. Or even better, the Hershey's 130-Piece Halloween Snack Size Candy Assortment for $15.11? With these quantities, there's likely to be some leftovers for the adults, too!

Martin Schneider is a contributor to dealnews.com, a website devoted to finding the best deals on consumer goods. The site pledges to list the best deal, whether or not it's from an advertiser, although it does work with advertisers to craft deals for readers. Our guest bloggers are not employed or directed by the Monitor and the views expressed are the bloggers' own, as is responsibility for the content of their blogs. To contact us about a blogger, click here. This feature first appeared in dealnews.com.