The Haute Dollar Menu

40 Edwin H Land Blvd, Cambridge, MA 02142 (map)

Here's another chic, avant-garde restaurant that lets down its hair (woohoo!) for Buzz Hour. From 4pm until 7pm, on every day but Sunday, sfizi (small plates) fly out of the kitchen for $1 each, including arancini, mascarpone hot pepper dip, bianchetti and noce. And bivalves also make a showstopping weekly appearance: Buck-apiece oysters join the lot on Fridays and Saturdays.

1 Bennett St (Charles Hotel), Cambridge, MA 02138 (map)

The prestigious caliber of chef Jody Adams' Cambridge kitchen doesn't easily apply itself to "budget dining." Yet on Mondays evenings at the bar, lusciously local Island Creek oysters are a buck a pop. Whether you order one or three dozen, the bivalves are accompanied gratis with exquisite signature mignonettes. Cheap thrills, indeed.

700 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA 02118 (map)

When in South End, do as the Spanish do (at least at the table)! Nibble on $1 traditional pintxos at Estragon's bar on Monday through Thursday, from 5:30pm until all the toothpicked open-faced savory sandwiches are gone. Rome can eat it--literally.

500 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 2115 (map)

Home of the Sand Dollar menu (ahem), the hip seafooderie doles oceanic treasures for a steal on all weeknights. A buck snags--or, perhaps, harpoons?--any item from the dedicated menu, including oysters, calamari, halibut ceviche tacos and lobster dumplings. To this spread we say: Aye, aye, captain.

476 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02115 (map)

This underground Kenmore Square hideaway is where the dollar truly takes no prisoners. One dollar scores the signature special, a basic all-beef hot dog (always available) on a buttered toasted bun, replete with standard condiments. And if you're feeling extra flush, toppings (including, bacon, cheese, chili or jalepeno) are only $1. But why mess with ascetic perfection?

1281 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02139 (map)

Where would you rather spend your dollar, on a patty at a depressingly corporate fast food shack or a gleaming (though unadorned) 6-oz Black Angus burger at one of Cambridge's most colorful taverns? Easy peasy. Monday to Friday, 11:30am to 8pm, Bukowski's Buck Burger feeds for cheap. You want cheese? Onions? Pony up extra dollars if you wanna get fancy.

439 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02116 (map)

One dollar tapas all the time at Masa's bar makes you feel as as if you're not only saving moolah on food, but also a plane ticket to the Southwest. Hola, crisp plantain with tropical fruit-seared Diavalo shrimp! Call for rotating special times, where tapas are halved to 50 cents apiece. Fifty cents! Are we going to to the devil for this?