At Phil Brady’s about 15 years ago, owner Joe Hall had a problem.
“We used to do Texas hold ’em tournaments, and they shut us down,” he said. “We had to come up with something for Monday night to draw people in.”
Thus, $1 burger night was born at the down-home bar and grill, 4848 Government St., Baton Rouge. On Monday nights, Hall serves customizable burgers for $1 each (plus $1 extra if you want a double patty or 50 cents more if you add cheese). Hall said it’s been a good way to get people in the door and build up regulars for other events at Phil Brady’s throughout the week like the Blues Jam on Thursdays.
Joe Hall, left, prepares several buns for orders as his brother John Hall grills the patties on dollar burger night at Phil Brady’s.
“The burgers bring you in. If you get cheese, I break even,” he said. “But Monday night is to create people who've never been here. Then they see the bands that are playing on the weekend. They see about the blues jam. What Monday night does is that it kicks off the rest of the week.”
Much has changed since 2009. Inflation in the United States has risen. McDonald’s' $1, $2, $3 menu (which used to just be the $1 menu before 2013) no longer serves a single product that only costs $1. Dollar Tree raised its base prices to $1.25 in 2021 and will soon bump them again with prices in-store ranging from $1.50 to $7.
What can $1 even buy you anymore?
At certain places in Baton Rouge, it turns out quite a bit. Despite rising costs, local businesses, including Phil Brady’s, have continued the tradition of $1 deals in hopes of attracting new customers. They’ve cultivated regulars. They’ve become people’s weekly get-together spots. But it’s not always profitable.
Chef Brandon Odom shows off a plate of Odom's Kitchen's $1 wings at Capital Park Bar and Grill.
“I lose $1.89 to $2 for every burger I put out,” said Jeremy Achberger, owner of Lakeside Daiquiri & Grill, 7490 Burbank Drive.
They’ve been doing $1 quarter-pound burgers on Wednesdays since 1997 with the exception of a break during the pandemic. Achberger said it’s still worth it to him to bring customers in; he, like many other business owners, make up the money with other menu items like drinks and repeat customers who come in on other days of the week.
For some, it’s no longer financially feasible. Pink Agave, 4001 Nicholson Drive, Suite B, is doubling its $1 taco price as soon as new menus can be printed. Management said the decision was made due to rising food costs.
“A case of fries is almost $40,” said Brandon Odom, who operates out of Capital Park Bar and Grill, 7132 Florida Blvd. “I remember we used to buy a case of fries for 12 bucks, and this has happened within the last three or four years.”
Despite higher prices on practically everything, Odom still serves $1 wings on Wednesdays. He just has to shop around to get the best prices for ingredients.
“We’ve been doing it. We can’t just stop doing it,” he said.
Here’s where you can eat for $1 throughout the week in Baton Rouge.
Monday: Phil Brady’s $1 burgers (Starting at 6 p.m.)
Dale James, left, has a burger with brother-in-law Greg Tenhundfeld and his sister Jennifer Tenhundfeld during dollar burger night at Phil Brady’s.
Phil Brady’s is an institution in Baton Rouge. It’s a space for people to gather, play some pool, chat with old friends and listen to live music. After you go a couple of times, the regulars say that everybody knows your name.
Greg and Jennifer Tenhundfeld have been going to Phil Brady’s since getting married almost 40 years ago, and they never miss a burger night.
Jennifer Tenhundfeld said they have a system now. She and her husband drive in separate cars. They eat their burgers, and sometimes she goes home after that. Her husband basically lives at Phil Brady’s, playing pool “every day but Easter Sunday.”
A lot of old regulars can’t even say how long they’ve been going to Phil Brady’s. There’s the official count — when they could legally go to a bar. Then there’s the actual one, but that was off the record.
The burgers are good, especially for the price. Tendhundfeld recommends a side of onion strings. Phil Brady’s also does $1 Taco Tuesday, catered by Scratch Maid Kitchen.
Tuesday: Taco Tuesday at La Mexicana (all day)
A full spread of salsas, chips and lime wedges with a plate of tacos at La Mexicana.
La Mexicana, 7034 Siegen Lane, is a relative newcomer to the $1 deal scene; they started in 2021. Tacos are usually $2.25, but their $1 deal is all day Tuesday. The lunch rush usually starts at 11 a.m.
“Everything is made to order and very traditional — not Tex-Mex at all,” said owner Salvador Nieto.
People have made a habit of getting lunch with their co-workers there every week. One regular, Brian Cazes, bemoaned the fact of this story because it meant the restaurant might become more busy. He and his co-workers have been eating $1 tacos every Tuesday for months.
The two most popular tacos are marinated pork and shredded beef, and for 25 cents more, you can add avocado or other toppings to each taco. Sarah Czoch, one of Cazes' co-workers, recommends the queso if you go. She said it’s hard to beat.
Wednesday: $1 wings at Capital Park Bar & Grill featuring Odom’s Kitchen (11 a.m. to 2 p.m.)
A plate of Odom's Kitchen's jalapeño honey wings at Capital Park Bar and Grill.
Capital Park Bar & Grill has $1 wings, currently made by Odom's Kitchen, on Wednesdays. There’s a large selection of flavors including buffalo garlic Parmesan, mango habanero, sweet chili glaze, Asian zing, lemon pepper and a couple of varieties of barbecue.
Odom said his bestsellers are the honey jalapeño and Odom’s Crab Boil, a proprietary dry rub that tastes like boiled crawfish and the other flavors you’d typically find in a crab boil.
Odom is moving on to his own venture soon, but $1 wings will continue at Capital Park, hopefully with the same flavors.
Chef Brandon Odom talks about the $1 wings at Capital Park Bar and Grill.
Or $1 burgers at Lakeside Daiquiri & Grill (7 p.m. to 9 p.m.)
The half-pound burgers come with lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles and condiments on the side for people to customize their own. They are a 21 and older establishment and have daiquiris and a full-service bar.
Pro tips for if you go:
Server Jaqueline Prado, right, takes customers’ orders while Gisselle Cardona goes by with chips and salsa at La Mexicana.
- Be sure to tip. According to Nieto of La Mexicana, Taco Tuesday is the worst day for servers because people tend not to tip on their $1 tacos.
- Show up on the early side. Dollar deals have loyal regulars, and restaurants can fill up. If you go early, you’ll be able to get a seat and get in your order.
- Try something new. Most places serving $1 deals are barely breaking even or actively losing money keeping these specials on the menu. Order some sides.