GOING OUT for a meal is one of life's pleasures, yet typically among the first “;nice-to-haves”; that disappear when money is tight. With many downsizing their dining budgets, visits to spots like Mitch's Fish Market and Alan Wong's have been replaced by take-out sushi and $6 Subway sandwiches.

If you're strapped for cash, yet crave the accouterments of top-tier restaurants, options exist if you're willing to expand your horizons. The secret lies in the bar/lounge, which shares a kitchen with and usually provides the same high level of service found in the main dining room.

Here are four restaurants that would impress a date or add a classy touch to your next celebration, without costing half your paycheck or requiring reservations. Or, skip the food and drink your dinner to save more!

Nobu Waikiki

Waikiki Parc Hotel / 237-6999

You'd have no problem shelling out hundreds of dollars on dinner and drinks here, but spend an hour in Nobu's lounge between 5 and 6:30 p.m. during the week and two can get in and out for exactly $50, including a tip to cover complimentary valet parking.

Aperitivo arrived in July, when executive chef/owner Nobu Matsuhisa hand-picked Nobu Waikiki to join Nobu Milano as the only two of his 21 restaurants worldwide to feature the special tasting trio. Based on a European tradition of a small meal and cocktail before dinner, different delicacies are chosen daily by head chef Lindsey Ozawa. Last week, we were served a warm scallop salad with asparagus and mushrooms, Japanese whitefish sashimi and a bite-sized piece of Wagyu beef on a toothpick.

For $18, Aperitivo comes with one of a dozen specialty martinis, making the pupu an affordable $4 add-on to cocktails that normally sell for $14. You get what you pay for with semi-heavy pours and fresh ingredients that minimize the specter of a nasty hangover. We tried the Pisco Sour, a mix of Peruvian brandy, fresh lime juice and sugar cane (a refreshing alternative to bottled beer), and a Suika Martini, made with watermelon, honey syrup, lemon juice and vodka. That one tasted like an organic Jolly Rancher of sorts, with an extra kick.

Thursdays and Fridays are the lounge's busiest, so expect a crowd to converge around the nine tables and low couches that fill the small room. Two outdoor tables are also available, and I'm told the staff “;can't always watch the area”; if you're the type who enjoys a cigarette with your drink.

Hanohano Room

Sheraton Waikiki / 922-4422

The Hanohano Room is a mainstay on the fine dining scene. In recent years, its sunken bar was promoted as the Cobalt Lounge, although a makeover appears to have eliminated the blue mood lighting and added white leather couches and new carpeting.

Settle into one of 10 seats and take in, at 30 floors up, one of the best views in Waikiki. From 5:30 p.m., you'll enjoy a great view of Diamond Head without having to leave your chair.

More than 20 specialty martinis are on the menu, split into two categories: “;Premium Martinis”; and “;Tasty Treatinis.”; Counter your date's request for wine with a Grape Juice ($12) made with Ciroc vodka - a personal favorite - and splashes of Midori, Chambord and Sierra Mist for color. A full dinner menu is available until 9 p.m. daily, but the bar menu contains more than enough choices at reasonable prices.

My new favorite pupu here is the Hawaiian Imu Kalua Pig Naan ($12), a meal in itself with a decadent mix of pork and melted Brie, topped with dried cranberries and an arugula pesto drizzle.

Other places might simply call this a kalua pig pizza, but pair it with a martini and the view and this dish seems much more highbrow. Our bartender even provided a fork and knife, in case we didn't want to use our fingers.

We did.

Morton's the Steakhouse

Ala Moana Shopping Center / 949-1300

For a long time, Morton's Mortini Nights was one of the best-kept secrets in town. The happy hour started in 2002 and featured $3 martinis and free tenderloin steak sandwiches. It wasn't much - hamburger buns were filled with Morton's signature beef and sliced into finger-food portions - but the free food was enough to draw a loyal following for more than five years.

That changed a few months ago. Too many customers were abusing the amenity and neglecting to order drinks, so the freebies disappeared. In its place, Morton's launched The Power Hour from 5 to 6:30 p.m. and 9:30 to 11 p.m. weekdays with most of its Bar Bites menu available for just $6 per dish.

Steak sandwiches ($11) are still around, although the new pricing seems a little steep. Stick to ordering these during happy hour. If you're going to spend money on food, try the iceberg wedge bites ($10), jumbo lump crab dip with spinach and artichokes ($12) or Bleu cheese fries ($10); all $6 during Power Hour.

The bar is separated from the rest of the restaurant by a glass partition, allowing those at the four lounge tables a view of diners while buffering any loud chatter. A single television is mounted in a corner, but is connected to the in-house sound system so it's easy to hear anywhere in the room.

Roy's Ko Olina

Ko Olina Golf Resort / 676-7697

At first, we planned to return to Roy's Hawaii Kai restaurant, the birthplace of chef Roy Yamaguchi's global food empire. On our editor's advice, however, we headed instead for the Leeward side's Ko Olina Golf Resort, where Yamaguchi operates another restaurant.

Say hello to the security guards, then take the second left to park. Don't waste your time walking through the front doors; head down the set of stairs toward the golf course, look left, and you should spot the staircase leading to the outdoor bar and lounge at Roy's Ko Olina.

Area residents and golfers make up the majority of customers in the lounge, where live entertainment is featured and a variety of draft beers are on tap. We ordered Roy's Private Reserve ($5.50) after confirming that it was, in fact, a private label beer from Big Island-based Mehana Brewing Co.

If you prefer a cocktail, try the pineapple-infused martini ($9) for a tasty libation that's dangerous on an empty stomach. Luckily, Roy's comes through with high-quality fish and a variety of pupus in addition to lunch and dinner menus.

The sashimi platter ($21) arrived first, with enough ahi, hamachi, Kona kampachi, tako and salmon to satisfy two hearty eaters. The Chinatown Chicken Spring Rolls ($10) were another winner, as was the Kamikaze Maki ($16). And no visit to Roy's is complete without an order of the signature blackened ahi ($15.50).

Whether it's beer, pupus and ESPN on one of the TVs that hang over the 12-seat bar, or a full meal under the stars, Roy's Ko Olina is a must-try for a nice night out without having to spend a ton of money.