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• Jazz Kitchen

Flank steak with Tuscan sauce, with garlic mashed potatoes and mixed grens, was among choices on the $8 "8 before 8" menu served Mondays at the Jazz Kitchen. Diners could eat indoors or on the covered deck while listening to live music. (Heather Charles / The Indianapolis Star)

Bacon-wrapped pork chop with pesto cream sauce; garlic mashed potatoes and mixed greens on the patio at the Jazz Kitchen. (Heather Charles/The Star)

Bacon-wrapped pork chop with pesto cream sauce; garlic mashed potatoes and mixed greens on the patio at the Jazz Kitchen. The Jazz Kitchen offers a special $8.00 menu. (Heather Charles/The Star)

Check this out: My boy and I are getting super fancy with our outings.

We lucked into a special deal at the Jazz Kitchen in the Broad Ripple area. And, thanks to its options for cheap eats, we were able to have a two-for-$20 dinner out.

Quick and kind service, first-rate food and beautiful music -- it is possible on a wee budget!

The mood

The sidewalk tent sign claimed that food service started at 5 p.m.

Even though my hubby and I arrived a little after 6 on a Monday, there were only a handful of other after-work diners.

Instead of sitting in the dark, intimate dining room, we planted ourselves on the patio. It was chilly, but we needed some sunshine.

The view of College Avenue wasn't spectacular. But as our meal progressed and a server propped open the door of the restaurant, our ears were tuned to the wafting sounds of sweet jazz.

The food

Salivating our way through a menu filled with appetizers that alone could've sucked up our $20, I was thankful for our server mentioning the "8 before 8."

Yep, if your butt can make it to the Kitchen before 8 in the p.m. on Mondays, you'll be privy to a choice entrees for $8.

In case you missed it, Hayden is a boy. Boys like meat. A bacon-wrapped pork chop fit the bill. Serving it on rice with a pesto cream sauce made it even better.

I went with a little lighter flank steak artfully arranged on a heap of delicious mashed potatoes with a tomato-based Tuscan sauce.

Our entrees were served in a flash, and gone just as quickly. I would've loved to stay longer and get my jazz fix, but it was a "school night."

The drinks

Two waters. The mojito list was calling my name, but my minty friend wasn't in the stars.

The damage: $17.44

Hear me, cheapskates: Anything's possible, if you keep your eyeballs open for great deals, and this is one of them.

Jazz Kitchen

Address: 5377 N. College Ave.

Telephone: (317) 253-4900.

Parking: Street.

Hours: Opens 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday.