Need to take a step back? Sal’s Pizza is taking us back in time this Saturday by cutting down the cost of their pies. To celebrate 20 years of business, Sal’s is selling their 19 inch cheese pizzas (that currently cost $9.99) for $5.55, the price of their pies when the eatery first opened. If you’ve ever noshed at Sal’s, you know how large their slices are - one slice is the equivalent to two or three “normal sized” pieces - so $5.55 is one deal this recession needs. Plus, a portion of the proceeds from Saturday’s festivities are donated to United Way. 30 local eateries are offering the discount (including Nashua, Merrimack, and Milford), but only a select few are hosting day-long activities such as face painting and children’s games. Some of those locations include Salem, Derry, Concord, and Chelmsford, Mass. For a full list of participating Sal’s, click here.

I may be behind the foodie times - is it possible? - but I just got wind that Sopranos Pizzeria on Main Street (owned by the same masterminds behind The Pizza Man in Merrimack) has a few new specialty pizzas on their menu. Now again, this might not be breaking news for everybody, but it is for me, and trust me when I say I’m excited. The three new entries on the popular pizza joint’s menu are: chicken bacon ranch, chicken broccoli alfredo, and potato bacon. In other words, heart attacks on crust, but it’s pizza - why try and make it healthy when, sometimes, it should just be bad for you? The chicken bacon ranch, for instance, substitutes sauce for ranch dressing, and is then topped with crispy chicken cutlets, bacon, and mountains of cheese. You can even order the pie buffalo or barbeque style. The potato bacon ranch just sounds like carbohydrate heaven, and includes both sauce and ranch dressing. I might be getting heartburn just thinking about it, but these pies I’ve got to try.

Anyone tried a slice of one of Sopranos’ new creations yet?

Has your going-out-to-eat-money been negatively affected by this little thing known as a recession? If so, be thankful that Restaurant.com cares. The site has some pretty amazing deals for strapped-for-cash diners, like $25 gift certificates to local restaurants for the mere price of $10. $10 gift certificates are only $4! The site isn’t skimping, either - participating area restaurants are among the most popular, including Florence’s in Merrimack; Elisha’s Restaurant in Milford; and Market Place Diner in Hollis. Now you don’t have any reason not to treat yourself to a meal out.

Has anyone used the Restaurant.com service? Is it just as easy as it sounds?

Many of you may not have even heard of Out of the Woods Cafe in Merrimack before, but the wilderness-loving coffee house is tucked away in the Commons Shopping Plaza (right next to London Court). The cafe has a gift shop a few doors down, which was opened before inspiring Jim and Dianne Flowers, the owners, to open the cafe. The cafe is most known for their wide variety of K-Cups (over 200, to be exact), and for those not in the know, K-Cups are single-cup coffee makers that work in Keurig coffee machines. With flavors such as Mocha Nut Fudge, the bold Lake & Lodge, and Caramel Vanilla Cream, Out of the Woods offers customers a slew of brand name coffee goodness, and the K-Cups can even be ordered online through the cafe. However, Out of the Woods is expanding their normal coffee house menu to include carnival-type fare such as hot dogs, fried dough, ice cream and root beer floats. Not sure how these items tie into their overall theme, but during the summer, at least, having another option for a quick, inexpensive lunch is always a plus.

I realize I just blogged about the opening of Amigo’s in Merrimack, and my excitement about it. However, after my dining experience there last night, I must warn all of you to beware - after all, that is my job. I have good news and bad news when it comes to Amigo’s. I will start with the good news: my pulled pork chimichanga entree was delicious, and will still be featured in next month’s 5&Dine. The complimentary chips and salsa were also really fresh and full of flavor, and my berry passion margarita was strong, yet drinkable. The bad news? The two friends I brought with me never got to eat, and here’s why: both friends ordered the enchiladas with ranchero sauce. However, according to Amigo’s, ranchero sauce is chunky marinara sauce. Not sure if the cook confused enchiladas with manicotti, but my friends found the enchiladas to be next to inedible. The waitress kindly took their plates back and let them order new dishes, which prompted the cook to come to our table and let my friends know there orders would be pushed to the lowest priority in the kitchen. One and a half hours later, my chimichanga long gone and all of us three more drinks deep, my friends told the waitress to forget their order and they left full of free chips and beer. The waitress was apologetic, and the manager took everything off the bill that wasn’t brought to the table, but the manager never bothered to come over to us to apologize or explain. In the midst of a recession, I would think a restaurant with a new location would be taking the necessary steps to make their customers happy. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case at Amigo’s last night.