Not every night in Guelph is created equal when it comes to eating out cheaply. Some nights have four or five restaurants running proper deals; others are basically full price across the board. Here's a realistic, day-by-day breakdown of when and where your money goes furthest in Guelph.
Monday is a solid value night in Guelph. The Wooly runs wing specials, State & Main has half-price wings, and a few near-campus spots run their own Monday specials. It's quieter than the weekend, which means faster service and easier seating.
Best Monday deals: The Wooly wing night (downtown), State & Main half-price wings (Clair Rd E), Shakespeare Arms Monday specials (near campus). See all Monday deals →
Tuesday in Guelph is wing-heavy — St. Louis Bar & Grill and Shoeless Joe's both run specials. East Side Mario's all-you-can-eat pasta is also available most Tuesdays, making it one of the few genuinely filling AYCE deals near campus. Good night for groups who want to eat a lot cheaply.
Best Tuesday deals: St. Louis wings, East Side Mario's AYCE pasta, Shoeless Joe's wing specials. See all Tuesday deals →
Wednesday is the standout night for cheap eating in Guelph. Montana's BBQ on Stone Rd W runs their famous Rib Night — a full rack of smoked ribs with sides for $22.99. That's the anchor deal, but the rest of Wednesday is strong too: State & Main runs half-price wings all day, Royal Electric does a $16 buttermilk fried chicken sandwich downtown, and Crafty Ramen's Bowl & Bun combo starts at 5 pm.
Symposium Cafe on Stone Rd also runs $7 martinis after 5 pm, which makes Wednesday a rare night where you can eat a great meal and have a proper drink for well under $35 per person.
Best Wednesday deals: Montana's Rib Night ($22.99), State & Main half-price wings, Royal Electric $16 chicken sandwich, Crafty Ramen Bowl & Bun ($22), Symposium $7 martinis. See all Wednesday deals →
Thursday marks the start of the unofficial weekend for a lot of Guelph students and young professionals, so a few restaurants run Thursday specials to capture that crowd. Happy hour deals are broadly available, and some wing spots continue their midweek specials into Thursday. A solid night out if you're flexible on timing.
Best Thursday deals: Kelsey's wing deals, The Wooly Thursday specials, various happy hour options across the city. See all Thursday deals →
Friday is the hardest night to eat cheaply in Guelph in terms of dedicated deals — restaurants know the demand is there without offering discounts. Your best bet is to hit happy hour between 4 and 6 pm before the dinner rush. Baker Street Station's rooftop patio, Brothers Brewing's craft beer deals, and Royal Electric's cocktail specials all run into Friday evening.
If you want a proper cheap Friday meal, aim to arrive by 5 pm. After 7 pm, you're mostly paying full price at any restaurant in Guelph.
Best Friday deals: Happy hour across downtown (4–6 pm). See all Friday deals →
Weekends are the toughest time to eat cheaply in Guelph. Most restaurant deal nights are specifically designed to fill mid-week seats. That said, a few spots run brunch deals and Sunday specials — particularly for families.
Your best weekend strategy: lunch over dinner (cheaper menus, faster service), or target the few restaurants that run weekend brunch deals with a flat price. Kids eat free offers occasionally show up on weekends at family chains.
Best weekend deals: Brunch specials, early lunch pricing, kids eat free at select spots. See weekend deals → · Kids eat free →
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