Fine dining without going broke!

I really enjoy fancy restaurants. a) They're fancy and b) It's a good reason to dress up (and I like dressing up).

But there's usually a major downfall: they cost a lot of $$$

So, I've come up with a devious plan that allows you to enjoy everything that a fine dining experience has to offer, without blowing off all your cash: just get dessert!

Cook yourself some cheap mac n'cheese at home, digest for a couple of hours, and then grab a friend and head on over to a restaurant you would usually never dare go to for fear of spending too much money. Sure, the main entrées are probably really great too, but this way, you can enjoy the classy ambiance, still enjoy a delicious piece of haute cuisine, and walk out satisfied that your wallet isn't empty AND you won't have to run any extra laps at the gym (extra awesome fact about classy desserts: they come in small proportions!).

Tonight's dessert adventure was Acacia on Cary St.

I've walked by many a time, but always figured I'd never be able to afford it. All I had to do was dress the part and we were treated like royalty! The servers were wonderfully attentive. The atmosphere was classy/loungy, but not too uptight.

And the desserts were D.E.L.I.C.I.O.U.S.

Here's their dessert menu to make your mouth water.

Definitely a lovely idea for hanging out with a friend when you don't feel like dealing with the bar crowd, or also a great place to bring a date!

Note: Stay classy and tip well! Just because you're only ordering dessert doesn't mean you should skimp out on the tip - the servers are doing just as much work!