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Jan 31, 2008 — Three years ago, I was asked to write the prototype for this column.

Roughly 80 restaurants later, I am still eating and discovering new restaurants.

A lot of readers have expressed concerns or asked questions about how I delve into loads of french fries, countless turkey subs and a few loaded hot dogs without weighing 300 pounds.

The secret, which isn't really a secret, is exercising and balancing high-calorie meals with other healthy meal choices.

Looking back over the past three years, I've eaten at a lot of restaurants. But I still happened to experience a first. I revisited a location.

In September 2005, I went to Felton's Country Corner. Last week, I went to the same address and experienced Mediterraneo, an Italian eatery that opened in October.

Mediterraneo is a counter-service pizza shop that makes pizza, subs, salads and

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Italian dinners.

As I entered the front door, I was welcomed by sunny yellow walls and light wood trim that gave the eatery an airy, café feel.

It was decorated with a selection of carefully placed framed prints of garlic and tomatoes that gave it a sophisticated feel.

I walked up to the large menu board on the wall. Eleven specials are $7.95 or less from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

I chose the cold sub special - choice of small sub, french fries and a drink - for $5.95. For me, it was turkey. Come on, do you expect anything less?

I got my iced tea from the soda machine and chose a green booth in the main dining room to wait for my food. A family with small children shared the dining room with me, and a group of ladies were in the room off the dining room chatting at a large table.

In what seemed like a flash, an employee brought my meal in a black plastic basket lined with a piece of parchment paper.

The nine layers of turkey - I counted - were nestled in a homemade roll. Homemade rolls are my favorite because the outside is firm enough to hold the toppings without getting soggy, but when you bite, it gives way to a soft center.

After eating the small sub, I was only able to make a dent in the load of thick-cut fries before I called it quits.

The dinners at Mediterraneo seemed reasonably priced - $8.95 to $15.95 - and there are plenty of other options such as stromboli, calzone and salad.

Cheap Eats is a biweekly column on local restaurants' meals under $10. Suggestions are welcome. Reach Nicki Lefever at 771-2101 or nlefever@ydr.com.

If you go

MEDITERRANEO LOCATION: 76 Red Lion Ave., Felton

CUISINE: Italian

NICKI'S PICK: No. 7 lunch special - small turkey sub, french fries and a medium drink ($5.45)

PARKING: Available in lot

HOURS: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday and noon to 9 p.m. Sunday from Sept. 1 to April 30. 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and noon to 10 p.m. Sunday May 1 to Sept. 1.

PRICE RANGE: $1.75 for a slice of pizza to $19.95 for a large Peppe's Surpeme pizza. Dinners cost $8.95 to $15.95.

ALCOHOL: BYOB

ACCEPTS: Cash and major credit card

TAKEOUT: Available

KID'S MENU: $3.95 to $4.95. Choices are spaghetti and meatballs, hamburger or cheeseburger and fries, chicken fingers and fries or meatballs with bread.

DETAILS: 244-4215

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