By Amy Wolf, Sunset travel editor

Can't afford to eat out these days? Repeat after me: Yes you can. That is, if you know where to go. A growing number of restaurants around the West have been experimenting with a new payment model that amounts to a sliding price structure based on what you can afford. Crazy? Maybe. But in today's economy, maybe they're onto something. Just keep in mind that karma happens: pay what's fair. Happy Thanksgiving.

One World Everybody Eats
Where: Salt Lake City, UT
Food: Simple soups, salads, bread grains
Chew on this: A new branch has just opened in Spokane, WA.

So All May Eat Cafe (aka SAME Cafe)
Where: Denver, CO
Food: Healthy, organic soups, salads, and grains.
Chew on this: Volunteers servers welcome.

Shell Creek Grill & Wine Bar
Where: Edmunds, WA
Food: Pumpkin-ginger soup, wood-fired rack of lamb, black-truffle risotto
Chew on this: This is a traditional (and classy) restaurant experimenting with a new model in response to recent economic developments. Word has it business has doubled since the change was made.

Terra Bite Cafe
Where: Kirkland, WA
Serves: Coffee, pastries, energy bars
Food for thought: Word has it people pay an average of $3 per drink here. Sounds about right to me.

Know any other pay-as-you-wish cafes or restaurants in the West? Or got a review of one of the above? Do tell.