expensive? never been there :S
Depending what you purchase. But a decent couple meal will be around 30-40 dollars? If your dates worth it then spending at least that much should be a problem?
why would you buy a meal at max brenners
if youre going there you should say to them something like: "You ever been to max brenners? I go there before[/after/during] uni sometimes, we should grab a coffee or something"
and then once you finish your coffee or if the conversation dies out and its creeping towards awkward territory you can just say that you have to go to class, catch your train etc and say something like "im thinking of going to [insert bar/pub/club] this weekend, you should come along"
asking someone out to dinner straight away (and depending on who it is, before you've slept together) is not a wise move.