Hi Merri,
Food costs in Cabarete are more expensive than they used to be.
In the center of town, restaurants will run you about 250-300 pesos for a burger & fries, or basic pasta dinner. That's about US$7-9. Depending on where you go, a steak (churrasco) & potato will cost you 450-500 pesos and up. Sodas anywhere from 40-60 pesos depending on the restaurant. Mixed drinks like a rum & coke... 80-90 pesos. Pizza (sufficient for 2) at Jose O'Shays 220-350 pesos. Nice shrimp dinner at La Casita de Papi's on the beach, about 750 pesos not including drink. It's sold for 1 person, but really sufficient for two.
I bought a whole roasted chicken, rice & beans for 400 pesos at Friends restaurant last week. Could've fed 3 gringos well on that. A dominican family would've likely fed 6-8 on the same meal.
Now, those are regular prices. You'll find some happy hour prices on both food and drinks. Also, there are little Dominican restaurants scattered around where you can get chicken, rice, beans, salad at lunch time for around 100 pesos.
Try this thread for more details. A fairly extensive list/review of restaurants if you read thru what the posters wrote.
http://www.dr1.com/forums/living/72071-nowhere-eat-good-food-cabarete.html
Grocery stores... Janet's the biggest followed by Supermercado Cabarete & La Rosa. Prices higher than in the U.S. on most items. Larger grocery store Playero in Sosua about 15 minutes by car... and a whole different selection of restaurants, most with lower prices than Cabarete I believe.
Feb & March are pretty good months to be in Cabarete. Temperatures are more moderate. And, do look forward to your trip - you'll enjoy it!