You know that cooking and eating at home will always cost less than eating in a restaurant; but we all like a meal out, once in a while. So, how can you save money when dining out?
The secret of how to save money in restaurants is to order fewer separate items, but do so in a way that you don’t feel like it’s always a compromise. Prior to dining out, curb your appetite at home with some vegetables, or even just a glass of water. Avoid ordering ala carte, as many courses run up the tab. Consider less costly alternatives for dessert, such as stopping by a diner, or enjoying a treat from the bakery.
In defense of restaurants, there is so much built into the price of a restaurant meal that goes way beyond the cost of the food. In some cities, their rent is so high, they actually end up with very little profit. They also have to pay their staff, licenses, insurance, utilities, taxes, cleaning, advertising, and more. Besides, you’re getting more than just the food – Someone else does the shopping, cooking, serving, and clean-up.
Given all of this, how you can treat yourself to a meal out, without emptying out your wallet? Read on!
A Recently Reviewed Restautant may Raise its Prices
This can be hard to avoid – Maybe you’re only going because you saw a good review. Some restaurants, however, will jack up their prices in response to a good review.
Don’t Order Something you can Make at Home
This is more a point of satisfaction than a money-saving rule. If you’re going to enjoy the treat of dining out, order something you love, but don’t tend to have at home.
For me, this is anything fried! Really good fried food is messy to make and involves a lot of oil. Then, there’s the problem of disposal of the oil. I also enjoy big, sloppy hamburgers, since I usually make small burgers at home.
I tend to be disappointed if I get chicken (unless fried), or anything stewed or casseroled. Those are things I make so often at home, that eating them in a restaurant doesn’t seem much like a meal out.
Eat your Vegetables (before you get there)!
We don’t visit restaurants for the veggies – Even those among us who are healthy eaters are following a craving for pizza, pasta, or anything fried.
Restaurants have come a long way with vegetable offerings; but if that’s not the reason you’re going there, have a veggie appetizer before you leave home.
If you have an apple or some carrots dipped in Ranch, you can enjoy your restaurant entree, guilt-free and much cheaper. Not only does it save you the cost of ordering a vegetable to “be good;” it also gets your appetite under control, so you don’t feel compelled to order many different things…
…and, of course, you’ll feel better later, because you didn’t stuff yourself. On that tack, a glass of water can make a big difference in helping you not over-order. According to the Hirsch Chiropractic Center’s website,
Consuming a large glass of water about 20 minutes before eating can take the edge off your appetite and make you less likely to overeat. When the stomach senses that it is full, it sends messages to the brain to stop eating. That water takes up space in the stomach, so those signals are sent sooner. And interestingly, mild dehydration can cause a sensation that is easily mistaken for hunger. You may think you are hungry, but you’re actually thirsty.”
Dr. Hirsch
The Kid’s Meal is Not Necessarily the Best Choice
Ordering for kids can needlessly run up your bill, especialy when on vacation. We love to treat our kids, but they can be unpredictable. I’ve even had it happen that the food comes, and goes completely untouched. It’s not that they’re being spiteful – One gets carsick, the other has cramps. Sometimes, one will spoil his appetite when nobody’s looking.
Take the time to have this discussion with your children. Let them know that if they are in a restaurant, and realize that they’re not hungry, to be honest about it. It’s ok to have a roll or a small salad, or simply sit and enjoy spending time with the family.
A cup of soup with extra crackers is a great choice for not-too-hungry kids, and a big hit with babies and toddlers.
Kids meals are OK for older kids, say ages 8 and up; but you can usually save money by sharing with your child, or having them split something.
Order the Restaurant’s Specialty for Better Value and Experience
If you want to get your money’s worth, it’s best to stick to ordering whatever the restaurant sells the most.
Restaurants often keep a few things on the menu to please picky eaters who only eat a few things. These offerings are often not the best quality, or the freshest. A restaurant’s costs are higher on things they don’t buy a lot of, and that cost is passed on to the picky.
Beware of High Wine Mark-ups
The markup on wine is said to be between 200% and 400%. Here are some of the interesting tricks I read from industry insiders:
- Some places make more money on the wine than they do the food.
- The biggest markup may be on the second-cheapest glass of wine, to the point where it’s original price is actually less than that of the cheapest listed wine.
- One insider said that their house wine is actually Franzia boxed wine.
Consistantly Ordering Tap Water will Save a Lot
Even higher than the markup on wine is that on soft drinks. A soda is a few pennies worth of syrup in a glass of carbonated water. Be sure you specify “tap” water, or they will often stick you with a bottle of water … and charge you for it, of course.
Be Clear About what Comes with your Meal Vs. What is Extra
We’ve all heard the line, “Want fries with that?” We know they aren’t giving them away! If you are offered any item that you didn’t see listed as included in your order, be certain to ask if that comes with what you asked for. Otherwise, you may be unpleasantly surprised by extra charges on your tab.
Split Dessert, and Ask for a Preview
Desserts are a tricky area for the thrifty diner. What you do depends on why you want it (surely you’re not still hungry).
Of course, the least expensive option would be to simply pass on it altogether. I love the idea of that extra, little treat, though, so I have several go-to ideas for enjoying dessert after a restaurant meal.
If you want to prolong your time at the restaurant, and you know their desserts are good, consider splitting one. Cake is a good choice for sharing, because the portions are often large. Be sure to ask how big the slice is before you commit, though. My husband recently ordered a slice of cheesecake at a place that is usually generous – It turned out to be embarrassingly small, even for cheesecake.
Other Dessert Strategies You’ll be Glad You Tried
There are several less expensive restaurants in my area that have wonderful desserts. We often will dine at a more expensive place, and stop for dessert at one of these other spots on the way home. This way, you can keep enjoying your evening out, and still save some money.
Stopping by an ice cream place is another way to get a decadent dessert for about half the price of a restaurant dessert.
Many supermarkets have bakeries in-store, where you can get dessert by the portion. While still expensive for one dessert, you are sure to save money on a good dessert. Sometimes, they even have a small area with tables for eating right there. I usually like to just take it home, though.
Other good choices from the grocery store are Pepperidge Farm cakes, Archway Cookies, and pretty much anything by Entenmann’s.
If you plan ahead, you can get a world-class treat from a bakery, and stash it in your fridge. I usually appreciate having a treat later, anyway, after my meal has settled a bit. In nice weather, you could pack your bakery treat in a cooler, and time your dining so you can leave in time to watch the sunset at a local beach or mountain.
Have you ever wanted to make a dessert recipe, but it seemed much too expensive? If you consider the cost of making it in light of how much dessert would cost at a restaurant, you may decide that this would be a good time to prepare something elegant.
This does not necessarily need to be complicated. Dessert coffees, for example, are simple to make. You’d probably only need to buy a can of whipped cream. If you don’t have the booze, you can buy whatever you like in a nip for a dollar or two. Heck, you could even buy a cup of Dunkin’ on the way home, and use that, if you don’t have leftover coffee, or a Kuerig.
Always Check your Tab, and your Credit Card Statement
Although most are honest, there are some waitstaff that will cleverly pad your tab by slipping in something you didn’t order, or changing a number. The most common overcharge amounts are $1, $2, or $3 dollars. If caught, it’s easy to pass it off as a mistake; but many customers don’t notice.
One trick to be aware of is the “suggested tip” amounts. A 15% tip is for average to above average service, ranging up to 20% for great service. Yet, Reader’s Digest reveals how many eateries push the envelope on these amounts:
Restaurants typically provide three levels of pre-suggested tips printed on receipts, some of them starting at 18 percent and moving up to 25 percent or more. Secondly, restaurants are calculating their percentages on the post-tax bill…”
Reader’s Digest
Yes, when you figure out the tip, it should always be on the amount before the tax.
