Finally – my first post!

After almost 7 months, I ran out of excuses and decided to make my first post on this blog.

I figured it was a good time seeing as we were just featured nationally in the 24 Hours Daily paper!  The article was about saving money while dining out.  Below are my tips:

You don’t have to abandon your favourite restaurant during an ‘economic pinch’.  Get creative with when and how you visit them and you can still dine out and support your local economy while keeping an eye on your dollars.  Below are some tips to get you started.

Tips to save money:

Dial and dine: Call a restaurant in advance to see what specials they are currently offering.  Most likely they have already started a program to encourage you to come dine more often.

Research the restaurant: Join “foodie” forums.  Every metropolis has a massive group of people who are passionate about food and restaurants.  It’s their hobby to go out and try new spots and write about their overall experience.  More often than not, you’ll find information on where the best deals in town are!  If none of the above works, you can always call the restaurant and ask them what specials are currently running.

Timing is everything: Avoid weekends.  Eat during off times and days.  Most restaurants will have weekly or nightly specials offered only during off-peak hours.  (i.e.: Lunch after 2:00pm or dinner from 5:00pm – 6:30pm).  Also, try dining Sunday to Thursday when restaurants are traditionally slower.

Food for Love: If you’re dining with your partner, try sharing a few dishes or appetizers, and then feed one another.  You’ll save money and have more fun!

Visit in groups: Visit restaurants in groups and buy as a group.  This approach allows for plenty of sampling of food and wine, but it also allows for savings.

Raise the spirits: If you’re going to have more than 1 glass of wine, order by the bottle to share, rather than by the glass; it’s less expensive.  And don’t be afraid to sample the house wines.

Don’t worry, be Appy: Take advantage of happy/appy hour.  Dining during these times will always stretch your dollar while giving you the same experience.

Culinary Capers: For people who can’t dine out often, you can add to a home cooked meal by picking up a few dishes from your favourite restaurant and re-create the experience at home by adding your own culinary delights.

‘Click.Save.Eat’ with the experts: Visit sites like LetsGoForDinner.com where you can purchase loyalty certificates to great restaurants at 50% OFF the face value.  We help our restaurant partners spend their marketing dollars on people rather than paper.

That’s it for now!