Save money on eating out
Eating out is one of the first luxuries people cut out of a budget when money gets tight. But it seems many are not only starting to eat out again but also ordering dessert!
There’s tons of “well, duh” advice out there on how to save money on eating out (Use a Groupon! Only drink water!), but here are a couple extras you may not have come across.
- If you have kids, Kids Eat For should be your go-to when it comes to taking the family out to eat. It has a chart of Atlanta restaurants that offer free or cheap children’s meals each day of the week, and you can even search by zip code.
- Combine your savings. If you buy a Groupon for a restaurant featured on Open Table, you can then schedule your reservation through Open Table to redeem dining points. 2,000 points equals a $20 Open Table Dining credit toward a restaurant of your choice.
Yesterday I came across this Alpha Consumer article on smart ways to split the check when you’re out with the group. Here’s a bit from the article:
The other day, my friend mentioned her frustration about splitting restaurant bills evenly when she barely ate, which means she ends up subsidizing the drink and food orders of her friends. It makes her more hesitant to go out with groups of people, especially to pricey places pushing pitchers of margaritas, since the trip could make a serious dent in her budget.
The article sort of glosses over the idea of being assertive with your peer group. The first tactics that came to my mind were these:
1. “Hey, guys. I’m not really hungry tonight so is it OK if I only order a small amount and ask for a separate check?” I mean, who’s going to say no to that?
2. Bypass your friends and simply tell the waiter you’d like a separate check. If they want you to subsidize their eating/drinking habits then they clearly don’t care that much about you.
What creative tips do you have for eating out on the cheap? Have you ever had to respond to pressure to evenly split the bill despite disproportionate ordering?
– By Lauren Davidson, Atlanta Bargain Hunter
See a great deal I should know about? Email me at ldavidson@ajc.com. You can also follow me on Facebook or on Twitter @atlbargains.
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28 comments Add your comment
Kristin
March 23rd, 2011
8:03 am
I rely heavily on Scoutmob for my dining needs. I only make exceptions to pay full price for my favorite places and luckily they’re already dirty cheap. If they get Scoutmob’d, then I will be ecstatic! It’s a great way to explore the city and discover some new places without the pressure of buying the deal. If you don’t use it, nothing is lost monetarily. I tend to stick to only drinking water so that I can use the discount to the fullest. But if the food prices are pretty decent, then I limit myself to one beer.
As for giant checks, my friends and I have worked in the restaurant industry, so we understand the stress that can come with a big table and one check. We never split them right down the middle because it’s not really fair to someone who only had a slice of pizza and a pint of beer. Simple math will get you pretty far and so will the calculator on your phone.
Going Somewhere Safe
March 23rd, 2011
8:43 am
Scoutmob and Groupon are the worst thing ever to happen to the restaurant industry. Thses places can’t succeed by offering 80% discounts. Cheapskates (like the one above) who only order tap water and probably tip 10% on the already discounted meal are not going to become regular customers who will patronize the place at full price in the future. They’ll just go from one deal to another.
Coupon User and Big Tipper
March 23rd, 2011
8:58 am
I use Groupon, ScoutMob, LivingSocial, and HalfOffDepot, but I always tip (and tip well) on the full amount. Yes, there are people that don’t tip on the full amount, or tip much less, but grouping all coupon users as cheap tippers is inaccurate.
I’m certainly guilty of going from deal to deal, but there are places I would only try out using a deal, but then return because the food and service were great. Restaurants know the pitfalls of using deal sites, and it’s up to them to decide if it’s worth it for them and their staff. No one is forcing restaurant owners to use deal sites.
JP
March 23rd, 2011
8:59 am
Going Somewhere Safe – You are clueless. There are tons of independent restaurants that have gotten their name out there because of scoutmob and groupon. Think about it….I will use a scoutmob to try out a random restaurant because they offer 1/2 off. If I go in and I’m blown away by the food/service, I will be back and have no problem paying full price. They just gained me as a frequent customer. I also never tip on the discount, always the full tab.
Going Somewhere Safe
March 23rd, 2011
9:09 am
JP – You are the clueless one. Talk to restaurant owners like I have – most who take advantage of these deals are the cheapskate 20-somethings looking for the deep discount and don’t care to ever go back. Every single restaurant and tavern owner I’ve talked to who did this once says they will never do it again. This deep discount thing is a flash-in-the-pan idea whose 15 minutes are about to run out.
JP and Going
March 23rd, 2011
9:19 am
Grow up, guys.You sound like my kids in the back seat. “Did so. Did not. Did so. Did not…”
terry
March 23rd, 2011
9:37 am
Coupons, no coupons, good location, not as good of a location, repeat business always comes down to the food.
Stacey
March 23rd, 2011
9:41 am
I am also one of those people who’s tried a restaurant only because I had a coupon but then found out that it was somewhere that liked enough to try again. I can’t really afford to eat out often so I’m hesitant to try a new place for fear that I won’t like it and will have wasted my money. I’ve actually discovered some great local eateries that I never would have chosen otherwise.
TnGelding
March 23rd, 2011
9:48 am
Eat, drink and …squabble. Good grief!
Take a Happy Pill People!
March 23rd, 2011
9:54 am
it always amazes (and saddens) me to see how the most innocent topic on here can have some people delving to the darkest depths of meanness. just unbelievable. anyway back to the topic, i am a coupon user mostly for places i go to anyway, but occasionally will try someplace new. i always tip 20% and more – sometimes much more depending on service – based on the original bill and think that the coupon deals are great for restaurants and diners alike.
FF
March 23rd, 2011
9:59 am
While there are some coupon users who do not tip on the full amount many restaurants will add a predetermined gratuity (15,18 or 20%) the pre-discounted check to ensure that the server is compensated properly.
I am aware of many restaurant owners who definitely take a cut in profits by using these deal sites but have used many of them over the course of the last year to ensure a full establishment at all times. Personally, I use these deal sites quite regularly. I will purchase a deal to my favorite restaurants because the deal allows me to have an extra glass of wine or even splurge for a bottle and since I bartend part-time I often tip 25-30% on the full check to reflect the money I have saved. It’s not that I can’t afford to dine out (Nanna Vanna) but I do have a predetermined amount I am going to spend and I would rather the extra money I have go to the lower man on the totem pole (the servers, the support staff).
As for dining out, there are other ways to save money besides using these deal sites. Many restaurants offer great deals at the beginning of the week (the slowest times in a restaurant). Some of my favorites spots do 1/2 price entrees on Mondays (Gilbert’s), All You Can Eat Sliders on Tuesdays (Hobnob ummmm Fried Green Tomato Sliders), and $10 entrees between 5 and 6 pm (Agave when you sign up on their mailing list).
If a lesson should have been learned over the last 4 years, it is that no one is safe from economic uncertainty. It could be just around the corner for anyone of us. So using your money wisely (not necessarily cheaply) is a good practice for all.
Lauren Davidson
March 23rd, 2011
10:01 am
Thanks to all of you who tip 15 percent or more for good service. Those of us who are ex-servers know how hard restaurant work is.
On another note, I’m the coupon-user every restaurant loves. I come in with my discount, but I bring three to five people with me who wouldn’t have otherwise eaten there!
Vic
March 23rd, 2011
10:13 am
“Scoutmob and Groupon are the worst thing ever to happen to the restaurant industry.”
How about “going out of business”? Is that better?
Kristin
March 23rd, 2011
10:19 am
In college I worked for 2 restaurants, so I know what it’s like to have terrible tippers and great tippers. And because of this, I always treat the wait staff by tipping them at least 20%. For those times when I am dining with a discount, I tip according to the amount before the discount because that’s the correct way to do it. Just because someone uses a discount or a coupon does not make them a cheapskate. I’m doing just fine financially, but I do prefer to be smart with how I choose to spend my money. I know too many people who spend without thinking first.
And by using the deal sites, I’ve found some great places that I look forward to returning to in the future. Deal sites are not for everybody and no one is forcing you to use them.
GeoffDawg
March 23rd, 2011
10:44 am
You’re quite the class act, Going Somewhere Safe. If restaurant owners try it and don’t care for it, then they won’t do it again. It’s called a risk/reward scenario. Customers take the same risk by spending money someplace they may or may not find disgusting. Why are your panties in a wad?
Atlmom
March 23rd, 2011
10:49 am
then there’s the place i went to (and go to a bit) in my neighborhood, where i’m on their email list. so i got a $5 coupon. went one night, when they had a special. But we waited over 1/2 an hour for the food (and I was there with kids) – and the manager eventually threw my dinner at me, then said: I’ll comp (whatever).
SO LITERALLY!!! the server gave me a check for $3. NO JOKE. Manager: why didn’t you just comp me the meal??? really????
I wrote them an email but haven’t heard back. i’m disappointed because it’s a place I REALLY! love, but I’m not sure I’ll ever go back.
Oops!
March 23rd, 2011
10:50 am
The funniest one I saw was a deep discount for a particular place in the east metro area – when I checked the Dekalb health inspection reports, I saw that they got a 68 last week! Even at a discount, I wouldn’t go there.
Scotmob
March 23rd, 2011
12:12 pm
I’ve used Scoutmob many a time. While they advertise “50% off”, there’s usually a cap to it (like $20 max discount). So sometimes it’s been a flash in the pan (like $20 off on my $120 bill), other times I’ve paid $20 for a $40 meal – or, yes, $5 for a $10 meal. But I feel like they all even out – and yes, I do tip on the full amount.
I will say that Scoutmob is really no different than what a restaurant usually offers (think of how many places have half off on wine a certain night, or $1 tacos, etc.) Scoutmob isn’t valid on already-discounted specials (so no .50 tacos on $1 taco night). But it’s really not that much different than participating in restaurant.com, opentable, or any sort of special they might be running that night.
Sunny
March 23rd, 2011
1:11 pm
@ Oops, you may want to check that restaurant’s PREVIOUS Health Department scores because several of the laws have recently been changed which resulted in a plunge in scores, even from establishements that have steadily maintained an A+ rating.
http://blogs.ajc.com/food-and-more/2011/03/21/restaurant-inspections-buckhead-diner/
Oops!
March 23rd, 2011
1:55 pm
You’re right about the changes but the 8 violations listed for this place are still enough for me to go elsewhere.
What is up
March 23rd, 2011
4:21 pm
ATLmom- Name the restaurant!!! if what you are saying is true, they should be called out. I hate bad service.
Name 3
March 23rd, 2011
4:45 pm
Hey, somewhere safe…I’m calling you out: name THREE restaurant owners that you’ve talked to, maybe the AJC can do an article. Groupon and Cobb Daily Deals have opened my eyes to a few places close (Cobb County) that I wouldn’t have tried otherwise. I’ve returned to a few without a discount as a result.
Also, since you’re so close to so many restaurant owners, ask them how many groupons don’t get redeemed.
Fred
March 23rd, 2011
6:05 pm
Thanks Kristin. I had never heard of Scoutmob before. I went there to check it out and the had a 50% thing for Das Biergarten, a place I’ve never heard of before. i love German food so of course we will be going.
And as has been echoed many time here I will add to reinforced: ALWAYS tip your server on the amount of the bill BEFORE the discount.
Oh and thank you too Lauren. I bookmarked the Kids eat free site.
Tom
March 23rd, 2011
6:19 pm
I go to the food court at Dinho Plaza in Chamblee. One of the restaurants there gives you a meal for $6 that’s enough for 3 servings. That’s $2 a meal…..can’t get better than that!
Ang
March 23rd, 2011
7:09 pm
When using Groupon or no coupon/groupon, I plan to tip 20% if you do your job. What flusters me is when the restaurant will automatically add a 15-18% tip for 2 people – is this new, I know it is done for groups. You just lost $$ by assuming I will not tip and I always bring this to the servers attention by saying, “Do you not think you are worth 20% because I did but since you short changed yourself, I’ll leave the amount you have requested.”
redhousecat
March 23rd, 2011
11:32 pm
nothing irks me more than servers complaining about tip. the last time I checked, server jobs were not forced upon folks.
I’m like the others. I use the discount sites to try new things. oh yeah, and tip according to service of actual meal price; not the discounted price. If you, the server, got “shorted” did you ever stop to think it might be the.service or the attitude?
n
FF
March 24th, 2011
12:04 pm
@Ang When using a coupon. many restaurants will add the gratuity to the prediscounted amount of the check because customers regularly will only tip on the amount that they pay. I don’t think you should penalize a server the extra couple of dollars because they and many others have been burned in the past. I don’t really see it as a judgment on a particular person rather than a whole group of people. If you think they deserved the 20% tip you should throw thee additional money on the tip line.
Tuckergirl
March 24th, 2011
2:57 pm
I always tip on the original cost before the coupon. But I admit I was not thrilled when a server recently brought me the bill and literally pointed out to me the original amount before the coupon as if to say “You’d better tip me on this amount!”. This happened to me at Chilli’s after using a Kids Eat Free coupon. I did tip on the original amount. This week, that coupon came up again and we went back (just me and my son). This server (different from last time) did not do this to me and I tipped her even more because of it. And frankly, she gave us better service.
I once worked with a girl who rarely, if ever, tipped. A bunch of us would eat out together and she’d always say, “I only have enough money for the food. You guys can do the tip, sorry.” She did this so many times, it was insane. This was a girl whose parents were so loaded, she once went off to Paris for the weekend “because she felt like it” and yet didn’t think she had to tip a server. Eventually, nobody would eat out with her because it was so infuriating.