Eating out on a Budget

[bjl584]

How to save money on dining out

These 10 tips could dish out restaurant savings.
Fidelity Smart Money Key takeaways

• Dining out is a major expense for many Americans, but there are ways to trim the bill without sacrificing the experience.
• Timing is everything for spending less at restaurants. Shifting when you go out to eat by just a little bit could cook up savings.
• Don’t forget to consider the total expense of going out, not just the check at the restaurant, as you try ways to save on dining.

Saving money isn’t usually on the menu when you’re dining out. The average American spent over $4,000 on food outside the home in 2023, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' most recent info.¹ But with a little planning, you can have your favorite bites without taking a big chomp out of your budget. Here are 10 tips to save money at restaurants.
1. Hit up happy hour

Saving money might make you happy. Enter: happy hour. That’s when restaurants might mark down select food and/or drinks right before or after standard dinnertime on certain weekdays. Even though happy hours might not be the most convenient times to eat, you could fill up on your favorites for less. Before you go, check the restaurant’s happy-hour times because they sometimes tweak the schedule from month to month. 2. Share your plate

We’ve all been there—the entrée comes out, and it’s the size of your head. Then you promise yourself you’ll eat those leftovers, only to forget the doggy bag or have it grow mold in the fridge. So pick a restaurant that offers big portions for a reasonable price and has options your dining companion would be excited to split with you. If the restaurant charges a plate-sharing fee, make sure splitting is still worth it. 3. BYOB

If dinner also involves drinks, see if there are any local restaurants that allow you to bring your own bottle. BYOB can help you avoid hefty restaurant markups, giving you that drinks-out experience without the financial hangover. Not every area permits BYOB, though. And keep in mind that those restaurants that do might charge a "corking fee” to open a bottle. 4. Be careful on self-service tablets and apps

Technology that allows you to self-order in a restaurant, often using tabletop tablets or QR codes that open online menus on your smartphone, might encourage you to order more. Industry data suggests people spent 10%² to as much as 20%³ more when they ordered using digital vs. traditional menus. Be cautious of any pop-ups or prompts that could entice you to buy extras and stick with your plan to order only what you care to eat. 5. Don’t pay too much just to go out

Yes, these tips are about saving on dining out, but your costs go beyond the restaurant bill. If you need child care, could a grandparent, other relative, or friend offer free babysitting? Or could you offer to swap date-night babysitting with a friend, whose kids you’ll watch another time? Think about getting there and back too. If you’re meeting friends, see if you can carpool. Or look for restaurants within walking or biking distance. 6. Always check your bill for errors

Mistakes happen, but it’s a bigger mistake to overpay. So verify your restaurant check to make sure you weren’t accidentally charged for something you didn’t order or overcharged for something you did.

If you’re paying with a card, consider taking a picture of your receipt with the tip applied. Then, once the charge posts to your credit card statement, check that it matches the photo. You could even work the math of your tips so all your restaurant bills end in a certain amount of cents, say, $.97, for easier error spotting.

When you’re checking your bill, also look for any kitchen fees or precharged tips. Although there’s no “right answer” for how to account for those when leaving an additional tip, they’re good to know about so you don’t tip more than you intend. And if you see a fee or charge you don’t understand, ask your server for more info. 7. Eat at restaurants-in-training

Fine dining usually comes with a fine price tag. But there are ways to get that white-tablecloth experience on a budget if you plan ahead. New restaurants will often stage a “soft opening” before they officially open to help train their staff and try out the menu. Although these occasions can sometimes be full price, many restaurants discount their dishes for this trial period or even give out free meals. To get on the list, call the restaurant a couple months before they open and ask to be included. Or go up to the restaurant space during construction, and ask if you can have a table at any opening events.

Don’t count out culinary schools, either. Every famous chef has to start somewhere, and for many that’s in restaurants associated with culinary schools. These can provide a unique experience with great food. Look at local culinary schools’ websites to see if they have a restaurant. 8. Join restaurant loyalty programs

More than half of US restaurants have loyalty programs that give you rewards, such as free food or drinks, for being a regular customer.⁴ If you frequent a certain spot, ask if you could be earning freebies. Loyalty programs vary. You might use an old-school punch card in some restaurants, and in others, there might be an app that allows you to redeem points for free drinks, entrées, merch, and more. 9. Check out kids-eat-free days

Feeding a family can mean a big bill, even if kids order off their own menu with smaller portions and lower prices. A budget-friendlier move? Timing your restaurant meals to when your favorite place comps kids. Some national chains and local eateries have standing days of the week when children’s meals are 100% free. Be prepared for crowds with the same idea. 10. Skip holiday dining

Limited prix-fixe menus might help restaurants make money without making lots of different dishes, but they won't necessarily help you save money. That’s because restaurants may increase prices on special days when dine-out demand is high. Think: Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Thanksgiving. So celebrate the day before or after the rush to get the regular menu with regular prices.

[Fishindude77]

I've never been anywhere that allowed BYOB. Interesting, is that a thing in some regions?
Local Italian American Club lets you bring in a bottle of your own wine on spaghetti night but it's a private club, not a restaurant.

[disneysteve]

I've never been anywhere that allowed BYOB. Interesting, is that a thing in some regions?

Lots of restaurants here are BYOB because liquor licenses are tightly regulated and extremely expensive, like as much as hundreds of thousands of dollars or even over a million. The average mom and pop place can't possibly afford one even if there was one available for them to purchase.

[disneysteve]

There are definitely ways to economize when dining out. This post has a lot of good tips.

Another tip is to just drink water. Even a soft drink like Coke or iced tea can be $4-5 plus tax and tip.

[Fishindude77]

Lots of restaurants here are BYOB because liquor licenses are tightly regulated and extremely expensive, like as much as hundreds of thousands of dollars or even over a million. The average mom and pop place can't possibly afford one even if there was one available for them to purchase.

That's nuts. Would have to sell a bunch of booze to ever get that $$ back.
Around here we've seen a decline in the number of taverns, etc. so those unused liquor licenses are available pretty reasonably priced.

[ua_guy]

When I was younger, it was customary to pre-funk before going to a bar, restaurant, or club. And so goes ridiculous drinking culture. But hey, it saved money, right?

[disneysteve]

That's nuts. Would have to sell a bunch of booze to ever get that $$ back.

I'm always a little surprised when we travel around the country and find ourselves in a town where virtually every restaurant, from the most upscale place to the local pizza shop, serves alcohol. It's so wildly different than it is here.

[disneysteve]

I've never been anywhere that allowed BYOB. Interesting, is that a thing in some regions?

There are also a number of "dry" towns around here that don't permit alcohol sales or service. So the restaurants in those towns all tend to be BYOB. A number of years ago, somebody found a loophole in the law that allowed restaurants to partner with a local winery to sell full bottles so some places do that. But other than that, they can't sell any alcoholic beverages.

There are also laws restricting distilleries and breweries from selling food. The local distillery that we love often teams up with a local restaurant in town so that you can sit at the bar, order from the restaurant, and have the food delivered right to your table. Or they'll have a food truck outside that will bring the food to you. The rest of the time, days when they aren't doing that, you can just pick up food first and then come in to eat it with your drinks.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

The portions are much smaller for the same price. Not a bad thing for weight but it does make meals more expensive

[disneysteve]

The portions are much smaller for the same price. Not a bad thing for weight but it does make meals more expensive

I don't know about your area but around here restaurant portions are ridiculously large. That's actually one thing I hate about eating out. If I order chicken picante, I don't want to be served 3 chicken breasts. At home, my wife and I will usually split one large breast or maybe 1-1/2 slightly smaller ones. I don't want or need my restaurant meal to provide me 2 more meals later. I'd rather pay less and get less.

This is especially annoying when we're traveling and can't use the leftovers. I hate seeing all of that excess for get trashed.

[james.hendrickson]

I don't know about your area but around here restaurant portions are ridiculously large. That's actually one thing I hate about eating out. If I order chicken picante, I don't want to be served 3 chicken breasts. At home, my wife and I will usually split one large breast or maybe 1-1/2 slightly smaller ones. I don't want or need my restaurant meal to provide me 2 more meals later. I'd rather pay less and get less.

This is especially annoying when we're traveling and can't use the leftovers. I hate seeing all of that excess for get trashed.

DisneySteve, well, if you're traveling, why not just get one plate and split it?

[disneysteve]

DisneySteve, well, if you're traveling, why not just get one plate and split it?

We do that sometimes both at home and away, but that also means both eating the same thing which we don't always want. Also, when we go out to eat, I will often order seafood since I can't have it at home because my wife is allergic, so we can't share that.