If it’s been feeling like the price of dining and drinking out has been climbing every time you open a menu, you’re not imagining it. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Consumer Price Index, food purchased in restaurants rose 0.2% in July 2024 compared with last year, and the overall price level is 4.1% higher than July 2023. For cocktails and all alcoholic beverages generally, even as prices are unbelievable, dining out is an expensive proposition.
But you don’t have to kiss your favorite restaurant goodbye just yet. There are plenty of strategies to help you enjoy dining out while keeping the costs manageable.
To Avoid Overordering, Snack Before You Go.
Arriving at a restaurant famished can often result in overordering and, subsequently, a higher bill. The solution? A pre-dinner snack can help curb excessive hunger.
Based in Palm Beach, Florida, registered dietitian Maryann Walsh also said that
A small snack (less than 100 calories) about 30 to 60 minutes before dining can help inhibit overeating. A slice of light bread or a handful of healthy crackers accompanied by a source of protein or fat (cheese or peanut butter, for example) goes a long way in tiding one over. This way, you’ll still be hungry for your dinner without feeling the necessity to order extra appetizers.
Appetizer or dessert or share an entree
Order just an appetizer or dessert to save money if you are dining out more for the experience of it all rather than the food itself. Another idea is to share an entree, although some restaurants now charge a little extra for this.
As etiquette expert Thomas P. Farley, said
though your server will tease you about ordering appetizers, entrées, and after-dinner drinks, you are under no obligation to do so. Save a buck by staying on plan with the strategy of ordering lights.
Order spirits judiciously.
Everything related to alcoholic beverages, particularly cocktails, is costly. For example, a cocktail in downtown New York will cost you about $23 according to data from Expatiating for 2024, making two cocktails go over $55 after adding a tip.
Meanwhile, the management of these costs can be achieved, according to Dawn Allcot, founder of Geek Travel Guide, wherein one may opt to choose wine or beer instead of premium cocktails to cut down cost. Another way is to alternate between alcoholic drinks and water, which also happens to be better for your health.
If you’re drinking cocktails, responding to the bartender’s upsell question of “Do you have a preference?” with “House pour is fine” can also save you money. You don’t have to blow the bartender’s mind with a premium choice, Farley says. A good operator shouldn’t be serving anything but decent quality.
Sign up for loyalty programs to rack up rewards.
Many chain restaurants have loyalty programs, which are great to take advantage of if you eat out a lot. You rack up points for discounts or free meals every time you make a purchase. Lawrence Sprung, a certified financial planner, is a huge proponent of these programs. He said he rang up a free lunch, a free pizza, a 15% discount at a local hotspot, and a free steak dinner on his friend’s birthday, all in the same week-all through different restaurant loyalty programs.
According to a Vericast survey of 2024, an astonishing 30% of customers will only venture to a new restaurant if there is a coupon or discount attached with the free meal. So, go for such offers, keeping in mind the fact that dining is becoming costlier.
Drink tap water.
Water would easily save you ten dollars. This is because, when you ask whether you would prefer still or sparkling water, go for the tap water. Adding a slice of lemon or lime can really give the right flavor if you do not enjoy tap water.
According to Lawrence Sprung, cutting back on drinks is one of the simplest ways not to splash dollars at restaurants. Instead, save for your meal.
Happy hour roundup
Happy hours are a great way to dine out without splurging. Most eateries have promotions whereby they offer two-for-one drinks, half-priced cocktails, or lower prices on appetizers during early evening hours.
According to Lawrence Sprung, a financial planner, you can get flexible or stretchable with your dinner time for the matter to actually benefit from these offers. Staying out during the morning may conserve money for you while allowing you still to go out during the evening with friends.
Breakfast or lunch instead of dinner.
One of the best money-saving tips is visiting restaurants that cost an arm and a leg for breakfast or lunch instead of dinner. According to retired CPA Sally Herigstad, portions of lunch are usually more reasonable and can even cost half as much as dinner, not to mention restaurants have fewer people at those times.
Some casual dining chains lowered their price ranges by offering sales to consumers, through some more affordable lunch promotions, like Chili’s Grill & Bar, whose lunch combo will start at $10.99. Such offers make great value propositions that are uncostly.
Try budget-friendly wines
If you do enjoy drinking wine, experiment with different regions to save money. John Cooper, a Chicago-based sommelier, suggests one look beyond California when wine-producing regions come to mind. Wines from places like Lebanon or South Africa can be quite good at a fraction of the price.
“Many people assume they need to spend over $100 on a bottle of wine for quality, but you can find excellent options in the $35 to $70 range if you’re willing to try something new,” Cooper adds.
Splurge on half-bottles or glasses.
Finally, as you’re trying to save money on your meal, don’t forget to tip liberally. Servers are hardworking people, and for many of them, tips constitute a major source of income. Thomas P. Farley suggests that “tipping should be at least 20 percent of the check. However, be more generous for longer visits or other special accommodations like having entrees split or having the drink pours adjusted.”.