18 restaurant tips that will save you money

Dine on a penny with these secrets secrets!


Americans spend more than 825 billion dollars - Yes, billions toRestaurants Each year, according to theNational Restaurant Association. To transform a profit, the restaurants usually charge about four times by Ant, because they paid for its individual ingredients - it is a marking of 400%!

But here's a bit of good news: you do not have to give up your favorite restaurant restaurant quite stick to your food budget. Depending on the restorative and waiting group, we interviewed, there are tons of $ 5, $ 10 and even $ 20 of your bill - without responding to your favorites.waitress Or fortify the food you love. Read to discover their 18 musksrescue restaurantsecret And put all this type of extra money to something incredible.

And for more, check these15 classical American desserts that deserve a return.

1

Get it to go for size.

grilled chicken salad in plastic to-go container

Strange but true: Pass your order for your order to be more economical than eating it internally - and you will often have more food for yourmoney, too much. "If you are looking to order a small chicken salad to go, for example, ask for it in a big box to go," says Becca, a former New Jersey waitress. "The servers will often fill the box with more food without ever measuring it, then you will have more bang for your money."

By taking your food to go, you can also save money on expensive meal additions. (SKIP Delivery, even if the advanced and delivery premium is difficult on the wallet.) "If you order something likeparm chicken To-go, you can easily split into two portions and strengthen the meal with a home facadesalad, which costs only a few dollars, a glass of wine of $ 2 and fruits for dessert. In a restaurant, a meal like this could be $ 35 per person, "says Becca. Following its strategy, vice versa, will cost you about $ 14.

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2

Pass bottled water and sodas.

woman sitting at restaurant table with bottle of water
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The restaurants make murders on bottled water and sodas - especially more practical places with a high-end or exclusive atmosphere. The same bottle of H2O you can get next to anything in a grocery store is 50% more in a trendy restaurant; I found this one hard. (Six dollars for a bottle of fancy water in a bottle of glass? No, thank you!) Even some restaurant owners suggest that Nixing Water to save money: "One of the easiest ways to save money money - without giving up your favorite food - it's to pass bottled water, "says David and Tricia Dicenso, owners ofRestaurant and bar at the lake In Wayne, New Jersey. "Restaurants did not offer stain if it was not capable and safe for drinking." The same thing is true fora soda. A cola that would cost you 20 cents from a home bottle will probably cost you $ 2.00 in a sitting restaurant.

See17 secret server towers that guests never notice For more things, you can learn restaurant initiates.

3

Log in and get social.

cell phone on desk next to a cup of coffee

Some of the best restaurant savings are reserved for sufficiently ingenious people to hunt them. "Check that the website of your favorite restaurant for special offers or other precious stones before going out eating", suggests Eyal chickens, owner of New York City-basedMiddle Eastern restaurant Nish Nush. "For example, Nish Nush has a special time of Maza that you would never know existed if you have not seen the problem on the website first."

The other restaurateurs agree: "Follow the social media channels of your favorite restaurant. You never know when a limited promotion or a free gift could come," said Leith Hill, former owner of the Eellar coffee greens of New York City now closed. "Unlike business channels, many smaller restaurants like the mine use social media to personally engage with their customers, show our appreciation and provide valuable promotional agreements. I suggest taking a moment to investigate the channels. Communication from your favorite local restaurants to see if there is a conscious reason to fall. "

For more ways to save money, try these50 incredible secret advantages in popular restaurants.

4

OPTER for "Linner".

couple smiling reading menu
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Order "Linner" or a dish for lunch, is a hacking of money that Mike Defalco, the manager of food and drinks toNoma social In New Rochelle, New York, swears by. "One of the easiest ways to save money while eating is to choose a lunch for dinner. If you have noticed, lunch dishes are just smaller than the dishes of Dinner, and the price difference can be amazing. "

If your favorite restaurant will not let you order from thebreakfast Menu during dinner, consider eating for lunch instead of dinner. It's the same good food you like for a fraction of the cost.

5

Byob

two glasses of white wine
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If you are the type of person who considers no full meal without a bottle ofwineThen Byob's restaurants should be your go-to. It is not uncommon for the wine to sell for $ 40 pop or more, then bringing your own drink to the house means that you could easily reduce a big piece of change from your check, the dicensos tells us.

6

Consider a combo.

soup salad chips combo meal

Meal value And the combos can actually save you money, says Ben Friedman, co-owner ofSustainable sandwich at home in Washington. "The Home Area Combo has amazing offers, including a half-sandwich and a half-salad for $ 10 or less. Many other restaurants offer similar offers, so keep eyes peeled!"

7

Opt for just applications.

shrimp appetizer

"To my favorite fine spots, I like to share a bunch ofsmall plates With my dinner companions, "Friedman say." Often, it is often cheaper than gettingappetizers And main dishes, and you usually get the same amount of food or more. In addition, you can try more things on the menu. "

If you try to save money, pay attention to these20 restaurants to eat more food and spend more money.

8

Divide an entry.

Friends laughing together while eating
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Another tactical Friedman recommends dividing an entry with those you dinner after fitting appetizers.

9

Talk to your server.

women laughing and talking with waiter
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"In today's dining room, the restaurants often smile their flat buildings from a local supplier," says Hill. "If you ask how much the favorite dish of your server is or ask questions about the newIngredients The leader uses, not only are you likely to get a preferred kitchen offer, you lift the chances that your server will provide tastings and free treats. Have you ever noticed how food tastes for free? You can even get free food to these30 restaurants with free birthday offers.

10

Split dessert-or save it for when you are at home.

chocolate ice cream with whipped cream and nuts dessert

"Hot Brownie cakes and melted lava can seem delicious everything in a restaurant, they simply end up being another expense. Wait until you get home dive into desserts," suggests Defalco. You can not let the Candy? Dicensos suggest that each table shares adessert-The traps of each person commanding their own. Dina, an old Florida waitress, accepts: "Every dessert I've ever served as a waitress came out of a box. Of course, we dwell on it with freshnesswhipped cream And the fruits so it seemed like it was manufactured internally, but we really charged $ 8 a slice for something you could buy in the freezer alley. Do not waste your money on it. "

11

Ask for status discounts.

close-up of a wallet with cash and credit cards
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"During my server years, I discovered that many customers did not realize, they were eligible for reductions," says Anthony, old server based on Delaware. "If you are a teacher, a student with a valid ID, an elderly person or part of the army, there is a good chance that you can score a reduction when you eat." The only plug? You will need to ask your server about you. "Many places offering reductions will not advertise, but you can often have 10 to 15% discount." The corporate discounts and neighbors are also popular, so it's worth seeking!

12

Do not order the specials.

waiter bringing a smiling couple their meal
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Promotions may seem succulent, but they are almost always more expensive than standard menu items, notify the dicensos. Decide what you want to order before your server comes and decline politely when it asks you if you want to hear promotions. In this way, your decision will not be influenced and your portfolio will remain safe.

13

Order the big.

scoop of strawberry ice cream
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Well, at least, at least! "I worked in a hamburger and ice cream workshop a few years ago, and the parents always would buy each of their children a small cone, which amounted to $ 3.35 per 5 ounce service, d 'Olivia, a former New Jersey waitress tells us. "Since children never end up all their ice, it would have been more economical for them to buy a big for $ 5.25, which contained three 4 ouncesscoops. (And you could have three different flavors.) According to WHO working, if a parent has asked for cones as a side element, we will not charge it. If you have three little ones, that is $ 4.80 in savings!

14

Become happy.

group of friends drinking beer and eating an appetizer
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If you are not ready to eat at a specific time, hit a local Happy Hour can save you a lot of money and not just about drinks. "We have guests arriving regularly for a happy hour three times a week because of the great offers we propose. It's a good way to taste a variety of small different plates without blowing your budget," says the root of Mellisa, the co-owner and executive pastry chief at the hairy lobster in Portland, Oregon. "I know that other restaurants across the country have dropped priced and eats during this pre-dinner time slot. It is worth it to chase a happy hour in your area."

15

Mark online offers.

man holding cell phone looking at coupons
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"Customers who get the best deals are in the restaurant with groupons and LivingSocial offers," says Emily, a Texas-based server. "Many times people will come with a $ 100 gift card that they bought online for $ 50." We are also fans of Restaurant.com, the Golden City and Pulsd. Even Yelp.com will sometimes have special offers.

16

Get an app as main dish.

seafood on toast restaurant appetizer

Order an aperitif when your main course can save you a lot of money. "The aperitifs are often greater portions than people do not realize," says Anthony. "More often than not, people ask me to pack their entry if they order an application and something small, like a salad. Skip a main course could easily save you $ 15 or more." Another thing to monitor: applications that are also listed as a sector. I ate once in a restaurant where they had crab cakes like an aperitif and a main one, served with aasparagus side. If you simply ordered the Crab Cake application and the side of the asparagus, it was cheaper but the same size. Look for these types of traps!

RELATED: Theeasy way to make comfortable foods healthier.

17

Eat a snack.

girl with long hair smiling holding a green apple

"When people come to eat, they are usually hungry", the faith of Maryland's waitress tells us. "This usually leads them to devour all the bread basket and order an expensive group of applications right away. Although this is great for me, because it increases the percentage of $ 1 to $ 20 at the bill. For this reason, I always eat something small as a piece offruit or anutsBefore I go out to eat. In this way, I'm not hungry and I can order a really delicious dish without spending a ton of money. "

18

Make brunch.

eggs brunch

If you like to go out for a weekly restaurant meal, do it brunch . This is by far the cheapest meal of the weekend, but because it is a mix of ferries of lunches and breakfast, we always look like an indulgent special occasion. To eliminate additional costs, avoid buffets and bottomless brunches. a Omelette or a stack of Crepes Could sale for $ 9 to $ 12, but if you get the same thing in a bottom-up champagne brunch, you are looking for $ 20 or more, warns faith.

For more, check these 108 most popular sodas classified by how toxic they are toxic .


Categories: Restaurants
Tags: tips
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