So, you’re on a trip to Harrogate and want to enjoy some of the fantastic restaurants and pubs for less – here are some tips to do so.
- Online deal sites are great for saving money. OpenTable, Restaurant.com, Living Social, and Groupon are the top four sites. We always check these sites to find deals that save us money at our favorite places to eat out. If you are going to Harrogate for a weekend be sure to check out these Harrogate hotels deals and find the best places to eat nearby.
- Take advantage of coupons. My wife specializes in couponing. We are always searching online to find restaurant coupons. Many times, you will find the best deals on Facebook pages as well as the restaurants’ websites. It is possible to save 10 to 15% by searching for coupons.
- Restaurants also offer loyalty clubs. Once there was an E. coli outbreak at Chipotle and we stopped going there. However, Chipotle started texting us a lot of loyalty deals. Since then, we have taken advantage of free chips, BOGO deals, free meals and free guac. In fact, I visit Chipotle so often that I qualify for free burritos even when I do not have a loyalty reward.
- Check whether your favorite restaurants offer an anniversary or a birthday club. Go to their website to find out whether they offer any special coupons. In addition, you should also find out whether they are offering any special anniversary or birthday promos. Many places offer a free dessert on special occasions such as birthdays whereas others offer a completely free meal.
- Another way to save money is to purchase gift cards at discounted rates. We like to use CardCash.com and GiftCardMall.com. These websites allow us to get gift cards at significant discounts. We have been able to save 5 to 20% when eating out at our favorite restaurants. It is easily accessible and the only thing you need to do is to find your favorite places.
- Daily specials are a thing. We have this Tex-Mex place down the road from us where they offer $2 tacos with free salsa and chips every Friday from 4 to 6 p.m. $5 margaritas and $2 beers are also available. It is an excellent early dinner. During the weekdays, we often enjoy late dinners but when it comes to Friday dinners, we love to take advantage of such deals.
- It is not necessary to go out every day. If it does not sound like a tip to save money at restaurants, rest assured, it is. Go to your favorite restaurants to order carry-out. You will save quite a bit of money on service tips to the waiter, delivery fees, and you will not be spending money on expensive drinks.
- Get into the habit of drinking water. Restaurants have an insane markup on alcoholic beverages and sodas. To a restaurant, it costs anywhere from $0.05-$0.25 for a soda but you pay more than $3 for that drink. When it comes to markups on alcohol, the number can go above 600%.
- Do you like mystery shopping? Have you ever wanted to become a restaurant critic? There are a lot of options when it comes to mystery shopper networks. On joining these networks, you will not only get reimbursed for the full cost but you will also get a small incentive on reviewing a particular restaurant. It is a win-win for everyone.
- Slow eating is also a way to save money. In most cases, restaurants serve a much bigger portion than needed. It has been scientifically proven that there is a time gap between your stomach getting full and the signal reaching your head. When you eat slower, it is unlikely that you will finish everything served to you. Eating slower also allows you to have leftovers which you can take with you in a doggy bag and make an excellent meal out of it.
- Learn to share huge meals. Restaurants are not going to love it but if you are eating out with a friend who has a similar taste and you are unlikely to finish your meal, one great alternative is to split your meal with your friend. Even though I am sharing this tip, my wife does not find sharing pasta a romantic thing.
- Get value for your money. When it comes to restaurant markups, pasta dishes are marked up anywhere from 6 to 10 times the cost but seafood dishes and steaks do not have high markups. This is why it is better to choose the good stuff and not the dishes that can be easily prepared at home.
- Get into the habit of paying your restaurant bills with a credit card that offers cashback. Most credit cards offer cashback ranging from 1% to 5% on restaurant purchases. Click here to know more about the best credit cards offering cashback for restaurants.
- Save money on tipping. Start eating out at fast-casual restaurants where it is not a norm to tip. Some examples include Panera Bread, Five Guys, Chipotle and Pei Wei, among others. You will get great food and save money on the usual 20% tip.
- Research before you go out. Go to the restaurant’s website to check their menu. Lengthy menus are often overwhelming and you might make a hasty decision which is unlikely to be the most cost-effective option. This is why it is better to go through the menu and prices before arriving. It will allow you to make better decisions.