Yes, it has already been another month! Here’s my regular columnist, Mom2KG with this month’s column about eating out and a question about timing.
I live quite close to Yorkdale Mall, which is a regional shopping mecca, drawing visitors from throughout the Greater Toronto Area and beyond (as well as the de rigeur disaffected teens). I was in there yesterday, and I finally saw evidence that the recession is here. Normally, I have to fight my way up and down the wide corridors, any time of day. Yesterday, I was able to walk holding onto both my kids’ hands! There was practically no one at Yorkdale. We went into one of the family restaurants, and again, hardly anyone was there.
But eating out is fun, and can be a great break from all the troubles of the current economy. Here are my tips on how to make the most of your culinary buck:
1. Use the Internet
Everything is online now. So check out the restaurant before you go. Often, the menu, including, prices, are right there! You can figure out what you’re going to have (also good for those who count calories), and budget for it. There might also be specials and 2-for-1 deals, which can sway your decision of where to go.
2. Don’t order alcohol
Ask anyone with a passing knowledge of the restaurant biz: the markups and profits on liquids are huge. This is especially true of alcohol. So, stick with water, and insist on tap, which is perfectly acceptable, and better for the environment. Pop is relatively expensive too, but often comes with free refills. Same for coffee and tea.
3. Share
Appetizers are especially economical to share. Who needs to whole bowl of stilton-spinach-(fake) crabmeat? Spend less on starters – and desserts – and splurge on the main course.
4. Don’t order a main course
Dieters know this trick well. Instead of ordering an expensive main course, consider ordering two appetizers for yourself. Even better, order four or five between two people. You’ll get a lot more variety and, very likely, a lower bill. There are even many restaurants that now specialize in these “small plates” or tapas meals.
5. Order the chicken
If you must order a main course, the chicken is usually the most economical protein choice. Resist ordering substitutions – that is a great way for restaurants to make money on you. Stick with the garden salad or fries, instead of getting upsold on Caesar salad or veggies.
6. Eat beforehand
This is not totally counter-intuitive. We order lots because we’re legitimately hungry, often having waited hours since our last meal. An hour or so before you head out to your carefully-researched restaurant, why not have a piece of fruit, or crackers and cheese, at home? That will curb your worst hunger pangs, but not completely fill you up. You’ll feel less of a need to order a huge meal, reducing your costs.
7. Question the bill
When the bill arrives, read it carefully! Make sure it’s right, and point out any discrepancies. Often, restaurants will “comp” you for those mistakes, in order to keep you coming back.
8. Find a place and stick with it
If you like a particular place, keep going back there. Compliment the food, and tip the waiters nicely. They’ll get to know you too and will often give you something gratis for your loyalty. It might only be a coffee, but it’s something you don’t have to pay for. This may not work as well with franchise restaurants.
I want to end by hopefully stirring up a debate. I noted in my last tip to “tip nicely.” I absolutely tip well for good service, but I know people who refuse to do so, or don’t tip at all, citing a refusal to give in to “the man” and “society’s rules” about tipping (see the rant at the beginning of Reservoir Dogs). Part of the reason I tip is because, as I understand it, waiters are paid very little, and are expected to make their real money in tips. They also have to “tip out” to the kitchen, sharing their nights’ earnings with the busboys, etc.
What do TMW readers think of tipping? It can add a lot to your bill, after all.
Did you like this article?
's
