Restaurant Tips & Tricks – Wine and Dine like a Pro

Getting the best seat in the house

Call in advance to book a table so that you can be sure you get the one you want. If you already know the restaurant, you can even pinpoint the exact table. However, if you did not call in advance, remember that kindness goes a long way, so with some sweet words you might just convince the waiter or manager to give you that table you want, or at the very least, a good one.

Many restaurants don’t take bookings. But you can still phone in advance to find out whether the restaurant is full or not, and so will have a better idea of whether or not you might get your ideal table.

Try and avoid the peak dining times, since this almost guarantees that you will not get a good seat. So, try dining out during some less-than-popular times, or alternatively, go in smaller groups and for shorter times, since smaller parties who only dine for a shorter time will have more seating options, and will likely have a better chance of getting a good table.

Keep your piggy bank whole

To avoid excessive bills and save a few bucks, try and dine out during “happy hours” (or “quiet time”), i.e. when they have specials. That way you pay less for more. Also, sign up for loyalty programs so that you can earn some returns on your bills, which you can redeem at a later stage. Most restaurant loyalty programs also offer great birthday specials.

Try out some lesser known restaurants; oftentimes they are not as pricey as the more well-known ones. But do read the reviews first, so that you don’t end up in a sketchy joint!

Try limiting your alcohol intake when dining out. Firstly, this directly cuts down on your spending. But secondly, and more interestingly, when you consume alcohol your inhibitions are lowered (as we all know), and that way you are more likely to overindulge on other menu items. For example, you might end up ordering a dessert and a few extra sides when you were not originally planning to! You could also end up wasting food this way since your appetite is likely to go down as you get tipsier.

By law, restaurants are required to bring you tap water free of charge on request. However, they often only suggest sparkling or still water in bottle form to make you pay for it. So, don’t oblige if you only want tap water.

Some fun facts

Restaurants often use so-called “decoy” menu items in order to subconsciously coax you into buy something they want you to buy. Here’s how it works: two items are next to each other, one being more expensive than the other. However, they make more profit on the cheaper item. So, you see them side by side, you choose the cheaper option, and bingo! They sell you the product on which they make more bucks!

Many restaurants offer free appetizers. This is all great, but the tactic behind this is often to guilt trip you into spending more, almost like tit for tat. In other words, they gave you something free, and now you feel obliged to return the favor by spending more at their restaurant.

Waiters often phrase their question in a very crafty way. Here’s an example: “Do you want coffee or dessert?”. The suggestion of either one or the other can trick you into ordering, when in fact you wanted neither!

The dollar signs on menus are often removed, which kind of blurs the “cost” factor. Although very subtle, it subconsciously tricks your mind into not making the monetary connection. Some restaurants deliberately have heavy plates and cutlery in order to give it a more up-class feel. That way, you feel justified into paying higher prices for the items, since you think you are dining at a “fancier” restaurant.