Is Eating out Too Expensive?

We used to do a lot of groupon deals though we haven't for a while. The deals were always good but you'd spend as much again on drinks if they weren't included. We don;t eat out much but when we do it's generally at one of the Hungry Horse chains - two meals for £8 or the like. Nice enough but very much you get what you pay for.

Not if you plan and book ahead, always deals to be had when you go out, highly competitve

Yes, eating out is far too expensive in the UK.

Here’s some ideas to reduce your dining out bill (without resorting to discounts, vouchers, cheap chain restaurants, and all that stuff)

1. Look up the menu online in advance and study carefully what things cost. What’s cheap? Sometimes it’s the appetisers, sometimes it’s the deserts, and often – surprisingly - it’s the side dishes. A little bit of planning about what you are, and are not, going to eat or drink, can save you ££.

2. Eat something at home just before you go out (like an apple). This’ll help you skip the appetiser!

3. Always ask for tap water (in addition to a paid drink, if you must). Bottled water is a total waste of money.

4. Skip the expensive alcohol, or look out for deals with a free glass of wine included, or

restaurants where you can BYOB (bring your own bottle) without paying a corkage charge. Always ask about the BYOB policy & corkage charge when you book (even if you're not intending to do it this time) – the answer may pleasantly surprise you

5. If you’re a couple, instead of ordering two small entrees – share a large one between you

6. Eat the free bread if it’s offered, and ask for more. If they bring a bread basket take two rolls not one, the bread basket may not come back! If you're a light eater still take two rolls, and give the second one to you know who. (Don't refuse free food!)

7. Side dishes are often cheap, adding two or three side dishes to your shared entrée can work out much better value than buying two separate entrees

8. In a decent restaurant the cheese board can sometimes be much better value than desert, and well worth skipping the appetiser for.

9. Have your coffees at home

10. Ask the restaurant to pack up any left overs for you and take then home for dinner tomorrow. You've paid for them.

It all depends on where you go obviously. Ego restaurants offer on a Tuesday a £5.00 steak night. Ive found that to be a good deal.

I have to be honest if I know I’m going out for a meal I’ll always look for a deal first! Unless it’s a birthday or another occasion where the restaurant hasn’t already been picked by someone else. I think it’s such a competitive market especially things like Byron burgers, they’re kind of expensive when you consider that’s it’s just a burger? Theres so many different burger places around!

It can be, but there is a lot of choice to suit most budgets. There are lots of offers around as well to help bring costs down.