With everything going back to normal and everyone even more excited to go out of their homes, eating out is something anyone wouldn’t want to miss. Deliveries are good and all but there’s nothing more soothing than having your meal in a nice cozy ambiance, served fresh and hot and did I mention, not having to clean up after you finish eating?
While the economy is regaining its momentum, restaurants and food chains continue to shoot up. New pizza place here, artisan coffee shop there, new Korean food place here and there, prices are on the high side as well. Cost of living has definitely changed but that shouldn’t really stop you from enjoying and being the the food connoisseur in you. Here are some hacks that you should try to make the most out of the new normal dining experience.
Have A Designated Food Buddy
Similar with the idea of having a travel buddy, have a committed food buddy who’s willing to share not only the meal but also the bill. It doesn’t have to be all the time. You can set a schedule such as at least once a week or even twice a month once paycheck is in to make it more manageable. You not only get your share of the bill for less but you also get to taste different menu at once. Assuming your food buddy is one of your constants, this is also a good way to bond and catch up for the week or month or so.
Some pairing suggestions to try with your food buddy:
One chooses the pizza flavor and the other one chooses a pasta.
You both get to choose 2 main entries and share for both.
Order that sweet sinful beverage, ask the server to split in two cups.
The possibilities are endless, the calorie intake is less. At the end of the day, you are both blessed.
Decide On The Theme
Are you a rice or pasta or bread kind of person? Or something savory like burger or steak? Or something between Japanese or Korean? All of these you can sort if you can plan ahead and decide what you really want to try for a certain time. Cravings usually happen in the middle of the night so be diligent enough to write them down and get them ready for your upcoming dine out schedule. Watching all these Korean dramas surely got most of us drooling with the ramyeon or k-barbeque so better have those in the list. Just recently, some malls even prepared a dedicated section in their premises and made it to certain themed dining districts like Japan Town, Korea Town, China Town, name it.
Still undecided? Here’s a tip. Write the different restaurant names down in a piece of paper and draw slots. The written place on the picked paper will of course be the winning restaurant for the night. But since we are now in the modern age, another alternative is the spinning wheel elimination method where you can jot down several restaurants and literally spin the wheel. Try it for yourself here: www.wheelofnames.com
Lookout For Freebies
Who wouldn’t want freebies? In this time and day where everything is metered, having a freebie is literally a gold from a mine. And while most restaurants now shoot up their prices by three to four times compared to some years ago, these pricey restaurants often make it up by giving some entrees on the house. Watch out for the free nuts and chips while your meal is being prepared, or the unlimited banchan or side dishes from Korean barbeque places, or it can be the tray of bread with a selection of spreads usually served by Western themed places. Don’t forget the house tea which is served either hot or iced if you are in an Asian restaurant.
Checkout For Promos And Deals
While we’ve been talking about the high prices of goods for a while, again, there is still indeed a gold string in a stack of hay. To manage the situation, restaurants try to keep it up as well by inviting the new normal crowd into their stores and with that they do come up with deals that can be as hard to resist. On top of the usual freebie from the house, there are also other offers such as bundles that you can avail for less than individual prices of the dishes combined. These can go from five percent discount or even higher.
Other promo opportunities to lookout for
Birthday Celebrant eats free if dining with at least a number of paying companion.
Credit Card Deals.
Loyalty Rewards usually from the restaurant company.
Online bank application tie ups and promos.
Be sure to try these hacks to make the most from your dining out escapade. Having a full tummy doesn’t always have to break the bank. Have a great dining trip!
