Top 10 Restaurant Coupon Tips
Even foodies who love the joy of cooking at home enjoy dining out now and then. But with the real unemployment rate approaching 18 percent, most of us are more cost-conscious these days and weary of splurging on the luxury of dining out. We’ve put together 10 restaurant coupon tips to help stretch your dining-out-dollar and support you local eatery.
10. Chamber of Commerce or Visitors Bureau
Visit your city or town’s local Chamber of Commerce or Convention and Visitors Bureau and check for restaurant coupons or publications with special discount coupons for tourists. The local Chamber of Commerce will often provide a Visitors Guide. Ask office employees about new restaurant openings that may have promotional coupons.
9. Junk Snail Mail, Yellow Pages, Local Newspapers
When searching for valuable restaurant coupons, don’t overlook promotional fliers, handouts, leaflets, and coupon books sent via U.S. mail in throw-away publications like like Valpak, Clipper, the Flyer and Penny Saver. Often times restaurant coupons appear in local newspapers, and even the Yellow Pages of the phone book.
8. Visit Restaurant Website
Make a note of the nationwide chain restaurants in your area within a reasonable driving distance, and visit the restaurant’s website. Check for any special coupons you can print from the website; look for special happy hour food deals, or value cards.
7. Credit Card Rewards Program
Check all of your credit cards and determine if they have a rewards program. Some credit card companies offer points that can be redeemed for restaurant gift cards.
6. Restaurant.com Gift Certificates
Restaurant.com gift certificates are good at thousands of participating restaurants nationwide from casual to elegant dining and feature many popular cuisine types. The standard price of a $25 certificate is only $10. Just enter your city, state, or zip code. You may be able to save even more on Restaurant.com certificates by using coupon codes available on some coupon web sites like CouponMom.com.
Restaurant.com also provides a Dinner of the Month club, a program that sends a monthly gift certificate via e-mail to the recipient. Plans range from 3 months to 12 months. You get a free gift certificate with every Dinner of the Month Club purchase.
5. OpenTable Dining Rewards
OpenTable members can earn Dining Rewards Points for online reservation they make and honor. Points are redeemable for OpenTable Dining Cheques which can be used at any OpenTable restaurant. Simply join OpenTable (it’s free) to create an account. When you make and honor online reservations initiated at www.opentable.com, points are automatically awarded to your account.
Your points will be awarded once the reservation is completed. When you’ve earned enough points to exchange for a Dining Cheque, the option to “Redeem Points” will appear on your “My Profile” page when you log in. Simply click “Redeem Points” to place your order.
We’ve heard plenty of complains though from restaurantuers saying that OpenTable doesn’t play fairly with them. So be prepared for some push back.
4. Register with ActiveDiner
Register with ActiveDiner for future specials in your area. Provide your name, email address, and the area in which you live, and they will notify you of specials. Also follow them on Twitter to be notified of the latest dining specials.
3. FriendsEAT, Google, Facebook and Twitter
Use FriendsEAT, Google, Facebook and Twitter. Conduct a search on FriendsEAT under Restaurant Coupons. Google your favorite restaurant and add the word coupon. For example: Whole Foods coupons. Look for restaurant coupon deals on Facebook. Check out Half Off Deals on Facebook for a gift certificate to your favorite place half off.
2. Join Restaurant Birthday Club
Check every restaurant you visit for a restaurant birthday club. A participating restaurant will either send a free dinner certificate for the birthday month, or honor you with a free dinner on your birthday. Also check for any possible drawings you can participate in. Some restaurants allow customers to leave their business cards in bowls at the cash register.
1. 2010 Entertainment Book
The Entertainment Book is filled with hundreds of 50% off and 2-for-1 discounts for dining and other services. With each book purchase you get online access to hundreds of additional local printable coupons. An Entertainment Membership Card is included with each book purchase to use at select fine dine restaurants, as well as to receive discounts when traveling. Book price is $17.50.