Yes, You Can Go To A Dine-In Family Restaurant Without Breaking The Budget
There are bound to be times when you do not feel like cooking a full meal for your family. Unfortunately, for many people, this means going through a drive-thru at a fast-food establishment. This is especially true when taking everyone out to a dine-in family restaurant does not fit in the budget. Luckily, there are ways to avoid spending too much while enjoying a nice meal in a sit-down restaurant where you don't have to do any of the work. Here are a few things to keep in mind when looking for a place to eat so you can save some money.
Coupons and Discounts
Check local newspapers and coupon books for discounts or coupons. You should also do a quick search online to see what is available. There are also discount group clubs where you can get special deals at different establishments. A few minutes looking for these can save you quite a bit of money.
Share Meals
Many restaurants serve large portions of their main entrée. Quite often it is enough to feed two people. It is fine to have people share a meal. You could even order just a few entrées and let everyone take a portion of each instead of everyone having their own meal. Another option is to go to a place that offers family-style eating. You choose from the family menu and everyone shares everything, just the way you would eat at home.
Eat "Starters"
A great way for everyone to have their own meal is to just order starters. This could be a salad, soup, or items from the appetizer menu. Quite often these will have enough to be a complete meal; especially for children. You should also take advantage of the other options on the menu, especially for children. Either of these options will be less expensive than ordering a child a full entrée.
Drink Water
If the establishment offers free refills on drinks, go ahead and take advantage of that. However, if you are going to be charged for each drink, opt for water. If everyone really wants a non-water drink, order one per person and then switch to water for the rest of the meal.
Whether you had a rough day and are too tired to cook or you have reason to celebrate, head to a dine-in family restaurant. A bit of research can get you some discounts so you won't have to worry about the cost.
Visit a dine-in family restaurant in your area, such as National Coney Island.