var json_comments = new Array("

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June 30, 2009 4:44 PM

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Oh, wow! I've actually eaten at that restaurant when I was in Wiesbaden. Waldgeist's a great place if you're anywhere near Frankfurt, better yet if you're stationed there. But beware the beer: just because you can order it large doesn't mean you should [0.5, 1, 2, 4, and 8Liters are their sizes] From experience, two liters of beer is a lot for one meal, though fitting for 25cm burgers.

3 replies

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downwithmonstercable

June 30, 2009 5:00 PM

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@mussorgsky112: 8 liters? That's like two gallons. I hope that's intended to be shared like a pitcher and that Germans don't really drink two gallons of beer at lunch.

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June 30, 2009 6:33 PM

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@downwithmonstercable: More like two pints. The German industrial machinery is well lubricated with beer, but not to the point of frothing over.

Although I have never seen an 8-liter mug, the beer at Oktoberfest and similiar gatherings usually comes in 1 liter (ein Mass) mugs. I'm guessing that's part of the traditional reason for Oktoberfest, which was that the March beer had to go before the first batch of the new harvest can go down to the caves for aging. Serving it in large mugs would encourage consumption.

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June 30, 2009 5:11 PM

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@downwithmonstercable: And if that's the case, I am moving to Germany tomorrow.

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downwithmonstercable

June 30, 2009 6:13 PM

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@alexcassidy: Actually now that you mention it, that would be awesome if everyone drank two gallons of beer at lunch. The rest of the workday would be awesome.

","

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Newmy

June 30, 2009 4:45 PM

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Here's another tip... order kid's meals if you can. When I eat out, it's usually only $3-4 since I get the kid's meal. The portion size is usually not even that much smaller.

10 replies

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Larry Willis

July 1, 2009 6:33 AM

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kids meals are just that for kids, you cheap sob. stay home

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Aquasol

July 1, 2009 10:30 AM

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@Larry Willis: Eggs are only for breakfast! Salad is only for lunch! Child porn is only for childr-- wait, what?

Maybe you always order \"The Last Supper\" wherever you go, but not everyone can eat, transport, or even afford that. And with such a crap economy right now, you're making yourself sound like an idiotic douche with no concept of monetary conservation.

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Larry Willis

July 5, 2009 6:23 AM

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@Aquasol: Why because I understand that the whole frickin concept of kids meals is to give parents a break, not indulge cheap people who think they found a loophole?

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July 1, 2009 9:46 AM

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@Larry Willis: And people wonder why most Facebook commenters are looked down upon... you're not helping.

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Larry Willis

July 5, 2009 6:25 AM

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@jamar0303: And you countered my argument how?

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Larry Willis

July 5, 2009 6:26 AM

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@Larry Willis: Eat at home

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Larry Willis

July 5, 2009 6:13 AM

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@jamar0303: Listen, if you can't afford to eat out that's fine, but kids meals are just that designed to attract families with kids to dine at a restaurant. Cheap people who want to avoid paying high prices should cook their own food. You make yourself a mockery of the entire resaurant staff when a grownup orders off the kids menu. Not saying nefarious things will happen to your food, but doing this type of thing may prompt such an action.

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June 30, 2009 9:55 PM

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I get the Happy Meal at McDonald's. It's just enough food. The toy I give away, unless it's a cool one and I want it. :)

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Raekwon

June 30, 2009 5:01 PM

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@Newmy: My friends used to do this at a burger place called Fuddruckers. Their burgers are quite large and a few of my friends could not eat that much food. Plus the kids meal was still quite large anyway. Eventually the one location near me stopped allowing adults order kid's meals, which is ludicrous, so we stopped eating there.

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jaya9581

June 30, 2009 5:11 PM

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Whenever I find a restaurant that refuses to serve an adult a children's meal, I order it to go. There's nothing they can say about it at that point.

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gaywolverine

July 2, 2009 12:17 AM

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@jaya9581: Sure there is, they can refuse to sell you it. In fact, if they told you that it was for 12 and under only, they could require proof. It is the same as asking for a senior discount when you are 30.
it also drives up prices for the rest of the world. How about this, if you can not afford to eat out and follow the rules, STAY THE HELL HOME.

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Mange

June 30, 2009 6:10 PM

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@jaya9581: I do that as well, because \"adult-sized\" meals are just too gigantic. However, once at a French bakery, this practice caused such a fuss that the staff in the back poked their heads out to see the grown woman ordering a child's meal. They wouldn't let me get a grilled cheese otherwise, and all I wanted was a grilled cheese with tomato soup!

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June 30, 2009 5:09 PM

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@Raekwon: I notice most menus say on the kid's meal section \"KIDS 12 AND UNDER ONLY\" or some variation.

I've often wondered how much of a fuss a restaurant would give if an adult tried to order one.

I'm not a big person and I don't each much. In most cases the kid portion sizes would probably be enough for me.

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MauriceCallidice

June 30, 2009 10:18 PM

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@dragonfire81: I like that Cracker Barrel says their kids menu is for \"kids of all ages\". It means I can get a portion size I can actually eat comfortably, and not regret it later.

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joe18521

June 30, 2009 4:56 PM

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I imagine that'd be kinda embarrassing to do as an adult.

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Newmy

June 30, 2009 5:22 PM

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@joe18521: It's not at all embarrassing, at least in my opinion. With the drive through, they have no idea if it's for you or a kid. When I eat in, I always politely ask the server first if it's okay because I'm \"on a diet\". 98% of the time they say yes, but if they even hesitate for a second I tell them that it's okay and go ahead and order from the adult menu.

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Adrienne Willis

June 30, 2009 4:49 PM

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@Newmy: you beat me to it!

","

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Mr_D

June 30, 2009 4:45 PM

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On appetizers, I would beg to differ. Claim Jumper's seared Ahi tuna is a life-changing experience. A $13 life changing experience, but sometimes that's just what it costs.

2 replies

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Paul Carr

June 30, 2009 9:20 PM

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@Mr_D: Plus I would say that trying to save money eating out is just ridiculous. If you are trying to save money, don't eat out. If you are eating out, enjoy the experience. Eat at a nice place, get the appetizer, have soup, and desert. Just don't eat out regularly.

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Sian

July 1, 2009 9:02 AM

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@Paul Carr: Sometimes you just don't want to fix food, or have to get out of the house so you don't go crazy.

At that point, being able to eat out without breaking the bank is nice.

","

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Saboth

June 30, 2009 4:46 PM

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Bah you left out one of the biggest money savers. Water over sodas, and DEFINATELY over any mixed drinks. Although I have a hard time following that advice, as I like a bit of soda with the meal, but with sodas inching up to 2.25-2.50 per soda, it's an easy way to save $4-$5.

5 replies

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June 30, 2009 6:50 PM

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I hate buying soda when we go out. I buy 12-packs when they're on sale and tuck them away in the basement. The biggest sales are \"cookout\" holidays like Memorial Day or 4th of July. Current sale is 5 12-packs for $11 or just over 18 cents per can. Why on earth should I pay $2 or more for a similar amount? I've got enough to last the family well into the fall.

My other problem with ordering soda from anywhere is choice. If you want something diet that is also caffeine free, you're out of luck most of the time. So ordering soda at a resauraunt means paying a 1,000% markup and settling for something I don't want. No thank you.

The exception is a local diner that makes traditional raspberry lime rickys. Awesome.

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italianscallion33

June 30, 2009 6:05 PM

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@Saboth: I alllllways drink water when I go out. Saves money and calories/sugar!

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Robobot

June 30, 2009 5:54 PM

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@Saboth: Or to be more realistic, if you do get an alcoholic drink, make it count.

I like to order martinis because they are quite strong and tasty. Even if it's a $10-$12 martini at some trendy bar, you're still only paying $2-$2.50/shot of top shelf alcohol. (Not that top shelf always makes a huge difference.) That's about what you pay for rail shots at crappy college hangouts.

If I feel like drinking beer or wine I just stay home because it's a ripoff at bars. Even ridiculous $1 pitcher specials are a ripoff because they always use terrible watery beer.

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DreamTheEndless: Death's little brother

June 30, 2009 6:11 PM

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@Robobot: I think your math is a little bit flawed. In the bar industry, a martini is usually a double pour which means 2.5 ounces plus a splash of vermouth. That's more than double your stated $2.00 to $2.5 a shot - according to your numbers, it's $5.00 to $6.00 a shot. (A \"shot\" in the bar industry is usually 1.25 ounces - a shrink ray effect from the fifties when a \"jigger\" was 1.5 ounces.)

A slightly better deal if you are looking only at the alcohol/dollar ratio would be a long island iced tea which should contain 5 half shots.

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Newmy

June 30, 2009 5:36 PM

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@Saboth: Good point. It's absolutely ridiculous how expensive sodas are now, especially if you're someone (like me) who doesn't drink enough to get a refill. Water it is... either that or sneaking a sip from my hubby's soda.

","

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jamesdenver

June 30, 2009 4:48 PM

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Here's my personal 2 for 1 deal at places that serve large portions:

1. Ask for a to-go box with your meal.
2. Cut in half and portion into to-go box.
3. Put box to side.
4. Have remaining meal for lunch or another dinner.

Pretend to commiserate with your friends about how bloated they are after they lunchtime coma.

7 replies

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Residentdrunkgirl

July 1, 2009 12:01 AM

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@jamesdenver: $5 footlong = lunch and dinner! Just $2.50/meal! Or eat Ramen.

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Pinget

June 30, 2009 10:02 PM

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@jamesdenver: They *count* on you doing this. They *know* you will think this equals value. What if they just served you enough for one meal to start with at half the price??

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MauriceCallidice

June 30, 2009 10:28 PM

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@Pinget: \"What if they just served you enough for one meal to start with at half the price??\"

Then it would be less profitable. Annoying, but true. Doubling the portion size while doubling the cost can easily triple (or more) the profit margin.

Excluding the raw materials, the costs of putting the food on your table (server salary, cook salary, dishes, gas, electricity, etc.) are mostly independent of portion size. There are additional costs for purchasing, storing, and preparing the extra food used for large portions, but the increased cost is small in comparison to the additional fee which can be charged for the larger portion size.

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June 30, 2009 5:04 PM

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@jamesdenver: Seconded. You don't even have to get the box in advance (though it helps); just remind yourself that only half of the item is lunch (lots of dishes are pre-sectioned anyway) and that you're through when you've got 50% left.

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July 1, 2009 12:09 AM

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@floraposte: Pre-sectioned is my favorite flavor. I carry a giant pill splitter with me to the restaurant so I can cleanly divide hamburgers. I only wish they would make chicken breasts more symmetrical.

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June 30, 2009 7:40 PM

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I always ask for a to-go box for everything.
Even if I'm not going to eat my fries tomorrow- the Dog will, and he will give me wet french-fry-scented kisses for it.

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June 30, 2009 5:03 PM

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@jamesdenver: That's pretty much my dining-out philosophy. Buy big and eat 2-3 times.

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June 30, 2009 4:51 PM

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I agree with the \"skip the soda/tea/alcohol\" bit.. I rarely have anything besides water, unless I'm really craving it. It's too easy to default to soda/beer/tea, yet with sodas creeping to $3 a pop (pun intended) and beer about $6, it just doesn't make sense unless it's really what I want.

3 replies

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June 30, 2009 6:35 PM

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@tungstencoil: Oh, and if you must have a beer with your meal, you might as well get the good foreign stuff. On most menus I've seen, Budweiser would be $3.25 while Pferdpinkelbrau from the old country would only be like $3.75.

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MauriceCallidice

June 30, 2009 10:30 PM

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No standard web pages containing all your search terms were found.

Your search - Pferdpinkelbrau - did not match any documents.

Suggestions:

* Make sure all words are spelled correctly.
* Try different keywords.
* Try more general keywords.

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June 30, 2009 7:16 PM

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@HurtsSoGood: I love when people who clearly don't live in NYC talk about alcohol prices.

And then I cry in my $7 beer. :(

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June 30, 2009 4:51 PM

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Smaller folks like myself would do well to avoid \"value meals,\" too. I can finish the burger and fries, but that doesn't mean I should. Save a couple bucks when getting just the sandwich.

I'm not just talking about fast food, either. Plenty of diners by me offer \"plain\" or \"deluxe,\" and the only real difference is fries.

","

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PinkBox

June 30, 2009 4:55 PM

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If you and your significant other like the same foods well enough, order one entree to go.

My boyfriend and I do this very often. Most restaurants give you more than enough for two people.

2 replies

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dham

July 1, 2009 8:08 PM

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@PinkBox: I have noticed that restaurants that used to give me a look for doing this no longer do. We once had a restaurant actually insist we order more food, even though the place was empty, which I found sort of embarrassing.

I guess one benefit of the bad economy is that restaurants are happier to just have customers.

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Nogard13

July 1, 2009 12:00 PM

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@PinkBox: My wife and I do something similar at Olive Garden.

We order one meal and one appetizer and then stuff ourselves with the free salad and breadsticks that they bring out, share the appetizer (we tell them to bring it with the meal) and then pack the meal to go and have diner the next day for both of us. We get two meals out of it for around $20, or $5 a meal per person. Not too bad.

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Kimberly Gist-Collins

June 30, 2009 4:59 PM

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My husband and I split a large entree instead of ordering 2. It works great!

2 replies

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June 30, 2009 8:48 PM

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@Kimberly Gist-Collins: Some restaurants charge a sharing fee, but I'm sure it would still be cheaper than getting two entrees.

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Saboth

June 30, 2009 5:26 PM

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@Kimberly Gist-Collins:

Sometimes we do that. Usually if we do that, we order 1 appetizer and 1 entree, which cuts the bill down closer to $20 instead of $30.

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GuinevereRucker

June 30, 2009 5:06 PM

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My favorite restaurants are the ones with delicious free bread. Then we split a large pizza (around $10) and split a bottomless drink.

That's when we want to go out but not spend a lot of money. The waitstaff tend to dislike me, but I don't really care. We're a low maintenance table and there's no rules against being cheap!

16 replies

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Roddimus

July 3, 2009 6:20 PM

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@GuinevereRucker:

I always tip well and treat my servers respectfully. My girlfriend worked as a server throughout college, and it is a terrible job. You might get paid half than minimum wage(because restaurants can and do legally do that for severs) to give excellent service and get treated like a piece of trash just to find pocket change left on the table. It's degrading and humiliating. If you can't afford to tip then you can't afford to eat. And I actually both save money and get excellent service, because I get discounts and preferential treatment from our servers.

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GuinevereRucker

July 4, 2009 2:28 PM

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@Roddimus: Good for you! I'm glad you all are incredibly generous with your tipping.

Personally I struggle with it and wanted to share my problems with the custom/system, not necessarily get bashed for my stinginess (I already kinda know about that).

I do give over 10% of my income to various things, but tipping just rubs me the wrong way sometimes (being expected and all), and custom or not 20% seems waaay high to me. And I do have experience working as a waiter, so I understand how the system works being paid less than minimum wage and all.

Maybe I will move to China :D

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July 1, 2009 10:16 AM

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@GuinevereRucker: And this is where I speak of the joys of eating out in China. This is the place where more than $10/head is upscale (no, really, you can feed 15 people for US$200 or less at many of the highest-end restaurants in Shanghai), tips are not OK (government regulation forbids this) and you get to bring your own drinks without service fees if you don't feel like buying theirs (if I eat out I usually head to the nearest Lawson to get some iced oolong tea or some such before heading on to the restaurant) or offering reasonable pricing (US$1 all you can drink at my favorite Italian place). Compared to this eating out in America is positively dreadful... but I live with it, and since I only come once a year (for now)...

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GuinevereRucker

July 1, 2009 2:35 PM

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@jamar0303: Wow, that sounds really neat! I knew I wasn't the only one in the world who felt this way. How's the service though?

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July 2, 2009 3:16 AM

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@GuinevereRucker: Pretty good, at least in my area. That's because there are at least 30 restaurants of some sort within walking distance of most bus stops in my local area- if service sucks at one place or start charging \"uncorking fees\" or what have you the others are more than happy to pick up the slack (or if they start expecting tips American-style you report them to the government).

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July 1, 2009 8:21 PM

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@GuinevereRucker: This attitude really sucks. When American's go overseas, you know what their most common complaint is? \"Oh my god, the service is ATROCIOUS! They don't care about you at all!\"
Know why? Because they're paid a flat rate whether or not your burger comes out 'Medium, but not too medium, like pinkish but not burnt or raw or cold but not too warm, you know what I mean? Oh, and a side of ranch, bbq, thousand island, and your first born\" They don't care if your joint-soda stays empty the entire time you're there. You have allergies? Sucks to be you, doesn't it?
Imagine if the people who work drive-thrus were the ones serving your food. People paid minimum wage infuriating you every time you decided to treat yourself to a restaurant experience. THIS is why we tip in America. People go to restaurants to relax and be spoiled, and a proper server knows how to give this experience whether you're at a pizza shop or a Michelin rated restaurant.
If you don't agree with tipping, tell your server this in advance so they can treat you accordingly. If you enjoy getting good service, you better tip.

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Tiny Bug

June 30, 2009 11:03 PM

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@GuinevereRucker: SO you split a soda, you don't care that the waitstaff consider you cheap, and you're also a crappy tipper?

For your own sake, I hope you never eat in the same restaurant twice...

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GuinevereRucker

June 30, 2009 7:25 PM

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@GuinevereRucker: Well honestly I usually get a beer too, so we do end up getting two drinks. Still, a husband and wife sharing one drink and a pizza doesn't seem like a crime to me :)

And no, I'm not a good tipper. I just hate the whole idea of tips being \"expected\" and think 15% is a little on the high side. And yes, I have worked as a waiter.

I'm not against generosity, and hopefully this exhibits itself in other areas of my finances... I'm just naturally a horrible tipper.

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DH405

July 1, 2009 8:09 AM

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@GuinevereRucker: Stop eating out. You're not \"Cheap.\" You're greedy.

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June 30, 2009 11:03 PM

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@GuinevereRucker: If you've eaten at the same restaurant more than once I guarantee you've ingested a waiter's bodily fluids.

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JulesNoctambule

June 30, 2009 9:19 PM

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@GuinevereRucker: 'I just hate the whole idea of tips being \"expected\"'

Then you shouldn't eat out at restaurants that offer table service. The custom won't change just because you screw servers.

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dham

July 1, 2009 8:13 PM

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@JulesNoctambule: Sorry, replied to the wrong comment!

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dham

July 1, 2009 8:13 PM

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@JulesNoctambule: You are giving people who who share entrees because it's honestly enough food a bad name. A good tip is 20%. If you know you ordered less food than a normal table of two but got the exact same amount of service, you should be tipping what you would have had you ordered more.

If you can't tip 15-20% for good service, you should not eat out, or you should move to a country where they pay their servers a living wage before tips.

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pecan 3.14159265

June 30, 2009 6:33 PM

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@GuinevereRucker: It might not be against the rules but it IS cheap and if you do it often enough they remember you. I hate when people are cheap - don't try to cheat the game, just don't play. If you're not willing to each buy a soda you need to just drink water. Otherwise it's shady and makes you look cheap.

I hope you tip a lot. Otherwise I bet waiters hate having you at their tables.

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June 30, 2009 7:25 PM

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@pecan 3.14159265: She did say she doesn't care if the waiters think she's cheap.

For the record, I think it's dodgy too, if not downright breaking the rules.

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June 30, 2009 6:05 PM

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@GuinevereRucker: I would be a little concerned about going out to eat where the waitstaff tend to dislike me... You do know that these people touch your food, yes?
Also, as a server, I would definitely charge you for the extra drink. If you're making me refill it 4, 5, 6 times to save you $2, that's definitely a dick move and you deserve to pay the correct amount. Especially since people like that tend to tip horribly anyway, it would be worth it to me to sacrifice my tip to show you that your game isn't gonna work with me.

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joe18521

June 30, 2009 5:39 PM

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@GuinevereRucker:

I agree that sharing a bottomless drink is kinda shady.

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bombhand

June 30, 2009 5:56 PM

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@joe18521: Ditto. It's not intended for sharing, just like you can't go into an all-you-can-eat buffet and share a plate between four people. If you're not willing to pay the price that the restaurant charges for its drinks, drink water. There is a difference between frugal and outright cheap.

I hope you at least tip well, but at that point you might as well have shelled out for the individual glasses, huh?

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June 30, 2009 5:19 PM

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@GuinevereRucker: Splitting the bottomless drink: A little iffy, there. But if you all drink out of the same glass, it's probably not so bad.

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calquist

June 30, 2009 5:13 PM

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@GuinevereRucker: Splitting a soda might not be against the rules, but a pretty crappy move. You can't split a meal at Old Country Buffet. Sharing an entree is fine, but you don't get refills on meat and veggies.

","

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ludwigk

June 30, 2009 5:09 PM

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My GF and I will often split a burger and fry basket at a place like Barney's. They're very accommodating about it too, if you indicate this before-hand. They'll bring an extra plate with an already-split burger, and its own lettuce, tomato, pickle and 1000 island sauce on it.

I particularly appreciate this level of service because Barney's is sooo successful around here that they could easily get away with providing less service. It's the kind of place we actually avoid on Thurs/Fri/Sat/Sun because the lines are too long.

It works out to something like $16 for dinner for two after tax and tip, which is VERY affordable here in NorCal.

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June 30, 2009 5:13 PM

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Re skipping appetizers and dessert because of the huge entrees, here's another possibility: if no one else you're with is skipping a course and you prefer to have a plate of food in front of you, try ordering two appetizers, one for the first course and one in lieu of the entree.

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farcedude

June 30, 2009 5:13 PM

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I definitely agree on skipping appetizers and desert. Appetizers are usually too greasy and overpriced, and I usually have a better homemade dessert (homemade strawberry pie from homegrown strawberries) at home to look forward to, make for a fraction of the cost.

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Ihaveasmartpuppy

June 30, 2009 5:14 PM

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Don't skip the appetizer, have an appetizer as your main dish, along with a side salad. Skip the entree. Usually appetizers are much more fun and tasty than some humongous plate-o-food.

1 replies

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jenjen

July 1, 2009 3:50 AM

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@Ihaveasmartpuppy: agreed. And more and more appetizers are sized for sharing so they're plenty enough for a main dish.

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HiPwr

June 30, 2009 5:24 PM

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How about avoiding one check when going out to lunch with a group of people. We always end up splitting it evenly despite the fact that several order mixed drinks and the like. My $6 enchilada ends up costing me $11.50 with the tip.

4 replies

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outlulz

June 30, 2009 10:14 PM

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@HiPwr: Ugh. I went on a lunch with a large group of my coworkers once at Cheesecake Factory. I ordered a lunch special with was $9 or $10 and had water. Someone suggested we split the check evenly and they did and my $10 lunch cost me $22. I was pissed off.

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italianscallion33

June 30, 2009 6:09 PM

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@HiPwr: I don't go places in groups if I know the place won't do separate checks. Some place by my school has pretty pricey lunches, and we've gone in groups and they wouldn't split the check. One of us'll end up putting it on a card and then the others will owe him/her later on (not everyone carries cash).

The waitresses always say they're \"not allowed\" - why wouldn't they be allowed? To save receipt tape? Laziness is more like it I think. Even if we ask ahead of time, though, they still say that. So I try to steer our group away from eating there.

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June 30, 2009 9:05 PM

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@italianscallion33: When I go to a place that won't \"split the check\" they will still (without exception that I've found) be willing to take multiple forms of payment--i.e. credit cards from everyone at the table. When I have dinner with my college friends, we write on the back of the receipt our name and what we'd like to pay: \"Babyruthless--$15.\"

I've never found a place that won't do at least this.

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pb5000

June 30, 2009 5:46 PM

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@HiPwr: Let me guess, the people wanting to split evenly are those who ordered the mixed drinks?

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mrgenius

June 30, 2009 5:27 PM

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I am really glad they added the tipping part at the beginning. I used to have a friend who would always cheap out on the tip and embarrass the hell out of me. We do not dine together any longer.

As for filling up on the freebees, a lot of restaurants will not serve bread or chips until after you order, so make sure you have willpower...

I was surprised to not see pre-theater or prix-fixe menus mentioned. There are fantastic restaurants that will have a set menu if you come early enough. Like $30 for three courses. We've also got a few \"half price wine bottle\" nights in my neighborhood too, which often get me into trouble!

Also, I'd recommend trying more ethnic places. In particular vegetarian cuisines. You can usually get a killer Indian or Vietnamese dinner for just a few bucks each. The mom-&-pop places seem to have lower price points.

4 replies

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mizike

June 30, 2009 8:17 PM

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@mrgenius: I have a friend who would not only leave a horrible tip, but would actually try to make money off of me in the process! Let me explain; this guy would never, ever, have cash so when it was time to pay I would always give him my part of the bill in cash and he would pay the whole thing on his credit card. Fair enough, right? Well I was giving him my portion PLUS a 15-20% tip, which he would pocket and tip like 5% on the entire bill, in effect lowering the cost of his meal by whatever my tip was. Took me a few times to figure this out, now I always get separate bills but he's fortunately changed his ways anyway as his long term girlfriend got so embarassed by his shitty tipping that she now forces him to tip a decent amount.

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June 30, 2009 9:07 PM

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@mizike: I trained my husband to be a better tipper when we were dating by bringing along a few dollars on dates, and if his tips were too low, I'd throw down a few bucks. This embarassed him enough to tip properly.

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catastrophegirl chooses not to fly

June 30, 2009 7:32 PM

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@mrgenius: this past weekend i went to a charity movie event at a theatre that serves food and alcohol - real entrees, not just nachos and hot dogs. it was a rather geek filled event and involved a lot of people who really don't get out much.
i tipped, and because we were all a pain in the ass with the costume contest and lots of shouting and such, i tipped a bit over 20%, for a pizza and a couple of pitchers of beer for me and my friends. i always tip more for the situations that are a huge pain in the ass for the servers, they are putting up with some otherwise intolerable behavior that you wouldn't see in public.
our server actually stopped me on the way out of the theatre to thank me, apparently the attendees who don't get out much also don't know what a tip is and he got stiffed on a few of the tabs

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pecan 3.14159265

June 30, 2009 7:28 PM

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@mrgenius: Whenever I eat Indian food I always get lamb because it's not something I procure myself. Mmm Indian food. I can't go all veggie there, the spiced lamb is just too good.

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Anonymous

June 30, 2009 5:27 PM

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Taking home the bread is likely one of the most annoying practices people do at restaurants, just behind taking sugar and splenda. Although I agree that it would be better not to waste, I have had many people request more free bread just to take it home. Desserts are the biggest waste of money around and the server will appreciate you not eating dessert. A dessert course takes on average an additional 30 minutes and the sales that come from a dessert course are marginal. Therefore, a server making a wage off of tips is more inclined to push you away from a dessert in order to turn the table and get new customers looking to eat real food.

If you are looking to save money, share a plate with someone, get an appetizer as an entree, get water to drink like everyone else mentioned.

Eat early, as most restaurants offer early seating discounts. If you get a drink or a glass of wine, consider the quality factor. If you are having a mixed drink, the well booze is fine. If you are getting wine, consider the by the glass options and the prices per bottle. Often times, the bottle price for a wine poured by the glass is inflated and bottles that are only sold as bottles offer better value.

Being cheap and lacking class are very different things. We are all looking for good deals, but with that remember the people that are waiting on you are working and are trying to make a living.

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RB_Bhoy

June 30, 2009 5:34 PM

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JUST PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU TIP, OK?

as a waiter, i understand not having money, but we do almost entirely live off your tips. don't go out to eat if you can't afford to tip. and don't tip on an discounted price, tip on the price after tax, but before coupons.

AT LEAST 15%, but standard going rate is 20% now.

understandably, if your server is a dick or really really awful, 20% may not be appropriate. but don't stuff him cuz the kitchen staff sucks, or it took too long for a seat, or something else not related to their actual interactions with you. thank you.

4 replies

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tbax929

June 30, 2009 6:26 PM

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If my waiter is a dick or really awful, he's not getting a tip. Period.

I tip well for good service and adequately for mediocre service. I tip nothing for shitty service.

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youaredumb

June 30, 2009 6:25 PM

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@RB_Bhoy: Lets' see how this goes over...
No. I am not going to tip because it is expected. The restaurant is just passing expenses on to me. You as a waiter are guaranteed to make at least minimum wage. Don't like your wage, get a new job. I tip on the entire experience. Long wait, lower tip. Crappy food, lower tip. That waiter is my representative to the entire restaurant. Earn your money, but don't bitch at me because you chose a job based on people's gratitude.

As a side note. DON'T LISTEN TO / LOOK AT STREET PERFORMERS WITHOUT TIPPING. IT IS THEIR JOB.

also

IF YOU RIDE IN A TAXI, FIRST PAY FOR THE SERVICE, THEN TIP BECAUSE THEY GOT YOU WHERE YOU WERE GOING.

and finally

YOUR MAILMAN DELIVERED YOUR MAIL JUST LIKE HIS JOB REQUIRES HIM TO, SO DON'T FORGET TO TIP HIM/HER.

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kepler11

June 30, 2009 7:09 PM

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@youaredumb: I also don't judge how to tip because it's \"expected\". But on the point of minimum wage, that is incorrect. In many states, waiters and others who earn significantly based on tips, are not guaranteed the usual minimum wage.

This is something I think we should fix. If tipping is no longer discretionary, in effect, then we should stop referring to it as gratuity and simply add it to the bill so that we can pay people properly, and see how much we have to pay. Tipping was \"to ensure good service\", but if it no longer has this function, then we should change it.

[www.dol.gov]
[www.ctdol.state.ct.us]

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youaredumb

June 30, 2009 7:33 PM

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@kepler11: not to be a dick, but check your own link:
An employer may credit a portion of a tipped employee's tips against the federal minimum wage of $6.55 per hour effective July 24, 2008. An employer must pay at least $2.13 per hour. However, if an employee's tips combined with the employer's wage of $2.13 per hour do not equal the hourly minimum wage, the employer is required to make up the difference.

So if over the course of 1 pay period RB_Bhoy's tips + hourlywage are not greater than minimum wage, the employer has to come up with the difference which means that RB_Bhoy is now making minimum wage, which is what I said.

:)

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JulesNoctambule

June 30, 2009 9:21 PM

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@youaredumb: The employer is supposed to make up the difference, but do you really think they're all so honest?

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hedonia

June 30, 2009 10:43 PM

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@JulesNoctambule: The worst thing you can do is subsidize that employer's dishonesty. Then you're just encouraging it. I think that's the worst reason I've ever heard for tipping! (This coming from someone who always tips 20% unless the service was god awful).

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joe18521

June 30, 2009 6:58 PM

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I have no problem tipping for complimentary service that comes with purchasing a product - i.e. tipping a waiter for BRINGING me the food that I PURCHASED.

However, I do have a problem with, or at least do not understand, tipping when the what I'm purchasing ALREADY IS the service - i.e. taxi rides, haircuts, etc. I've already paid you to cut my hair, why do I have to pay you more for cutting my hair? I must be missing something here...

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The_Gas_Man

June 30, 2009 5:36 PM

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Really? This needed an article written about it? Really?

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June 30, 2009 5:37 PM

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Another good tip is eat during happy hours. There's a place near my house called Jake's that has their happy hour from 2-5pm, and from (I think) 9-close in which they offer $5 appetizers. Their appetizers are HUGE, most of them are bigger than actual meals.

So if you don't mind an early or late dinner, especially if you're meeting people, try taking advantage of happy hours.

1 replies

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Etoiles

June 30, 2009 6:11 PM

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@Moosehawk: Yes!

There's a tapas bar right between my friend's office and my apartment that does $3 drinks and $15 pitchers at happy hour, as well as offering several (TASTY) tapas plates for $2.50 - $3.50 each. And their happy hour runs until 7 -- or 7:30, in the summer. Classy, tasty dinner for $20 (combined) including drinks.

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Pibbs

June 30, 2009 5:40 PM

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Appetizers! I've been begging my wife for years. No more freakin appetizers. They're ridiculous now. $10 for a meal before a meal!?!

2 replies

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wcnghj

July 1, 2009 1:40 AM

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@Pibbs: I don't know how people can eat appetizers.

I always order an appetizer as my meal.

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June 30, 2009 7:11 PM

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@Pibbs: Sorry to hear about the marital discord. Personally, I would rather have an appetizer than a meal. However, restaurants figured that out and repriced appetizers to cost about the same as a meal. So long, cost-saving advice!

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o-line

June 30, 2009 5:42 PM

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Chains are noticing the dessert thing. Many are taking a lead from Houlihans and offering individual portion (or mini) esserts for $2.00 or so (I know Applebee's is doing dessert \"shooters). Healthier and cheaper. I dig it.

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June 30, 2009 5:45 PM

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\"Eat Out And Save\"?
Are you saying the normal alternative won't cost me a case of chips?

1 replies

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June 30, 2009 6:41 PM

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@Coop: For those to whom this is too obscure a reference...[consumerist.com]

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June 30, 2009 5:47 PM

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I typically use a coupon of some sort every time I go out to eat. I have a Yahoo mail account that I use just for signing up for email discount offers. I'm signed up for the restaurants I go to regularly and often get $5 off or BOGO Free coupons.

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Newmy

June 30, 2009 5:48 PM

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I'm also a fan of working the e-clubs and coupons. I pretty much only dine out if I have a coupon. O'Charley's and TGIF's are some of the better chains with regard to couponing. I sign up multiple yopmail accounts, then when I want to dine out, I check my accounts and there's almost always a coupon sitting in one of them.

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June 30, 2009 5:52 PM

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Add to this list: Don't drink anything but water. Soda and alcohol come with a nice 200-1,000% mark up, so have your cocktails at home.

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June 30, 2009 5:55 PM

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Half of those \"tips\" seem to come down to: \"You'll save money if you don't order as many things.\" Do people really need to be told that?

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italianscallion33

June 30, 2009 6:11 PM

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Sometimes I will split an appetizer combo with someone as a meal (usually under $10 total). And I always order water to drink. And I get my $0's worth on that, sometimes getting like 3 or 4 refills. ;)

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johnva

June 30, 2009 6:18 PM

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The best tip, in my opinion: eat out less often. Go only to places that make special things you couldn't make yourself at home. This is much cheaper and more enjoyable in the long run. If it's only once every month or so, you'll feel a lot less bad about going for a fancy meal.

3 replies

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June 30, 2009 7:03 PM

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I'm with Saboth and pecanpi. If I can duplicate the food, we generally don't go there. It's sad, though. The interesting places don't seem to last long. The Korean place? Gone. The Lebanese place? Adios. The fish place? Bye bye. The fish place was replaced by a restaurant that offered \"fine Italian dining.\" Seriously? Better/different from the other 10 Italian restaurants within a 5 mile radius!? I wanted fish, dammit!!

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Saboth

June 30, 2009 6:52 PM

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That's basically what I do. I only go to places where I can't replicate the food (chinese, mexican, etc).

I've always boggled at people paying big money for subs and sandwhiches. Hell, give me some bread, meat, cheese, lettuce and mayo and I can duplicate 75% of what subway has, for 1/5 the cost (considering I'll be able to make 6 subs for probably $12).

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pecan 3.14159265

June 30, 2009 6:28 PM

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@johnva: This is why we only go to really great restaurants that do seafood or ethnic or a genre of cuisine I can't cook. I'm not going to attempt cooking escargot so I go out for that. Same with any kind of African food. It is just not something I've done and real African people who run the place will always cook it better than me.

With seafood it's because Mr. Pi doesn't eat certain kinds of fish and I don't cook separate meals so we enjoy going to good fresh places so we can get what we like. Also it's a way of trying more exotic things you can't justify buying from the market - like giant scallops that are uually $8 a pound.

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June 30, 2009 6:35 PM

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You forgot not getting drinks. Water is free and soft drinks will run you $2-5 at most eateries and alcoholic beverages are just plain thievery.

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SacraBos

June 30, 2009 6:40 PM

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Okay, I thought Meersburgers were the largest I'd ever seen. [www.meersstore.com]

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June 30, 2009 7:08 PM

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Skip the tip, it's optional anyways.

1 replies

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July 1, 2009 4:29 AM

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@Corporate_guy: If they end up charging you $3 for a coke, that is not a bad thing to do. Screw me and I will screw you.

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June 30, 2009 7:10 PM

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I don't know that loading up on the free stuff necessarily makes for a good \"meal\". Don't get me wrong, I like chips and salsa at a Mexican restaurant or bread at an Italian place, but I'm not doing myself any favors if I eat two baskets of chips and salsa and three bites of my enchilada.

I mean, if it's simply volume you're looking for, find cheap buffets and eat there instead of at sit-down places ... why settle for a free appetizer or snack when you can get so much more? And some buffets can be pretty cheap at lunch, especially if you get water instead of a soft drink, tea, or other beverage.

On the other hand, sometimes buffet food isn't as fresh as you'd like it to be, and the condition of the food can be directly proportional to the care taken by the last customer before you ... which can be pretty bad at times.

2 replies

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pecan 3.14159265

June 30, 2009 7:31 PM

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@zlionsfan: You're missing the point. It's that you eat so much of the stuff they don't charge you for that the $11 enchilada will last you more than one meal because you're already half full by the time it comes. Then you can take the remainder home and have another meal for tomorrow. This isn't about people wanting to eat a lot. It's about stretching dollars.

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mianne

June 30, 2009 8:51 PM

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@pecan 3.14159265: But I think the point was--making most of a meal out of bread, chips and salsa, fried wonton noodles, etc. isn't a particularly satisfying or healthy option. Not that that 3700 calorie main course is nutritionally balanced either, but you'll have had a satisfying meal in most cases after eating 1/3 - 1/2 of it, with our without the bread.

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June 30, 2009 9:02 PM

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I stick to take-out. Most take-out food is just as good and about half the price as the same meal in a sit-down restaurant. This also allows me to avoid the appetizer and soda problem.

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June 30, 2009 10:35 PM

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The photo illustrates how it relieves me to see the rest of the western world is quickly catching up to American obesity standards. It's lonely being at the head of the pack.

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wcnghj

July 1, 2009 1:42 AM

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*WATER!! Appetizer as your meal!* Don't pay for soda, water with lemon will be just fine.

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layton59

July 1, 2009 1:45 AM

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Reading all these expanded comments has made me very HUNGRY.

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jenjen

July 1, 2009 3:56 AM

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I like bringing the bread home as leftovers! Also the bread basket, butter, jam, sugar packets, oil, salt shaker, and possibly the candleholder and flower vase. The dishes would be nice too, but they're gross to put in my purse all dirty from dinner.

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July 1, 2009 5:38 AM

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I am so glad that I am not a waiter anymore.

Let me say this about tipping... the system is entirely broken and I no longer agreed with working within it. Please understand that you cannot complain about having to tip, while also insisting on wonderful lunch and dinner specials like Olive Garden's $6.99 all you can eat soup, salad and breadsticks or Friday's $9.99 three course dinners.

This is no different than complaining about how Wal-Mart pays or treats its employees or how many of their products are made in China if you still insist on shopping there because they have a DVD player for $19.

After visiting France it became quite clear that our restaurants have it all wrong. In France all prices on menus must include all taxes and gratuity. They are also almost always rounded to an even number. If you order a 12 euro entree, your check is for an even 12 euros, end of story. Italy is quite similar and the service is excellent. Servers overseas are career employees, not merely young people living tip to tip.

It is true that restaurants in America must bump up the $2 or $3 wage to at least minimum wage if you aren't making enough in tips, but I have NEVER seen this happen. There were many days where I would be serving on an outside patio in the middle of a hurricane and go home with under $10 in tips for a 10 hour workday, but quite frankly there is just no way to prove that you didn't make good cash tips. Managers assume you've made 20% of your sales and if you didn't too bad.

If you think that serving tables is a job worthy of only $6 an hour, I implore you to try it out some time. It can be extremely hard or extremely easy work, depending on the type of person that you are. Sadly, most of the people in the industry don't give a crap... but if you want to be good at it, it is both mentally and physically exhausting. Before I left the industry, I knew about 400 diners by name, drink and favorite order. I kept notes constantly. I stuck around 3 hours after closing to wipe down every surface of the dining room for $2 an hour, while most other servers were already on their 6th beer at some bar.

There are good servers out there, just very few. My wife and I are 24 and we worked together serving for only 4 years. It was time for us to go when all of the lifting of heavy trays, glass racks, ice buckets and what not started causing her shoulder to dislocate on a weekly basis. We made great tips, but I'd like to think we were great servers. Our regulars gave us Christmas gifts, wedding gifts... they were some great people. What killed me though, was that the best tips I ever made were on tables that I feel I did the worst job.

I knew when I was doing a bad job and the week I quit, I pulled the owners of my restaurant aside 4 times to tell them that they had fired so many people (because of the economy) that I could no longer give good service... that I didn't work for pity tips and felt no better than a panhandler. Running around, forced to serve three times as many tables as I was supposed to, apologizing left and right for being terrible. That week, grown men were yelling at my wife over the temperature of Chili or that we were out of whatever beer they drank.

The industry is just as upside down as anything else in this country right now and even at $2 an hour, restaurants are so short staffed that you're less and less likely to get good service. The servers are making less tips under far more stress. It's a disaster.

Nowadays, I save money by going to restaurants without service altogether. Panera Bread, Chipotle, Pei Wei... I can only hope that these casual quick service places without servers become more of the norm... then maybe the regular restaurant industry will take a little more pride in what they do. Then maybe there won't need to be threads in which people think that a server only deserves to make $6 an hour. Nobody in this country deserves to make that little. Tips are plummeting right now and the good servers that are left will be leaving the industry one by one, like I have. There will be plenty of drug addicts left to serve the $6.99 soup, salad and breadsticks. Then no one will have to feel bad about not tipping. Of course, they'll just write down all of your credit card numbers.

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seattlemaninblue

July 1, 2009 5:32 PM

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If you can't (or won't) tip appropriately based on the customs of the country you're in, or if you feel the need to be exceedingly stingy by sharing a bottomless drink, or you fill up on free bread and then just order the cheapest appetizer, or if you order off the kids menu, here's some advice: Stay home.

1 replies

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July 1, 2009 7:05 PM

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@seattlemaninblue:

I agree completely. There is nothing wrong with being thrifty. There is nothing wrong with coupons or shopping around or sales or any of that. But we should all present ourselves a little bit higher than to order off of a kids menu to save a few dollars. If a restaurant isn't serving anything on the adult menu that is within your price range: you most likely shouldn't be eating there. If the portions of their adult entrees are too large, then you don't sound like you actually like the restaurant. Portions are only that large because you would say they were a ripoff if they weren't.

I've been broke. I've been in debt. I ate at home. How could I ever move up in the world if the world saw me stuffing dinner rolls into my wife's purse?

Most restaurant kids meals are cheaper than a fast food value meal, only they have much fewer customers they serve in a day and rely on the adult sitting with the kid to bring in profit.

Maybe I am in the minority that I only eat in restaurants that I enjoy, so I would rather see them survive in a time when many are going out of business.

Sometimes, giving a place no business can be better than bad business. Honestly. On a busy night, your seat is worth more to the restaurant than a $2.99 kids meal that cost them $2.50 before labor, rent and electricity to make.

I've noticed more and more places are keeping their condiments, napkins, plastic silverware and what not behind the counter... sure it's to save a buck, but it's because people abuse the stuff. They think they can spend a $1 and take a handful of BBQ sauce home with them.

I go to Panera Bread all the time and see customers drinking soda out of the free water cups. It's stealing. I think they're a little overpriced, but that doesn't mean I can ask for a free water cup and fill it with soda. It's why they have to have a completely different looking cup to begin with.

There's nothing wrong with drinking water when you're out to eat, but don't do something so embarrasingly cheap as steal a soda from the fountain and expect that people won't look at you and consider how ridiculous you are.

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July 1, 2009 8:36 PM

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My CB handle says it all (Smorgasbord). They are called buffets now. One price for all you can eat. I can have a meal that fills me up for $7 to $12 depending on when I go there or which buffet I go to. This includes the drinks, salads, deserts, etc. The best part is I get to choose what I eat.

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Roddimus

July 3, 2009 6:47 PM

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The way to have your cake and eat it too is to build relationships with the servers at the restaurants you patron. If you ever get exceptionally good service, tip them accordingly and start requesting that server! They will remember you and give you preferential treatment if you do so for them too.

The servers I request by name usually mark our beverages as water ($0.00) and give us free apps and desserts. I get $10 - $25 in discounts and free food with each visit. So I get the money saved from following the tips above without the sacrifice!

Though the restaurants get less out of us each time, they get us in more often, so they win too.

The best part is you get top notch service every time. That is something you may not get even if you're splurging!

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Larry Willis

July 5, 2009 6:19 AM

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I am not kidding, save your money, eat at home, restaurant people and you will be happy. Meal splitting, kids meal ordering, water drinking, lunch menu ordering are all things that will get your food adulterated. Trust me.

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