by Sandra Sheridan

Created on: October 19, 2009   Last Updated: December 23, 2009

Before and during your restaurant visit, you’ll enjoy significant savings with a little planning, searching for discounts and self restraint.  Restaurants are particularly sensitive to your pared entertainment budget.  They want your business and your loyalty, so their value offerings have never been more enticing.  Apply “PASSE” - five simple tips for savings - and you will still be able to enjoy dining out without breaking the budget. 

P – Planning Ahead

Timing has a major impact on your dining bill.  Restaurant specials usually revolve around business-building techniques to boost sales during traditionally slow times of day and days of the week.  Lunch menus, in particular, offer many of the signature dishes offered in the evening; so you can enjoy the same meal, often with smaller portions, at daytime pricing. More than ever before, restaurants are ramping up their internet presence.  Check your favorite restaurants' web sites for customer specials. You may be surprised to discover coupons, two-for-one dinners or early bird specials. If you register on line, you may receive regular e-mail notices with coupons and specials.  Newspapers, home mailers and entertainment books are other good sources for discount coupons.  A little planning and adaptability will lower your restaurant bill.

A – Awareness of “Four-Walls Marketing”

Restaurant experts from Denny's to Ruth's Chris will tell you that four-walls-marketing takes over the moment you step through the door. Thick, marbled steaks or rich, tempting desserts are displayed in the entry. Or the salad bar displays an appealing feast that’s fresh, crisp and colorful (and “only $3.99” extra with an entree!)  According to one restaurant guru, "Without cluttering the atmosphere, we take advantage of every opportunity to suggestively sell our high-profit items to customers."  Menus place high-profit offerings at the upper right, where your eye automatically goes. Those attractive little flip cards on your table grab your attention with photos of sparkling martinis or hefty slices of raspberry-chocolate cheesecake. Be aware of the strategy, and you are more likely to withstand the temptation to order what "they" want and stick with your own plan and budget. 

S – Server salesmanship, self control

Expect a great server to be a wizard. A talented server will sell you premium drinks and

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