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Let's be honest. When we dine out, a large portion of what our money is paying for is convenience. Most of us do not have the time nor inclination to plan our outings weeks ahead of time and clip coupons or search for specials, although those who do could save a considerable amount of money. Most of the time the decision to eat out is based on the situation at the moment, whether it is that we are too tired or short on time to cook or just feel we want to treat ourselves. Still, there are ways to save money, which can go a long way in warding off the guilt of not eating at home.

Where you go:
Go to a place where you order your food at a counter and have to either pick up your own food or have the food brought to your table identified with a number card or similar. Usually at these places only a small gratuity for busing the table is expected, if one is even expected at all. This can save you between 10% to 20% for doing just a little leg work.

Usually the decor of these restaurants is modest which will generally be reflected in the meal prices as well. Also, with a smaller staff, the restaurant has a lower overhead in general.

Find restaurants that cater to families. These places know that a significant portion of their clientele is budget conscious and will generally have lower prices to draw them in.

If you do not mind the crowds, eat at a place that serves food during happy hour and do not order alcohol. These places usually price their food at a loss hoping to make up the difference in alcohol sales.

What you order:
Do not order alcohol with your meal. The prices for wine by the glass at a restaurant can be inflated by as much as five to ten times the equivalent in retail. It will also add significantly to the final tip amount in the end. If you must have wine and at least three people are imbibing, order a bottle of an only mildly tannic wine that will go well with a variety of foods.

Instead of ordering individual items from the appetizer section of the menu, ask if a dinner portion of a sharable item can be ordered and brought out before the meal to share with everyone. Sometimes items in the side order section of the menu could substitute for the pricier appetizers as well.

Second only to alcohol, dessert is probably the next highest marked up item on a menu. Most of the time the desserts are not even made on the premises and come out of a box pre-made. Cut out the middleman and maybe have dessert at someone's house or at a place that specializes in desserts. Chances are you will have an equivalent or even much higher quality product for significantly less price.

Remember, everything you do not order you also save on not having to tip for it. Knowing this, it would be kind to tip slightly higher for your rock-bottom priced meal. Servers will appreciate that you share in your savings with them.

Saving money while dining out does not have to be a chore. There are simple ways to save a little of your hard-earned cash while not sacrificing too much the reason you are dining out in the first place.

Learn more about this author, Nathan Kim.
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