Dining out is a fun and enjoyable pastime around the world. The unique ambiance, getting together with friends and family over a glass of Merlot, tasting bold new flavors, and returning home to a dish-less kitchen are all good reasons for eating out.
However, most people don’t realize they can get some amazing restaurant discounts, deals, gift certificates, and coupons before heading out the door. Here are some great websites for dining deals.
Restaurant.com
Restaurant.com's motto is simple: “Eat. Drink. Save Money.” Diners save money via 3-step process. First, search for a favorite restaurant using the site's search engine, prominently featured on the home page (Step 1: Find a Restaurant box). Next, purchase the mouth-watering gift certificate online. Finally, print the coupon and take it to the eatery to receive the discount.
Savings on the site are substantial. Diners can receive gift certificates of $10, $25, $50, $75, or even $100 for less than half the cost. For example, $25 coupons for $10; and $50 discounts for $20.
However, diners must carefully read the restrictions in the blue box for information regarding minimum meal purchase price, takeout/dine-in, exclusions, and gratuity. The site also features a gift center and fun Dinner of the Month club.
Local Television Station Websites
Though a seemingly unlikely source, local television stations around the nation offer half-off dining coupons and gift certificates. Here’s how it works: a local restaurant “purchases” airtime from the TV station not in currency, but in dining coupons.
The gift certificates are then sold on the station’s website. It’s a win-win for restaurants and television outlets, both of whom increase visibility and take a cut of the revenue. Diners win by eating out at half the price.
Among the companies offering dining discounts are DiningHalfOff (a division of NBC Universal) and incentRev. Simply type www.dininghalffoff.com into the web browser to go to the local NBC half-off deals page. Or, type the search phrase (city + incentrev.com) into the web broswer (e.g., austin incentrev.com) to find other TV station websites offering special deals. Be sure to review the remaining quantity and expiration date for the offer.
HalfOffDeals
HalfOffDeals bills itself as the web’s largest provider of half-off incentives and gift certificates, not just for dining establishments but also for a variety of other merchants. To find restaurant coupons, enter the zip code on the right-hand side of the display, then click Search. Click the restaurant in the list to review the offer.
Eating out is always fun, especially in the company of friends and family. It’s even more fun saving money with websites such as Restaurant.com, local television sites, and HalfOffDeals.com. Other sites include ShopAtHome, Rewards Network, and MySavings. Before going out to eat, be sure to check these sites, print the coupons, then present the offer to the eatery before ordering.
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