In this era, food has become expensive, considering that it involves a lot of taxes along with the charges that justify the raw materials and the overall service that the restaurant provides. So eating out is not cheap but you can always navigate a methodology to bring it within your budget. And it’s not only about fiddling with your smartphone and typing- affordable restaurants near me, in the Google search bar. It is substantially more than that. An extra effort walks the extra mile when it comes to saving some bucks while dining out.
Strategize based on your budget
Look, there are endless methodologies that any random person can iterate to you. But the starting point lies in your budget.
You can never be successful in saving your pocket unless you are thoroughly clear on how much you are currently spending and how much you can afford.
Yes, numbers are boring, but unless you chalk out on an Excel sheet or whatever method you prefer to calculate your monthly budget, those affordable restaurants near you don’t matter. Once the numbers are ready for your quick understanding, you can craft a section that will cater to your holistic expedition to savories.
Now, this particular section should be involving some questions as well-
- How frequently do you eat out? – calculate the approximate times you eat out in a week.
- What makes you go out for the delicacies? – Answer this by asking questions like- are you eating out before there is nothing in the fridge? Or there are resources, but you don’t feel like cooking. Or, maybe, you are just panning out for a spot because you need that socializing boost to your lifestyle. In between, you might stumble upon the question which defines- how much should you spend for dining out. Now this is totally up to your income and the expenditure that you can afford in this category. So, chalk out that figure, which leaves its mark, right after you have incorporated other unavoidable categories like- rent, EMIs, electricity, etc.
Food for thought
Now that you have finally got the approximate figure it is time to take a deep dive into how you can strategize your dining expeditions that go beyond your home-
- Tap into the happy hour specials of your shortlisted restaurants nearby you. These special hours can even bring down the cost of platters that normally ask for a substantial amount from your pocket. So, before heading out you can go through the tips below-
- First, do a little research about how much the actual price of the cocktails and platters are. Is the discount for a special platter really worth investing in?
- Secondly, when you are seeking happy hour deals, search online platforms first. For instance, Swiggy’s website highlights the happy hour deals as well as other discounts every minute. Subsequently, you can find the respective restaurant details and reach out to them to clarify your doubts.
In the end, when you finally visit the restaurant, dig into the menu and the bar to gain knowledge about the various discounts. Ask the stewards to confirm the discount before ordering.
- Coupons– Often neglected by most people, coupons are a great way to evade those high-priced dishes that you are eyeing for, in that particular restaurant near you. These coupons are generally related to the bank card/s that you own. The best way to nudge into the coupons is to check them via the Swiggy website or other reliable food apps. These discounts normally range between 10% to 30%.
- Not to demotivate you, but your input of affordable restaurants near me, in the Google search bar won’t get you anywhere. Apart from Swiggy’s website, you need to nudge into the food apps as well; and what better than the Swiggy app?! It often highlights quick coupons during checkout and you can save quite a lot of your bag that way. You might enjoy more favorable offers if you own a membership. So, keep your eyes open and do the research.
- The restaurant’s own discounts– Some restaurants offer discounts to students, senior citizens, and military officials. On the other hand, some of them offer discounts on special occasions or on weekdays like Mondays/Tuesdays. Therefore, it is always better to ask the restaurant management, if nothing of that sort is mentioned on their board or front desk. No charges for asking, remember?
- Restaurant Week– One of the smartest ways to hack into the restaurant’s menu at a cheap rate is to visit your nearest Restaurant Week event. This event normally takes place in Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru and people from around the nation dive into the culinary adventure at half the price that they pay on regular days. So, this will not only save you a couple of bucks but will also offer a platform to network with like-minded individuals like you.
- Jump off the drinks– Yeah! That might be sad news for you if you are too much into drinking. But on the other hand, this habit might be the savior of your budget plan. Think about it- the pricey bottles with tax all over them (import charges), won’t that disrupt everything? And even if you are into soft drinks, ask the waiter whether they charge extra on the actual price or not.
- Sharing helps! Yes, you heard it correctly – This strategy best works for those who are planning to share the meal with their folks. Imagine the price of a big platter getting divided between the two or three of you. Just ask for an extra plate and voila! Eventually, this will not only be a soothing moment for your stomach and budget but you will make memories as well with your friends/colleagues.
- Seek out the affordable restaurants near you. Yes, it is that easy. There happen to be some restaurants in India that are not only fancy but ask a lot less as compared to their competitors. To name a few-
- Delhi – Wenger’s, The Hudson Café, Blue Tokai Coffee Roasters, etc
- Mumbai– Highway Gomantak, Kyani & Co, Good Luck Restaurant etc
- Bangalore– Quattro, The Bangalore Café, Empire etc
- Kolkata– Kasturi, Fabbrica, Aminia, etc
Conclusion
If you have read this column till here, it is good enough to say that you have ample knowledge to meet the expectations of your taste buds, that too under budget. So hop on to Swiggy’s website where its flawless user experience will guide you through the budget-friendly restaurants near you with updated details like the menu, amenities, and price of platters. In the end, don’t forget to check out the respective customer feedback. Remember that you are eventually paying for your meal and that food quality should be justifying the same. Good Luck!
Also Read-Tips to Read Roulette Odds Chart and Winning Strategies