Eating out is getting cheaper on clarkhoward.com

Restaurateurs are in a classic squeeze play. Their food costs are going up, while customer traffic is down. That means that eating out is getting cheaper.

When the economy was booming, Clark warned you about specials -- those du jour "deals" that were really designed to make you pay more. But that's reversed now. One thing that remains the same is that you should never order something unless you know the price.

So as eating out gets cheaper, you may see early bird specials, early week specials and couponing. You'll also see complete meal deals because people are skipping costly beverages, desserts and appetizers. The complete meal deals will be cheaper compared to buying the items individually, but they're also designed to boost the bill.

Be wary of gift cards. Clark loves the ones where you get more than what you pay for, but don't let them gather dust. Use a gift card shortly after you buy it because it may turn to dust if a restaurant goes out of business.

One final word: Don't reduce what you tip. It's not the fault of your waiter or waitress that the economy is hurting.

What others are saying

tipping
does everyone know that ALL servers in Georgia make less than $2.50 per hour?????
By kris @ 10/31/08 04:38:17 PMreport abuse
Restaurant.com
I love this site, I got a $25 gift card for a restaurant we already wanted to try with a couple of girlfriends for only $10 and to top it off, I searched for coupon codes online for the site and got 50% off so I really only paid $5 for a $25 gift card. We had a great time at the restaurant and only paid $45 (incl a 20% tip) for the full meal and drinks. P.S. we went on the day of the week they had $3 martini specials and saved a ton there too!!!
By Diana @ 09/24/08 09:24:56 AMreport abuse
no one tipped me as a server
i used to work at a restaurant and then as a pizza delivery driver--if i was tipped at all, it was a dollar or two. People just don't tip these days. Why should they? It's so easy and convenient not to--the delivery charges they already pay for pizza are stupid, and I never got one cent of it as a driver. People don't care, though. If people really cared about tipping, they would tip a MINIMUM of 10% when they went out to eat or ordered pizza for delivery. I think the only way people will wise up and start tipping is if pizza places start doing carryout only or if restaurants start charging gratuities as part of the bill. If you don't force it on people, they won't do it. It's as simple as that.
By jake @ 09/22/08 04:34:33 PMreport abuse
be generous to servers
I always look for opportunities to eat out cheaply but I always tip generously. I think I feel I don't enough money to tip, I shouldn't be eating there in the first place. I did walk out of a few places without leaving a tip when the server was rude or I didn't get that extra class of tea when I really wanted it.
By yk @ 09/21/08 07:24:17 PMreport abuse
life
Entill the election. No body is going to do anything.Entill somebody wins.
By michael forbes @ 09/21/08 12:13:52 AMreport abuse
Tipping
Don't waste your time with the manager. They will usually do nothing to help what is wrong. Take it to the top. And I will go out and eat if I want to. I will not stay at home because I might have bad service and tip accordingly. If you give me great service, you will get a great tip. Bad service, depending on what the problem was either little or NO tip. Don't be afraid. Tipping is for service ABOVE AND BEYOND what you pay for already. And if someone does not like getting a bad tip, then Never give bad service! It's true that everyone has bad days once in a while, but it's not the customers fault that you had a bad day.
By brad @ 09/20/08 10:34:11 PMreport abuse
Delivery vs Dine in
As a former delivery driver most of the time late or not depends on cook time or business volume.If there is a delivery charge it doesn't pay for your gas if there's no tip.
By chuck @ 09/20/08 03:52:05 PMreport abuse
Tipping
I got a simple concept on tipping. The better the service, the higher the tip. Even if it's not the greatest service I've ever had, if I can tell the waiter/waitress is trying his/her best to provide great service and is polite, then I'll tip generously. If the server appears that he/she could care less about serving me, then I don't tip as well. If he/she is not happy, or at least content with their job enough to be polite even if its fake, then I'm not going to reward him/her for it. May another line of work would be more suitable for him/her. Maybe that's crazy but I always thought of it as a no-brainer.
By lance @ 09/20/08 05:01:12 AMreport abuse
Tip appropriately
My tips will be down. My cost of living adjustment from my company is way down while the cost of living is drastically rising. As a consequence I have less to live on. Unfortunately, the "buck will get passed" as people try to maintain their standard of living in these tough times. Do you really think some compensation will not be impacted? Finally, the tip should be given proportional to the quality of service provided. Maybe it is the places I frequent, but it is increasingly rare that I get good service.
By David @ 09/19/08 08:36:31 PMreport abuse
It's not really optional
Servers in restaurants are essentially independent contractors. They are legally paid far BELOW minimum wage by the restaurant, and don't share in any profits. Your tip is their only real source of income. I think it's a dumb system, but it is what it is. If you think it's necessary to reduce a tip amount only because you can't afford it, then you should be staying home until you can, not expecting a server to work for you for little or nothing. If you receive truly bad service, speak to the manager immediately. Otherwise, treat your servers as you would want to be treated, and don't try to fix your own financial problems by not paying them.
By Sydney @ 09/19/08 06:27:32 PMreport abuse
Tip appropriately
If the service is lackluster then I tip around 10%. If I liked the service then I will tip 20%. If the service is somewhere in-between then I tip somewhere in-between. If I had such a horrible experience that I will never ever visit the restaurant again, then I won’t tip at all (happens so rarely I can not tell you if the last time was 1 or 5 years ago). If the restaurant is one I visit often and the server makes you want to come back again and again (my favorites Figo and Umezono), then I will tip more than 20%. Everyone is different, that’s just the way I do things.
By Robert @ 09/19/08 05:56:14 PMreport abuse
Tipping = Lost money
Apparently some folks like to just throw money away to servers and pizza delivery drivers who give bad service most of the time anyway! Why the heck should I give a tip to someone who takes 45 minutes to deliver my pizza when it was supposed to come in 30, who puts mayonnaise on my sandwich or ice in my soda when I asked them specifically not to, and the like? Most of them don't stay in the job long enough to appreciate the concept of a good tip anyway. Don't lecture someone about tipping or not tipping. All of us have FORGOTTEN to tip at ONE TIME OR ANOTHER!! I invite the first individual who has always tipped generously regardless of the crappy service provided to stand and lecture society about whether or not tipping is appropriate. Nobody better say they have--because everyone has made that mistake at one time or another, and no sane individual would ever admit it.
By George @ 09/19/08 04:47:16 PMreport abuse
Common Sense
Tipping is not a favor for the server; it's more than even just common courtesy--it is basic old-fashioned etiquette. Servers have bills to pay too, you know.
By Craig @ 09/19/08 03:20:11 PMreport abuse
Forget tipping
Clark, don't tell me if I can or can't tip. It's my money--when times are tight, you have to cut something. If the waiter or restaurant doesn't appreciate the outrageous amounts they already charge when I eat at their establishment, I'll be happy to take my business (and all of my numerous friends) to another restaurant or just stay home!!!!!
By Anonymous @ 09/19/08 02:51:24 PMreport abuse
Eating out is getting cheaper
Thank you for including the "one final word". People forget or don't know that servers do not make minimum wage, and when they tip less it hurts.
By Laura @ 09/19/08 01:58:38 PMreport abuse
YES I KNOW I EAT OUT A LOT
By anonymous @ 09/18/08 08:37:17 PMreport abuse

tipping

does everyone know that ALL servers in Georgia make less than $2.50 per hour?????

By kris @ 10/31/08 04:38:17 PMreport abuse

Restaurant.com

I love this site, I got a $25 gift card for a restaurant we already wanted to try with a couple of girlfriends for only $10 and to top it off, I searched for coupon codes online for the site and got 50% off so I really only paid $5 for a $25 gift card. We had a great time at the restaurant and only paid $45 (incl a 20% tip) for the full meal and drinks. P.S. we went on the day of the week they had $3 martini specials and saved a ton there too!!!

By Diana @ 09/24/08 09:24:56 AMreport abuse

no one tipped me as a server

i used to work at a restaurant and then as a pizza delivery driver--if i was tipped at all, it was a dollar or two. People just don't tip these days. Why should they? It's so easy and convenient not to--the delivery charges they already pay for pizza are stupid, and I never got one cent of it as a driver. People don't care, though. If people really cared about tipping, they would tip a MINIMUM of 10% when they went out to eat or ordered pizza for delivery. I think the only way people will wise up and start tipping is if pizza places start doing carryout only or if restaurants start charging gratuities as part of the bill. If you don't force it on people, they won't do it. It's as simple as that.

By jake @ 09/22/08 04:34:33 PMreport abuse

be generous to servers

I always look for opportunities to eat out cheaply but I always tip generously. I think I feel I don't enough money to tip, I shouldn't be eating there in the first place. I did walk out of a few places without leaving a tip when the server was rude or I didn't get that extra class of tea when I really wanted it.

By yk @ 09/21/08 07:24:17 PMreport abuse

life

Entill the election. No body is going to do anything.Entill somebody wins.

By michael forbes @ 09/21/08 12:13:52 AMreport abuse

Tipping

Don't waste your time with the manager. They will usually do nothing to help what is wrong. Take it to the top. And I will go out and eat if I want to. I will not stay at home because I might have bad service and tip accordingly. If you give me great service, you will get a great tip. Bad service, depending on what the problem was either little or NO tip. Don't be afraid. Tipping is for service ABOVE AND BEYOND what you pay for already. And if someone does not like getting a bad tip, then Never give bad service! It's true that everyone has bad days once in a while, but it's not the customers fault that you had a bad day.

By brad @ 09/20/08 10:34:11 PMreport abuse

Delivery vs Dine in

As a former delivery driver most of the time late or not depends on cook time or business volume.If there is a delivery charge it doesn't pay for your gas if there's no tip.

By chuck @ 09/20/08 03:52:05 PMreport abuse

I got a simple concept on tipping. The better the service, the higher the tip. Even if it's not the greatest service I've ever had, if I can tell the waiter/waitress is trying his/her best to provide great service and is polite, then I'll tip generously. If the server appears that he/she could care less about serving me, then I don't tip as well. If he/she is not happy, or at least content with their job enough to be polite even if its fake, then I'm not going to reward him/her for it. May another line of work would be more suitable for him/her. Maybe that's crazy but I always thought of it as a no-brainer.

By lance @ 09/20/08 05:01:12 AMreport abuse

Tip appropriately

My tips will be down. My cost of living adjustment from my company is way down while the cost of living is drastically rising. As a consequence I have less to live on. Unfortunately, the "buck will get passed" as people try to maintain their standard of living in these tough times. Do you really think some compensation will not be impacted? Finally, the tip should be given proportional to the quality of service provided. Maybe it is the places I frequent, but it is increasingly rare that I get good service.

By David @ 09/19/08 08:36:31 PMreport abuse

It's not really optional

Servers in restaurants are essentially independent contractors. They are legally paid far BELOW minimum wage by the restaurant, and don't share in any profits. Your tip is their only real source of income. I think it's a dumb system, but it is what it is. If you think it's necessary to reduce a tip amount only because you can't afford it, then you should be staying home until you can, not expecting a server to work for you for little or nothing. If you receive truly bad service, speak to the manager immediately. Otherwise, treat your servers as you would want to be treated, and don't try to fix your own financial problems by not paying them.

By Sydney @ 09/19/08 06:27:32 PMreport abuse

If the service is lackluster then I tip around 10%. If I liked the service then I will tip 20%. If the service is somewhere in-between then I tip somewhere in-between. If I had such a horrible experience that I will never ever visit the restaurant again, then I won’t tip at all (happens so rarely I can not tell you if the last time was 1 or 5 years ago). If the restaurant is one I visit often and the server makes you want to come back again and again (my favorites Figo and Umezono), then I will tip more than 20%. Everyone is different, that’s just the way I do things.

By Robert @ 09/19/08 05:56:14 PMreport abuse

Tipping = Lost money

Apparently some folks like to just throw money away to servers and pizza delivery drivers who give bad service most of the time anyway! Why the heck should I give a tip to someone who takes 45 minutes to deliver my pizza when it was supposed to come in 30, who puts mayonnaise on my sandwich or ice in my soda when I asked them specifically not to, and the like? Most of them don't stay in the job long enough to appreciate the concept of a good tip anyway. Don't lecture someone about tipping or not tipping. All of us have FORGOTTEN to tip at ONE TIME OR ANOTHER!! I invite the first individual who has always tipped generously regardless of the crappy service provided to stand and lecture society about whether or not tipping is appropriate. Nobody better say they have--because everyone has made that mistake at one time or another, and no sane individual would ever admit it.

By George @ 09/19/08 04:47:16 PMreport abuse

Common Sense

Tipping is not a favor for the server; it's more than even just common courtesy--it is basic old-fashioned etiquette. Servers have bills to pay too, you know.

By Craig @ 09/19/08 03:20:11 PMreport abuse

Forget tipping

Clark, don't tell me if I can or can't tip. It's my money--when times are tight, you have to cut something. If the waiter or restaurant doesn't appreciate the outrageous amounts they already charge when I eat at their establishment, I'll be happy to take my business (and all of my numerous friends) to another restaurant or just stay home!!!!!

By Anonymous @ 09/19/08 02:51:24 PMreport abuse

Eating out is getting cheaper

Thank you for including the "one final word". People forget or don't know that servers do not make minimum wage, and when they tip less it hurts.

By Laura @ 09/19/08 01:58:38 PMreport abuse

YES I KNOW I EAT OUT A LOT

By anonymous @ 09/18/08 08:37:17 PMreport abuse

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Sep 18, 2008 -- Eating out is getting cheaper

What others are saying