Overview
It's no secret that we've all been tightening our wallets in the past few years. As the cost of living continues to bite — from interest rate hikes to rising petrol and grocery prices — dining out has started to feel like an occasional luxury rather than a weekly ritual. But eating well doesn't have to mean spending big. Instead, it's all about knowing where to look.
If you've put 'enjoying your favourite restaurant' firmly into the guilty pleasure category, here are some hacks that will help to keep your budget on track without sacrificing the ritual and enjoyment that comes with dining out.
Be Flexible
While there's always a time and place for the hottest new restaurant at 7pm on a Saturday, great dining doesn't only happen at peak hour. Be a little flexible with when you dine and you can still eat somewhere brilliant, discover a new favourite and save some cash while you're at it.
EatClub is an Australian dining discovery platform that helps you find new restaurants while saving up to 50 percent on the entire final bill. Through the app's dynamic pricing, diners can see participating restaurants, bars and cafes with tables and exclusive offers available in real time. Co-founded by Michelin-starred chef Marco Pierre White, the platform creates value for both diners and venues, with restaurants releasing offers when they have spare capacity. That means an early dinner on a Tuesday or a long Thursday lunch can cost considerably less than the same meal on a busy weekend evening. The savings are applied directly to your total bill, including food and drinks, with no awkward vouchers and no receipts to upload or claim later.
Plus, by saving on the final entire bill, it's easier to enjoy more meals out or indulge a little while you're there. Whether it's upgrading to champagne instead of prosecco, ordering another round of shared plates or finishing the evening with dessert, EatClub's savings can help stretch your dining out budget further.
Dining Out Can Be More than Dinner
Let's be real. We all love sharing a meal with friends, but often plans focus on dinners and drinks out, which for the early birds amongst you may not be ideal. Head to a venue offering breakfast or lunch and expand your dining experiences to include all hours of the day. Whether it's a long brunch on the weekend or a midweek lunch with colleagues, you'll still get the experience of dining out, just with a little more room left in your budget.
Try Something New
Everyone has their favourite neighbourhood spots, but some of the best meals are found by venturing away from the usual suspects. Exploring different suburbs can often deliver better value than the city's busiest hotspots, while introducing you to your next regular. Browsing dining discovery tools like EatClub can help you find great venues and get you out of your comfort zone.
With more than 6,500 venues across Australia, it's also a great way to discover new restaurants, bars and cafes you might not have otherwise found or try hot spots that may have been out of your budget. The platform has partnered with the likes of Rice Paper Scissors and Asado in Melbourne, Butter and Ichoume in Sydney, and Ciao and Brewdog in Brisbane. From Italian and pub classics to Asian fusion, trying a new venue could help you save some dollars.
Share More
Rather than ordering the cheapest main on the menu and begging your friends for a taste of their meal, make the most of your next night out by ordering share plates or dining family style. With a cheaper price tag, you can get an extra round of appetisers or the sides you usually have to skip, turning your normal meal into an indulgent dining experience you can share with your friends.
While we may be changing the way we spend, it doesn't mean you have to give up the experiences you enjoy. With a little flexibility and the right tools, dining out with loved ones can (and should) stay a part of your routine without derailing your monthly budget.
Download EatClub to discover new venues and access deals.