None of us wants to skip going out for brunch at our local cafe, going to a romantic restaurant for a date, booking a dining experience for a special occasion or discovering hidden gems in the neighbourhood. And whilst the cost of living remains a hot topic for all, it seems as a nation we’re still eager to dine out and support our restaurants.
These handy tips and tricks can help to keep us all dining out as much as we used to, whilst keeping an eye on costs – like booking at certain times or looking for deals and offers that are a win-win for diners and restaurants alike.
- Hit happy hour. Special small plates, raw bar deals, and 2-for-1 offers make happy hours a no-brainer. The Exhibit in Balham offers a 2-4-1 Happy Hour on their top-selling drinks every day from 5 to 7pm for £10 per person.
- Check out lunch menus. Plenty of restaurants offer the same food for less money at lunch. Ham Yard Bar & Restaurant in Soho offers a Lunch Menu of 2 courses for £35 or 3 courses for £40 with a glass of champagne
- Search for set menus and experiences. Set menus are often at least a bit of a bargain, and while wine tastings and other experiences aren’t necessarily less expensive, they do have a set cost going in so you can budget. Clos Maggiore in Covent Garden offers a £32.50 Pre-Theatre menu.
- Grab a seat at the bar. Having a drink and a snack or two at the bar provides the taste and vibe of a place without the cost of a full meal. Or go to a bar with great food, like The Black Book near Leicester Square. Their classic menu of Mediterranean inspired small plates features courgette flower tempura stuffed with burrata, cheddar and red onion toasties and a selection of cheese and charcuterie boards, along with a large selection of wine by-the-glass.
- Think Monday and Tuesday. Slower days lead restaurants to try and tempt more people out, so many restaurants offer deals, often pretty good ones. 2 for 1 Pizza Mondays, Taco Tuesdays, and BYOB restaurants are well-known versions. Rendezvous Restaurant in Chiswick offers 15% off food and drinks from Monday to Thursday and Negroni’s in Soho offers 50% off their menu on Sundays.
- Indulge in all-day breakfast. When it’s on offer, it’s a winner. After all, the French eat omelettes for dinner all the time. The restaurant chain Bill’s Restaurant & Bar serves breakfast at any time of the day, along with a bottomless brunch for £18.50 and bottomless pancakes for £6.50.
- Explore collaborative partnerships that allow you to support local restaurants via OpenTable, and to get something for yourself too, with £10 cashback on £50 spend with Mastercard on selected restaurants across London, Manchester and Birmingham – discover them here.
Restaurants are reluctant to raise prices and often sacrifice profit rather than charging more. No one should skip necessities to eat out, but in order to keep supporting our favourite spots as much as we can, these are ways to go out, enjoy ourselves, and show up for restaurants.
