Kip Tips

How to Save When Dining Out

Opt for smaller portions to trim your tab.

By Cameron Huddleston, Contributing Editor, Kiplinger.com

June 25, 2010

The best way to save money on food -- as you know -- is to cook your own food. But sometimes you want a break from the kitchen. Going to a restaurant doesn't have to be a budget buster, though.

You can shrink the tab by shrinking the serving you order, according to "Steal These Deals" in the August issue of Kiplinger's Personal Finance. Here's how:

Once, all but the fanciest restaurants had you choose from among the super size, the grande size and maybe the gigundo size. Now they are encouraging you to trim your eating-out budget -- and your waistline. Among the hottest trends for 2010, according to the National Restaurant Association, is small, as in small portions, small plates, small desserts -- and small prices.

We’re not just talking about the kids’ meal at Mickey D’s. At Emmer&Rye, an upscale Seattle restaurant, you can order a half- or full-size portion of such fancy entrees as the milk-fed pork chop with asparagus ($11 or $24). The Cheesecake Factory offers 25 small plates, including Ahi tartare ($7). And at California Pizza Kitchen, the glass is half full: It now sells half glasses of wine, for about $4 to $5.50.

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