Save money in restaurants: the best tricks to reduce your bill

An evening out at a restaurant can quickly become expensive, especially if you don't consciously avoid the hidden traps on the menu. But there are clever tricks to maximize enjoyment while minimizing costs. From choosing the right payment method to strategic ordering, here's how to make your next restaurant bill significantly smaller without sacrificing a delicious meal.

A visit to a restaurant can quickly add up, especially if you overlook the cleverly placed sales tricks on the menu. But there are simple and effective ways to keep an eye on costs without compromising on enjoyment. From the right payment method to clever ordering strategies - with these tips, you can noticeably reduce your next bill while still enjoying the culinary experience.

Smart money management is also beneficial in other areas. Especially in the area of gambling, where real money is involved, it is important to carefully weigh up the best options. If you are interested in online casinos, you can comparing and checking of the best providers to ensure that the real money wagered is used efficiently.

Many diners overestimate their appetite, and restaurants often offer large portions that cost more and end up not being eaten. A clever way to save money is to choose smaller portions or share a larger dish. This not only saves money, but also prevents food from being left over.

Many restaurants offer inexpensive lunchtime menus that can compete with the evening menu in terms of quality, but are significantly cheaper. It is an easy way to save money if the main meal is moved to lunchtime. It is particularly worth taking advantage of these lunchtime offers in upmarket restaurants, as they often serve the same quality at lower prices.

Drinks costs can quickly drive up the restaurant bill. Alcoholic drinks in particular are often very expensive. A bottle of water or a soft drink in a restaurant often costs many times more than what you would pay for it in the supermarket. An easy way to save money is to limit yourself to tap water, which is offered free or for a small price in many restaurants.

In restaurants in Las Vegas often have special drink menus with happy hour deals, offering particularly low prices on alcoholic drinks. This is a good opportunity to save money on drinks.

Another way to reduce restaurant costs is to order several starters instead of one expensive main course. These are often cheaper, but still enough to fill you up. It also allows you to try a variety of dishes without driving up the bill unnecessarily. Sharing starters is also a good way to save money and enjoy a wider variety of dishes at the same time.

Tipping is part of the restaurant culture, but it can increase the bill considerably if it is not given thoughtfully. In Germany, tipping is usually around 10%, but in other countries it can be significantly higher. It is worth finding out before your visit about the customary tipping practices in the respective country before your visit to avoid paying unnecessarily. 

Many restaurants now also offer the option of tipping via the card terminal. It makes sense to check the suggested percentages carefully and make a conscious decision about the amount you want to give.

An often overlooked aspect that has a big impact on restaurant spending is the menu itself. The positioning of dishes follows psychological principles that aim to entice diners to order more expensive dishes. For example, the most profitable dishes are often placed at the top right, as studies show that this area receives the most attention. 

Dishes that the restaurateur wants to sell in particular are also often highlighted with eye-catching colors or symbols. A conscious look at the entire menu and ignoring these visual tricks can help to keep costs under control and choose cheaper alternatives.