How to dine out more often

[This was originally published in one of my favorite newsletters, Side Dish with Schniper]

If you don't make a living as a food critic, it can be hard to justify the expense of eating out. It hasn't gotten cheaper as time marches on, but that doesn't mean you can't enjoy good food. There's a few actionable ways you can take some power back and dine out more often. I want to go beyond advice like "make a budget," so let's dive right into what you can do to enjoy the great restaurants unearthed by fine folks like Matt Schniper. 

Make a budget

OK sorry we still have to start here. I did say we'll go "beyond" this advice and we will, but first things first, you need a budget (this is a referral link). They say "you can't manage what you can't measure," and once you know where your money is going, you'll be able to know how much you can afford to dine out.

Skip food delivery apps

Delete Uber Eats, DoorDash, etc. from your phone. Unless you're too blasted to drive, there's no reason to regularly use these apps. Observe how I spent nearly $50 on three chicken tenders, fries, and a shake from Dave's Hot Chicken with DoorDash.

That extra money spent on not-food adds up, and is eventually worth an entire meal somewhere else. That "somewhere else" could be one of those new restaurants you've been meaning to check out.

You may say, "But I have a DashPass!" (or some other delivery subscription service). No, what you have is a hook in your mouth that DoorDash tugs to get you to spend more money. It's psychological warfare with FOMO notifications, "waived delivery fees," and other algorithms designed to empty your wallet. 

Because of delivery app commission fees, the restaurant you're supporting doesn't even get much profit. That's probably why delivery apps charge more than ordering directly from the restaurant. I just pulled up DoorDash vs Joey's NY Pizza as an example, and DoorDash charges an extra $4 because they're a middleman trying to make a profit.

I didn't expect to dive into the economics of food delivery apps, but if you want to dine out more often, you should know that you can create those opportunities by skipping these services.

Make excuses TO go out

If you want to go out, don't talk yourself out of it. It's easy to make excuses to avoid something, but you should try to use those same excuse-reflexes to work the other way. Some examples:

• "It looks a little rainy, I think I'd rather stay in."

Instead, try thinking: "At least the restaurant won't be too busy!" 

• "I want to go out but I don't want to wrangle the kids."

Hmm, where have I read some good tips for dining out with a toddler before?

• "I think I'd rather just order something from Uber Eats."

Did you not just read my entire rant up there??

• "I've spent too much on dining out this month."

This one is legitimate. You get a pass. Good job making a budget.

Don't order alcohol

Alcohol traditionally provides restaurants with the highest profit margins, so this could be controversial. Restaurateurs, please put your pitchforks down and hear me out. 

As a diner, alcohol is expensive, and while food is a necessity, alcohol is not. If you want more money to spend on dining out, don't buy drinks at restaurants every time. A couple nice $15 cocktails with an entree could double the price of your dining experience. Get an appetizer instead, and you're still spending less money. The savings on alcohol lets you dine out more!

As a restaurateur, you want butts in seats. Profit margins on food are slim, but they're still profits. If someone drinks less but eats at your restaurant more, that's a net positive. Additionally, people rarely dine alone, which means the nondrinker could bring friends who drink, or leave a glowing review, or become a regular, or recommend you as a caterer, etc.

Throw this advice out the window if you're going to breweries or you love the drinks. You do you!

Follow your favorite restaurants for specials

Why not start by subscribing to Side Dish? There's always a section for the Side Dish Dozen promoting their latest specials. You can also follow your favorite restaurant's social media pages to see when they're offering discounts or updating their Happy Hour menu.

Some restaurants send newsletters with discount codes. Enter drawings. Call in to local radio stations to win gift cards. Attend festivals in town where restaurants hand out free food coupons. All of these activities can help you dine out more often!

Inherit a fortune

Have a wealthy, distant relative bequeath their inheritance to you. Never cook at home again. Spend the money frivolously on the fanciest cuts of steak. Surf and turf daily. Take me with you.