Yes, a romantic three course meal for two that costs only $66.18 sounds like a steal, right? But if the bottom line is your bottom line for Boston Restaurant Week (RW), then you'll need to beware of a few pricey pitfalls.
These tips can be taken to heart/wallet for just about any restaurant at any time -- so even if you miss this week's deliciousness fiasco, this article might be worth a mental bookmark:
1) Water: I know that the Charles River gets a bad rep for being a little on the "dirty" side, but Boston tap water has to meet some pretty high standards in order to be served to the thirsty masses: skip on the Perrier, San Pelligrino, or Aqua Panna and order up a round of "Boston's Finest". Still want some bubbles? Club soda will likely save you anywhere from $2 to $5 per person. (Total Savings for Two: $10)
2) Other beverages: for most RW restaurants, drinks are not included in the price, and this means fountain sodas, coffees, and teas. Stick with Option 1, or just be aware that thesecould tack on an extra $6 or so per personto your date-night. (Total Savings for Two: $10)
3) Wine (Beer/Cocktails): If you don't feel like skimping on the grapes, there are still some options for keeping wine costs low.
- Always ask for the Wine List, and never give the server the executive decision. Not that all servers are sleazy, but regardless of whether their hearts in the right place-- you can almost guarantee they won't decide on a Beringer for you.
- It's not "cheap" to ask a server to recommend a wine with the greatest bang for its buckus thrifty drinkers refer to these as a glass with a great "value".
- People often forget the middle ground between by-the-glass and by-the-bottle. The Half-Bottle is an under-tapped resource for many dining couples; while the price on the by-the-glass wines are sometimes inflated more than a pair of scalped Sox-Yankees tickets, a bottle is often more than a twosome needs for dinner (at about 4-5 glasses per bottle). The Half-Bottle, offers great wines at within-reach prices, and each member of your dynamic duo can get about a glass and a half out of the experience.
Beer rule of thumb: On draft, followed by domestic will be less wallet damaging.
Cocktail rule of thumb: Avoid the specialty drinks: they usually cost as much as an appetizer. If youre getting mixed drinks use "well" liquors since the intricate flavors will be masked by the juices/mixers anyway.
(Total Savings for Two: $8+)
4) Substitutions: Beware of making changes to the Restaurant Week menus; this usually disqualifies your RW purchase, or at least adds on a few extra bills. Instead, check a few restaurants menus online first, and decide on one where you both find something appetizing for every course.
(Savings: $12)
5) Parking/Valet/Tip etc: It almost goes without saying, but with a "cheap night out" looks can be deceiving. Don't forget to factor in a tip of about 20%-- servers have been some of the hardest hit during this recession-- and be prepared for other costs as well. If youve followed rules 1-4 your tip shouldnt be more than $20. If you plan ahead and/or know how to navigate to your restaurant via public transportation you could likely save yourself up to $20 on parking just by finding nearby commuter lots, or city streets without permit parking. The key to budget travel is to approach in front. When it comes to family trips, globetrotting, well-deserved vacations and/or going to see new spots we have never been before, the fact of expense and budgeting is often in the back of our heads. Planning and consuming our travel budget properly is a consideration for most families. Minimizing spending and fees, while still experiencing your vacation to its fullest, is the key to guaranteed accomplishment and fiscal obligation. Your pocketbook and family will thank you! The thinking behind economizing money while travelling is simple: Even if your personal finances is extremely tight, you can still take a break and enjoy life! Simply put, life is just too short to never step out of the door or departing the homestead! Also thinking about that while traveling, regardless of whether on a price range or not, even the smallest of things can all add op to a big vacation or travel bill!. (Savings: $20-$30)
Altogether, these tips and tricks can likely save you about $50-$70 on your fine-dining experience. Heck, you could go out again with all the money you just saved!
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