A new feature of the 2009 Best of Seminole restaurant ballot was the little box entitled “Budget-Friendly.” We figured that in this economy, prices and budgets may affect this year’s reader responses more than in years past. So we asked readers to tell us the restaurants they think are budget-friendly overall, the specials and deals they liked best, and the money-saving strategies they use when dining out.

It was our hope to save you a little money by getting a few tips from readers on ways to spend less. At the same time we also hoped to give restaurateurs some insight as to what appeals to local patrons who want to dine out affordably. Maybe that information would be helpful to the restaurants, too.
We tallied the responses from hundreds of surveys, and here are the results, from the general to the specific. Some are a bit obvious; others you may not have thought of.

Readers' Top 5 Money-Saving Strategies 1. Coupons 2. Sharing 3. Water 4. Early birds 5. “Nothing”

The Top 5 Strategies

1. Coupons. All types of coupons. Coupons in magazines and newspapers, and online coupons—from the restaurant’s site or e-mails, or from restaurant.com. The Entertainment Book was mentioned a few times. A few respondents even mentioned “doing surveys”—those “How are we doing?” 800 numbers on (usually chain) restaurant receipts that may net you a free dessert next time, or enter you for a prize. Just ask the four Seminole survey winner listed on p. 32.

2. Sharing. One can share many things when eating out, and all of them were mentioned here: shared appetizers, entrées, salads, drinks, desserts. Plus the shared-appetizers-as-entrée gambit, as in “Maybe we’ll just get three or four appetizers at the bar and share them.” Or the “Let’s make the kids share an entrée” routine.

3. Water. Water was one of the top responses. It was usually followed by “instead of soft drinks/soda,” putting this one in the top three. Agua, acqua, eau, H2O. Bottled? Sparkling? No, we’re talkin’ tap. Water: It’s what’s for dinner. And lunch. (And for all we know, the cocktail hour, but nobody told us that.)

4. Early birds. We’re not talking just seniors anymore. The early-bird special, that tried-and-true money-saving strategy (was that invented here?), and a cousin of the happy hour is alive and well among the smart set. Don’t be late: time is money!

5. “Nothing.” It’s not that they didn’t answer the question. They just say “No” to everything. Something from the bar? No. Soft drinks? No. Appetizers? No. Ditto salads, sides (unless they come with), and desserts. Say “Yes” to “No” if you’re one of the stalwarts who can overcome feeling deprived. As for me, I’ll have none of that.

Value Votes

Best Value Overall. We asked readers to give their reason(s) for their choice based on price and quality. This one was all over the place, with more than 70 restaurants cited. Among the biggest vote-getters: chains like Cracker Barrel and Olive Garden, plus a number of Mexican restaurants, which voters tagged as “good value for the money.” Other favorable comments for various restaurants included “affordable,” “home cooking,” “coupons,” “dependable quality” and “consistency.” But most of all, “portions and pricing” made these restaurants a “Best Value.”

Best Fine-Dining Special. This category covered an offer, item or event at a fine-dining restaurant that proved to be a good value. Ruth’s Chris was the top vote-getter. Readers mentioned the “3-course meal for $39.95” offer and daily happy hour specials on drinks and appetizers. Coming in second was Journeys’ “$24 3-course dinner menu.” Also mentioned: Straub’s Seafood for the early-bird specials . . . Bayridge Sushi for the anytime all-you-can-eat sushi plus the 3:00pm-6:00pm $1 sushi specials . . . and Harmoni Market’s Ladies’ Nights.

Best Family Dining. This category covered an offer, item or event at a family-friendly restaurant that proved to be a good value. Kobe Steak House came in #1 for a variety of reasons: “birthday dinner specials,” “early birds,” “rewards program.” Other firsts with families were Macaroni Grill, Cracker Barrel and Olive Garden.

This new “Budget-Friendly” wrinkle was fun for us. I hope you had fun reading the results. (I had fun compiling them!) But more than just putting a smile on your face, I hope some of these strategies will help you keep some money in your pocket when you go out to eat. Sometimes things taste even better when they’re a good deal.

Bill Ernst is the publisher of Seminole magazine. He dines out often, but generally isn’t frugal.

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