Kids eat free? BOGO gift cards? $5 margaritas? Here’s how to dine and save in Miami
Craving a taste of Miami’s food scene?
There’s hundreds of restaurants to visit, but if you’re on a budget, deciding where to eat probably involves more than just a “where do you want to eat” debate.
Here are five ways you can enjoy a night out without leaving your bank account feeling hungry:
Ask about restaurant promos or specials
The first step to dining out and saving money is checking out the restaurant’s specials or promotions, especially if you have children. Kids tend to be picky eaters and have a knack for never finishing their food, which is why parents should consider restaurants that offer “Kids Eat Free” specials.
Some restaurants like Applebee’s and Denny’s will offer the special on a select day while others like IHOP offer it weekly with a purchase of any adult entree. Restaurants will usually share the promotion on websites or social media, but you can also call ahead to confirm what promotions your local restaurant is offering.
Pro Tip: Social media is the easiest way to know what $5 margarita special your local Chili’s is offering or if Starbucks is adding any new Instagrammable drinks to its menu.
BOGO Gift Certificates and Gift Cards
Some restaurants will occasionally offer “Buy One, Get One Free” style bundles on gift cards or online gift certificates. Sometimes you’ll find the deal while browsing through the gift card rack at Walmart or Target. Other times you’ll have to visit the restaurant’s website for the promotion.
Besides saving money on gifts, foodies can also use these bundles to save money at slightly more expensive restaurants such as Texas de Brazil, an all-you-can-eat steakhouse, which typically offers BOGO style specials during the holiday season.
Downside: Most BOGO promotions are normally offered during the holiday season, so don’t expect to find a BOGO gift card bundle every time you go grocery shopping.
Credit Card restaurant dining deals
Bank of America, Chase, Wells Fargo, Capital One and Discover all offer credit cards that rewards users for eating out through extra cash back, points or miles.
Which is the best one? It depends on your credit score, what you need, and if you care about annual fees or not.
Miami Herald subscribers can also receive exclusive discounts to hundreds of restaurants if they sign up for the Primecard Rewards Card. To subscribe, sign up at account.miamiherald.com/subscribe
Search for restaurant discounts online
It’s easy to find discounts online for almost anything. And the best way to keep your money safe while you shop is to look at the restaurant’s website or browse popular websites you trust.
Bargain hunters might be familiar with websites such as Groupon, LivingSocial or Restaurant.com but make sure you read the fine print, redemption requirements and the reviews before buying anything. The websites have run into trouble in the past with customers and businesses.
In 2012, Groupon agreed to an $8.5 million settlement after it was hit with a class-action lawsuit for allegedly failing to disclose expiration dates and other fine print to customers.
Restaurant.com also has a history of complaints, including business owners who said they never agreed to be enrolled in the website’s voucher program. The complaints, which date back to 2015, were enough for the website to have an “F” rating with the Better Business Bureau in 2018, according to Chicago-based TV news station WGN9.
The website’s CEO told WGN9 the 225 complaints the company received in a three-year period was a “phenomenal record of customer appreciation” when compared to the “millions of certificates” the website sold in its nearly 20 years of business.
Restaurant.com, which was accredited last month, had an “A+” rating with the Better Business Bureau, as of Monday.
Restaurant Rewards
If you’re not a fan of buying discounts, OpenTable and Yelp might be worth looking at.
You can create an account with OpenTable to collect “dining points” when you book and show up for select restaurant reservations. The points can be redeemed for future meals at restaurants that partner with OpenTable, hotel stays via Kayak or Amazon gift cards.
If you’re more of a Yelp user, you can link a debit or credit card to your account to receive a “cash back” whenever you use the card at qualifying restaurants.
You can also check with your favorite restaurants to see if they have their own free “Rewards” program you can enroll in. Depending on the restaurant, you can use the rewards program to collect points at every visit and then cash them in for free meals or drinks.
Whatever route you choose to take, just remember — if it’s too good to be true, it probably is.
