The Philadelphia Inquirer – February 27, 2003

How to $ave

Michael Klein | Table Talk
Inquirer Columnist

In these tight times, it seems every restaurant is offering a little something. Here are two easy strategies for dining cheaper - without paying up front for a membership or relying on a rich friend.

One is Restaurant.com, which offers two ways to save online. The straight deal is a 50 percent discount: You pay $12.50 (plus a 50-cent transaction fee) for a $25 "gift certificate" good at 111 eateries in the region, including Beau Rivage, Cafe La Fontana, Jack's Firehouse and Steak 38.

The fun way to save on Restaurant.com is to click on its link to eBay and join the auction of $25 dining certificates. Bids start at $1, and a $1 handling fee is added to each purchase. One recent afternoon, I bid $10.50 to get $25 worth of food at Sansom Street Oyster House in Center City. Moments later, my winning bid of $7.52 got me a $25 deal at Le Castagne in Center City. On a third auction, I was the sole bidder (yes, one dollar!) and got a $25 certificate to the Persian Grill in Lafayette Hill.

When you win, you print out the certificate from your screen, hand it in when you pay the check, and, in my case, watch the newsroom accountants dance in jubilation.

The other online tip is to book a table through www.dinnerbroker.com, which represents a few restaurants locally: Astral Plane, La Famiglia, Paradigm, Philadelphia Fish & Co., Roy's, and Smith & Wollensky in Center City; Green Hills Inn and Haydn Zug's in Lancaster County; King George II Inn in Bristol; Passerelle in Radnor; Savona in Gulph Mills; and the Yellow Springs Inn in Chester County. Depending on the date and time you care to eat, you can save 15 percent to 30 percent off your check.

For a broader selection of restaurant discounts, you have to look through the Entertainment book ($30 a year for hundreds of two-fers and 50 percent discounts) and iDine.com (formerly Transmedia; the $49 membership gets you up to 20 percent off at more than 100 local restaurants). These don't require a computer.

One caveat: If you buy a certificate - or receive one as a gift - use it at once. Restaurants come and restaurants go.

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