THE WEEK – February 28, 2003

How smart diners eat upscale for less

When you dine in a fancy restaurant these days, "chances are the person next to you is shelling out less for the same meal," says Katy McLaughlin in The Wall Street Journal. Why not learn the same tactics? Though "high-end eateries have long disdained coupons and discounts, which conjure up images of early-bird specials and all-you-can-eat buffets," tough times have encourages more populist measures. "For image-conscious eateries, the trick is to slip in the discounts without the side order of humiliation" that sometimes comes with it.

First of all, try booking your table through Dinnerbroker.com, which offers discounts of 10 percent to 30 percent off the entire bill -- automatically deducted before you receive your check -- from roughly 250 high-end restaurants around the country, including New York's 21 Club and Chicago's MK. But be prepared for availability only during off-peak hours (like before 7 p.m. and after 9:30 p.m.).

Restaurant.com sells "gift certificates" toward your meal for half price: A $50 coupon will cost you $25. "After dinner, just slip the certificate in with your payment." Alternatively, search "gift certificate" on eBay and try to get them for even less than half price.

But the most discreet form of restaurant discount may be through iDine.com, says Ed Perkins in the Bergen County, NJ, Record. Formerly Transmedia, the discount club offers up to 20 percent discounts at around 8,000 participating restaurants. For an annual membership fee of $49, you can "register" up to three credit cards. When you use a registered card at a participating establishment, the undiscounted total appears on your check; a few days later, the 20 percent discount -- including tax and tip -- is automatically taken off by the credit card company. A caveat: California, Illinois, Florida, and New York are well-represented, but other areas are spottier. And be careful -- "in my experience, restaurant discount programs tend to attract more than their fair share of loser establishments." It takes some diligent perusal to find the gems.