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Wallet-weary diners hunt for best bargains, survey says
October 21st, 2009, 12:01 am · 19 Comments · posted by Nancy Luna, Staff Writer
Diners are looking for great food at a bargain.
Although diners continue to eat out less, when they do go out they focus on two things: price and portions.
In a 2010 survey released today by Zagat, about 43 percent of diners surveyed said they are cutting back on dining out and cooking more at home. But when diners go out, they are searching for less expensive restaurants and ordering fewer cocktails and appetizers when they arrive.
“There’s no doubt that the recession has seriously affected diners’ habits across America,” said Tim Zagat, whose world-famous Zagat Survey released the results of its 2010 America’s Top Restaurants. (Also, released today Zagat’s Best Burgers in U.S.)
Though much of the survey’s findings are bad news for restaurants, diners are seeing some upsides when eating out.
Zagat 2010 restaurant report surveyed 145,000 diners.
The survey says restaurants are increasing menu deals and providing better customer service. For example, 40 percent of those surveyed said they “feel their patronage is more appreciated” at restaurants, while 22 percent of diners said they believe restaurants have improved overall customer service compared to last year.
In Orange County, recession-busting menu specials are rampant. The $20 to $25 three-course lunch deals are among the most popular specials being peddled at local fine dining establishments. (LIST: Cheap but Chic Dining in O.C.)
Some restaurants are also cutting menu prices. For example, Salt Creek Grille in Dana Point just revised its menu, where prices on everything from prime steaks to pork chops are much lower. To attract more foodie bargain hunters, the upscale dining restaurant is also offering 50 percent off its entire menu at certain times of the day. The special launched this week and lasts until Dec. 6.
Tim Zagat said the survey highlights “how the industry is adapting to the needs of the diners, offering better value, service and bargains for the wallet-weary.”
“It may take time, but we are convinced that the industry will weather the storm and emerge stronger.”
Tell us: Do Zagat’s findings mirror your dining out habits? Write in and let us know.
Also released today by Zagat: Best Burgers in U.S.
More cheap but chic dining deals: Newport Beach Restaurant Week is going on now. To learn about all the great dining deals, read OCR’s Food Frenzy bog.
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What’s funny is, to cut back costs, we only get appetizers and cocktails when we go out (well, one appetizer and two cocktails). At some restaurants I couldn’t even tell you what’s on the entree menu, but I’ve got their happy hour offerings memorized.
Also, the $20 for meals for 2 deals being offered at various chain resturants have been awesome, as well as the coupons you can emailed to you for joining certain e-clubs, Facebook coupons, and Twitter deals. We’ve cut down to only eating out twice a week, so I collect the deals all week, then on Friday afternoon we pick the best and run with those.
Even local resturants offer some amazing deals - Peppino’s e-club is a treasure trove of good deals, especially since their portions are HUGE, so when we use the 2 for 1 entree coupon (they tend to offer those every couple of months), we can squeeze 2 or 3 meals out of less than $20 for the best Italian food in the county. Hoorah! (Although, sadly, leftovers do not include their amazing bread basket.)
Peppino’s is the best Italian food in the county?
C’mon, Steve, perception is reality, so just accept her comment, and, if you can’t, please share with us a better choice or two in the same price.
*blinks*
Well, the won the Best of OC in the Register’s annual round up, so I’m certainly not the only one who thinks so.
heheheheheheheh….Yeah same publication that stated ‘Subway’ was the Best Sub sandwich…OCR Best of 2009…well it performs better at the bottom of the bird cage than as a reference guide for Dining, or anything else for that matter, in Orange County.
At least OCR is aware that Long Beach is not IN Orange County. It seemed like half the winners in a certain Weekly’s “Best of Orange County” list were located in Los Angeles County.
And if someone wants to recommend a better Italian place than Peppino’s (that a real person can actually afford), then I’m happy to hear about a new place to try. I’ve gone to better places up in Los Angeles (Deano’s at the Farmer’s Market is a little slice of heaven), but I don’t always want to travel beyond the Orange Curtain for a reasonably priced plate of pasta.
(I don’t really see what about Peppino’s is deserving of snobbery though - they are a local, family owned group of restaurants, not a national chain or anything like Subway.)
Julie ~ just because a place won ‘Best of the OC’ DOES NOT make it the best. This is the land of restaurant chains, so I put very little weight on people’s restaurant choices in this county.
But to answer your question about a better Italian place (BTW, Peppinos SUCKS!), have you ever tried Salernos Italian Restaurant in Laguna Beach? Authentic (family owned) and superb!!!
Well, I wasn’t saying it was the best just because it won, I was saying it was the best because I’ve eaten at alot of little family owned Italian places in Orange County over the past 30 years and it’s the best I’ve had so far within the County lines. You’re certainly entitled to your opinion, but I was simply backing up my opinion that Peppino’s not only doesn’t suck, but that it’s really really good, with the fact that apparently a whole lot of other people share my opinion. (Which is also shared by everyone I’ve ever taken there to eat.)
No, I’ve never tired Salernos, but I’ll give it a go the next time we’re down that far. (Although it’s not likely to be soon, since I live in North OC and spend most of my time up in LA rather than down in South County.)
(And, actually, I find it fairly impressive Peppino’s won, considering they have no locations west of the 55 freeway and are a small family owned chain.)
I don’t know where in Orange County you live, but one of my favorite Italian places is Mangia Bene in Laguna Niguel (cross streets are Oso & La Paz). They are family owned, and reasonably priced. My husband and I love this place
And P.S. Peppino’s Pesto Chicken pizza is yummy if you haven’t tried it.
I’ve said all along, people including myself look for better deals during this time. And if a restaurant or a fast food sandwich place has a great deal I tend to venture there. Togo’s got me to go and get the great deal they had last year when you wrote about it. But since they stopped the deal I stopped going.
As for the Salt Creek Grill 50% off…their regular prices are crazy! $19.00 for a burger??!! Even 50% is not a deal (plus tip)! $19 for a burger when it probably cost $3 is a total rip off!
Eat out, Support an Illegal!
Check out Nagisa Sushi in Corona del Mar. They have some really good combos for $12 to $14. They all include seaweed salad, miso soup, two item combo with regular sald and desert. Huge dinners and lunches for peanuts. Some even include sashimi or sushi for about $14.. The rest of the menu is pretty expensive, though. Very high quality fish. Being on a budget these days, my wife and I thought we’d have to give up sushi for a while, but then she found this place.
Zagat
Well there is a cool Italian place in Orange called Opus. Appetizers and cocktail specials daily give us dinner & drinks for two well under $20. You would never guess the place is so nice inside, and friendly!
Its not cool to say cool all the time.
Who cares,Zagat is so passe! I’m surprised Olive Garden wasn’t picked as best Italian eatery…
Maybe it was.
How about some Buca di Beppo? It may not have snob appeal, but the food is good.
$10 off $30 coupon here:
http://www.restaurantcouponsanddeals.com/2009/10/buca-di-beppo-10-off-30-coupon-thru.html
and
Buy $100 in Gift Cards-get a $25 Rewards card free here:
http://www.restaurantcouponsanddeals.com/2009/10/buca-di-beppo-free-25-reward-card-w-100.html
At least I can afford to eat there!
Zagat is passe’-it’s like reading a 1950’s tour book to plan a trip!