Living Local — Beginning the Search for Las Vegas Dining Discounts

There are probably more restaurant discount opportunities in Las Vegas than any other American city. While the casinos don’t offer the tremendous discounts they did 20 years ago, they still generate enough low-cost competition to keep overall dining prices from reaching New York or San Francisco levels (especially away from the Strip). Dozens of new restaurants are opening throughout the valley every month, which also creates a pro-customer competitive situation. To stay in business, Las Vegas restaurants have to attract new customers and, more important, keep bringing them back.

Much of this is done under the radar, so to the best-informed diners go the spoils. Over the next few posts, I will discuss the many methods and strategies for saving money, including third-party online services (Groupon, Restaurant.com), membership discounts (AARP and beyond), gift-card strategies, email and junk mail, frequency clubs (earn points when you dine). You name it (or even better, suggest it in a comment) and I’ll try to check it out. I’ll also mention other places to get information on Las Vegas dining, including discounts.

First, some general suggestions:

• Don’t make a decision to visit a restaurant that you’re unfamiliar with just because of a coupon you saw in the newspaper or mail, or on the Internet, without doing some basic research. What are the Google and Yelp ratings? Is the restaurant recommended in Eating Las Vegas or other guidebooks? Ask your Facebook friends if they’ve tried it. Personal experience may vary, but if a restaurant doesn’t have a solid four-star rating (and at least 50 reviews) on Google, I won’t go there without a personal (or professional) recommendation.
• Always mention the discount, coupon, or whatever before you order (or even before you sit down). You may be at the wrong location, be visiting on a blackout day, or misunderstand the offer. Restaurants are more negotiable before you order than after they’ve given you your check.
• If you’re not an educated gambler, don’t increase your normal casino play to earn a dining comp. If the deal requires playing on a different day than you’re used to or playing as much in one day as what you would over three sessions, that might be okay, but in the long run it could be cheaper to pay retail. I’m not saying that a player shouldn’t take full advantage of available comps (I did write the book on slot clubs), but be aware of how much that free meal is really costing you.
• Just because a restaurant offers a 50% discount period (happy hour) doesn’t mean it’s a good deal. Are the normal prices outrageous? Does the special-menu food suck? Compare the product and prices with similar restaurants.
• After every good first-time dining experience, ask the waitress or manager if the restaurant has a frequent dining program, Facebook page, or website (that they keep up) or sends out email.
• One of the best ways to save dining money is to frequent the same restaurants, even if they don’t have any of the above. Of course, I try new places, but I still eat at my favorites 50% of the time. The staff frequently shows their appreciate with something on the house.
• A healthy way to save dining money: Eat smaller portions. Consider splitting an entrée, check to see if half-portions are available, or use a doggie bag.

And finally, in honor of my father, I pass on his advice to how to choose a restaurant, especially if you’re on the road. Look for a place with at least five cars parked straight in the parking lot. Yeah, it sounds corny, but it worked for him – and me.