Saving money while eating out in Ireland

As a child in the 80's I can remember only a handful of occasions where we, as a family, would go out to eat. For most people in Ireland at the time dining out just wasn't part of our lives. The money to do so generally wasn't there, and to be quite honest the selection of restaurants weren't all that great anyway. From time-to-time we'd have a weekend treat from a local 'takeaway'. Generally it amounted to fish and chips, with potato pies and mushy peas. Eating in an actual restaurant was typically reserved for family events, (more often than not of a religious nature) such as Confirmations, Funerals, Weddings, etc.

These days, I think it's safe to say a large percentage of people eat out at least once or twice a week. A family dinner at the weekend in a restaurant, and lunch here or there during the week once in a while wouldn't be too uncommon. As a result, or maybe part of the reason why, there are far more places to eat out at, and far more international restaurant choices, these days, than in years past.

Even though I don't find myself short for selection when eating out in Ireland, I do find that it is a more expensive experience than what I was used to in the US. Big US cities have endless dining choices, so even if you're on a tight budget you can still eat out, in a pretty decent restaurant, without breaking the bank. Read on for tips how you can save money while eating out in Ireland.

Bar vs Restaurant
You will come to realize that many bars which have a restaurant attached, will offer their patrons a menu which is essentially a scaled back version of the full restaurant menu. What is important to know is that the prices can be scaled back too! Sometimes by a lot! If you're satisfied with a smaller selection of items to choose from, then it may be worthwhile sitting in the bar for your next meal.

Drinks
Obviously any amount of drinks you enjoy with your meal is going to increase your bill significantly. However there are a few things you definitely need to be aware of that will help keep costs down.

• Unlike in the US, soft drinks (sodas, ice tea etc) generally do not come served with the expectation that refills will be provided. (The same is often true of coffee) If you ask for a refill, you will be given a second drink, and you will pay for it accordingly. Most places serve soft drinks from individual bottles, unlike the soda machines you see in the US.
• Regarding alcohol – drink prices can vary slightly (generally higher), in restaurants than in nearby pubs.
• If you plan to bring your own wine (or beer in some cases) you can expect to pay a corkage fee. Many places do offer a zero fee corkage service, so it might be worthwhile calling ahead.
• Last point on this one, water is almost always free, unless you specifically request bottled.

Avoid tourist areas
This goes without saying, but I'll say it anyway...tourists places in Ireland are just like anywhere else in the world. The proprietors will do their utmost to cash in on quick-spending tourists, and adjust prices accordingly. It's nice (even as a resident) to soak up the atmosphere of some of Ireland's finest tourist attractions, but if you plan on living here, then I suggest doing a little research to determine which places are primarily targeting visitors.

Tipping
I can't be the only one who finds the American tipping phenomenon a little excessive, can I? Wait staff have an expectation that a minimum of 15% of the bill will be coming their way when you settle up, and oftentimes the gratuity is added on to your bill regardless of whether you wanted to give it or not. Ugh! Some people will argue that tipping is optional, but if you ever want to return to the same restaurant again, then I definitely see tipping as a requirement.
In Ireland a tip is sincerely appreciated, and certainly not always expected. I would always tip when having a sit-down meal, but aside from then, a tip is not really warranted. You certainly would never tip a barman for pouring a drink. Although, the US-style tip jar is creeping in here and there around Irish bars in recent years.
If you do choose to leave a tip, cash is best. A server/waiter won't always receive a tip you leave by adding it to the bill, and paying by credit card.

Coupon sites
I stay well clear of any coupon websites that have tons of ads flashing in my face. Many of the coupon-only websites just want you to click somewhere so they make a buck or 2 from your visit. However, there are many very good quality websites out there, which offer great dining discounts. Try Groupon Ireland, MenuPages (including their MenuPoints program) and Living Social for local deals in Ireland. Be sure to read the T&C's of any purchase you make on these sites. Sometimes there are restrictions regarding when your coupon is valid for use, and the coupon may expire eventually too.

Become an early-bird
As a parent to young kids it's easy to get out to dinner early and be done well before 7pm. Many establishments have a cutoff of around that time, before which their menu prices are a bit lower. Again do a little homework in your area to discover good early-bird options. Some places have a set menu to choose from, or they might insist on a multi-course option to get early-bird prices. You may also see this type of discount referred to as “Pre-Theatre” (e.g. the Pre-Theatre Menu). Check out Earlybirds.ie for some sample listings around Ireland.

The Irish love multi course meals
Drink - Starter - Main Course - Dessert - Coffee It's not too uncommon to go for a meal with an Irish person, only to see them enjoy a little something from every part of the menu. 3 course meals are pretty standard. 5 courses might be reserved for formal occasions (weddings etc). As a newbie in Ireland don't feel obliged to go along with the crowd on this one. If the main course is all you want, then just go with that. As a returning emigrant, I find it a little excessive to have 3 or 4 course meals. 1 or 2 is enough for me.

Takeaway
To-go, takeaway, takeout, carryout....whatever you like to call it… If you want to grab a bite and bring it home to eat, you'll often find it to be quite a bit cheaper. In fact just today I ordered a coffee to go, from a local coffee shop and instead of being charged the 2.90 that was listed on the menu board, I paid just 2.60. The same applies for food, so you can see how the savings could quickly add up. The difference in price is usually listed on the restaurant menu or on their website.

Big lunch vs big dinner
Some people live by this one, but I certainly can't. I normally eat a larger dinner than lunch. But if you like to get most of your calories in early, then you'll be the richer of the 2 of us. Nine times out of ten you'll find that the lunch menu is more wallet-friendly than the dinner version, even though the food being served is typically the same. Sometimes there may be a difference in portion size, but you'll often find you'll be served the exact same item at lunch for a fraction of the cost you'd pay at dinner.

Vegetarian Carvery
Carvery dinners are a big attraction in Irish pubs and hotels. Basically you'll be served a choice of meat (chicken, lamb, beef, salmon etc), and a selection of vegetables. With a vegetarian in my family, I often get to see the price difference for a veggie-only carvery dinner. When my chicken or beef dinner might cost somewhere between 10 and 13 Euro, a vegetarian option might be as low as 5 or 6.

I'd love to hear other suggestions for how people can save when eating out around Ireland. I'm sure many of the Irish readers, and many of the visitors to Ireland too, who check in with us, will have something to add. Chime in below, or send me a message.

Happy dining...

featured image credit Flickr/jeffreyww