It starts with the hunger pangs.  Though I know that my fridge and cupboard are stocked with all the necessary ingredients to whip up a delicious meal, my appetite has high-jacked my better judgment.  Before I know it, the devil on my shoulder suggests dining out instead of cooking in.  After all, it’s been a long week – you deserve it!

Of course, if you are seriously looking to spend frugally, you might think it best to give up dining out altogether.  But is this reasonable given how often we go to restaurants to catch up with friends and family?  I don’t know about you, but each time I’ve tried to resist the temptation to dine out, it resulted in nothing less than social suicide.  Is anything more depressing than sitting in on a Friday night with a bowl of Super Noodles and the drone of Jonathan Ross aloft in the background?

Don’t despair!  There is such a thing as eating out on a budget – not every night at the restaurant needs to come to £25 a head.  In the spirit of making spending habits for the long-term, I’ve compiled a list of 5 simple ways to save money without having to give up the joys of dining out.

1.)    Vow to Use Vouchers: You aren’t the only person keeping a distance from your favourite restaurants as a result of the credit crunch – and no one knows this more than the restaurant owners themselves.  As a result, most major UK restaurant chains are offering amazing discounts in order to keep their tables full.  Gourmet Burger Kitchen is currently offering a 2-for-1 deal on their main courses, while Pizza Express is promoting a £10 per head deal – wine included!  Even Chez Gerard is feeling the pinch at the moment – throughout February, why not get £15 off of your total bill?

2.)    Avoid Weekends: On the weekend, restaurants are less than hospitable to frugal spenders; in addition to being crowded, they tend to offer fewer deals and highlight instead their most expensive dishes.  In order to drum up business on the weekdays, many restaurants will offer special deals on certain days of the week.  Gastropubs in particular are keen to offer meal specials on slower nights – it’s highly likely that your beloved local serves up your favourite dish at a reduced price during the work week.

3.)    Bring Your Own Booze: This might say more about my drinking habits than about the cost of a bottle (or two) of wine, but I am always surprised by the cost of drinks at restaurants.  Unless you’re drinking plonk, wine can cost more than the meal itself.  A good way to cut out the cost of alcohol while dining out is to seek out restaurants that allow you to BYOB (Bring Your Own Beverage).  This way, you get to enjoy your favourite bottle without having to pay a premium for having ordered it in a restaurant – though most BYO restaurants will usually charge a nominal ‘corking charge.’  Check out the Londonist for a current series on the Best BYO restaurants in London – definitely worth a peek if you are looking for an affordable place to eat (and drink) in the City.

4.)    The Art of À La Carte: If you aren’t particularly hungry or are looking for a ‘lite bite’, you might consider ordering à la carte.  Instead of feeling obliged to eat (and pay for) a whole meal, you can try sharing several starters.  This can be a great way to socialize with your fellow diners, and you also might explore some new foods from your favourite restaurant in the process.

5.)    Skip the Starters: How many times have you pigged out on a starter only to realize that you have no room left for your meal?  I can’t tell you how often I’ve ordered a bit overzealously at a restaurant – or, as my grandmother used to put it, suffered from a case of ‘my eyes being bigger than my stomach.’  If you skip out on a starter, you’ll save money AND get to enjoy your meal for what it is – the main event!  And if you’re still hungry after dinner, there’s always dessert . . .

What do you think?  Is there a way to dine out and spend frugally at the same time?  Do you have any tips for dining out at your favourite restaurant?  Or are you avoiding restaurants altogether since the credit crunch?