MouthLondon - London Student & Youth Magazine
London’s Cheap Thrills
Eating out on a budget
‘How can you afford to eat out that often?’ People who read my restaurant blog frequently ask me. I have to admit, I love food and eating out is my favourite pastime, but it can get very expensive. Ever since I started my own restaurant blog last April, the frequency of my restaurant visits have increased exponentially (but now I can call it research!) And believe me, as a consequence I have explored every way of eating the best food in London on a PhD student’s salary.
…a foodie who struggles with their finances…
So if you’re a foodie who struggles with their finances, or if you never eat out because you think you can’t afford it, don’t despair. Superb food does not need to cost an arm and a leg and I hope I can give you some advice on how to make the most of your earnings.
Do Your Research
I don’t ever want to eat mediocre meals and, in my culinary universe, there is nothing I hate more than overpaying for bad quality food. If you want to get the most for your money, it is absolutely imperative that you do some research before choosing your restaurant. Ten minutes of Internet research beforehand can save two hours of culinary disappointment later. However, with so much information out there, you have to choose wisely who to believe. These are the sources of information I use:
Newspapers
Everyone should have a favourite restaurant critic. Do you like the rather sarcastic humour of Jay Rayner (Observer)? Or do you prefer the well-balanced views of Marina O’Loughlin (Metro)? A very good and comprehensive culinary source is Time Out magazine. In my experience, their restaurant reviews are 80% spot-on. Not bad a cut really. Don’t forget to check out their ‘Cheap Eats’ section.
Everyone should have a favourite restaurant critic…
Blogs and Social Networking
The views of foodies like you and me make for honest sources of information. Follow a couple of food bloggers (check out some of my favourite ones: The London Eater uses very appetizing photos of food, Ms Gourmet Chick and Greedy Diva are for guys too, and The Catty Life is informative as well as funny. I love Urbanspoon because it gives you a comprehensive summary not only of bloggers reviews, but also reviews of restaurant critics and user comments. And of course, there is Qype – if you haven’t signed up for it yet, do it now and don’t forget to share your good and bad experiences with your readers.
Deals
It is amazing what great deals are out there and you would be foolish not to make good use of them. But be warned – some restaurants offer deals because they aren’t good enough to get customers otherwise, so do your research before!
It is amazing what great deals are out there…
Toptable offers either up to 50% off the food bill or set menu deals at a variety of restaurants. Joining and booking is free and you can even get a complimentary meal if you have booked often enough through their Website.
Another good half price option is the Taste London Card. You pay a yearly fee of £70 which enables you to dine for half price in many UK restaurants. For the cheapskates among you, I recommend their 30 day free trial period.
Are you into theatre? If so, you probably already know about the competitive deals that are out there for pre-theatre menus. Even if you’re not headed for the theatre but are happy to eat before 7, the world of expensive, fancy, and even Michelin-starred cuisine is suddenly open to you. The same also applies for lunch menus, which you can usually only get during the week.
…the world of expensive, fancy, and even Michelin-starred cuisine…
Groupon is a website that has daily deals, which sometimes include really good offers at restaurants. It’s worth signing up to. I have to warn you though, it is highly addictive…
Do Something Different
The Supper Club
If you are adventurous, I recommend going to a Supper club. Supper Clubs, or ‘Underground Restaurants’, as they are also known, are pop-up restaurants, usually held in the houses of amateur chefs. You normally pay something between £20 – 40. It’s BYOB, which saves you a lot of money. Possibility and chance characterize the evening – from the quality of the meal, to the people you meet, to how sober you are upon departure. My favourite supper club is Fernandez & Leluu, but check out The London Foodie who has reviewed a whole bunch of them.
I hope that I’ve convinced you that you don’t need to be rich to be a foodie, and I raise my glass to the many delectable dishes that are yours for the taking (without giving away too much cash!).
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