Dining Certificates 60% Off
If you're not familiar with restaurant.com, you need to be. While the list of participating Arkansas restaurants is somewhat smaller than that in large urban areas, more eateries sign on all the time (and you could increase participants by mentioning restaurant.com to the management of your favorite places when you're there).
What you're buying are certificates with face values usually of either $10 or $25 toward the cost of your meal. New certificates are added at the beginning of every month, and there are a finite supply, so the later in the month it gets, the cheaper the $25 and $10 certificates for local restaurants become, up to 70% off at times. For example, I recently bought a couple of $25 certificates for dinner at Ristorante Capeo, paying $3 each for them.
The flip-side of the deal is that, as the certificates sell out, they're gone until the first of the next month. Right now, for central Arkansas, Bene Vita, The Faded Rose, and some of the branches of Shorty Small's are already sold out. But it's worth a look-see if you have a few minutes to check it out, because the certificates are 60% off. So your $25 certificate will cost you $4, and the $10 certificates can be had for $1.50 At full price, the certificates cost $10 for $25, and $3 for $10 worth of food.
There are limitations, such as days of the week you can use your certificate (usually Monday thru Thursday, dine-in only), and the certificates do not cover alcohol purchases. The most common minimum I've seen for the $25 certificates dictates that you are purchasing at least $35 worth of food.
One last thing: Should you decide to take advantage of this service (and you should, because the more people who do, the more restaurants will sign on), PLEASE remember to tip your servers based on the TOTAL of your bill, BEFORE the discount is subtracted.
Some other central Arkansas restaurants who are commonly participating with Restaurant.com areLittle Rock/North Little Rock eateries Camp David, Juanita's, Lucchesi's Ravioli & Pasta, Markham Street Grill and Pub, Season's In The Heights, and The Bistro.
Every Shorty Small's in Arkansas appears to be represented, as well as other places from around the state: The Sandwich Shoppe in Clarendon, The Bistro in Bonnerdale, Dee's BBQ in Lexa, Don Quixote's in Calico Rock, L.J.'s Restaurant in Marion, and Piero's in Jonesboro.
When you check out, enter the discount code, SUPER, and then "recalculate total" to apply the 60%-off discount. Happy hunting, and good eatin'!
Belinda also blogs from her home base on the internet, NINJA POODLES! Expect chaos. Email Belinda.
