Gothamist: Culinary Couponing

BytchInNY

Thu, 14 Oct 2004 18:24:20 -0500

I bought the Lower East Side Deck at a street fair this summer. I like it because sometimes when I feel like trying something new I'll just flip through and fins something that looks good. It's cool because I'm trying new restaurants I wouldn't have found otherwise.

la depressionada

Thu, 14 Oct 2004 13:25:05 -0500

I would rather eat chalk than use a coupon at a restaurant, but if you are less dependent on other people's opinions than I am: Please remember to tip on the entire cost of the meal. (And I am not now, nor have I ever been a waitperson. It's just on my mind what with that Britney Spears nontipping tattoo debacle.)

Janine

Thu, 14 Oct 2004 12:48:06 -0500

I am having horrible flashbacks at the mention of the 'entertainment book.' My mom used to get those and would then plan her life around using the coupons. Whenever I left the house she would be chasing me with coupons from that thing, shouting "Why don't you eat at this place?! I have a coupon! It's going to expire!"

htb

Thu, 14 Oct 2004 12:15:36 -0500

They're selling off the 2004 decks on their website for $10. Use just one and make your money back! But be quick because they expire on 12-31-04. www.cityshuffle.com

O-man

Thu, 14 Oct 2004 11:52:22 -0500

I know retail when I see it, and you spelled it wrong. Get it right buster!

Jen

Thu, 14 Oct 2004 11:08:10 -0500

This is a cool idea, but it also reminds me of those "Entertainment" coupon books that were all the rage in the early 90s - free meal if you get two, half off, etc...

NKW

Thu, 14 Oct 2004 10:50:49 -0500

It's tough work dining at a different new restaurant every week for a year (the kind of problem I wish I had), but once you use three coupons ($10 x 3 = $30) the purchase has paid for itself! And even better, the deck forces you to try restaurants you've never been to before. I have used a similar coupon book (on a smaller scale, in Portland ME)- I recommend checking the fine print before you go out. In my experience, the restaurants have restrictions on how the $10 coupon works- days-of-the-week restrictions, you must buy another entree of equal or greater value, certain meals excluded, etc.