Yeah, I catch your drift - although I'm not sure I agree with it. There are a few places that have such reputations they don't need to put any effort into getting new customers in - witness, for example, French Laundy in my neck of the woods - but for the most part, even very good places will occasionally put some effort into getting new people in the door. There's nothing inherently worse about coupons and discounting than any other form of promotion.

How is restaurant week any different than coupons?

There is usually a limited number of spots and limited food selection - similar to a limited number of coupons and coupon restrictions. Even the time restriction may not be that different - you have to go during restaurant week, but then some coupons are only valid during certain periods. The only difference is that you don't have to bring the coupon with you because its part of the menu.

To quote the above coupons allow "people with a limited budget to enjoy a meal at an establishment which they would normally not go to or have been wanting to try".

Of course if you have decided that only bad restaurants give out coupons then you're going to spend more than you need because you are stuck in the mentality that high quality food needs to be expensive.

I guess that's your loss.

I agree with you, for the most part, about the food quality at restaurants that offer coupons. But, the other person only wanted to know if we would be embarrassed using a coupon and would we try to hide it from other customers.

Mr b1513 and I eat out all the time. We rarely eat home and sometimes go to chains. If I've seen a coupon for a restaurant I'm going to I'll take the coupon with me if, I remember it and, yes, it does kind of embarrass me. I don't know why but it does.

Bobette

The one part you are forgetting is that for Restaurant Week you do not have a physical coupon to give the waiter or waitress.

Most restaurants all you have to do is make a reservation via Opentable or phone. When you sit down your waiter will say we have the Restaurant Week prefix menu which consists of these items on their normal menu if interested..

You choose from a menu. That is the whole point. There is no coupon

Conclusion there is no correlation between a prefix menu and coupons

I actually never find these restaurant week prix fixe "deals" to my liking. The menu is limited, It's never what I want to order and there is not enough food.

Bobette

You shouldn't feel bad about it. if you get funny looks, those are from people who are wondering how they can get the coupons.

I don't feel embarassed at all, especially at a mid range restaurant. It's just like points, miles, etc. All one form of marketing or another.

^ Props for bringing the analogy back to FT

As others have pointed out: not only chain restaurants provide coupons.

New restaurants often use coupons as a way to build clientele. One of my favorite locals, a Belgian restaurant, used coupons and similar marketing techniques to build clientele when they opened. They were in a good location geographically, but a difficult location structurally. Three restaurants had failed in the same location before this one opened.

Now that they are established, you are right, they no longer have coupons, because they don't need them. But they still do Monday night specials, because business is slow that night.

In essence, I think your complaint is with chain restaurants (which I share) rather than coupons, which can be used even by good restaurants to build business.

agreed^

I need to keep eating at those rubbish restaurants on the cheap as well as to be able to afford L2O this coming weekend (prices )