5 Tips for Dining Out This Holiday Season

This post was written by me as a part of the Denny’s Diners Blog Ambassador program.  As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.   5 Tips for Dining Out This Holiday Season5 Tips for Dining Out This Holiday Season
Over the weekend I ventured out to the store to pick up some groceries for the week.  The second I stepped into the store, I realized that it was no ordinary weekend at the grocery store, it was the weekend before Thanksgiving.  In other words, the place was  packed.  I carefully navigated the crowded aisles, grabbing only what I needed and foregoing lots of things that were on my list (there was absolutely no way that I was waiting in that 45+ minute deli line).  And then, as I stood at the register, I heard a cashier ask what another customer’s plans for Thanksgiving were.  “Oh, we’re going out to eat for Thanksgiving.  It’s so much easier.”  5 Tips for Dining Out This Holiday Season

And when I stopped to think about it, eating out on Thanksgiving really is easier.  Because everything going on around me at the grocery store that day?  Chaos.  Mass chaos.  And at the time there were still 4 days until Thanksgiving.  I don’t even want to know what that store looked like today.

But in all reality there are tons of reasons to eat out on a holiday or during the holiday season – being out of town, having a smaller dinner party, or just the desire to avoid the preparation and clean up.  All of which are great reasons to save yourself the time and head to your favorite restaurant.  But before you do, let me share my 5 tips for dining out this holiday season.

Scout the menu in advance.  Lots of restaurants change their menus around the holidays.  Make sure that your favorite restaurant has the holiday options that you’re looking for but scouting the menu first.  Most of the time this can be done online (you can find the Denny’s Holiday Menu – which features the Hot Turkey Dipper and the Holiday Turkey and Stuffing Dinner – by clicking here).

Look for healthier options.  The holidays are a time when it’s easy to indulge, but you don’t have to!  Instead, opt for lower calorie options like the Cranberry Apple Chicken Salad, Sirloin Steak, and Alaskan Salmon on the Denny’s holiday menu.  These and other Fit Fare options are labeled so you know you’re making a healthier choice, while still getting the holiday tastes you crave.  There are even Fit Fare options on the Holiday Slam menu!

Check the hours.  Like the menu, restaurant hours may vary during the holiday season.  Some restaurants will extend their hours, others will shorten them.  To ensure that you don’t arrive to a restaurant that’s closed, check the hours by visiting the restaurant’s website or calling ahead.  If your restaurant of choice requires reservations, make sure to do so a few weeks in advance.

But remember, there’s always an table for you at Denny’s.  No reservation required.  And they’re open on Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day.

Look for coupons and specials.  Let’s face it, you’ve got a lot of gifts to buy this holiday season.  So why not save a little money when it comes to eating out?  Lots of restaurants will have specials or even offer coupons during the holiday season, but when you find one make sure that it doesn’t exclude the actual holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years).  Luckily, there are no such restrictions on Denny’s coupons, which are easy to find in your local newspaper, weekly mailers, or at local sporting events.

Take care of your server.  The holidays can be a tough time to be a server because it often means longer hours and being away from family.  Reward great service with a great tip; this is the time to be generous.

No matter how you chose to celebrate – eating out or eating in – Happy Holidays from my family to yours!