Our third child was born in June and we haven't had a REAL date night since. We've gone out once or twice with our baby and left the other two with our excellent babysitter (or as my kids insist, kidsitter). Since it was just going to be just me and the hubby this time, we decided to eat somewhere that our children, as well as other people's children's presence would be frowned upon. With that in mind, we chose Treo in Sylvania. It is an American, French, Italian restaurant with a very intimate atmosphere. Treo is nestled in a historic building in downtown Sylvania, with exposed brick and what appeared to be original wood floors. As we entered our expectations were quite high. The feel of the restaurant met our expectations, no doubt.
An assortment of appetizers were offered, including, jalepeno poppers, mussels, and Chevre Encroute (pastry wrapped baked goat cheese topped with walnuts and house made Parisian Dressing). The Chevre was excellent- smooth, and sweet with just enough walnuts, and the dressing was divine! I
As for the entrees, Treo offered assorted pasta, seafood, and poultry/beef dishes. All (except the pasta) come with two side dishes and a salad. I ordered the sesame crusted salmon with green beans and jasmine rice. The hubby ordered blackened tuna with the same sides. We expected an extraordinary meal, given the hype of this restaurant, yet it is unfortunate to say that it fell short.
For one, I didn't get the whole French theme- except for the cheese appetizer. Furthermore, what f kind of French restaurant does not serve creme brulee!!! Talk about a real disappointment. Yet, by the end of the meal we were definitely stuffed and could not even fathom another dish. While the food was tasty and had generous portions, it really was nothing special. Nothing on the menu really jumped at us or seemed to be a "signature" dish. The food was rather ordinary.
This restaurant is definitely not child friendly- which was a good thing considering our needs for the evening (although a table near us did have two children with them over the age of 10). The big question, would we go back with or without a coupon? Without a coupon- no. There are so many other restaurants that we want to explore that I would not go back for full price. If we were to go back (I have a buy one get one free offer from the Entertainment Book still available) If I have to give the restaurant another chance I would try the pasta dishes. Maybe pasta is more of their specialty....
Several weeks ago I purchased a $20 for $40 offer from Living Social.
Our Bill:$47.85
Savings: $20.00
Total Savings: $65.93
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Wendy's
I know I said I was going to avoid eating Fast Food during this quest, but one thing that I cannot resist is a Wendy's Frosty- especially a free one. My mom gave me a book of 10 Jr Frosty Halloween coupons that she did not pass out this past Halloween. The kids and I swung over there on Saturday afternoon and ordered 4 Jr Frosty's. Ice Cold Chocalatey goodness!!!
Our Bill:$3.96
Savings: $3.96
Total Savings: $45.93
Our Bill:$3.96
Savings: $3.96
Total Savings: $45.93
Friday, November 19, 2010
Ok, I admit, I cheated!
Only a few weeks into my quest and I cheated today- well kind of... As per my first post, the only time I would eat out is when I am not in control of where I am eating at. Today, I ate at El Camino Real with my hubby and his colleagues on his last day of work at his current employer. They picked the restaurant and since my mom was genraous enough to watch my 3 kids, I joined them for 2 and 1/2 hours (yes I had a curfew!!) If I had more warning that we would be eating there tonight, I would have found a coupon!!!
Anyways, it was my first time eating at an authentic Mexican restaurant and it was delicious! Would definitely go again.... Even without a coupon. A little tip- you can order off their A la Carte menu (which I did). One taco ($1.75) and one tamale ($2.25). So for $4.00 I got plenty of food. They have a combo menu which offers these two items, plus beans and rice for about $9.00. I saved more than 1/2 by skipping the sides and just ordering a la carte. Okay, so I'm trying to justify my cheating- whatever! If you go there make sure to order the homemade guacamole! To DIE FOR!! WOW!!
So no savings this time around :(
Anyways, it was my first time eating at an authentic Mexican restaurant and it was delicious! Would definitely go again.... Even without a coupon. A little tip- you can order off their A la Carte menu (which I did). One taco ($1.75) and one tamale ($2.25). So for $4.00 I got plenty of food. They have a combo menu which offers these two items, plus beans and rice for about $9.00. I saved more than 1/2 by skipping the sides and just ordering a la carte. Okay, so I'm trying to justify my cheating- whatever! If you go there make sure to order the homemade guacamole! To DIE FOR!! WOW!!
So no savings this time around :(
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Chipotle Mexican Grill BOGO Deal!
Announcing a really good deal: Chipotle! There food is always fresh and delicious. Even at regular price it's worth a visit for a filling and satisfying meal. Have you been there? If not or if you are looking for a reason to go back, here's a good deal to get you in there:
Check-in at Chipotle using Facebook Places Mobile on your smart phone on Nov 20-21, show your phone with the check-in offer on your screen, and get a BOGO (Buy-One-Get-One) burrito, bowl, salad, or order of tacos. How to do it: In order to qualify for the BOGO, you must be physically at the restaurant. Then, you'll need to check in at that restaurant either through the Facebook Places Mobile app on your smart phone or, if that is not possible for you, through touch.facebook.com on your smart phone's web browser to qualify for the BOGO. This BOGO offer will pop up as a deal at the restaurant at which you check in. Show that deal to the cashier from your phone. How not to do it: Posting "checking in" on the wall of this particular Event, posting "checking in" on our or your Facebook page wall, changing the status on your own Facebook profile to say "checking in at Chipotle," and other non-geo-locational check-ins, unfortunately are not acceptable check-ins. Sorry. Here is a helpful link too, if you have further questions on how to do it:http://blog.facebook.com/b |
Have you experienced a good deal lately? Share with us!
Monday, November 15, 2010
Jet's Pizza
Has anyone out there ever tried Jet's Pizza? Well if you haven't you really should! It's a really yummy way to end a very hectic day- They have a delicious rectangular pizza with scrumptious edges! You can always get a great deal on pizza, and for the most part its affordable, even without any coupons or specials. However, staying in line with my quest, I made sure that I would order our pizza from their special menu. We ordered one large rectangular pizza and an order of small Jet's bread with a side of Ranch dressing to drench our breadsticks in (just in case we needed even MORE calories in this meal!). The food was delicious and since they offer deals daily, expect to see more Jet's Pizza dinners at our house! I could eat it at least once a week if it wasn't for the fact that I could feel ever bite ending up in my hips. So I dined on only 1 1/2 pieces and 2 pieces of cheesy bread. Mmmmmm! Until the next Jet's splurge!
Our Bill:$15.67
Savings: $3.39
Total Savings: $41.97
Our Bill:$15.67
Savings: $3.39
Total Savings: $41.97
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Cold Stone Creamery
After 5 hours of cleaning our "messy (bonus) room"without our kids pestering us, the hubby and I decided to reward them by going out for some ice cream. We went to Cold Stone Creamery on Talmadge Rd. They offer nearly a dozen different flavors of ice cream, and more than a dozen add-ins (sprinkles, candy pieces, gummy bears....) Seasonal flavors are also offered and that's what I got- pumpkin cheesecake with graham cracker crumbs! This is definitely the type of place that you do not consider your caloric consumption. Just enjoy! As usual the ice cream was delicious, however, overpriced.
A family of four would ordinarily pay about $12. With the Entertainment Book, we were able to save quite a bit, making our visit more reasonable. We used 2 coupons: a free kids ice cream (savings of $1.99) and 2 Like It size ice creams for $5. I would definitely go back again in the winter time, since this is one of the only places around here that offers ice cream in the winter (Baskin Robbins, Handles and Charlie's on Sylvania Ave are three other local places). During the summer time I would be hard pressed to justify going there. Toledo has plenty of ice cream parlors that offer delicious soft-serve ice cream for about $4 for a family of 4.
Our Bill:$10.58
Savings: $3.59
Total Savings: $38.58
A good tip for you: If you sing a song when ordering your ice cream, you get a free waffle bowl!
You also get a free Like It size ice cream on your birthday when you join their Birthday Club- nothing beats free ice cream!!!
A family of four would ordinarily pay about $12. With the Entertainment Book, we were able to save quite a bit, making our visit more reasonable. We used 2 coupons: a free kids ice cream (savings of $1.99) and 2 Like It size ice creams for $5. I would definitely go back again in the winter time, since this is one of the only places around here that offers ice cream in the winter (Baskin Robbins, Handles and Charlie's on Sylvania Ave are three other local places). During the summer time I would be hard pressed to justify going there. Toledo has plenty of ice cream parlors that offer delicious soft-serve ice cream for about $4 for a family of 4.
Our Bill:$10.58
Savings: $3.59
Total Savings: $38.58
A good tip for you: If you sing a song when ordering your ice cream, you get a free waffle bowl!
You also get a free Like It size ice cream on your birthday when you join their Birthday Club- nothing beats free ice cream!!!
Friday, November 12, 2010
Spaghetti Warehouse
Two posts in one day!!!
I am proud to announce that my savvy dining quest is catching on with my husband. He took his colleague out to lunch today in honor of his last day of work. I asked him where he was going. His response, "Spaghetti Warehouse. Why do you have a coupon?" (laughing) With my "hehe!" grin, I smiled! Of course I did! The Entertainment Book is featuring a coupon to take $5 off when you spend $15 or more. I gave him the coupon, doubting whether or not he would use it, but alas- He did!
His Bill:$18.23
Savings: $5.00
Total Savings: $34.99
I am proud to announce that my savvy dining quest is catching on with my husband. He took his colleague out to lunch today in honor of his last day of work. I asked him where he was going. His response, "Spaghetti Warehouse. Why do you have a coupon?" (laughing) With my "hehe!" grin, I smiled! Of course I did! The Entertainment Book is featuring a coupon to take $5 off when you spend $15 or more. I gave him the coupon, doubting whether or not he would use it, but alas- He did!
His Bill:$18.23
Savings: $5.00
Total Savings: $34.99
Restaurant Promotions during the Holidays
Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, we can all agree that holiday deals are a great reason to celebrate! Many local restaurants are offering special gift certificate deals. So, throughout the season, I will be regularly posting certificate deals. A great idea on many of these deals is to split the cost with another person, for example:
Melting Pot: Buy a $100 gift card, get a $100 gift card free. If you and a friend each throw in $50 bucks you'll get a $100 gift certificate each there.
If you were already planning on buying gift certificates as holiday gifts, go to the places who are offering these promotions. Essentially, these bonuses are free money for you to spend throughout the year to reduce your yearly dining expenses.
1- Melting Pot: Buy a $100 gift card, get a $100 gift card free.
2- Real Seafood: Bonus Gift Certificate Packages:
Melting Pot: Buy a $100 gift card, get a $100 gift card free. If you and a friend each throw in $50 bucks you'll get a $100 gift certificate each there.
If you were already planning on buying gift certificates as holiday gifts, go to the places who are offering these promotions. Essentially, these bonuses are free money for you to spend throughout the year to reduce your yearly dining expenses.
1- Melting Pot: Buy a $100 gift card, get a $100 gift card free.
2- Real Seafood: Bonus Gift Certificate Packages:
* $250-499 - Receive 10% More in Gift Certificates Value
* $500-999 - Receive 15% More in Gift Certificate Value
* $1,000 and over - Receive 20% More in Gift Certificate Value
Combo Package: $75 Gift Combo - Receive $50 Gift Certificate and TWO Distinctive Recipes Cookbooks
Stay tuned for more deals.... Are you aware of any restaurant promotions during the holiday? Please comment at this post so that everyone can get these cheap deals!
BTW: Are you following this post yet? If you're not, please do!
Friday, November 5, 2010
Sori Sushi
Today by little girl was invited to her best friend's birthday party- no boys allowed! Since my son had the day off from school today, I decided to take him out for sushi with my Sori Sushi Val-Pak coupon with my sister-in-law and her awesome son. His first real sushi experience was at a restaurant in Munich, Germany. He holds up a piece of salmon nigri and says, "Look Mommy, I'm eating Nemo!" Pretty sick, huh?! Well his love for sushi developed from there.
He had the salmon sushi roll as well as a tuna and a salmon nigri roll at Sori with a cup of Miso soup. I had a Philadelphia roll and an Alaska roll. My sister in law had a tempura roll and I was really tempted to snag one of her rolls, but she finished them before I had the opportunity to.
For a sushi resataurant, Sori is quite child friendly. They offer a child menu with several different options, including a chicken nugget meal- Japanese style. The prices are also quite reasonable for the quantity of food that you get. However, without a coupon I probably would not return there. Eating sushi is a special occasion for us and while Sori offers good sushi, Kyoto Ka and Kotobuki offer excellent sushi for just about the same price. Since Kyoto Ka and Kotobuki rarely offer any coupons, I will probably be going back to sushi when I get the Val-Pak coupon next month.
Our Bill:$27.54
Savings: $10.00
Total Savings: $29.99
BTW: Groupon is offering an excellent coupon for Vito's Pizza- $5 for a small specialty pizza limit 1- throughout the weekend. Too bad its for a 1 small pizza- won't feed a family of 4 but still a great deal.
He had the salmon sushi roll as well as a tuna and a salmon nigri roll at Sori with a cup of Miso soup. I had a Philadelphia roll and an Alaska roll. My sister in law had a tempura roll and I was really tempted to snag one of her rolls, but she finished them before I had the opportunity to.
For a sushi resataurant, Sori is quite child friendly. They offer a child menu with several different options, including a chicken nugget meal- Japanese style. The prices are also quite reasonable for the quantity of food that you get. However, without a coupon I probably would not return there. Eating sushi is a special occasion for us and while Sori offers good sushi, Kyoto Ka and Kotobuki offer excellent sushi for just about the same price. Since Kyoto Ka and Kotobuki rarely offer any coupons, I will probably be going back to sushi when I get the Val-Pak coupon next month.
Our Bill:$27.54
Savings: $10.00
Total Savings: $29.99
BTW: Groupon is offering an excellent coupon for Vito's Pizza- $5 for a small specialty pizza limit 1- throughout the weekend. Too bad its for a 1 small pizza- won't feed a family of 4 but still a great deal.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Charlie's Homemade Ice Cream and Edibles
My hubby and I had a mini date night tonight. Keeping true to my coupon quest, I insisted that we eat at a restaurant that I had a coupon too. After much debate, we decided to eat at Charlie's Homemade Ice Cream and Edibles in Sylvania on Sylvania Ave. The coupon was buy 1 hamburger, get 1 free! The burgers were soo good! The meat was definitely fresh and offered a generous ratio of meat to bread. We also had an order of curly fries which were really tasty. My only complaint was the fries seemed to be from the bottom of the bag- tiny bits, not much curl. They also offer hot dogs, chili, and a variety of different sandwiches.
We've been there before for ice cream and it was a truly memorable experience! The strawberry ice cream had HUGE pieces of strawberries in it and the pumpkin ice cream was super yummy too!
Plus, it's really child-friendly. They offer child size burgers and beef hot dogs (a plus for all you non-pork eaters) and you can bribe your kids with delicious ice cream once they finish their food ;)
Would I go there again without a coupon- ABSOLUTELY and soon!! The prices are very reasonable for homemade food.
Our Bill:$9.22
Savings: $2.99
Total Savings: $19.99
We've been there before for ice cream and it was a truly memorable experience! The strawberry ice cream had HUGE pieces of strawberries in it and the pumpkin ice cream was super yummy too!
Plus, it's really child-friendly. They offer child size burgers and beef hot dogs (a plus for all you non-pork eaters) and you can bribe your kids with delicious ice cream once they finish their food ;)
Would I go there again without a coupon- ABSOLUTELY and soon!! The prices are very reasonable for homemade food.
Our Bill:$9.22
Savings: $2.99
Total Savings: $19.99
Getting Lured into Groupon and Living Social's Daily Deals
Today Living Social is offering for $20 a $40 voucher for food and drinks at Degage Jazz Cafe in Maumee. While I have never been there before I was tempted to purchase today's deal. However, I did not for 2 reasons:
Reason #1- I purchased the 2011 Entertainment Book which offers a 2 for 1 dinner entree coupon (up to $20 value) in the book for them. You can also go online and print 2 more of these coupons. When I purchased the EB, I also got a $25 gift card to Degage. Now I have 4 offers to this restaurant valued at $85 to be spent on 4 visits. So, why spend $20 to purchase yet a 5th visit.
Reason #2- I haven't had the occasion to go to very many restaurants lately, especially a nice adult place like this. Groupon and Living Social do offer a variety of great deals EVERYDAY! If I or you purchase a new one several times a week, you'll quickly see a rather large inventory of coupons pile up on you that must be used before they expire.
My advice to you: Buy them as you need them, but don't underestimate the value of just buying the EB. In the long run it's a better investment than all the Groupons and Living Social deals that are offered. Don't get me wrong. The EB does not offer the exact same coupons as the online sites, but they have plenty of great deals that the book alone will keep your coupon craving satisfied for awhile without having to pre-invest in online vouchers or snip coupons from Val-Pak.
Tomorrow my little girl is invited to her best friends birthday party and my son does not have school. Stay tuned tomorrow for my blog about Sori Sushi (no EB coupon, just a Val-Pak coupon).
Reason #1- I purchased the 2011 Entertainment Book which offers a 2 for 1 dinner entree coupon (up to $20 value) in the book for them. You can also go online and print 2 more of these coupons. When I purchased the EB, I also got a $25 gift card to Degage. Now I have 4 offers to this restaurant valued at $85 to be spent on 4 visits. So, why spend $20 to purchase yet a 5th visit.
Reason #2- I haven't had the occasion to go to very many restaurants lately, especially a nice adult place like this. Groupon and Living Social do offer a variety of great deals EVERYDAY! If I or you purchase a new one several times a week, you'll quickly see a rather large inventory of coupons pile up on you that must be used before they expire.
My advice to you: Buy them as you need them, but don't underestimate the value of just buying the EB. In the long run it's a better investment than all the Groupons and Living Social deals that are offered. Don't get me wrong. The EB does not offer the exact same coupons as the online sites, but they have plenty of great deals that the book alone will keep your coupon craving satisfied for awhile without having to pre-invest in online vouchers or snip coupons from Val-Pak.
Tomorrow my little girl is invited to her best friends birthday party and my son does not have school. Stay tuned tomorrow for my blog about Sori Sushi (no EB coupon, just a Val-Pak coupon).
Monday, November 1, 2010
Focaccia's Deli
Last week, my friend and I planned on going out to lunch. I thought we were supposed to go on Wednesday, so I went to the gym on Monday. Half way through my treadmill routine, my friend calls to ask if I arrived at the Focaccia's yet. Well, needless to say I had not and was not going to be able to make it.
So to make it up to her, we went out to lunch at Focaccia's today- my treat for standing her up last week. My I just say AMAZING! If you are looking for a yummy deli to satisfy your sandwich craving, you need to familiarize yourself with Focaccia's across from the Imagination Station in downtown Toledo. Their sandwich offered a generous portion of pastrami, swiss cheese, and coleslaw on a thick piece of grilled rye bread. I added Russian dressing to it. I also ordered the Mushroom Barley Soup. My friend got the same sandwich and white chicken chili soup for lunch. The portions are more than large... the two of us could have easily shared one sandwich and one soup.
Our total was 18.89, but the 2010 Entertainment Book included a buy one entree, get one entree free coupon- saving my 7.00.
Would I go there again without a discount? Yes.
Our Bill:$18.89
Savings: $7.00Total Savings: $17
Next lunch out will be this Wednesday at Shai's Mediterranean Cafe
So to make it up to her, we went out to lunch at Focaccia's today- my treat for standing her up last week. My I just say AMAZING! If you are looking for a yummy deli to satisfy your sandwich craving, you need to familiarize yourself with Focaccia's across from the Imagination Station in downtown Toledo. Their sandwich offered a generous portion of pastrami, swiss cheese, and coleslaw on a thick piece of grilled rye bread. I added Russian dressing to it. I also ordered the Mushroom Barley Soup. My friend got the same sandwich and white chicken chili soup for lunch. The portions are more than large... the two of us could have easily shared one sandwich and one soup.
Our total was 18.89, but the 2010 Entertainment Book included a buy one entree, get one entree free coupon- saving my 7.00.
Would I go there again without a discount? Yes.
Our Bill:$18.89
Savings: $7.00Total Savings: $17
Next lunch out will be this Wednesday at Shai's Mediterranean Cafe
Two Coupons: Blue Pacific and Red Wells
Groupon is offering a $20 worth of food for $10 at Blue Pacific at Levis Commons. The food there is way better than Mongolian BBQ. Check it Out!
Living Social is offering $20 worth of food for $10 at Red Wells. They have the best Roast Beef Sandwiches and Mashed Potatoes smothered in thick gravy you'll ever eat! Don't miss this one!
I'm going out to lunch with a friend today. Stay tuned....
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Dinner #1: Welcome to Savings Time- Mongolian BBQ
Hi there everyone! Hope you are enjoying my blog. I will be adding a post soon on restaurants that offer free children's meals and another on free birthday meals.
Well today, my husband and son joined my brother and nephew at a Toledo Walleye's Hockey game, so my mom, 2 daughters, niece, and sister-in-law went out to dinner at..... B.D.'s Mongolian BBQ. I had the meat/seafood bowl with unlimited soup and salad, while my DD had the kids portion with a drink. My meal was $12.99 which I thought was pretty reasonable and my daughters was $5.99. However, I was shocked that they charged $2.49 for her pink lemonade. Yes, the used an adults cup, but most restaurants use a childrens plastic cup and charge no more than $1.49, usually $.99.
The food was decent and the variety is endless. For those of you familiar with Blue Pacific at Levis Commons, I definitely would go there before Mongolian BBQ. The food at Mongolian was not fresh cut. Most likely frozen and thawed but it's no surprise since this is a chain restaurant. The service was awesome. Our waitress was super friendly but not overbearing. A little heads up for all you Groupon users. The management wanted a printed out Groupon not the mobile device Groupon. I told her that I never had this problem before. Most restaurants that I've used this coupon at, just wrote down my name and the bar code that appears when you pull up the Groupon. Afterwards, I was asked to press the button that says I used the coupon in front of them. When I told the manager this, she was really cool about it. They just were not aware that the Groupon could also be accessed via cell phone.
My one major gripe is I would not take children to this restaurant. The format of the restaurant is to sort of like a buffet, where you chose your meat, vegetable, and sauce at a buffet table and then have the food prepared on a huge wok-like stove. So to fill your plate, your kids' plate, and then wait for the food to get done is sort of tedious. I had my baby with me, so my mom and daughter went ahead of me and when they came back I got my food. So, unless you all go together to order your food, you're not going to be eating together. I guess I personally, did not find the format convenient with small children who could not pour their own food or with baby's.
Would I go there again without a discount? Yes, but not for dinner. Way to busy and the lunch menu serves the same portion of food as dinner for only $9.99
In the end I paid $10 for my $20 Groupon.
Our bill was just $23.23.
Total Savings: $10
Total Savings to Date: $10
Well today, my husband and son joined my brother and nephew at a Toledo Walleye's Hockey game, so my mom, 2 daughters, niece, and sister-in-law went out to dinner at..... B.D.'s Mongolian BBQ. I had the meat/seafood bowl with unlimited soup and salad, while my DD had the kids portion with a drink. My meal was $12.99 which I thought was pretty reasonable and my daughters was $5.99. However, I was shocked that they charged $2.49 for her pink lemonade. Yes, the used an adults cup, but most restaurants use a childrens plastic cup and charge no more than $1.49, usually $.99.
The food was decent and the variety is endless. For those of you familiar with Blue Pacific at Levis Commons, I definitely would go there before Mongolian BBQ. The food at Mongolian was not fresh cut. Most likely frozen and thawed but it's no surprise since this is a chain restaurant. The service was awesome. Our waitress was super friendly but not overbearing. A little heads up for all you Groupon users. The management wanted a printed out Groupon not the mobile device Groupon. I told her that I never had this problem before. Most restaurants that I've used this coupon at, just wrote down my name and the bar code that appears when you pull up the Groupon. Afterwards, I was asked to press the button that says I used the coupon in front of them. When I told the manager this, she was really cool about it. They just were not aware that the Groupon could also be accessed via cell phone.
My one major gripe is I would not take children to this restaurant. The format of the restaurant is to sort of like a buffet, where you chose your meat, vegetable, and sauce at a buffet table and then have the food prepared on a huge wok-like stove. So to fill your plate, your kids' plate, and then wait for the food to get done is sort of tedious. I had my baby with me, so my mom and daughter went ahead of me and when they came back I got my food. So, unless you all go together to order your food, you're not going to be eating together. I guess I personally, did not find the format convenient with small children who could not pour their own food or with baby's.
Would I go there again without a discount? Yes, but not for dinner. Way to busy and the lunch menu serves the same portion of food as dinner for only $9.99
In the end I paid $10 for my $20 Groupon.
Our bill was just $23.23.
Total Savings: $10
Total Savings to Date: $10
Friday, October 29, 2010
Mongolian BBQ on Groupon- Limited Quantity Offer
Hi Guys! MEant to post this earlier but got busy. Great Groupon Deal today (actually good until Sunday 11:59 pm) www.groupon.com
B.D. Mongolian BBQ at Westfield Shopping Center is offering $20 worth of food for only $10!
There is a limited quantity on it, do if you like it you better buy it sooner rather than later.
While I am not a HUGE fan of Mongolian, for $10 it's worth it! Plus a fun experience for those of you who have not been there before!
And thanks to my daughter, our family purchased 2 of these offers (she bought one on my iPhone when she was playing on the phone without my knowledge)
B.D. Mongolian BBQ at Westfield Shopping Center is offering $20 worth of food for only $10!
There is a limited quantity on it, do if you like it you better buy it sooner rather than later.
While I am not a HUGE fan of Mongolian, for $10 it's worth it! Plus a fun experience for those of you who have not been there before!
And thanks to my daughter, our family purchased 2 of these offers (she bought one on my iPhone when she was playing on the phone without my knowledge)
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Melting Pot- Double Date Meal October 31, 2010
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Kyoto Ka and Abuelo's Deals
Thanks everyone who is following this blog. Thank you also too my friend Roo for giving me a heads up on a sushi coupon for Kyoto Ka on Central Ave. I have been there several times and can definitely attest that it is really good! The service is superb and the sushi quality is exceptional. This week at Kyoto Ka, they have spend $50 and get a $10 gift card on your next visit. I hope we'll be able to eat there this weekend.
Another great deal is Abuelo's, which is offering kids eat free this Sunday (Halloween), if they are dressed in a costume. If your kids are anything like mine, they probably will love a good Mexican meal. We haven't been there yet, but if you have and you like it let me know!
Thanks again Roo for two fabulous deal updates!
To all you followers, please spread the word about my blog.
I will post a list of several restaurnats in the Toledo area who offer discounts. If your favorite restaurant offers a good deal, please share it with us as well!
Another great deal is Abuelo's, which is offering kids eat free this Sunday (Halloween), if they are dressed in a costume. If your kids are anything like mine, they probably will love a good Mexican meal. We haven't been there yet, but if you have and you like it let me know!
Thanks again Roo for two fabulous deal updates!
To all you followers, please spread the word about my blog.
I will post a list of several restaurnats in the Toledo area who offer discounts. If your favorite restaurant offers a good deal, please share it with us as well!
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Why am I doing this?
So a lot of you are asking me what possessed me to start this challenge.
I wanted to purchase the 2011 Entertainment Book. When I told my hubby, he thought it was an unnecessary purchase since we barely used our 2010 Book. And he was right. Of all the times we ate out in the last year, we rarely if ever used a coupon. I think I used a few for Subway, one at BW3, and that's it. Instead of letting it go, I told him, that we should have used it more often. In fact, for the next year we should only eat at restaurants that had some sort of coupon or discount deal. Without agreeing with me, he told me to go ahead and get it- what's the point of arguing over this.
A few days later, I thought it would be cool to blog about what restaurants I saved money at and how much. It kind of all developed from there.
There will be a one major challenge. My kids (who are 4 and 5, my baby doesn't have a preference where we eat) love eating sushi. However, rarely do I come across a worthy sushi coupon. If you have a good sushi coupon let me know!!! Well I guess Sakura has a sushi happy hour. Not sure when or what time (do you??) but will have to check it out.
I also look forward to the challenge of finding coupons/deals for restaurants when we are out of the city. As I previously mentioned I bought a coupon for Liquid Planet knowing that we will be eating in Cleveland sometime during the year when we visit my brother-in-law.
Now, the only time I might have to bend the rules is for an upcoming girls night dinner that was RSVP'd before I started this challenge. Hope to find a coupon for that restaurant soon. I'll keep you posted.
BTW, I will also be reviewing each restaurant based on their food, value, child-friendliness, and the service.
Please add/follow my blog especially if you live in Toledo and enjoy getting good deals!
I wanted to purchase the 2011 Entertainment Book. When I told my hubby, he thought it was an unnecessary purchase since we barely used our 2010 Book. And he was right. Of all the times we ate out in the last year, we rarely if ever used a coupon. I think I used a few for Subway, one at BW3, and that's it. Instead of letting it go, I told him, that we should have used it more often. In fact, for the next year we should only eat at restaurants that had some sort of coupon or discount deal. Without agreeing with me, he told me to go ahead and get it- what's the point of arguing over this.
A few days later, I thought it would be cool to blog about what restaurants I saved money at and how much. It kind of all developed from there.
There will be a one major challenge. My kids (who are 4 and 5, my baby doesn't have a preference where we eat) love eating sushi. However, rarely do I come across a worthy sushi coupon. If you have a good sushi coupon let me know!!! Well I guess Sakura has a sushi happy hour. Not sure when or what time (do you??) but will have to check it out.
I also look forward to the challenge of finding coupons/deals for restaurants when we are out of the city. As I previously mentioned I bought a coupon for Liquid Planet knowing that we will be eating in Cleveland sometime during the year when we visit my brother-in-law.
Now, the only time I might have to bend the rules is for an upcoming girls night dinner that was RSVP'd before I started this challenge. Hope to find a coupon for that restaurant soon. I'll keep you posted.
BTW, I will also be reviewing each restaurant based on their food, value, child-friendliness, and the service.
Please add/follow my blog especially if you live in Toledo and enjoy getting good deals!
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Liquid Planet
A couple of years ago, when my brother and sister-in-law lived in Cleveland we ate at a yummy restaurant called Liquid Planet. They have delicious sandwiches, salads, and smoothies. When I saw a 1/2 off deal on Living Social I jumped at the opportunity to eat there again for 1/2 price. The best thing is my brother and sister-in-law recently moved back to Cleveland and live within walking distance to Liquid Planet at Crocker Park and we visit them regularly. Can't wait to eat there again!
Have any of you eaten there before? What's your favorite thing to eat there?
Have any of you eaten there before? What's your favorite thing to eat there?
Let the Quest Begin!
Toledo has more restaurants per capita than probably any other city in America. With so many yummy restaurants to explore, I decided to begin this quest in order to maximize my dining experiences using all of the new technologies out there promoting free and discounted restaurant programs! So, for the next 365 days, the only restaurants, cafes, ice cream shops, etc... that I will patron is those that I have a coupon or offer some sort of discount program.
To get me started I enrolled with several websites that notify me of restaurant deals such as www.groupon.com and www.livingsocial.com I recently purchased a coupon to Treo, Tropical Smoothie, and Elaine's Tea Shoppe, which I cannot wait to use!
Other sites that I found like www.restaurant.com that offer gift certificates for up to 1/2 off. As I come across more sites, I'll be sure to post them and if you know of any other websites similar to these, let me know.
I also purchased the 2011 Entertainment book. For those of you unfamiliar with the book, it is a huge book full of coupons for restaurants in your city. They also have a website (www.entertainment.com)that you can print more coupons from. (BTW: I bought the book for $32, got a $25 gift card to Treo Restaurant in Sylvania and saved $9 by purchasing it through www.mrrebates.com- so in essence the book alone already made me $1!!!)
I receive the J.D. Power Coupon Magazine, ValPak, and some local coupon flyer's in the mail all the time which I will clip and store in a coupon folder. I also intend to purchase the Fan Club Card in the next few days. And even without coupons, many restaurants offer free or discounted meals throughout the week. While many of these coupons target diners in Northwest Ohio, you could probably find similar coupons for restaurants in your area using these sources.
Some people might think this is just me being cheap. However, by no means am I a frugal person. I just enjoy eating out but I hate paying the exorbitant prices so many restaurant charge. I am a married stay-at-home mom and have 3 kids (well one is still breastfed so she won't be eating at restaurants anytime soon). All of you out there with kids knows, that to feed a family something other than McD's or BK it'll run you upwards of $40. But why? Why should we be forced to pay these prices? A few months ago we took our kids out to the Real Seafood and paid $115- for LUNCH! Okay, I know this was a special occasion meal, but that's 2 weeks of groceries for our family!
Ok let's look at a more realistic scenario. We usually go out to eat one time a week as a family and pay about $60. Multiply that by 4 weeks in a month and that's $240 each month. Tack on an extra date night meal with the hubby- $60, me eating out with my friends once a week spending about $20, and my husband* eating lunch everyday and before you know it, we've spent well over $400 a month on eating out!
*I cannot guarantee that my husband is going to agree to this quest. (He spends about $120 a month on lunches- $6 per lunch X 5 days per week X 4 weeks per month) He thinks my coupon cutting and free meal quest is kind of embarrassing and resists taking part in these attempts. However, if and when he does use a coupon I will post the savings.
Please, feel free to share your comments and savings experiences with everyone.
So here's the plan... for the next 365 days, every time my family and I eat out I will post where we ate, what coupon I had and how much we saved. At the end of this quest I will tally up the savings and prove that it is possible to enjoy eating out without EVER paying full price!!
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