Dinner deals worth having in January

[Penny Golightly]

You can always get great restaurant deals in January and early February because it's a slow time for establishments. Fewer tourists and people dieting, paying off debts or giving up the booze all dent profit margins and booking numbers, so the restaurants go further out of their way to tempt extra customers in with lower prices or free added extras.

Look out for vouchers and special menus from the big high street chains, luxe offers from the upmarket chefs, and short-term 'dine in' offers from the big supermarkets.

IN THE SHOPS

As far as the supermarkets go, by far the most popular deals are from Marks and Spencer. When I went in on Saturday for the latest deal the shelves had already been stripped bare so you have to be quick off the mark! If you want to hear about the next deal in advance, text FOOD1 to 65006 to get M&S Food & Drink Club free text alerts. (to opt out just text STOP to 65006). More delails about this service below:
http://www.marksandspencer.com/Dine-in- ... /198933031

Rival supermarkets Tesco, Wairose and Sainsbury's will undoubtedly all follow suit with a range of similar offers (including cheaper and less fancy 'two dine for £5' deals). Keep a regular eye on their special offers pages.

HIGH STREET EATERIES

There are umpteen offers out there, and I'm not going to list them all. Why? Because being a bon viveur on a budget is not about getting a discount on a cheap nasty burger or badly-made greasy, soggy pizza - I'm sticking just to places that I'm currently happy to endorse (either cheap and cheerful or posher-for-less).

Loch Fyne
£10 set lunch
£10 off a £30 spend, or £20 off a £60 spend with voucher
http://www.lochfyne.com/

Livebait
30% off with voucher
http://www.livebaitrestaurants.co.uk/offers.html

Pizza Express
50% off any pizza
http://www.pizzaexpress-offers.co.uk/

La Tasca
Two dine with wine for £15, no voucher needed
Ends 31 Jan

Yo!Sushi
40% off
http://www.yosushi.com/offers

Bertorelli
30% off
http://www.bertorelli.co.uk/offers.asp

Zizzi (for the main courses)
http://www.zizzi-offers.co.uk/

Giraffe (for the kiddies)
40% off with voucher
http://www.giraffe.net/

Chez Gerard
30% off all food from 5pm onwards. (Brasserie Gerard has up to 50% off main courses with voucher too)
Offer ends 31 Jan
http://www.chezgerard.co.uk/offers.php

OTHER RESTAURANTS

Gordon Ramsay
Big discounts at the majority of sweary Gordon's eateries. These are doing big business at TopTable this month.
http://www.toptable.com/en-gb/feature/?id=2230

[discofizz]

I can testify that the Pizza Express offer is well worth it - got a very deeeelish pizza in there last night for half price. Their new dessert menu has a few tasty treats on it too, so put the money you save on the main course towards one if you've got room!

[Penny Golightly]

Thanks discofizz! What's your favourite dessert there?

[discofizz]

Thanks discofizz! What's your favourite dessert there?

Their range of Dolcetti are great value - you get a coffee and smaller dessert for between £2.95 and £3.50, with the Caffe Reale being particularly good - baby figs in a cinnamon syrup with mascarpone.

From the more traditional dessert menu I'd always go for the Chocolate Glory or Cheesecake - simple but damn good! Oh, and I had their gelato the other day which was very good too, not the best I've ever had but still yum.

[Penny Golightly]

Mmmmm, chocolate glory. That's a fine dessert indeed.

But after a pizza I'm too stuffed to finish a pud. Will try the dolcetti next time, thanks!

Penny x