It’s Saturday afternoon.  I’m with my wife and 2 little girls and we are a hungry.  However, I get nauseous at the thought of ordering one more flippin’ Happy Meal or Kid’s Meal from my car!  (I usually get my grease fix when I’m alone). 

Right now my wife and I want to go to a “family friendly” restaurant where we can sit down with our kids, order an appetizer, maybe a couple of beers or margaritas, and have a good meal without spending more than $50 for the 4 of us (and yes, that includes tip). 

The Diner Dave Definition of a Family Friendly Restaurant

Now keep in mind that my definition of “family friendly” might differ from yours.  In my opinion a restaurant doesn’t necessarily need a sandbox, a ball pit or a bunch of colorful giant plastic gerbil tubes to be considered family friendly. 

To me a family friendly restaurant has to have the following:

• Kid’s menu - with food that kids will actually eat!
• Friendly waitstaff - just be nice to my kids…that’s all that I ask.
• Inexpensive meals where you can get a lot, but pay a little.
• Drink specials - that’s right….I wanna drink after I’ve spent all day with hyper little girls (don’t I deserve it?)

By my definition, Chuck E. Cheese does NOT qualify as a family friendly - no drink specials for the adults!

Casual Dining Chains to the Rescue!

So where do you and your brood go when tummies start growling?   You go to the Casual dining restaurant chains of course! 

Interesting fact:  Did you know that casual dining chains are struggling right now because of this tough economy?   Many of them are willing to discount their appetizers and entrees to get you and your family out of the car and through their front door.  

Since restaurant patrons are paying more attention to prices, casual dining restaurant owners are now lowering their menu prices to compete with the quick service and fast food restaurants.   Here are a few prime examples:

Diner Dave’s Top 10 Family Friendly Restaurant Deals of 2009

One of Applebee's 2 for $20 entrees

1. Applebee’s -  Where “feelin good in the neighborhood” means sharing an appetizers and 2 entrees for only $20(including the Fiesta Lime Chicken…YUM!).   No Applebee’s coupons are required to take advantage of this special offer.

2. T.G.I.Fridays - Check out their “Right Portion, Right Price” menu with entrees ranging from $6.99 to $9.99.  Their slogan says it all:  ”Stretch your taste buds’ limits, not your wallet’s”.  
3. Chili’s - 10 entrees under $7.  Need I say more?  Gotta have those baby back, baby back, baby back ribs?  You can even order a half rack to save some moola.
4. Ruby Tuesday - you gotta try their mouthwatering handcrafted burgers!   My fave is the simple Ruby’s Classic Burger for only $6.99…it’s the American classic “perfected” (at least according to their menu). 
5. Macaroni Grill - Try the “Chicken Fingerias” for your kiddos - only $5.99 and it comes with their signature Mac & Cheese.   Speaking of Mac - you can now sign up for the Mac Pack email club and get a free appetizer with 2 entrees.   Added bonus:  your kids get to draw on their paper table cloth with crayons!  
6. Outback Steakhouse - Go down under with 15 entrees that are “down under” $15!  Many of the entrees on the Outback Steakhouse menu start at $9.95.  This restaurant is a little pricier compared to the other restaurants, but they have an excellent “Joey Menu” for the kiddos with a big selection of kid friendly dishes under $6!
   

   Olive Garden Endless Soup & Salad

7. Olive Garden - You know that I have to include Olive Garden in my list of family friendly restaurants.  Afterall, their tag line is “when you’re here you’re family”.   Here you get a lot for your money with the “endless soup & salad” and a wide selection of Italian specialties for under $10.

8. Cheesecake Factory - The Cheesecake Factory’s menu can be a little overwhelming with over 200 “fresh from scratch” menu items and 30 mouthwatering cheesecakes to choose from!  However, you are almost certain to find something that everyone at the table will enjoy.   The “Small Plates and Snacks” menu features 16 entrees & apps priced at a measly $3.95 to $6.50.
9. Buffalo Wild Wings - OK..so maybe this one is a little more for me than my kids.  After all, they’re known for their wings, sports, and beer for daddy.  But, they also have video games and some tasty chicken tenders for the little ones.  Plus, they have great promotions on weekdays to reduce your tab (like 40 cent “Wing Tuesdays” and 60 cent “Boneless Thursdays”).
10. Red Robin Gourmet Burgers -  Of course I have to include a burger joint on my list.  I’m a burger-holic and this place makes burgers that are quite simply works of art!   I joined their Red Robin eClub in March and have already received 3 emails offering free burgers, appetizers, and drinks.  What a great way to recruit a customer (and his family) for life!

I don’t always eat out at the casual dining restaurant chains, but when I do, these are my favorites (I sound like the Dos Equis guy, right?).  And, most importantly, my kids love these restaurants.  The food is consistently good, the waitstaff is friendly and the kids menus are always a big hit!

Do you have a favorite family friendly restaurant I didn’t include?   I would love to hear your top picks in the comments section!

Have you ever wondered what ingredients go in to some of the dishes that you enjoy at your favorite restaurants?  Me too!  Unfortunately, many restaurants keep their recipes hidden in a secret vault somewhere next to the formula for Coke.  Well, not any more!

Ron Douglas and Chef Tom have been cloning recipes from billion dollar restaurant chains since 2003 and have perfected them to taste exactly like the original.  In fact, they test and tweak their recipes with over 45,000 subscribers on RecipeSecrets.net to ensure that they are identical to the originals!  They amassed hundreds of top secret restaurant recipes and gathered them up in a book called “America’s Secret Recipes”, which is an e-book download available on their website  [There is a link at the end of this post to save you $20 on this book!]. 

Make restaurant meals in your own kitchen!

I purchased “America’s Secret Recipes” last week from their website and I am having a blast experimenting with their recipes for restaurant dishes like P.F. Chang’s Mongolian Beef, Outback’s Coconut Shrimp and I even made a Burrito Supreme that tasted better than the Taco Bell version! 

Their recipe books contain hundreds of recipes from several restaurants ranging from fast food to fine dining.  Here is just a sample list of restaurant dishes featured in “America’s Secret Recipes”:

• Fast Food:  Chick-fil-a chicken sandwich,  Burger King Whopper,  KFC Fried Chicken,  McDonald’s Big Mac
• Casual Dining:  T.G.I. Friday’s Jack Daniels Grill Glaze, Cheesecake Factory Bang Bang Chicken & Shrimp, Hard Rock Cafe Twisted Mac n’ Cheese
• Fine Dining:  Ruth’s Chris Petite Filet & Sweet Potato Casserole, P.F. Changs Dan Dan Noodles, Carraba’s House Salad

That should be enough to get your saliva glands going, right?   Well, that just scratches the surface.   There are over 700 restaurant recipes outlined in their cookbooks….including recipes for cocktails, desserts and special sauces!  (I’m buying the ingredients to make Cinnabon Cinnamon buns tonight).

Dining Out vs. Dining In - The Eternal Struggle

Normally, I am all about heading down to a nearby eatery (with my restaurant coupons or gift certificates in hand), but sometimes I just don’t want to leave to house.   If I’m trying to avoid waiting for a table, or fighting the rain, or I just plain don’t want to take a shower and put on pants, then I’ll prepare something easy to eat at my casa (but my wife will usually make me put on pants).

With “America’s Secret Recipes” you can have the best of both worlds: delicious restaurant cuisine without leaving the comfort of your own home.  Not to mention, you can impress your friends by creating some amazing entrees that taste just as good as if they were brought to your table by a waiter (you could even brag that you are a close personal friend of the chef…I won’t tell!).

My Wife Laughed at Me…

One of the statements that Ron Douglas makes on his website is “If you can fry an egg, than you can get started with America’s Secret Recipes immediately!”

P.F. Chang's Mongolian Beef Copycat

I’m here to tell you that I am by no stretch of the imagination a good cook (that’s why I like to dine out a lot!).  I can, however, fry an egg…although I prefer them scrambled.  My wife laughed at me when I pulled out the ingredients to make the P.F. Chang’s Mongolian Beef featured in the book.   Her exact words were “don’t burn down the kitchen”.  She wasn’t laughing 20 minutes later when she sampled my scrumptious Mongolian Beef “clone” (pictured on the left)!   If I can make it…so can you!

These recipes are easy to follow and you will get much bigger portions than if you dined at a restaurant.  Which means leftovers without carting home a doggie box. 

Plus, it is so much cheaper!  If you were to order the Mongolian Beef at P.F. Changs for 1 person, it would cost you $14.95.  My cost to create the same dish for 4 people:  $8.37!

What’s this Book Gonna Cost Me?

I looked on Amazon.com to see if I could get a better deal on this book than what it sold for on Ron’s website - maybe someone had a used copy.   I was stunned that the lowest price for a used book was $86.41!   (here’s the proof)

The regular retail price for this amazing compilation of tasty top secret restaurant recipes is $49.97 on Ron’s website.    However, if you click here or on the banner below you can get “America’s Secret Recipes” for only $29.97 plus, you get Volume 2 of “America’s Secret Recipes” and 7 bonuses for free! 

Once you download this restaurant secret recipe e-book from RecipeSecrets.net, I would love to hear which restaurant dish is your favorite in the comments section below.   Bon appetit!

I feel the need…the need for GREASE!  And, I want it fast and cheap.  Well, it seems that the recession has also resulted in deeper deals being offered to ”drive thru afficionados” and “fast food junkies” (see my last post on Restaurant Recession Specials Means Big Savings for Diners).   Yes, my dear diners, it is still possible to feed a family of 3 for under $10-$12 when you order your food through a speaker and drive around for your total.  Of course, you could always walk in, but that would mean you have to get out of the car…and that kinda defeats the purpose of “fast food”, right?

When it comes to fast food, I have a few tried and true favorites that always leave some extra dining dough in my wallet when I am too busy (or too lazy) to stop and get out of the car.    Here are the  Diner Dave’s top 10 best fast food deals of 2009 (prices and participation may vary in your area):

1. Arby’s -  Get a roast beef sandwich, curly fries, and a drink for less than $5.  Plus, now until the end of June 2009 you can get freebies every Wednesday!
2. Dairy Queen - Featuring “Sweet Deals” with low pricing on multiple menu items - 2 for $3, 3 for $4, and 4 for $5.  That’s only $5 for a burger, onion rings, drink and a sundae!
3. Jack in the Box - Jack calls them mini sirloin burgers, but they’re called sliders (or slyders) in the other restaurants.  Either way, they are deeeelish and you can get 3 of them for under $2!
4. Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) - I’m loving the new GRILLED chicken on the KFC menu!  Unfortunately, they are no longer offering a piece of this scrumptious chicken for free.  You can, however, get 2 pieces of grilled chicken and 2 sides for only $3.99!  Plus, they have the KFC Value Menu with several items under $1!
5. McDonalds -  Billions and billions served…and no wonder with prices like these!   McDonalds invented value combo meals and they are still one of the cheapest fast food joints in town!  You can get just about any sandwich, fries and a drink for under $5 (does not include super sizing).
6. Quizno’s - Get one of 5 foot long toasty torpedo sub sandwiches for only $4!
7. Subway - Select foot long subs are only $5!  Foot long sub = lunch for TWO = healthy lunch = happy campers.
8. Taco Bell - “Yo quiero Taco Bell” with their 79 cent, 89 cent and 99 cent menu.  Me gusta chicken burrito or chicken soft taco for only 89 cents and a cheesy double beef burrito for only 99 cents.
9. Wendy’s - The Wendy’s ubiquitous “3conomics” TV commercials just scratch the surface of all the value menu items available.  You can get a crispy chicken sandwich, double stack burger, jr. bacon cheeseburger, chili, small french fries, baked potato, and a chocolate frostie for 99 cents each!  “It’s waaaay better than fast food!”
10. White Castle - See also: Krystal.  Either one of these mini burger joints can get you at least 3 of those tasty little sliders with fries and a drink - all for under $5!   If you prefer 1 big burger to 3 small ones, you can get the big angus basket meal with a big angus burger, fries and a drink for only $3.99 at Krystal.

Caution:  Eating fast food everyday can result in “super sizing” of the waist (I hate to admit it, but I’m living proof). There are ways to eat fast food frequently and STILL be healthy.  You can find menu items from these and other fast food joints that are low in calories and fat grams at HealthyDiningFinder.com.

Speaking of analyzing your food, have you ever wondered what ingredients restaurants use to create your favorite dish or make that special sauce?  I will be discussing how you can find these top secret restaurant recipe secrets in my next post.  Stay tuned!

It all started with a fundraising drive at my daughter’s school where I purchased the 2009 Entertainment Coupon Book for a mere $20.  I love the fact that not only will this coupon book help me to save hundreds (if not thousands) of dollars, but a portion of the proceeds go to my little girl’s school.  

In fact, Entertainment.com has helped schools and groups in the U.S. raise more than $90 million since they started 40 years ago.  (Diner Dave Tip: if you are interested in selling Entertainment Books for your school or group click here).

How to Get the Most Out of Your Entertainment Book

Now you know why I purchased it, now let me outline how I used this hotel bible sized book filled with coupons for dining, shopping, movies, travel and other local attractions.

1. After receiving the book I activated the Entertainment.com Membership Card online.  Then I purchased another card for my wife for an additional $15.   This is a great option if you want to use the special Entertainment.com discounts at restaurants, but don’t want to lug around a 300+ page book.   I can use my membership card at 170 restaurants AND it contains codes for discounts on rental cars and hotels.  Plus, once you activate your membership, you also receive emails with the latest special offers in your neighborhood.
2. Then I put the Entertainment coupon book in the glove compartment of my Diner-Mobile (kinda like the Batmobile…but not nearly as cool and lined with hundreds of food wrappers and discarded drink cups).
3. Lastly, I pull out the Entertainment book when I’m hungry and get a “buy one, get one free” coupon for lunch or dinner at a nearby restaurant.  I generally use the dining out index of the book where I can search for the restaurants by area of town.  Houston is a big city so there are 22 regions from which to choose the perfect place to dine. 

Savings from ONE WEEK of Using Entertainment Book B1G1 Coupons

I saved $195 in one week using the Entertainment Book for every lunch and dinner (I probably would have saved more than 40%, but I’m a big tipper)!  Not a bad return on a measly $20 investment, eh?  Just  think how much I could save if I ate out this much for an entire month!   That would be a savings of almost $800…which would be enough to buy several pairs of bigger pants from the weight gain of eating out like this every week! 

Now granted I do not eat out for lunch and dinner EVERY day for a week, but I could easily recoup my $20 purchase price using the Entertainment Book coupons for 1 lunch and 1 dinner!

Of course with me being Diner Dave I used my Entertainment Book and Membership Card mainly at the restaurants.  But remember, restaurant coupons are just half the fun.  There are also HUNDREDS of coupons for movies, shopping, sports events and so much more!

Diner Dave Tips for Using the Entertainment Book and Entertainment.com

1. Make sure to bring a friend with you when you use the Entertainment Book coupon or membership card at a restaurant or other attraction.  Most of their coupons are ”buy one, get one free”.  
2. Register your Entertainment Membership Card immediately.  You can use this card in lieu of carrying around the Entertainment book.  It fits neatly in your wallet or purse!  Plus, when you register your membership number online you will receive special email coupons from restaurants, shops, movies, and attractions in your area!
3. You can also print coupons for restaurants and attractions in other cities.  You just change the zip code for coupons in other areas.
4. The Entertainment books go on sale in August or September of the prior year for $20-$45, but will usually go on sale for half that price or lower during early summer in the following year since most of the coupons expire on November 1st.  
5. Go to the Web Discounts page of Diner Dave for updated discounts on the Entertainment book.  It’s June 1, 2009 now and you can purchase the 2009 Entertainment Books for FREE when you reserve the 2010 Entertainment Book!
6. You can plan an entire fun weekend with your family using the Entertainment book.  Choose from dozens of attractions in your city (zoos, museums, paintball, sporting events, etc…).  Then use a coupon for a nearby restaurant or movie! 

There are sooooo many coupons in the Entertainment book that you will NEVER be able to use them all….but it sure is fun trying!