Here it is approximately $8-$10 per person when we eat out and this is with trying to be frugal! Usually it is around $40 for our family of four including the tip. There are rarely any coupons for local restaurants.

What do you pay where you live?

It cost about 8- 12 dollars at a restaurant thats like a chillis or Olive Garden

12 -25 dollars at a Tony Romas or an OutBack

25 to 50 at some of our fine dining restaurants Casa Marina, Giovannis The Chart House

we are in Jacksonville Florida

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TLJ Women united in Spirit!

Well, we have the six of us-even going "budget" anymore is $60 for the family. We went out a few weeks ago to an Italian restaurant-we ordered two appetizers, everyone ordered an entree, and we split desserts. Our bill was $105...Did I mention this was for LUNCH? But then again, we don't go out too often w/ the whole family. Usually if DH and I want to go out, we get the boys pizza, and we can go out and spend $60 on an awesome meal for the both of us-and the boys don't really seem to care.

It's about the same 8-10 in a medium priced resteraunt. $20-$25 in a nicer one. $5 in a cheapo or fast food.

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Here we have an "Olive Tree", sorta of a Olive Garden but way better... it cost about $9.00 per person but we all share different items

Christine

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For the 4 of us fast food runs us right at $30.00. Steakhouses run about $80.00 not including tip.

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It sounds as though pizza *is* actually one of the less expensive eat-outs! The 'pizza' thread was what made me wonder if eating out was as high in other places.

We are currently stationed in Germany and if we go out on the Economy (off Post) its cost us between 80 and 100 for 3 of us!!!! Fast food usually costs between 30 and 40 off post...cant wait to head back to the States for the good ole dollar menu LOL.

Oh my goodness!! We couldn't afford to eat out at all if we were paying anywhere near what the rest of you are paying.!! Since DH is watching his trigs and all of us make a concentrated effort to not gain any weight, we are good at eating on the light side. A third lb. burger is bigger than DH or I need, so we split that and an order of fries. DH has diet Coke and I have water. DD has a sixth lb. burger and DS has chicken strips. This is at Braum's, a regional ice cream, dairy and (recently) grocery store. With ice cream is costs about $17. At Olive Garden DH and I share the Tour of Italy and at Red Lobster we share the Admiral's Feast. Both platters are more than enough for two people and I don't care for restaurant left overs as it doesn't taste the same reheated. It's the rare occassion that we'll have appetizers. Appetizers and desserts are the biggest money maker IMHO. We rarely take both kids out to a nice restaurant as the cost is just too much. DS (11) orders from the kids menu if there's something he likes, the same with DD (13). Kids portions are still adequate for both. At the nicer restaurants we spend between $20-30. for 2 adults and one child. The local Mexican restaurant runs about $21. for 3 of us. We like Subway, however, for the four of us it's about $22. Just not in our budget. DH and I love to eat out and economize the best we can. Unless a meal comes with soda, we all drink water. That's $5 a meal saved.

I think it's about the same everywhere. My husband and I have really taken to the idea of sharing a meal. We will go to a restaurant that we know has big portions so there will be enough for us. And we always get water. Why pay $2 each for a soda? We can usually eat for $15 including tip. When we take the family, 6 total, we usually get 3 meals and share, but even that is unfordable to do often at $30-$35 including tip. We love restaurant.com and we usually only take the kids to the places we can get certificates for. I sure wish they'd offer more and better restaurants in our area though. The places are either total dives, or very expensive. Not many average ones.

We don't eat out too much because I can make a pretty darn good meal for all of us for less than $7. Big difference!

we eat out a lot BUT only because I coupon and/or go on kids eat free days. I DO NOT do fast food...yuck

There is a big spread here. I would say $7-$50 an entree depending on where you go

I buy the high school discount cards for $15 each (good for a year) and then we get 20% off at Jackson's Sports Bar. So that gets us out of there for under $30 with tip. If we go on free kids night, we get out of there for under $24 with tip

I buy dining dollars (a dicount program out here) for $7 for a $10 GC. GC's are good at hundreds of places. We go to a local mexican restaurant and the bill is usually under $25. We pay 2 $10 GC's (that cost us $14 instead of $20) and the extra $5 in cash. So that meal really only cost us $19

I buy Biaggi's GC's for 30% off from the same place that sells dining dollars. We go to Old Chicago and get the "secret" specials: $2 mini pizza's. So that's $8 for the 4 of us and we'll splurge for beer to. Under $15 no problem. Another Old C's does .25 wings so again, under $15

I would say we average $20-$25 for our family when we eat out. We don't usually go to fancy places but rather family friendly. Many local places offer free kids night so that saves us $9-$10 right there) and then if money is tight, DH and I can share a meal and we can be out $10 for the whole meal.

We can only eat out because I know all the deals Plus we usually get water instead of paying for a drink (unless it's happy hour or cheap special on beer). Kids usually get a drink free with their meal. DH and I spurlge and eat at a hibachi or Melting Pot (again, with a coupon but usually only a $10 coupon) 2-4 times a year (special occasions).

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oh, forgot to add we eat our lunch more than dinner because you get the same portion for less $$$$. I can get more than I could ever eat at one sitting at a local chinese restaurant (and it's YUMMY) for a $6 lunch price and get free tea Meals are big enough the kids can share one. Dinner is always more $$$ it seems

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usually 10-15 bucks for a meal..

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totally depends on the type of restaurant. As low as $25 for 2, average probably around $40 up to over $100.

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