Personally, I think rising grocery prices are prompting -- in many cases -- a correction to more reasonable consumption. My goodness, how many Cheez-Its and popsicles can one family actually consume? Not to mention the not-so-green packaging. Here's the good news ... If you play your cards right, dining out can be an affordable option. After all, the restaurant industry is fighter harder than ever for your business .... Read on to find out how to play into this sign-of-the-times reality ....

To be clear, higher food prices are pushing up the prices of entrees at some of your favorite restaurants, but according to a handy article from SmartMoney.com, a few tips and tricks can help you dine out for less.


To counterbalance rising costs, restaurants also are offering more promotions to tempt consumers into a night on the town. Savvy consumers can easily trim their bill by 50% or more - without forgoing the filet mignon in favor of a cheap pasta dish.

Here are some money saving tips from SmartMoney.com, as well as a few of our own:

Best Cheap Eats: Log on to CityGuide to find the "City's Best cheap eats in your local area. All City's Best establishments are determined by local consumers who visit these venues ... They're the people who live and eat in your own backyard. The annual City's Best program is now taking votes in all categories for the 2008 rankings.


Reserve a table: Make reservations online via DinnerBroker.com and save up to 30% on your total bill, depending on the restaurant and time of your reservation. OpenTable.com also offers diner's rewards points, good toward future meals.


Check Coupons Sites: Online coupon code site BradsDeals.com often have a Food & Wine section where you'll find links to printable dining coupons like this $20.00 off offer from McCormick & Schmicks.

Go with a Gift Certificate: On Restaurant.com, a $25 e-gift certificate goes for only $10 ... But each of the site's partner restaurants has restrictions, such as night of the week or number of diners. For more Restaurant.com savings, use this coupon from BradsDeals.com for 50% off.


Save with Gift Card Sale/Swap Sites: Another way to save on dining gift cards – use swapping sites like SwapaGift.com - (Related story). Right now, on SwapaGift.com, a $200 Morton's Steak House gift card is going for $176.00 (not bad!) and a $100.00 Cheesecake Factory gift card is going for $95.00 (not huge savings, but every little bit helps!)

Rather dine at home?
Save big on your grocery bill when you click-to-clip coupons on Shortcuts.com. Shorcuts allows you to select the coupons you want & instantly they'll be transmitted to your grocery membership card (81% of people have these). It's like turbo-charging your card with extra savings (Also see: 5 Sites that can Put $50 in Your Pocket).

If all else fails, there's one more way to get a cheap meal ... "bug on food." We couldn't resist sharing, but please don't go there!