Restaurant prices are increasing at a slower rate than consumer prices in general, according to the National Restaurant Association, citing Bureau of Labor Statistics data. But dining out can still cost a lot of money — especially if you go on premium dates, when you’re less likely to find good values in terms of price and the overall experience.
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GOBankingRates talked to restaurant experts to find out what dates to avoid dining out in 2025 and the best times to go instead.
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Worst Dates To Dine at a Restaurant
The experts agreed that these are the worst dates to dine out.
- Feb. 14: Valentine’s Day
- May 11: Mother’s Day
- June 15: Father’s Day
- Nov. 26: Day before Thanksgiving
- Dec. 24: Christmas Eve
- Dec. 31: New Year’s Eve
Those dates center around national celebrations, but local events can also be bad dates for dining out. Milos Eric, co-founder and general manager of OysterLink, a restaurant and hospitality job platform, recommended also avoiding graduation weekends, especially in college towns, as well as music festivals and conventions that might create unpredictable surges in demand.
“A city like Miami during Art Basel or Las Vegas during CES sees service drop as staff struggles to keep up,” Eric said.
For restaurants, high sales days are an essential opportunity, said Katie Fairchild, chief marketing officer for Restaurant365, a software platform for restaurant management. “They are significant revenue contributors and a chance to create relationships with new guests and cement existing regulars,” she said.
But they also challenge diners’ patience with long wait times and the potential for chaotic service and limited menus. Although the pared-down offerings help restaurants ensure quality while controlling costs, they might disappoint diners hoping to order their favorite dishes or dine on a budget.
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When To Go Instead
Eric recommended holding off until after the big date to dine out. “Many restaurants overstaff on the main day and may have extra inventory the next day, leading to better service and sometimes even discounts,” he said.
Joshua Wood, founder and CEO of CJ Digital, a hospitality marketing agency, had a different take. “I would recommend going before. If you go after, the staff may be tired and the food quality may be lacking with less care being put in. It also means that you can celebrate twice because you can celebrate the actual date at home the next day,” he said.
Of course, there’s no rule that says you have to have your celebratory restaurant meal within a day of the actual event. You can time your dinner out to take advantage of the normal fluctuations in business that restaurants experience throughout the week.
- Best nights for discounts: Monday and Tuesday
- Best nights for new menu items: Wednesday and Thursday
- Best nights for food prepared by the head chef: Tuesday through Saturday
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Don’t Dine Out at Restaurants on These Dates — When To Go Instead
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
