Splash out at lunch

The set-price lunch menu at Le Pont de la Tour costs much less than the same meal at diner (Photo courtesy of Le Pont de la Tour)
The set-price lunch menu at Le Pont de la Tour costs much less than the same meal at diner

Lunch at a fancy restaurant will often cost less than dinner

Even on a budget, on occasion you may want to plump for a very special meal at some hallowed temple of culinary mastery owned by celebrity chef who has accumulated so many Michelin stars he uses them to garnish the appetizers.

After all, you're worth it. Or, more precisely, she's worth it and you'd better treat her to a fancy meal once or twice if you know what's good for you. What she needn't know is that you are saving big-time by saving the fancy, expensive restaurants for lunch. 

There's this funny phenomenon at many top restaurants, and even at just run-of-the-mill famous and expensive joints: the prices at lunch are less than at dinner.

We're talking 30% to 50% less—and that's 30% to 50% of a big chunk of change to begin with.

The reasons behind practice have never been satisfactorily explained to me, but who cares. It's a whopping savings on a once-in-a-lifetime dining experience, and a great way to have your cake and be able to pay for it, too.

Culinary tours links