Few activities in this world bring you closer to the energy of wealth than fine dining.

Imagine looking forward to going out with your partner, but the idea of getting the check scares you beyond words.

You’ve set aside money, but are still afraid spending will get out of control. 

Well, here are six tips I’ve gathered from personal experience after both working in fine dining on the Las Vegas Strip and taking my wife out for date nights now that I’ve grown in my career. 

Understand that money will always come back to you

After multiple years of working in restaurants at the Wynn and Aria Hotel & Casino, I can tell you there’s a distinct difference between the clients who realize their money will come back to them, and those who are afraid it’ll be gone forever once it’s spent.

Those who understand that they will see another paycheck typically have a happier experience while dining.

Anyone who’s afraid their money won’t circulate back to them is usually noticeably tense.

This usually spills into the vibe of their evening. Servers and bussers notice these things.

There’s a chance they’ll purposely avoid your table if they feel tension.

Mastering the idea that money will always return to you does take time.

I’m also not saying to spend loads of money that you can’t afford on exquisite meals.

However, contrary to what many of us have been conditioned to believe, we are actually allowed to enjoy our lives. 

How to avoid splurging on drinks at dinner

Whether or not you want to admit it, we live in the age of social media.

Plenty of people enjoy posting pictures of their drinks while out and about at fancy restaurants.

It’s also no secret that fine dining restaurants charge a healthy amount of money for drinks.

Personally, before my wife and I hit the town, we get a bottle of our favorite alcohol to enjoy a drink or two at home.

Once we arrive at our chosen restaurant, we only feel inclined to order one additional drink.

My wife films plenty of footage for Instagram and we aren’t breaking the bank.

If you’re someone who doesn’t drink alcohol but still wants the vibe of a fancy beverage, ask your server for a mocktail.

We can order two mocktails on the Strip for $13, including the tip. These same drinks with alcohol included cost around $40 or more.

Most places serve mocktails, and they’re considerably cheaper than getting actual alcoholic beverages. 

Research the menu before arriving at the restaurant

Imagine picking a restaurant based solely on the pictures you see on social media.

However, once you get there, you notice that the menu is filled with items that are less than desirable.

A higher price-point doesn’t always equate to more enticing food.

This happened to my wife and me at a luxury restaurant, and we were quickly forced to change our plan.

Luckily, we had plenty of options and we found another place on the Strip that was quite close in proximity.

We still enjoyed ourselves, but there was a bit of stress in finding where we were going to eat at first.

Fine dining menus might not offer the same cuisine as lower-priced places like Chili’s or Yard House.

Make sure your chosen restaurant serves food you are actually interested in.

Part of the fine dining experience is simply walking in and enjoying your meal –– not scrambling to find an adequate restaurant with a better menu at the last minute. 

Be kind to the staff

You’d be shocked at the percentage of people who aren’t kind to staff at fine dining restaurants.

In my experience as a server at luxury restaurants, there are a few things I honor now that I’m the paying customer.

Showcasing thankfulness and gratitude to servers is one of things I always focus on doing.

Some folks simply expect great service, which isn’t a bad thing, but you still need to show grace to those helping you.

I will openly admit, whenever someone was nice to me when I was serving them, I was more apt to find possible discounts or to throw them a little something extra with their meal.

There were a couple of times when the kitchen accidentally made a dish nobody ordered, so rather than toss it, I would ask the table that was the kindest if they wanted it –– free of charge.

Kindness goes a long way, especially in the fine dining industry. 

Skip the appetizers to stay under budget

I know plenty of folks love going out for the appetizers, but let me tell you… Don’t do it at a fine dining restaurant.

The prices for most appetizers are insane compared to the amount of food you get.

Plus, you’re taking away from the main course. My wife and I used to order appetizers for dinner, but we don’t anymore.

One time we got an appetizer that cost an unreasonable amount because we thought it would be worthwhile.

We were completely disappointed and underwhelmed. Based on the price point, we felt bamboozled.

My wife and I both vowed to never get an appetizer again. We don’t miss appetizers, and neither will you. 

Follow a budget so you can get lost in the moment

Far too many people are scared of enjoying themselves. They think it’s wrong to enjoy life.

If you budget your meal and stick to it, you’re free to get lost in the moment.

This is something that took me a long time to master.

These days, I research the restaurant my wife and I are going to so I can estimate the cost of our meals.

From there, I set aside that amount (plus a little extra) so I don’t go over budget.

Once we arrive at the restaurant, we both can mentally go to a happy place.

I’m not nervous about the money I’m spending, because I’ve already planned on paying a specific amount.

I’ve seen it countless times –– the person paying the bill has a heart attack when they get the check!

They have such a worse time compared to the person who’s smiling after getting the check. The difference?

The happy guest knew full well they could afford what they were spending. Budgeting will save you from so many stressful situations.