During one of my earliest college classes, a professor described his background and said something that stuck with me: “Everyone should try waiting tables. It teaches more than a university ever will.”
Over the following eight years, I worked as a server at Red Robin — not solely because of that professor’s advice, but because I was a typically broke student and later felt the effects of the recession.
I began as a host handling takeout orders, then rotated through four different locations as a server. I opened restaurants, closed them, worked shifts so short I spent more on gas than I earned, and pulled 15-hour days that covered a month’s rent. Along the way I became intimately familiar with Red Robin’s Point of Sale (POS) system — and how diners could use little quirks in it to spend less.
Servers use the POS to ring in everything — from a glass of water to your entrée to every single soda refill. Understanding a few of its tricks can help you trim your bill, especially if you go often or eat out in a group.
Ready to learn ways to save at Red Robin?
1. Share a Plate
Portions at Red Robin tend to be generous, so sharing an entrée is easy and satisfying. If you and your companion can agree on the same dish, splitting it can cut your costs significantly.
A burger with fries runs about $8, but you can turn that into a substantial lunch by asking your server to split it onto two plates. The big perk: You’ll each receive the same quantity of fries as if you ordered your own burger. If you’re still hungry, request extra fries when ordering or when the server stops by shortly after your food arrives.
Splitting an entrée saves you the price of a second burger, roughly $8. Pair that with drinking water, and your total could be under $10 instead of the typical $25.
Also think about sharing a milkshake. Red Robin sells shakes as a single or a “Monster,” the latter served in a malt glass with extra milkshake in a tin. If you ask to split a Monster, each of you will get a full shake in a glass topped with whipped cream and a cherry.
The difference in price between a single and a Monster is only a few dollars, so splitting a Monster can save about $5 versus each buying a single. The only catch is agreeing on the flavor!
2. Request Half To-Go
Not very hungry but craving one of Red Robin’s large salads or entrées? Trying to manage portions or calories? It’s easier to control intake when part of the meal is out of sight.
When ordering, ask if half of your meal can be packed to-go. It might seem odd, but servers are used to special requests (they may ask if you want dressing on the side, for example).
In the POS, the server will ring in your food normally and add a note such as “half to-go.” That tells the kitchen to prepare half of the entrée for the dining plate and pack the remainder in a to-go container to be handed out with your meal.
Although you won’t increase the total amount of food, having half in a to-go box gives you two meals for the price of one.
3. Skip Ordering a Separate Side of Fries
Red Robin has adjusted its menu to nudge customers into ordering fries — even though they typically come free with burgers. Unless you’re the sole fry-lover at your table, don’t fall for the upsell.
If you want fries with a salad or other entrée and your friend has a burger with fries, take advantage of their “bottomless fries” and snag an extra basket. When the server asks about condiments for the fries, hop in and request a sauce you like (my go-to is the “campfire” sauce served with onion rings).
Servers earn tips, so most will notice and bring an extra basket (a “fry fill,” which is free) when they deliver the food. If they don’t, have your dining partner ask for more fries the next time the server checks in. This saves roughly $3 — not as large as some tactics here, but it adds up over time.
4. Order From the Kids’ Menu
Technically the kids’ menu is intended for diners under 12 — yet many adults with smaller appetites order the kids’ options, like mac and cheese.
The kids’ menu contains items not found on the adult menu and is considerably cheaper. If you’re not very hungry and a $10 meal makes more sense than a $15 one, ask your server for the kids’ menu when seated.
There are a few caveats. Don’t try this if you’re seated in the bar area. The cocktail server may enforce the “kids only” expectation since she’s working for tips and a $6 tab doesn’t help her much.
Some kids’ items are bottomless (such as mac and cheese), but don’t exploit that when ordering as an adult. If you really want larger portions, the adult menu offers bigger servings.
Managers might not be thrilled by this, but many servers will accommodate adults who prefer smaller portions. If you truly just want a smaller helping of chicken strips and can’t split a meal, this strategy can save you money. It’s worth trying before ordering an adult portion and packing half to-go.
5. Use Birthday and Loyalty Perks
Red Robin has long offered free Birthday Burgers. By signing up for their loyalty program, Red Robin Royalty, you can get a free burger during your birthday month. The Royalty program also gives you $20 toward your sixth visit after joining and a free meal every tenth order.
Signing up requires just an email address. To maximize perks, have everyone you typically dine with also join the program. That increases the chance that someone’s birthday or a reward milestone will shave a few dollars off your check.
These tricks will trim a bit from each Red Robin tab. Just be mindful to calculate your tip on the actual value of the service — your server puts in the same effort whether your burger is complimentary or not.
Your turn: If you frequent Red Robin, what methods do you use to cut costs?
Also, if you want additional ways to reduce dining expenses, check out this guide on how to save money on food eating out grocery shopping.
