EatClub

The cost of living is diabolical right now, and that means less bums on seats everywhere. The EatClub app offers a solution. Patrons can get up to 50 percent off their food bill, and restaurants, bars, and cafés can fill otherwise empty tables. Hospitality venues choose when to go live, so if they’re already staffed but the place is quiet, they can hop on the app, send out an offer, and see who bites. Enter Maddi, a practiced biter.

So, how does it work from a diner’s perspective?

The setup is straightforward but does require a few minutes and an NFC-enabled smartphone that can make contactless payments. Once you download the app, you link in your credit or debit card (with higher discounts available if it’s a Mastercard) and the app generates you a special digital card that you add to your Apple or Google Wallet. This part was a bit finnicky, due in large part to Google’s online security protocols, but I’ve used EatClub Pay without a hitch since.

When you’re ready to eat, you open the app and look for offers near you. It might be new to Wellington but there’s already a huge range of restaurants available. I’ve been to five so far, three of which I hadn’t dined at before. I’ll go back to all of them – EatClub deal or no.

Once you find an offer (typically ranging from 30 to 50 percent off the bill), you accept it, enter your details (time of arrival and how many people), and just rock up. There’s no booking and you don’t need to say your name or mention the app. Ask for a table, make your order, tap to pay the bill with your EatClub card, and that’s it. Stupidly easy for such amazing savings.

I can verify the reported statistic that EatClub users dine out 70 percent more frequently. Through the app, I’ve had a killer steak at The Welsh Dragon Bar, the butteriest Danish at Black Lion Bakery & Café, the most succulent fried chicken at Winner Winner, flavour-bomb Mexican blackened fish tacos at Superfina (with a jalapeño salsa to die for), and the insanely artful avocado toast pictured here at TRA Coffee and Eatery. I’ve saved an average of 43 percent and couldn’t recommend it more.

If you love dining out but need to guard your pennies, join the (Eat)Club!