Two years removed from the darkest days of the pandemic, dining out is hot again.

Prices on everything are going up due to inflation. Dining is up 6% in New Jersey so far this year compared to back then, so customers should be careful with how much they spend.

The first few days of the week are notoriously slow for restaurants. Because of this, they'll usually offer specials to entice customers to fill their booths. Move your Saturday night hangout to the start of the week, and you can eat a meal you already love at a better price.

And one big no, no…don't get stingy and cut corners on the tip. If you're going out to eat, you need to be prepared to tip 15-20%.