DiningRated guides

What things cost, with the factors that move the price.

• Tasting Menu Cost Per Person: What to Expect Restaurant tasting menus cost $75 to $350 per person for food, with wine pairings adding $60 to $200 more. Here is what affects the price and what is included.
• Steakhouse Cost Per Person: What to Budget A steakhouse dinner costs $40 to $150 per person before drinks. Upscale chains average $75 to $100. Here is what drives the price and how to avoid bill shock.
• Rehearsal Dinner Cost: What to Budget The average rehearsal dinner costs $2,700 or $55 to $150 per person, per The Knot. Learn what drives the price and how to build a realistic budget.
• Omakase Cost Per Person: What to Budget Omakase costs $80 to $300 per person; top counters reach $500 or more. This guide explains what drives the price, what is included, and how to pick the right tier.
• Michelin Star Restaurant Cost: What to Budget A Michelin-starred restaurant typically costs $100 to $500 or more per person depending on star level and whether you order a tasting menu or a la carte.
• Holiday Party Catering Cost: Office Event Guide Holiday party catering costs $40 to $120 per person with alcohol, or $25 to $65 without. Here is how to budget and what to include in your catering quote request.
• Hibachi Restaurant Cost: Per-Person Price Guide Hibachi at a teppanyaki restaurant costs $20 to $70 per person before drinks. At-home hibachi catering runs $55 to $85 per guest. Here is what you are paying for.
• Graduation Party Catering Cost: What to Budget Graduation party catering costs $15 to $50 per person by format. Here is how to choose between drop-off, food truck, or full-service and build an accurate budget.
• Corporate Catering Cost Per Person: 2026 Guide Corporate catering costs $15 to $100 per person depending on service level and city. This guide breaks down office lunch, meeting, and event catering prices by tier.
• Catering for 50 Guests: Total Cost Breakdown Catering 50 guests costs $1,500 to $6,000 depending on service style. This guide covers buffet, plated, stations, and food truck pricing at the 50-person scale.
• Brunch Catering Cost: Per-Person Price Guide Brunch catering typically costs $20 to $65 per person, 20 to 30 percent less than dinner. Here is what affects the price and how to budget for a daytime event.
• Bartender Hire Cost: Party & Event Pricing Hiring a bartender for a party costs $30 to $90 per hour or $250 to $1,200 as a flat package. Here is what affects the price and what to ask before you book.
• Wedding Catering Cost Per Person: What to Budget Wedding catering costs $85 to $175 per person for food service. Learn what drives the range, what is billed separately, and how to build an accurate budget.
• Private Dining Room Cost and Minimum Spends Explained Private dining rooms rarely charge a flat rental fee -- most require a food-and-beverage minimum of $500 to $10,000+. Learn how minimums work and what to ask.
• How Much Does a Private Chef Cost? Private chef cost ranges from $45 to $150+ per person for a dinner party or $75 to $150 per hour for ongoing meal prep. See what drives price and what is included.
• How Much to Tip at a Restaurant Learn the standard US restaurant tip percentage, how to calculate it fast, and what to tip for takeout, delivery, buffets, and large parties in 2026.
• Food Truck Catering Cost: What to Expect Food truck catering typically costs $15-$35 per person or a $500-$2,500 flat minimum. Learn what drives price, what is included, and how to book smart.
• How Much Does Catering Cost Per Person? Catering costs $25 to $175+ per person depending on service style, menu, and city. Learn what drives the price, what a quote includes, and how to control costs.

Side-by-side breakdowns so you can choose with confidence.

• Corkage Fee vs. House Wine: Is BYOB Worth It? BYOB saves money when corkage is low. Restaurant wine is marked up 200 to 300 percent from retail, making BYOB worthwhile when the fee stays below $30 per bottle.
• Catering vs. Restaurant Buyout: How to Choose For parties under 30 guests, a restaurant buyout is often simpler. For 50 or more, full-service catering usually offers better value. Here is how to compare options.
• Prix Fixe vs A La Carte: What the Difference Costs You Prix fixe offers a set multi-course menu at one price; a la carte lets you order item by item. Here is when each format saves money and when it costs more.
• Dine-In vs Takeout vs Delivery: What You Actually Pay Delivery commonly costs 30-50% more than the same restaurant meal eaten in. See the true all-in cost of each channel -- fees, tips, and markups explained.
• Caterer vs Private Chef: Which Is Right for Your Event? Caterer vs private chef: caterers win at scale (30+ guests), private chefs shine for intimate dinners. See cost models, what is included, and when each makes sense.
• Buffet vs Plated Catering: Cost and Service Compared Buffet catering typically costs $45-$95 per person; plated dinners run $90-$175+. Learn which style is actually cheaper and when each makes sense for your event.

Step-by-step guides for doing it right the first time.

• Splitting the Bill: Restaurant Etiquette Guide Ask for separate checks when you sit down. That is the simplest way to split a restaurant bill. Here is how to handle group payments and when apps help.
• Meal Train: How It Works, Etiquette, and Cost A meal train coordinates home-cooked or delivered meals for someone in need. Here is how to set one up, what to spend per contribution, and the key etiquette rules.
• Large-Party Restaurant Tipping: What You Should Know Most restaurants add automatic gratuity of 18 to 20 percent for parties of six or more. Here is how large-party tipping works and how to avoid double-tipping.
• How Much to Tip a Food Delivery Driver The standard tip for food delivery is 15 to 20 percent, with a $3 to $5 minimum for small orders. Here is how tipping works on DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub.
• Group Restaurant Dining: How to Plan a Smooth Outing Planning a group dinner starts with the right venue, communicating the bill plan upfront, and reserving early. Here is a step-by-step guide for group dinner hosts.
• Dining Out with Dietary Restrictions: A Practical Guide Alert your server to dietary needs right when you are seated. This guide covers what to say, when to call ahead, and how to handle set menus and tasting menus.
• Catering Minimum Guest Count: What to Know Most full-service caterers require 25 to 50 guests minimum. For smaller events, a private chef or food truck fits better. Here is how to find the right option.
• How to Plan Catering for an Event: A Step-by-Step Guide Plan event catering with confidence: set your budget, choose a service style, vet caterers, request itemized proposals, and get dietary needs in writing.
• How to Make a Restaurant Reservation and Secure a Good Table Learn how to make a restaurant reservation, how far ahead to book, the best apps to use, and how to land a table at a popular or hard-to-book restaurant.
• How to Choose a Restaurant for a Special Occasion Pick the right restaurant for any special occasion with this step-by-step guide covering budget, vibe, cuisine, group needs, reviews, and booking strategy.
• Average Cost of a Restaurant Meal in the US The average US restaurant meal runs $8 to $80+ per person by tier. See realistic per-person ranges for fast food through fine dining and what drives your bill.

The checks and sequences that keep a project on track.

• Questions to Ask a Caterer Before You Book Before booking a caterer, ask what the price includes, how service charges and gratuity work, and what the cancellation terms are. Here are the key questions to ask.
• Catering with Food Allergies: A Host's Guide When catering for allergy guests, collect dietary info first, share it in writing with your caterer, and confirm cross-contamination protocols before the event.
• Catering Contract: What to Check Before You Sign A catering contract must cover menu, guest count, price, service charge, gratuity, deposit, and cancellation terms. Here is what to verify before you sign.

Plain-language answers to what things are and how they work.

• Restaurant Week: Diner's Guide to Getting the Most Restaurant week offers two to three prix fixe courses at a set price, usually $25 to $65 per person. Here is how to book, what to order, and how tipping works.
• Restaurant Service Styles Explained for Diners American plated, buffet, family-style, and tableside service each affect cost and formality. Here is what each restaurant service style means for diners.
• Restaurant Dress Codes Explained: What to Wear Restaurant dress codes range from smart casual to black tie optional. This guide defines each level and shows how to confirm the dress code before you arrive.
• Restaurant Service Charge Explained: Is It a Tip? A service charge is a mandatory restaurant fee, not a tip that goes to your server. Here is how to read your bill and decide whether to tip on top of it.
• Dining and Catering Terms Glossary Plain-language definitions of 35 dining and catering terms -- service styles, billing concepts, tipping vocabulary, and event planning terms explained in one guide.
• Corkage Fees Explained: BYOB Guide for Diners A corkage fee is what restaurants charge when you bring your own wine, typically $10 to $40 per bottle. Here is when it applies and what etiquette to follow.

The numbers behind the category, sourced and current.

• Cities Replacing Tips with Service Charges Restaurants in San Francisco, Seattle, and New York are replacing tips with mandatory service charges. Here is what to expect on your bill in those cities.
• Dining Cost Index 2026: Meals and Catering by Service The 2026 Dining Cost Index: average US restaurant meal cost by tier, tasting-menu and omakase pricing, and catering cost per person, sourced to BLS and Toast.
• How Much Americans Spend on Dining Out: Key Data US households spend over $3,400 per year dining out, per Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Here is how that breaks down by income, region, and restaurant format.
• Restaurant Price Tiers: What $ to $$$$ Really Means Decode the dollar-sign system on Yelp and Google. Learn what $ to $$$$ typically costs per person, what the tiers do and do not tell you, and how to use them.