There are bargains to be had at restaurants across Sydney, as operators try to combat spending slumps with everything from lunch specials to happy hours and BYO dinners.

The number of seated diners has fallen 6 per cent year-on-year nationwide over the past month due to cost-of-living pressures, according to OpenTable’s State of the Industry report, exacerbating a historically quiet time of year in the hospitality industry.

Those who did dine out on Fridays and Saturdays this winter tended to spend on average 7.2 per cent per head less, according to data from technology business Square, which supports a recent survey showing nearly half of Australians have cut back on eating out this year.

“We’ve had our worst winter trade since before COVID,” says chef and restaurateur Alessandro Pavoni, of hatted Crown restaurant a’Mare.

“People are much more conscious of how much money they’re spending.”

At Circular Quay lunch spot Costi’s Fish and Chips, drops in average spend coincide with Reserve Bank rate rise announcements.

They’re two of the venues that have introduced inventive ways to draw in the dwindling number of diners, and accommodate tighter budgets.

Pavoni recently opened casual osteria a’Mare Cucinetta in a’Mare’s bar, swapping the restaurant’s signature table side service (and some costlier ingredients) for significantly cheaper prices.

“It’s more of an everyday option, so customers can come twice a week rather than just on special occasions,” Pavoni says.

A recent survey by hospitality bookings platform SevenRooms shows that as the cost of living rises, 68 per cent of Australian diners are trading quantity for quality of dining experiences.

It’s a trend James Bradey has noticed across his hospitality group, Liquid & Larder, which operates venues such as Bistecca and The Rover in Surry Hills. “Rather than a cheap night out, people are looking for a value-add,” Bradey says.

“We have to be a lot more conscious of perceived value.”

While the group has introduced a number of specials across its venues, it’s the happy hour at The Rover, with $2 freshly shucked oysters and $10 mini martinis poured table side, that has been the most successful.

“People are really jumping onto that and seeking it out,” Bradey says.

In Manly, the best-performing venue in the Good Good Company portfolio is its inexpensive Mexican street food restaurant Chica Bonita in Manly.

“I didn’t expect it, given it’s 11 years old, but I think it speaks to how important the perception of value is,” says director Luke Miller.

The Good Good Company now hosts weekend happy hours, in addition to midweek BYO dinners and a monthly sandwich special with guest chefs.

“I feel like if we hadn’t been trying that hard to do whatever we could do to keep people engaged and keep it all going, we would have seen more decline,” Miller says.

“That’s just the only way forward at the moment … you need to offer something fun that won’t break the bank because the moment it looks expensive people are thinking twice about it.”

The search for value has also resulted in greater interest in restaurants’ take-home products.

“Restaurants are reinventing themselves … selling their bottled sauces, creating a line of merchandise, or offering cooking classes and other experiences to build resilience,” says Colin Birney, head of business development at Square.

The soon-to-launch Future of Restaurants Report from Square reveals that more than half of Millennial consumers surveyed are buying these non-food products from restaurants.

Dine-out deals in Sydney

Spring snacks at Chiswick

What: The spring sharing menu offers a selection of smaller snacking dishes, including potato doughnuts with Moran Family Farm speck and horseradish, for $75 a head, rather than the usual $95. Similar deals can be found across participating Matt Moran restaurants.

When: September 17-November 7

Where: 65 Ocean Street, Woollahra, chiswickwoollahra.com.au.

Sunday sandos at Busta

What: Italian restaurant Busta will serve ice-cold Peronis and sandwiches made by guest chefs from Manly favourite Wilburs. deli, with the option to eat in at their vibey diner or take away. Head to Chica Bonita afterwards for $10 margaritas and palomas from 5-6pm.

When: Sunday, September 17, noon-3pm

Where: 10 Pittwater Road, Manly, goodgoodcompany.com/venue/busta

a’Mare Cucinetta at a’Mare

What: A casual, drop-in diner serving signature a’Mare dishes at a fraction of their usual price. The spaghetti ’aglio olio e peperoncino and anchovies, for example, has cut the Moreton Bay bugs and the cost, coming down from $79 to $29.

When: Every day, lunch and dinner

Where: Crown Sydney, level 1,1 Barangaroo Avenue, Barangaroo, crownsydney.com.au/restaurants/amare

All you can eat at Belles Hot Chicken

What: Endless rounds of Belles chicken wings, crinkle fries and slaw for 90 minutes for $30 a head, with the option to add bottomless jugs of Belles original draught, spiked house-made peach iced tea or spiked lemonade for an extra $35.

When: Lunch and dinner Mon-Sat

Where: Quay Quarter Tower (entry via 9 Young Street), R2001, 50 Bridge Street, Sydney, belleshotchicken.com

Golden hour at The Rover

What: $2 oysters and $10 mini martinis using Four Pillars olive leaf gin or Mother of Pearl vodka are available exclusively in The Rover’s upstairs dining room.

When: 5-6pm daily during September

Where: 75 Campbell Street, Surry Hills, therover.com.au

$4 lunch special at Costi’s Fish and Chips

What: To buffer the Reserve Bank’s next scheduled rates announcement, Costi’s is offering a $4 fish and chip special, featuring grilled salmon, chips and salad (with the option of swapping the chips for rice).

When: Tuesday, September 5, 10am-3pm

Where: Quay Quarter Tower, 50 Bridge Street, Sydney, costisfishandchips.com.au

49 per cent off drinks at Merivale

What: A huge discount on drinks is available to groups of eight or more who pre-book a table at a participating Merivale venue. The catch? You only have one hour from arrival to take advantage of the offer.

When: Daily during September

Where: All 36 participating Merivale venues, including The Alex in Alexandria, Little Felix in the city, and the Coogee Pavilion ground floor bar area.

merivale.com/groups