Thanks to Don for telling me about an interesting new website called VillageVines that offers discounts, usually between 25% and 30%, on upscale restaurants. The site offers up any tables that didn't get booked at several restaurants each day. Membership is free, and users only pay $10 in exchange for the discount.
Don’t make that Komi reservation just yet, though – for now, you can only save money through VillageVines at restaurants located in New York. Rumor is that the company plans to take on more cities in the next couple months. Perhaps their expansion list includes the District?
By the way, I had the particular pleasure of finding out about this website before my friend Dave – veteran New York foodie and April Bloomfield neighbor. When I told him about it, he was quick to admit it was news to him. “But I'm also the breed of consumer that subsidized these types of discounts through my own brazen laziness and stupidity,” he noted.
UPDATE: On September 8, VillageVines expanded to DC!
I just tried to register for village vines. Here’s the reply I got:
ReplyDelete“To maintain the best possible experience for our users, we have to limit the number of memberships. But new spots open daily, and you’ll be saving on the best NYC restaurants in no time.” Hmmm.
Is there a $10 fee on every bill where the discount is applied?
ReplyDeleteVery interesting. Sounds like they're starting out with a limited bandwith. The exclusivity makes me want to join even more ... and I don't even live in new york.
ReplyDeleteRight, I think it's 10 bucks for every time you get the discount.
Much of the team here at VillageVines has called Washington home at one point or another, so you can be sure that District expansion is something we'd be thrilled to do!
ReplyDeleteDan, VillageVines
Thanks Dan. We hope to see you here soon!
ReplyDeleteWell, I'm still hoping to get some use out of VV in NYC! But, it would be nice if they expanded to DC.
ReplyDeleteJust got my membeership at Village Vines. Here are some of this week's deals.
ReplyDeleteSoHo: 174 Grand Street
ENDS IN 7 days 18:19:06
25% off your entire bill at Onieals
Available All Week
Historic SoHo establishment serving traditional American cuisine in an atmosphere that New York Magazine describes as having “all the trappings of a classic Gotham men’s club.”
West Village: 55 Carmine St.
ENDS IN 5 days 18:16:26
30% off your entire bill at Do Hwa
Available All Week
Co-owned and frequently visited by Quentin Tarantino, Do Hwa is a hip Korean BBQ joint that Zagat says has “delicious seasonal Korean eats, including tabletop BBQ, in a handsome, slick setting.”
ENDS IN 5 days 18:16:04
25% off your entire bill at Novecento
Available All Week
New York City meets Buenos Aires in perfect harmony at this hip SoHo establishment serving up authentic Argentine cuisine.
ENDS IN 2 days 18:15:45
$60 off any bottle of wine at Ouest
Available Sunday - Thursday
"Lately some new Upper West Side bistros have begged comparisons with Ouest. Dream on. There are the rest and there is Ouest." - New York Post
ENDS IN 18:15:21
25% off your entire bill at DeGrezia
Available All Week
Midtown East’s best kept secret. Serving authentic Northern Italian cuisine artfully crafted by veteran Executive Chef Massimo Felici.
30% off Korean bbq? This is the future.
ReplyDeleteMB, I can't wait for some VV in NYC.
ReplyDeleteUsed it once because the sign up was free, but probably won't actually pay to use it again. Found the restaurant list very limited and not particularly exciting. Feel like you can find better deals through groupon and other similar sites that don't charge and have more choices.
ReplyDeleteIntersting, Nicole - thanks for the report. One thing I definitely like about groupon: it's already in D.C.!
ReplyDeleteBut the target audience is different i belive --- VV targets higher end restaurants and takes 30% off without having to bring in a coupon (nice restaurants and many just out of college young adults won't be caught with coupons)...
ReplyDeleteGood point re the coupon factor.
ReplyDeleteTHIS JUST IN: VillageVines is finally launching in D.C. - I just got the invite from one of my NYC friends. Not sure when they'll be in full effect here, but this is my invite link (they say if you sign up before it's live in D.C. your first rez is free):
ReplyDeletehttp://bit.ly/9JYPPd
Awesome - thanks Jian. I just signed up too.
ReplyDeleteIs that free offer still available?
ReplyDeleteHey Doug - as you probably saw in your inbox, as of this morning we're now live in DC! We're thrilled to have VillageVines DC up and running, and starting today members can book reservations for 30% off with Vidalia, Cabanas and the Caucus Room. We've got other great partners we're excited to present in the coming days and weeks, so stay tuned and happy dining!
ReplyDeleteHope you'll give it a try, and feel free to reach out if you have any questions.
All the best,
Dan Leahy
Co-Founder
dan@villagevines.com
Fantastic, thanks Dan. I got the email this morning and am already planning a trip to get my 30%-off-Vidalia tonight.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I'm not so hot on the idea of paying $10 for a 25-30% discount. If I'm paying, I expect about at least a 50% discount, what with all the competition out there. I would direct folks to BlackboardEats, almost exact same concept, but no payment required at all, and you get the code the day it comes out, and can use it for a month or more. And trust me, it's the same class of restaurants, in fact, Do Hwa was just on there recently.
ReplyDeleteWhen they say 30% off entire bill, does that include alcohol?
ReplyDeleteVillageVines recently announced a new name: Savored (http://savored.com); the new name is intended to better reflect the premium caliber of the company's partner restaurants as well as the rich dining experiences the service provides to consumers. The company has also partnered with Zagat to provide Savored users with complimentary access to ratings and reviews. Savored now has a footprint in 10 cities: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, New York, Miami, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Washington DC.
ReplyDelete