Restaurants try to heat up business

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - Many restaurants are struggling to survive in this economy, but the woes of the restaurant world could actually be good news 4 Your Wallet.

Business at La Dolce Vita in Buffalo has been anything but sweet.

Diners are no longer asking for a glass of wine the way they used to. And empty tables are becoming harder to fill as the economy continues to get worse.

La Dolce Vita owner Ross Runfola said, "...whatever I can do to get people in the door to fill the seats."

Runfola wants to make sure his restaurant survives. So he's doing whatever he can to promote business by offering coupons.

"I'm in the Entertainment book, I'm in the Night Out book, I'm in the Buffalo First book which is all local businesses. I just recently joined Restaurant dot com."

The Friar's Table in Cheektowaga has been a staple for the past twenty years.

But even a well-known restaurant like that is serving less patrons. In addition to creating new dishes that are more affordable -

The Friar's Table general manager Nick Salamone said, "We have been doing mailings that we do ten dollars off, ten percent off. I started a senior discount."

Marinaccio's in Williamsville is also increasing the number of it's discounts.

Marinaccio's general manager Jeff Lang said, "A lot of internal things, we can start an e-mail list and send people direct mail if we're doing any specials or wine dinners, things like that."

Free wine tasings, daily happy hours, and coupons in various publications which, in some cases, will allow you to buy two dinners for the price of one.

"So if their budget is tight, they do still have that luxury of going out to eat and not cut back in any way. They can still order what they want to order but they're getting a free dinner with it."