A dinner crawl is the perfect way to explore a city’s food scene without spending a fortune on a single upscale meal. Instead of sitting down for a full dinner at one place, a crawl lets you sample a starter at one spot, enjoy your entrée at another, and finish with dessert somewhere entirely different. With a little planning and a budget-first mindset, you can turn your next night out into a flavorful, affordable adventure.

1. Set a Realistic Budget
   Before you start planning your crawl, decide on a total price cap—$25 or $30 per person is a great sweet spot. Allocate your budget accordingly:

• Appetizer: $5–$8
  
• Entrée: $10–$15
  
• Dessert: $5–$8
  

Use this to guide which restaurants you choose for each course. Check menus online ahead of time to stay on track.

2. Start With a Shareable Appetizer
   Kick off your crawl at a casual spot known for affordable starters. Look for happy hour deals or appetizer specials.

Great appetizer destinations:

• Chili’s: Try their 3 for Me menu or half-off appetizers during happy hour
  
• Buffalo Wild Wings: Share wings or loaded nachos
  
• Local tapas bars or pubs: Many offer small plates perfect for sharing
  

3. Move to the Main Course
   Choose a fast-casual restaurant or counter-service eatery where you can get filling entrées under $15.

Affordable entrée ideas:

• Blaze Pizza: Build-your-own pizza with unlimited toppings
  
• CAVA: Customizable bowls packed with value and fresh ingredients
  
• Local ramen, taco, or sandwich shops: Hearty portions at affordable prices
  

To stretch your budget further, consider using a gift card purchased through Fluz. You can earn cashback with a Blaze Pizza gift card and use it instantly at checkout.

4. End With Dessert at a Dedicated Sweet Spot
   No dinner crawl is complete without a sweet finish. Look for ice cream shops, bakeries, or cafés with signature desserts.

Budget-friendly dessert picks:

• Baskin-Robbins: A single scoop or sundae under $5
  
• Local donut or cupcake shops: Many offer deals on mini desserts or day-old selections
  
• Panera Bread: Try a pastry or cookie from the bakery case. You can buy a Panera Bread gift card online via Fluz to earn cashback on your final stop.
  

5. Map Your Crawl Efficiently
   Choose restaurants within walking distance or a short drive from one another. Use Google Maps to plan your route and limit transportation time. Bonus points if you find a food hall or market where multiple concepts operate under one roof.
6. Make It Social
   Dinner crawls work great with groups. Split dishes to try more flavors, keep the vibe casual, and let each person choose a stop. It’s a low-pressure way to explore multiple menus without a major time or financial commitment.

Final Thought
A dinner crawl offers the perfect mix of fun, flexibility, and flavor—especially when you plan smart. By combining happy hour pricing, fast-casual mains, and sweet endings (plus a few digital cashback tools like Fluz), you can enjoy a full-course night out without spending like it’s fine dining.