If you're like me, you jump at any occasion to go out to a fancy dinner. Valentine's Day is a perfect opportunity; it isn't your birthday or anniversary, but you can easily justify a special meal with your significant other.

Restaurant meals cost a lot more than meals you make at home -- you know this. But what you might not realise is those add-ons, like that oh-so-delicious guac on your burrito, can be some of the most costly offenders.

Between the apps, restaurant websites and regular old phone calls, it's easier than ever to make dinner reservations these days. But for whatever reason, people don't cancel reservations when they can't make it. It's rude, yes, but it also affects the restaurant in ways you may not have thought of.

Fondue, the amazing meal where you get to cover everything in gooey cheese, is perfect for date nights and celebrations. But, believe it or not, there's a little more to it than just dunking stuff in melty goodness.

Generally, kids meals are much cheaper than adult meals. But if you're dining out with multiple kids, here's another option: have your kids split an grown-up meal.

Yum cha is not only delicious, it's a lot of fun eat with friends and family. Still, the dining process can be confusing or intimidating for those who haven't tried it before. If you follow these basic ground rules, you'll look like a yum cha pro.

I didn't live through the Great Depression even though I sometimes eat as if I did. Despite a desire to keep thin I have a bad habit of clearing every last greasy morsel of rice or supposedly decorative garnish that's put in front of me. Kicking this habit has helped me feel better about myself.

Video: If you've never been to a Korean BBQ restaurant before where they bring you plate after plate of food and you cook it all yourself, it can be a bit intimidating. These tips will help you get an optimal dining experience and keep you from looking lost.

Getting the attention of the bartender at your favourite watering hole can be a daunting task, especially after work or on the busy weekends when everyone's out for a drink or three. To make it a little easier, we sat down with a couple of bartenders who have been slinging drinks for years to get the best tips. Here's what they suggested.

If you frequently travel overseas, keeping abreast of dining etiquette can be surprisingly tough: what flies in one country might be considered poor manners in another, and vice-versa. This infographic from private accomodation site Wimdu explains ten unusual customs from food tables around the world.

Restaurants can be a pricey indulgence. If you budget for dining out, get more bang for your buck with the "high-low" method.

Two of our favourite food sites, The Kitchn and Serious Eats, explain the many reasons why you shouldn't dine out on Valentine's Day. Here's their reasoning, but will this convince you?

Most Aussies prefer to crack open an ice-cold beer with their pizza, but wine is arguably a superior beverage choice -- especially in winter. This infographic from food-pairing app Indian Wine List matches a handful of wine grape varieties to palate-matching pizza toppings. Make mine a Pepperoni 'n' Merlot!

Is it more expensive to dine out in Australia than Europe? Blogger Matt Cowgill conducted a thorough analysis of both fine dining and Big Mac costs in Australia and Europe and concluded that whether you look at basic exchange rates, purchasing power parity or how much of the average weekly wage is needed to buy one, Australia generally comes out at the cheaper end of the scale.

An expensive dinner in a flash restaurant is a core part of Valentine's Day for many people; sexual intercourse with your loved one even more so. If you're planning for both, we suggest having the sex before having the meal.

Here's a relatively novel way to earn frequent flyer points: Virgin is offering 500 points each time you book a restaurant through the bookarestaurant.com site between now and the end of July.

Fancy 20 per cent off at a nearby restaurant? Optus' new Go Places app includes discount vouchers for "thousands" of restaurants -- but the vouchers themselves aren't free.

Android: When picking a restaurant, it's good to know that it hasn't been busted for food safety violations. Eat Safe identifies restaurants that have been the subject of food safety investigations in the past.

If you're trying to lose weight (or maintain the weight you're at) then dining out can be a particular challenge. Make sure you're not tempted by dessert with a simple strategy: get the bill as soon as your main course is delivered.