“If you get somebody in with a deal, they’re likely to purchase more things while they’re there because they will see the menu and all the other things the restaurant has to offer,” said Katharyn DeVille, the bureau’s vice president of marketing and communications.

If you're ever sent to interview Chef Ernest Palmisano Jr. at Ernest's Orleans – the restaurant that he and his late mother, Marjorie, opened on Spring Street in 1988 – here's a word of advice: Don't try to interview him near the door.

For some, dining out is an occasional indulgence. For others, it’s a way of life. If this year has taught us anything, it is how valuable our health is. And fortunately, there are things we can do to effortlessly make healthy choices while dining out. Here are five simple strategies to get you started:.