Key takeaways
- Go early or midweek. Quiet hours are when restaurants post deals, and you get a calmer table.
- Pick the deal that fits what you would both eat anyway. On the example dinner below, a 2-for-1 on mains beats 20% off the whole bill.
- HST is worked out after the deal, so a deal also lowers the tax. The example dinner drops from $76.84 to $51.98.
- Call ahead to check for a table and to ask about diets. Then claim your deal before you leave.
- Plan something free to do afterwards, such as a walk. Main Street Unionville is a short walk from Toogood Pond.
The short answer
The cheapest good date night is an early dinner on a weeknight, with the deal chosen before the restaurant. Look for a deal that covers a main dish each, check the final price with tax, and keep the drinks modest. In the example below, the same dinner for two comes to $76.84 at full price and $51.98 with a 2-for-1 on the mains. Deals start in Markham on January 1, 2027, and you can explore the map now.
This is a plan, not a ranking of restaurants. We do not name places here, because the live deals change every day. FIG shows you what is on near you right now.
Step 1: pick the hour
Restaurants are busiest at weekend dinner. The rest of the week, many have empty tables earlier in the evening, and an empty table earns nothing, which is why owners post deals then.
| When | Why it suits a date |
|---|---|
| Monday to Thursday, early dinner | Before the evening rush. Quieter room, easier conversation, more deals |
| Weekday late afternoon | If your schedule allows it, an early meal followed by a walk |
| Late evening | After the rush, for dessert and a drink, if the kitchen is still open |
| Weekend dinner | The busiest time. Book ahead, and expect fewer deals |
Every restaurant is different, so treat this as a pattern, not a rule. Each deal on FIG shows its own days and hours. When Markham restaurants post deals.
Step 2: start from what you both want
Set your cravings, budget and diet in FIG once. Home and the map then show live deals from places that fit, nearest first. If one of you is halal, vegetarian, vegan or gluten-free, set that before you look, so every option works for both of you. For allergies, filters are only a starting point, so call the restaurant. What to ask when you call.
Then choose by the dish, not the discount. A deal on something neither of you wanted is not a saving.
Step 3: compare the dinner, not the headline
Here is a dinner for two with round example prices: one shared starter, one main each and a drink each. Three ways to pay for it:
| Plan | Food and drink | HST at 13% | You pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| No deal: starter $12, two $22 mains, two $6 drinks | $68.00 | $8.84 | $76.84 |
| 20% off the whole bill | $54.40 | $7.07 | $61.47 |
| 2-for-1 on the mains (pay for one $22 main) | $46.00 | $5.98 | $51.98 |
Check: 20% of $68.00 is $13.60, so $54.40; HST $7.072 rounds to $7.07. For the 2-for-1: $12 + $22 + $12 = $46; HST is $5.98. The 2-for-1 saves $24.86 against full price, and $9.49 more than 20% off. If you were having two cheap mains and an expensive bottle, the answer would change, so redo it with your order.
The tax moves with the price. HST is worked out on what you pay after the restaurant's own discount, the same way a store coupon lowers the price before tax. This is general information, not tax advice. More on comparing deals.
Step 4: check there is a table
Call the restaurant before you go, especially if you want a quiet corner. Ask whether the deal works for a table for two and whether it applies to the dishes you have in mind. How a deal applies to your order is the restaurant's call, and a thirty-second call is easier than a surprise at the till. If you are dining on a weeknight, a booking is often not needed, but a call costs nothing.
Step 5: claim, go and show your code
- Claim the deal in FIG. Each of you can claim your own if the deal suits you both.
- At the restaurant, order as usual. When it is time to pay, open your Deals page and tap Show QR for staff to scan, or scan the restaurant's counter code if they have one.
- The deal comes off the bill. You pay the restaurant the way you always do.
Your code keeps changing, so a screenshot will not work. How deals work, from claim to counter. If something does not scan, here is what to check.
Step 6: keep the extras modest
Drinks, desserts and sides are usually full price, and they are where a budget evening gets away from you. A few ways to keep it enjoyable:
- Share a dessert. Two spoons, one price.
- Pick one drink each, or one to share. Tap water is a fine second round.
- Look at the whole bill before you order, and decide on a number you are comfortable with.
- Tip is your choice. Many people tip on the price before the deal, because the service was the same. That is a personal call, not a rule.
If it is a first date or a special night
Choose a place where you can talk. Early weeknight dinners are quieter, and a table for two by the window usually helps more than a discount does. If you are unsure of a dish, read the restaurant's page and its reviews first. Only diners whose visit was scanned can review on FIG, so you are reading people who actually ate there. Sort by Newest to see how it is doing now. How to read a restaurant's reviews.
It also helps to agree on a rough budget before you leave, so neither of you is guessing at the till. A shared number, such as "about $60 for the dinner", is easier to keep to than a feeling. Then the deal is a pleasant surprise instead of a requirement.
Step 7: add something free
A date does not end at dessert, and the rest of the evening costs nothing. Main Street Unionville is a historic village street lined with restaurants, pubs and cafés, and Toogood Pond is steps away, which makes it an easy place to walk off a meal. In Markham Village, the old Main Street offers another option, a few kilometres east. Both are free to stroll. If it is raining or cold, a short walk through a plaza or a coffee instead still keeps the evening cheap. Tips on eating out on a budget.
A date-night budget in one table
| Item | Example, no deals | Example, with deals |
|---|---|---|
| Dinner for two (from above) | $76.84 | $51.98 |
| Shared dessert, $10 plus HST | $11.30 | $11.30 |
| A walk | $0 | $0 |
| Total before tip | $88.14 | $63.28 |
The saving is $24.86, about 28% of the full-price evening. The dessert is not discounted in this example. Your prices will differ, so use your own.
Questions
What is the cheapest way to do date night in Markham?
Go early on a weeknight, pick a deal that covers a main each, keep drinks modest and add something free afterwards, such as a walk. FIG shows live deals near you on a map.
Is a 2-for-1 better than 20% off for two people?
If you both want a main, usually yes. In the example in this post, a 2-for-1 on $22 mains came to $51.98 against $61.47 for 20% off the whole bill. Redo it with your own order.
Does a restaurant deal lower the tax?
Yes. In Ontario, HST is worked out after the restaurant's own discount, so a lower price means less tax. This is general information, not tax advice.
Do we each need our own deal?
Each person can claim their own if the deal suits both of you. Codes are personal and keep changing, so one person's code cannot be used by someone else.
Should I call the restaurant first?
A short call helps. Ask if there is a table, whether the deal works for two and whether it covers the dishes you want.
When do deals start in Markham?
Deals start on January 1, 2027. You can explore the map and restaurants now.
Is FIG free?
Yes, for diners. There are no ads for now.
