Groupon @ Diva $15 for $35
Sep. 25th, 2010 01:37 am![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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davis_squareToday's Davis Square deal Diva Indian Bistro, $15 for $35. They started specifying it's not for the lunch buffet (the first time they offered things it was, and I suspect it got used a lot for 4 people to come in and gnaw off). There is no mention of whether it is good for the Diva Lounge, which previous deals have specified as a No, but my guess is they'll say Diva Bistro != Diva Lounge. It is also eat in only.
Groupon recently approached me to ask if I'd like to become their 'Local Expert' for the general Cambridge/Somerville/Arlington area (after making sure I could still totally refer people to other sites, I said sure). If there's something in the area that you've always wanted to see put on Groupon, this is a chance; if you have a beloved little place you'd totally love a Groupon for, let me know and unless I really dislike the place*, I'll throw it in. Things through the Local Expert program are fast tracked over the online submission form.
*the only place in Somerville I've actively disliked** was Amelia's, who served scallops that might have actually been artificial ones made out of gelatin, and the Chef argued with me about chicken that was raw in the middle (it was wrapped in prosciutto, he said, so it just picked up the pink colour, I was told. The fact it was pink in the middle and cold to the touch was irrelevant or something).
**I was ok with the food at Pulse, except it took them forever, and my entree was blandblandbland. Apps and my companion's food were tasty. The Chef came out to talk to us, but it felt more like he came to defend his food. Unlike Amelia's, I will go back there.
Groupon recently approached me to ask if I'd like to become their 'Local Expert' for the general Cambridge/Somerville/Arlington area (after making sure I could still totally refer people to other sites, I said sure). If there's something in the area that you've always wanted to see put on Groupon, this is a chance; if you have a beloved little place you'd totally love a Groupon for, let me know and unless I really dislike the place*, I'll throw it in. Things through the Local Expert program are fast tracked over the online submission form.
*the only place in Somerville I've actively disliked** was Amelia's, who served scallops that might have actually been artificial ones made out of gelatin, and the Chef argued with me about chicken that was raw in the middle (it was wrapped in prosciutto, he said, so it just picked up the pink colour, I was told. The fact it was pink in the middle and cold to the touch was irrelevant or something).
**I was ok with the food at Pulse, except it took them forever, and my entree was blandblandbland. Apps and my companion's food were tasty. The Chef came out to talk to us, but it felt more like he came to defend his food. Unlike Amelia's, I will go back there.
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Date: 2010-09-25 11:05 am (UTC)no subject
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Date: 2010-09-25 01:51 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-09-25 02:24 pm (UTC)Also would like to see ones for Flatbread Co. at Sacco's, Out of the Blue, Yak and Yeti, Highland Kitchen, and Lyndell's.
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Date: 2010-09-25 03:02 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-09-25 06:32 pm (UTC)It's seriously the best groupon-type-thing ever.
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Date: 2010-09-25 06:48 pm (UTC)I do like the shorter time period, but it doesn't expire idea, myself. I also think that something that goes that way works better for encouraging someone to become a regular; a $30 one time only use at a place that costs $10 an entree encourages me to take a friend, once. a $30 gift card encourages me to go a couple times and changes...the way you think about the place. Maybe that's me, but I enjoy the options the gift card gives.
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Date: 2010-09-26 12:36 am (UTC)it was probably clear and I just didn't realize it.
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Date: 2010-09-25 02:59 pm (UTC)no subject
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Date: 2010-09-25 09:42 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-09-25 09:45 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-09-26 12:09 am (UTC)Strangely enough, Diva's Lounge is one of my favorite places in Davis. But I doubt they'd do a Diva's Lounge Groupon since most Groupons don't like to include booze.
Kids at Diva
Date: 2010-10-01 03:58 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-09-26 01:36 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-09-25 06:55 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-09-26 03:46 am (UTC)And don't forget Eat At Jumbo's and Boston Burger!
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Date: 2010-09-25 07:05 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-09-25 09:44 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-09-25 10:14 pm (UTC)The thing is that merchants don't seem to be giving those deals directly. They never do a 'secret sale' where you can buy groupon-like deals in their online store (or if they have, even though I follow this sort of thing religiously, it never does reach me). At least in part, they're doing it because Diva on twitter (http://twitter.com/divarestaurant) has 582 followers as I write this. Groupon has 6894 (http://twitter.com/grouponboston).
Groupon does have a lot of bargain shoppers and such, but about half the groupons I've bought have been 'I've always really wanted to try them, but...' And telling their regulars there's 35% off this afternoon doesn't really do what businesses are using the voucher sites to do. If you already go somewhere, you're probably not their target market for this advertising.
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Date: 2010-09-25 11:01 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-09-26 12:45 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-09-26 01:17 am (UTC)Tu Y Yo, but I don't know how their popularity is doing lately.
The Macchu Picchu sandwichy grill place in Union Square.
Wang's or East Asia.
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Date: 2010-09-26 01:33 am (UTC)Pulse was utterly disappointing. It takes real effort to mess up nachos, but they managed it. :-/
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Date: 2010-09-26 01:51 am (UTC)Any of those would fill me with great joy.
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Date: 2010-09-26 04:22 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-09-26 07:12 am (UTC)edit: also when you buy the voucher, the pdf version that you print will *also* have the expiration date on it.
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Date: 2010-09-26 01:38 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-09-26 03:47 pm (UTC)Odd trivia almost no one cares about but most people in this community will; the first restaurant, on the first episode of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives was Kelly's in Ball Square.
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Date: 2010-09-26 10:52 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-09-26 11:56 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-09-27 05:54 am (UTC)It's so good there that I've felt guilty because I've seeing Paul at Gargoyles a lot less ;-)
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Date: 2010-10-01 10:03 pm (UTC)Also, slightly upper-scale stuff I tend not to try, but might if I had a coupon. Temple Bar, Chez Henri, Russell House Tavern, Upstairs on the square, Henrietta's Table, Rialto, etc. sabur did the YUM card fundraiser, so they are open to discount promotions. The Independent, Precinct, Ronnarong Thai Tapas, Dali, Bergamot.
Punjab in Arlington. Also Midomi. And Gemma in Arlington just opened a new seating area and could use publicity that they're now dine-in as well as takeout/delivery.
JP Lick's - something like $10 for $20 on a cash cow card.
Also, non-restaurant things. Membership at the Brattle Theater, or the ART or Museum of science. Discounts at salons like Judy Jetson, Floyd's, (or maybe the smaller Davis-local ones too, though they might not want to sell enough to be a main deal and could be side-deals?). Porter square vets. Boston sports club. Davis squared, Magpie, even Kickass Cupcakes (I had one recently; they're much better than they used to be).
If they could do a cover charge pass at Oberon like the one they did for Johnny D's, that would be *brilliant*. (They'd need to be clear on what kinds of shows were eligible; ie only general admission and not assigned-seat theater like Cabaret.)