$10 Dining Discount Program Proposed To Encourage San Diegans To Dine Out

San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond has proposed a program to help local restaurants recover financially from the COVID-19 pandemic, reports NBC7.

The Dine-in and Help Out program would give customers 50% off their meals, up to $10 per person, if they eat at a local restaurant on Mondays, Tuesdays, or Wednesdays.

Then, the restaurants can submit their receipts to the county for reimbursement for the remaining price of the meal.

"This program is a win-win program," Desmond explained in a Facebook post. "It’s a win for the customers, many of whom have lost their jobs, who have had trouble paying their rent, who would benefit greatly by getting discounted meals. And it’s a win for the restaurants, who have suffered greatly over the last year."

The proposal calls for $50 million of the $300 million in federal assistance given to San Diego County.

Desmond said the idea was modeled after a similar program happening in the United Kingdom.

Local restaurant owners are also enthusiastic about the potential program.

"It's definitely going to help me to have happy customers, make sure the customer service is great. That kind of helps put people in a better mood because they got a free beer, they got compensated in some way, to be incentivized to come out as well," the owner of Oggi's in Del Mar Janis Deady told NBC7.

The County Board of Supervisors is expected to vote on the proposal in June.

Photo: Getty Images