In short: A promotion is something a venue advertises. SG Best calls it a deal only when the source shows a specific benefit for the customer, such as a discount, a free extra, or a better price than the venue’s comparable usual offer. A set price or happy-hour price on its own does not prove a saving.
Restaurants and bars use words such as promo, special and value set in different ways. For our Singapore food and drink comparisons, we use a narrower test: what extra value can a customer actually get, and what must they do to get it? A promoted item can still be worth buying, even when it does not meet our definition of a deal.
What is a promotion?
A promotion is a venue’s announcement or offer. It might introduce a new dish, advertise a lunch set, show a happy-hour price or highlight a limited-time menu. The word describes how the venue presents something; it does not, by itself, establish a discount or free benefit.
What counts as a deal on SG Best?
We look for a stated, usable consumer benefit. Examples include a percentage or dollar discount, 1-for-1 or buy-one-get-one-free, an additional free item or gift, or a price compared with the same venue’s usual price for the same item and quantity. A member or cardholder reward can qualify when the reward is stated. A condition does not cancel the deal, but we show it rather than treating the benefit as available to everyone.
We do not infer savings from a low-looking price, the word “promo,” or a comparison with a different restaurant. For a set or bundle, we need a like-for-like usual price or a separately promised extra benefit. “Three for $42” alone is a price; if the same venue also states that one costs $16, three singles would cost $48 and the stated bundle saves $6 before any applicable charges.
Four examples that set the boundary
Happy-hour cocktails at $12
With no usual price or extra benefit stated, this is a happy-hour promotion, not a proved deal. The $12 price does not show a saving against the venue’s normal cocktail price.
Weekday lunch set at $10
With no comparable usual price or extra gift stated, this is a non-deal, tagged as a set. The set may be useful, but its price alone does not establish a discount.
Members get 1-for-1 mains
This is a conditional deal because the extra main is a stated reward. We show the membership and purchase terms.
1-for-1 on a paid buffet
This is a conditional deal because the 1-for-1 is an extra benefit. A plain buffet or free-flow listing stays in its own category.
Food and drink already included in the normal price of a set, buffet or free-flow package are part of the product. We do not count them again as a separate free gift. A chance to win something is also different from a guaranteed benefit and should be described as a chance, with its entry conditions.
How we compare the value of a deal
We compare like with like: the same item, serving size and quantity, at the same venue, against a stated or verifiable usual price. We consider the full amount a customer must pay, including applicable GST, service charge, minimum spend and required purchases. We also record limits such as selected items, day and time, booking, membership, payment card, app or promo code, and stock availability.
A headline discount is not always the saving on the whole bill. For example, “50% off the second main” depends on the price of both mains and any restrictions. We show the stated mechanic and conditions instead of assuming every customer receives the maximum advertised saving. A deal being cheaper than its own usual price does not prove it is Singapore’s lowest price; that needs a separate, current comparison across venues.
How do we check that an offer is still available?
We use the venue’s source page, post, poster or menu and check any start and end dates. A passed explicit end date takes priority over an old cached listing. A recurring offer shown on a recently checked live venue page can still be current even if the page was published earlier. An old social post alone is not proof that an offer continues. Availability can change, so check the linked venue source and its terms before ordering or travelling.
Quick questions
Is every restaurant promotion a deal? No. A new item, set price or happy-hour headline can be a promotion without a proved saving or extra gift.
Can a deal have conditions? Yes. Minimum spend, membership, time windows and required purchases are part of the deal and should be shown clearly.
Does a free-flow package count as a deal? A plain free-flow package is a product listing. A stated discount or 1-for-1 added to that package can be a deal.
Does “best deal” mean the lowest price in Singapore? No. We only make a lowest-price claim after a current, like-for-like comparison across relevant venues.