When Steve Hepokoski used his first Groupon coupon at W.A. Frost in St. Paul, he surreptitiously slid it under his plate.
“It felt awkward using a coupon at a restaurant with linen tablecloths and an extensive wine list,” said Hepokoski, 52, an optometrist from Maple Grove.
After using a few more daily deal coupons at places such as McCormick & Schmicks, Pittsburgh Blue and Uptown Cafeteria, he got more comfortable with the process: “Now I just lay it on the table as soon as we sit down.”
For Hepokoski and others, the embarrassment of pulling out a coupon, especially at fine restaurants, appears to have gone the way of beef Wellington and baked Alaska, thanks to ubiquitous website deals and even a new service that allows the discount to be kept between the host and the restaurant.