Premium dining could mean higher prices at restaurants

NEW YORK - Some people pay a little extra to be the first to board a flight or fork out extra for a hotel room over a holiday weekend, but when it comes to restaurants, are you ready to pay a premium?

It's already happening at fine dining establishments in the New York City area and it could be coming to an eatery near you.

According to a New York Times report , restaurants are catching up with the rest of the hospitality industry when it comes to variable pricing.

Technology is helping pave the way. You can book online reservations for 1,000 restaurants on Savored.com but you only get discounts for off-peak dining and in some cases that might mean dinner at 11 p.m.

Weeknight or early-bird diners can more often get a deal and it helps restaurants fill up when they might otherwise have empty tables.

To read the full New York Times report, go to www.nytimes.com/2012/09/05/dining/restaurant-prices-can-vary-by-reservation-time.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all .