How much is your lunch worth?

A typical meal at the Q restaurant, where you eat first and then you decide how much you'd like to pay for it. Photo / Herald on Sunday

One of New Zealand's top hotels is telling diners to "pay what you like" for lunch, in a bid to boost trade during the recession.

Q Restaurant at the five-star Westin Hotel in Auckland's Viaduct this month is giving diners a blank bill for a three-course meal which usually costs about $50.

"Everyone is offering $22 lunches and special deals but we didn't want to be the same as everyone else," said hotel general manager Marcus Reinders. "We would hope that people don't [take advantage of it]."

The fancy Villa d'Vine restaurant in trendy Ponsonby has reopened as South American-flavoured Mango Tango, and offers a similar deal.

Main meals have blank spaces on the menu where the price should be, and diners pay what they think the dish is worth. Owner and chef Tony Matches said the deal had been a hit since its start a month ago. "The mains are worth around $25 to $30, and that's what people are paying us, with a couple of people paying up to $40."

Elsewhere in Ponsonby, Magnum has rebranded as a "neighbourhood eatery" with cheaper meals. Co-owner Melissa Morrow said the Ponsonby Rd bistro aims to provide affordable dining on one of Auckland's priciest strips.

Ponsonby institution SPQR, Frankie's Fish House in Herne Bay and Kermadec at Auckland's Viaduct are also benefiting from meal deals, but the trend isn't confined to the City of Sails. Award-winning chef Simon Gault is offering a $29.95 set dinner at his Wellington restaurant Pravda to coax back customers.

"We've gone back 10 years in terms of pricing and we've had to do it largely because people are not going out as much ... we have to give people a reason to keep coming."

Consumer New Zealand research manager Belinda Allan said more restaurants could be forced to reduce their charges to ride out the recession.

"People are a bit more thoughtful about what they spend their money on and they are picking and choosing a lot more."