Saving-savvy customers have turned to online deals for dining out since the economic downturn.

Restaurant.com President and Chief Marketing Officer Christopher Krohn noticed a surprising trend in the Akron-Canton region during the past few years.

"One of the things that we've seen as a surprise, is that the average amount that people spent when they're going out actually increased from 2010 to 2011," he said.

American cuisine restaurant certificates are the obvious top-sellers on Restaurant.com for the Akron-Canton region, but Krohn says Italian restaurants took second place.

The biggest growth was seen in the Mexican food category, where Krohn says he's noticed an up tick in the number of venues serving customers in the area.

The website offers diners a variety of choices by a quick search of their zip code. While Restaurant.com has been in operation for the past 12 years, Krohn says they've seen dramatic growth lately.

"We've seen a lot of grow in traffic," he said.

"We've also seen a lot of folks who are really very budget conscious given the economy and are looking for great deals."

How To Use It:

• Enter in your zip code.
• Select a new or favorite restaurant.
• Check out the deals for purchasing a dining certificate (often $10 for $25 of food).
• Print out the certificate or pull it up on your mobile device.

Tip: sign-up for email alerts, as they send you coupon codes that would make your purchase often less than half the regular asking price.