Has anyone ever used restaurant.com?

[Mary•Poppins]

I just found this out when I checked my Upromise account. (by the way if you enter in the code: MEAL you get an 80% discount)

The site looks very interesting ... but I am a little leery. It looks too good to be true ... and you know what they say about that!

Any info. you have ... good or bad would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Redwitch]

I use them all the time. Just read the fine print before you purchase. You often must purchase above the value of the certificate, alcohol may be excluded and weekends may be blacked out. Generally they are once per month per restaurant and expire in a year.

 

[Little Bit]

I got that same offer last year and bought a few gift certificates from a local restaurant. A few days later I was notified that the restaurant was no longer participating. So I had to call restaurant.com and they tried to get me to transfer the certificates to another restaurant, but I just wanted my money back. Too much trouble. They did end up refunding me, but I ignore the offers now.

 

[ttrfanatic]

Restaurant.com is the bomb!!!! I use it all the time and have never had an issue with them.

As mentioned before, make sure you check the specifics of the certificate. I usually get a $25 certificate. They are priced at $10 and with 80% off that ends up costing me $2 for a $25 cert.

The typical conditions for a $25 cert is usally you have to spend at least $35 and it cannot go towards the purchase of any alcohol. And they stipulate that the gratuity will be automatically added to the bill - I can't remember right off the top of my head but I believe it is 15 or 18%. I usually tip between 15 and 20% anyway so it works for me.

I've found if you have 3 or more people eating then it definitely saves you money. Depending on the scale of the restaurant you might be able to reach the $35 mark with 2 ppl.

I also haven't come across the condition that you can only use one per restaurant per month but then it again it might be that the restaurants I use them at do not have that stipulation.

These are definitely worth it! I just wish more restaurants would join the program so I could use them at more places....

Just my 2 cents...

 

[Wilsonfamily4]

I too have used them (for about 2-3 years) and they work just fine. The restaurants can change from time to time so don't sit on it too long. For our family of four it works great.

 

[Poohbear5]

My daughter uses it alot. Haven't tried it yet myself. She says it's an inexpensive way to try out new places. She says call the restaurant before purchasing to be sure they are still participating and don['t have restrictions on what night you go.

 

[abmitch01]

I've used it many times. The tracking of certs you bought can be a little confusing the way the site is set up. I like how now you can buy them in denominations and pick the restaurant when you are ready to use the certificate.

Twice I had certs and the restaurants went belly up, they were good about reimbursing me.

 

[alyssa810]

I've used it quite a bit too, and have had no issues getting reimbursed on certificates for places that closed. We tend to buy a bunch when they have the 80 and sometimes even 90% off codes! If you're headed to WDW or the Orlando area, House of blues is now on there, which we will be sure to get! we also used one for BB Kings when we were down in January. It makes an overpriced tourist trap not so bad!

 

[Brer Shay]

Another satisfied customer here! I've used them about a dozen times in the last year or so. I just got one at the 80% off for House of Blues for our summer trip. Never had any problem using them according to the rules. As someone else said, read the fine print. Most require you to spend a certain amount to get the amount credited. Does sound too good to be true, but in this case, it works!

 

[pixiewings71]

We just used one last night to try someplace new. I've used them in the past as well and our favorite restaurant participates so we always use one there. It's very easy for us to make the $35 minimum to use a $25 card, especially with 4 in our family.

 

[lovesmurfs]

I just found this out when I checked my Upromise account. (by the way if you enter in the code: MEAL you get an 80% discount)

The site looks very interesting ... but I am a little leery. It looks too good to be true ... and you know what they say about that!

Any info. you have ... good or bad would be appreciated. Thanks!

I just bought from them (using the MEAL code) earlier this week -- 3 $25 certificates (for local restaurants), and one $50 certificate (for a Chicago dinner cruise for our anniversary ) for $12 total. I believe that MEAL code may expire on April 30, though.

 

[chobie]

I've used it quite a bit too, and have had no issues getting reimbursed on certificates for places that closed. We tend to buy a bunch when they have the 80 and sometimes even 90% off codes! If you're headed to WDW or the Orlando area, House of blues is now on there, which we will be sure to get! we also used one for BB Kings when we were down in January. It makes an overpriced tourist trap not so bad!

Was alcohol included in the BB King one? It doesn't say it's not included. I have a couple for there.

 

[shoney]

Was alcohol included in the BB King one? It doesn't say it's not included. I have a couple for there.

BB kings does let you use the cert for food, alcohol and merchandise. We purchased a 100 one and had to spend 200 to use it. That was easy with 6 people. Then they add the 20% tip. The food was very good...we were surprised.

 

[chobie]

BB kings does let you use the cert for food, alcohol and merchandise. We purchased a 100 one and had to spend 200 to use it. That was easy with 6 people. Then they add the 20% tip. The food was very good...we were surprised.

Thanks!

 

[Kitikat]

We also bought 3 for our 2 upcoming trips. All are for the HOBs. I have a question. There are 7 of us so we are planning on using 2 gift cert. Do we have to make 2 reservations and sit at 2 tables to use both or can we just have them give us 2 checks??
We also got 1 to use on our anniversary trip/cruise in dec.
thanks
Kathie

 

[abmitch01]

I think most places, it's one cert per table.



90%- never seen that, I'll have to be on the lookout!

 

[mbw12]

love it! Ive used it for local area restaurants to "try something new"...and in August we traveled to Hilton head Island...so I bought 2 for 2 different restaurants there (after researching about the restaurants) and they worked great! Wait for the codes to get the 80% off!!!!1

 

[deerhart]

oh my I love this site because 2 of the restaurants right near us participate.

Nothing like paying $2.70 for a $25 gift certificate when you spend $35.00.

Our family of 4 will go in and get a 1/2 priced appetizer and our meals and drinks and end up paying only like $15 after tip.

But you MUST read the restrictions carefully on the cert as some places have restrictions. The place we use the most has a $35 min, adds 18% gratuity to the bill, and the certs can only be used Mon-Thu (no big deal on any of it for us)

 

[zalansky]

We love restaurant.com also! We always buy when they're 80% off, its rare to get 90% but it happens now and then. Like everyone has said, make sure and read the fine print. Other than that, use them and ENJOY!

 

[Mary•Poppins]

Thank you everyone! I just bought $95.00 worth of certificates for ... it think $8.60!

I felt much more comfortable using this site after everyone's reviews ... THANKS!