Restaurant.com is offering a 80% off with the coupon code CHEF, resulting in a $25 “certificate” for $2. Offer ends September 30th.
Contrary to my skeptical remarks(I’ve never used one of these before), many readers responded that they indeed found these certificates very useful in savings some money.
Here’s a sample positive scenario. You find a restaurant on the list that you like that usually runs around $20 + tip per person (~$48 for a couple). You buy a $25 certificate for $2, which usually comes with a $35 minimum purchase + 18% required gratuity on full price.
Dinner for two = $40 regular menu priceMinus $25 certificate = $15
Plus cost of certificate ($2) = $17
Plus 18% gratuity on menu price = $7.20
Total price w/ tip = $24.20, or $12 a person + taxes
In that case, you can save around 50% on the total bill. Good thing I’m married and don’t have to worry about going on dates with coupons! 🙂
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We usually end up spending about the same amount with these coupons as we would without, but we get more or at least more exciting food and perhaps booze. This seems to make the experience more rewarding for the same price.
We used to use these at the local steak house until they stopped accepting the certificates. It was a good deal. Minimum purchase was $50 and 2 x steak dinners was just about $50 so add drinks for $4 and you get a bill of $54. After the $25 gift certificate we owed $29 + tip on $54. So in the end it saved about $20 off what would be a $60 bill.
I have had two bad experiences with them (ok 3). In one case, the restaurant overcharged me on my credit card. In another, they wouldnt accept it on the prix fixe meal and then charged me an extra appetizer. And in the 3rd, the place went out of business before I used it.
I know these all could be any old restaurant experience, but I think the places that offer these tend to be hurting in the first place. I would only pick those that you knew well already (and skip these for the date :-).
P.S. All issues got fixed though 🙂
My wife and I used restaurants.com all the time. The key is to not spend way more than the minimum charge. Occasionally, there are restaurants that do not require minimum charge (I couldn’t find one recently).
In the past my wife found a nice Italian restaurant that didn’t require a minimum charge and they had $75 off coupon. My wife and I went to that restaurant and spent around $76. We ended up paying $1 + tip 🙂
If you order through cashbaq.com it will be $1.60 (20% off).
j –
I wouldn’t say the key is to spend the bare minimum. The key is to have the best experience possible. If you really want the bare minimum, stay home and make a meal. The real key is to not overspend because of the certificate.
Again, these certificates allow for a much more enjoyable dining experience because it allows the frugal person in me to relax with some upgrades that I would normally forgo.
I’ve had good experiences with these, except that some restaurants place overly strict restrictions on them. (i.e., “You can get $25 off, but you have to come in Sun-Thurs, between 6:00 and 6:15pm, and the humidity can’t be above 82”).
I exaggerate, but you get the idea.
Other than that, though, it’s a good way to get some money off of your meals out.
New code, not quite as good but not bad:
Use code SHRIMP get a $25 certificate for $5.
This is a great blog…thanks for the info!
The formula you used to come up with your 50% savings is faulty.
Dinner for two = $40 regular menu price
Minus $25 certificate = $15
Plus cost of certificate ($2) = $17
Plus 18% gratuity on menu price = $7.20
Total price w/ tip = $24.20, or $12 a person + taxes
You’re forgetting that you probably (most likely) would have been leaving a tip already on the $40 dollar amount which would have added another 15% ($6) give or take. So instead of bringing the price from 40 to 24.20 its 46 to 24.20.