Restaurant.com

[edible complex]

Restaurant.com has a new 80% off code MENU available. The $25 gift certificates are normally $10, but are $2 with the code.
They also sell $10 certificates for select restaurants for $3, making them 60 cents each with the code.

[Admin]

Direct link: Restaurant.com

[BTG]

Has anyone had any problems with any restaurants not honoring these certificates? I have heard a few grumblings of some of the places not owning up to the deal.

I have had alot of success with the half off deal from 101.9/clear channel, but those folks just mail you a gift card from the restaurant.
How does the restaurant.com thing work? Just seems to good be true.

[Admin]

Redeeming the coupons requires some minimum purchase, may be limited to certain days or hours, and typically excludes things like alcohol. You'll never find yourself in a situation where your check totals $25, and you are then able to present a $25 face value certificate in payment. The restaurants use the program to generate additional business in a manner similar to the way hotels fill rooms, that would otherwise go unoccupied, via large discounts.

Some people report problems using the certificates when restaurants suddenly drop out of the program, which they are apparently within rights to do. Restaurant.com will re-issue coupons for another restaurant of your choice in such cases.

[nikinik]

I've used a bunch of these and I've never had a problem with a restaurant accepting them.

The only issues I've had...

1) I bought a Fire of Brazil certificate. The next day I got an email from Restaurant.com to let me know that FOB was no longer honoring them...and they gave me a credit to buy another certificate. This was no big deal. It's not like I went to the restaurant and they wouldn't accept it.

2) I went to one restaurant that I honestly feel upped the price on our liquor because they knew we had a coupon. We were charged $11 per shot of petron silver and that is just outrageous. Also they were out of everything and my steak was cooked wrong and I had to send it back...then when I got a new one it was the wrong cut and about 1/2 the size that was indicated on the menu. I'm thinking they probably ran out of that too. I'll never go back there.

Some definite hits were...

Faustos
ONE
Cafe Rani
Cafe DiBlasi
Vincent's

[EatinAintCheatin]

Some people report problems using the certificates when restaurants suddenly drop out of the program, which they are apparently within rights to do. Restaurant.com will re-issue coupons for another restaurant of your choice in such cases.

The restaurant in question that quit honoring is Baru Bistro & Tapas. The way Restaurant.com handled it was to issue a voucher coupon good for any participating restaurant in any city.

I've successfully used a coupon at Don Victor's and they were very receptive.

[buzd]

2) I went to one restaurant that I honestly feel upped the price on our liquor because they knew we had a coupon. We were charged $11 per shot of petron silver and that is just outrageous. Also they were out of everything and my steak was cooked wrong and I had to send it back...then when I got a new one it was the wrong cut and about 1/2 the size that was indicated on the menu. I'm thinking they probably ran out of that too. I'll never go back there.

Unless there is some doubt about the requirements, I don't usually tell a restaurant I am using a coupon or gift certificate until it's time to pay.

[Dilfan]

Buzd,
Usually, one of the requirements of the Restaurant.com "coupon" is to present the certificate to the server when ordering. There may be some restriction variations between businesses, but each coupon spells out the individual process. I used one a couple of weeks ago at Restaurant Cypress and had no problems whatsoever.

[Mrs. Fury]

Hey niknik - when is the last time you went to DiBlasi and how was it?

[nikinik]

I'd say we went about 6 months ago.

Service: 8
Decor: 5 (this place really needs updating)
Food: 8

Definitely worth it with the certificate. But you know I can't remember for the life of me what we had. Sorry I couldn't be of more help.