The Barnsider

This holiday season buying a restaurant gift card for someone else can mean a little something extra for you.  As gift cards become increasingly popular among consumers, restaurant  are doing what they can to make sure it is theirs you are buying.The standard seems to be a $5 certificate for each $25 spent in gift certificates.  The “bonus” gift cards are often only good for a limited amount of time, most encouraging you to return in January, the slowest dining out month for most restaurant.  Here’s a round up of deals being offered by local eating establishments:

Amber Rose -Buy $25 – get $5

Barleycorn’s – Buy $100 – get $20

The Barnsider – Buy $30 – get $10 or Buy $75 – get $25

The Caroline– Buy $100 – get $25 free

Christopher’s – Buy $25 – get $5

Coco’s Bistro – Buy $100, get $20

Dublin Pub – Buy $50, get $10

Figlio – Buy $100, Get $25

Hawthorn Grill – Buy $50, get$ 10

Milano’s – Buy $25, get $5

Sweeney’s Seafood – Buy $100, get $20

As you know, I prefer to promote locally owned businesses, but many of you may need to know about national chains for gift giving purposes, so here’s a link that will give you a listing of  those: click here. One of the best deals out there is by BD Mongolian Grill,  they have the standard buy $25, get $5 deal, but if you spend $50 you’ll get $10 in gift certificates and a free 2011 BD’s calendar which offers $10 in dining deals each month, a $120 value.  It’s a great deal if you like creating your own stir fry meals.

And if you know of a deal not listed, please add it to the comments below!  Thanks and happy dining!