Restaurant.com: Get a $25 gift certificate for just $2!

Restaurant.com has a HOT promotion right now: you can save 80%, which means that a $25 gift card to some locations will only be $2! This promotion is valid through 9/14/11.

Here’s how you can take advantage of this great offer:

1. Visit Retaurant.com here

2. Enter your zip code to search for restaurants by location. Choose a certificate and click on the green “Add to Cart” button. You can also get a $25 Restaurant.com gift certificate for us at a later date for as low as $2 after the discount!

3. When you add items to your cart, make sure you enter the promotional code “SAVE” in the yellow discount code box at the top of the page. Complete the check-out process.

DISCLAIMER: Make sure you read the fine print on the gift certificate options! They typically have restrictions such as:

-Minimum purchase of X required
-Gratuity added automatically based on pre-discount price
-Valid for dine-in/dinner only

I often get questions asking how this works or if it’s really a good deal. It is for me. Here’s an example. A local restaurant we have been wanting to try has a $25 gift certificate for $20. The “fine print” says that you have to spend at least $35 and that 18% gratuity is added. Given the cost of food at this location, we would easily be spending $35 anyway.

Here’s a breakdown on pricing:

Buy $25 Restaurant.com certificate – priced at $20

-$16 (80% off code)

Spend $4 + $10 (because our total would be at least $35) and $6.30 for the 18% gratuity – we’re getting a meal that would have been $41.30 with tip for $20.30. That’s half price! Sounds like a good deal to me!