Restaurant.comReviews 866

The site is a total pain to use, it takes a while to find the restaurant you want and then once you find the restaurant it is even harder to buy the certificates because their account system is so horrible. I guess I got a good deal when I actually used the certificate, but now I have $100 in certificates. They only come in $5 increments for any of the good places you want to go and you can only use them once a month. It is really debatable whether or not the deal is worth the total pain of using their site and their god awful system of printing $5 certificates.

RE: restaurant.com
I am very dissatisfied with the treatment and obvious "bait and switch" tactics I've received from Restaurant.com and some of the establishments they promote. Recently I purchased a $50 (cost $8) certificate for Al's Seafood, Baltimore MD. We had our meal (min. $75), presented the cert. And the waitress handed it back saying, "It is not valid on steamed crabs". When I asked her to show me where it said that she actually said, "It used to say that". Then she went on to say that "you are supposed to present certificate before ordering". When I asked her to show me where it said that she said, "it used to say that". She blamed restaurant.com for the inconsistency. And I had no recourse but to pay the full bill ($86 + tip). When we returned home I called restaurant.com and they said they have been receiving multiple of complaints about the situation with Al's Seafood... But they would not stand behind their representation of Al's and just offered a refund of the certificate ($8) plus another $4)! So I overpaid $50, got mistreated by both establishments,,, and got back $4 for the experience. Never Again! My advice... Stay away from both of the these fugazi places.

I try to use restaurant.com gift certificates wherever I travel, as well as locally. My only problem with them is that lately, many restaurants have been dropping out. And the ones who have stayed have lowered their coupon values significantly.

I've never been told that my certificate wasn't good. There is no expiiration dates, and they are easily exchanged if the restaurant stops participating, or if you decide not to go there. Customer service has always been pleasant and cooperative.

I really don't understand why there are so many disgruntled former users.

First off, what people say about R.com here are all true. I'll try to share everything in bullet points.

Good: If the restaurants accept it, then it's worth the price you pay
Bad: Not all restaurants accept R.com certificates. Call in advance or simply pay before you eat.

Good: After your first purchase, you will get promotions such as $25 certificate for $4 or five $25 certificates for only $20. (it's still a good deal)
Bad: Be careful, they do NOT refund the purchase price regardless what the reason is.

Good: They list all types of restaurants, from American to Asian, to Mexican.
Bad: Their "distance" is bogus. I searched restaurants within 15 miles within the vicinity and the results even listed restaurants 25 miles away.

Good: No expiration date on the certificates
Bad: Don't matter. Sooner or later, either the restaurants refuse to accept these certificates, or they stop their "contract" with R.com

From experience, restaurants normally charge a gratuity or "extra" tax if you decide to use R.com certificates. (not mentioned under Terms & Conditions). Overall, I'm satisfied with R.com, but based on the hundreds of reviews I read, R.com is not on anyone's side. Not restaurant owners or consumers. They're there to make money from both ends. They are more of an online restaurant advertiser.

I can't say they are a scam, but I definitely can't say they are good to use. Use it at your own risk!

I decided to exchange some of my credit card points into restaurant.com "money." I have $1000 worth of restaurant gift certificates waiting for me to redeem them sitting in a restaurant.com account.

First the "good" (to be fair): I "bought" and used 2 certificates. I got "deals" on those certificates (I paid $5 for $10 gift certificates). I used them and used them, and everything was great. Also, if a participating restaurant goes out of business or stops participating, you can convert unused certificates to another restaurant (IF there is any other restaurant where you'd consider eating - remember some areas have very limited participating restaurants).

Now for the "bad": In all my recent experiences, Restaurant.com advertises all these great deals and prices, but it is false advertising. They use the old "bait and switch." When I log into my account and get the list of participating restaurants for my geographical location, the site advertises that I can get gift certificates for some of the restaurant at 1/2 price. Bear in mind that I am logged into my account when I get these half-off deals, so it is clearly intended to be applicable for me. However, when I go to check out, the prices aren't half-off as noted, they go back to full price when I get to my cart! I've tried it several times, and I have screen shots showing the difference in prices between those advertised and the price I get at checkout.

And the "worst of the worst": I sent a message to customer service about this problem (attaching the screen shots), and I got an automated email saying I should expect a response within 48 hours. I didn't get a response after 60 hours, so I sent another email. Obviously, I wanted to resolve this while the sale is still on. I got NOTHING back -- they NEVER responded. I can assure you that once I redeem all $1000 of my worthless credits, I will NEVER use this site again.

I rate them as a 1-star because to me, customer service is KEY. Businesses have issues arise, and people make mistakes. All I ask is that there be a procedure to address the problem. Restaurant.com FAILS MISERABLY at their customer service. Like I said, I've used restaurant.com without problems in the past so I know it works (sometimes), BUT I will not do business with a company whose customer service department refuses to even RESPOND to a customer concern. Even though a company may offer great deals when the process works, that means nothing if you can't get help on that one occasions where the company fails! I'd rather pay extra to another business with excellent customer service - at least I know the company is honest, and I know --for sure-- that I'm getting what I pay for. The poor customer service and the false advertising at restaurant.com make clear to me that this company is a 1 out of 5 stars.

If I could give them less than 1 star I would. $#*!tiest experience of my life. I got a $100 gift certificate to their site and set up my account. I added the certificate to my account and ordered a $50 gift certificate to use on my birthday. First of all they write insulting things all over the gift certificate like, "please remember to tip your server." No $#*! Sherlock. I feel like I am a child being punished. Then I get to the restaurant, and they aren't even open anymore! So I sign back on to my account to get my money back and order another one somewhere else and they didn't have my remaining $50 on my account! So I call customer service, no help at all. NEVER AGAIN. $#*! this site. End Rant Here.

Kind of a bummer. I bought $150 in certificates for this site thinking I could redeem more than one certificate at a time. Sort of dissapointing AFTER I purchase it to find out thats not the case. I was under the impression I could have treated my family to a nice dinner out if I purchased $100 worth of coupons for a certain restraunt and come to find out you can only redeem one coupon per visit. I would only get $25 off a $100 bill. I could have searched the web more for the proper info, but they sure make it difficult to fish though and find that important information. A little misleading. I know I should have done more research but I think MANY people are mislead about how many coupons you can redeem at once at their restraunts and it needs to be more OPENLY advertised on the site. Thats just called doing good business.

I've been using them for a few years now and have had no issues until recently. It is a good deal, but you have to invest time to your homework as it seems that the restaurant.com website itself is updated on a monthly basis now so they very likely may not have the correct information at the time purchase.

Case in point: I purchased a "certificate" coupon for a brunch place that was a bit out of our way a few hours before we headed out to the restaurant. The restaurant experience was satisfying however, when the bill came, the waitress kindly informed us that they no longer accept the http://restaurant.com "certificate" coupon even though http://restaurant.com continues to sell them. They told us that when they called http://restaurant.com to cancel their agreement, http://restaurant.com simply told them to tell their customers that they can exchange them for another restaurant that is still accepting them as payment.

So the moral of the story is: if you are going to use a restaurant.com "certificate" coupon, make sure you call the restaurant and verify that they are still accepting them before going. Also, I would discourage any one from buying a $25 restaurant.com "certificate" coupon for anything greater than $2. So wait for the sales that come around every several months or so!

Don't rely on their mobile application! Restuarant.com likes to tout their mobile app, which purportedly would allow you to use a certificate simply by showing the cert from your mobile phone or device. I've had three experiences already where restaurants refuse to accept the certificate from the mobile phone and say that they require the paper.

If you don't know whether or not a restaurant will accept the the mobile app, you might just as well print out the paper every time. It renders the mobile app useless.

My husband and I have been restaurant.com members for many many years, and yes we have benefiited from a lot of the places that we have gone to. It seems that lately though, restaurant.com is going down the tubes, as in the past 2 weeks we have tried 3 restaurants, and after you are seated and already have a drink, then they tell you we are no longer honoring these certificates, as we are in a lawsuit with this company! First time we heard it, we ignored it, but then heard the exact same story from the second restaurant, and they weren't even near each other! My only thought is DO NOT PURCHASE FROM THEM AT ALL! Thanks

I got a deal via google offers for $100 of credit at restaurant.com and the deal listed tons of chain restaurants that are in my area, so i went ahead and bought it. When you go to redeem the code, you are presented with a much smaller list of places that you can use the offer on. There's only 1 in my town, despite having a lot of the standard chain restaurants. Strike 1 on the scam-o-meter. Ok i thought - maybe i just didn't read carefully enough. I'll just buy a huge certificate to this one restaurant and my friends can pay me cash when we go there. Nope. You have to use your restaurant.com credit to buy multiple $10 gift certificates to specific restaurants. The most you can buy at once is 4. Alright... that's annoying, but fine. I'll buy 4 and then buy 4 more and then buy 2. I buy 4 and there's a disclaimer you have to click to complete the purchase: Minimum purchase, $15. No problem there. Click ok. Then i actually get the certificate and printed on each $10 cert is this further restriction: Only 1 certificate may be redeemed per party per month per restaurant, even if the party is seated at separate tables and/or receives more than one check. WHAT. THE. $#*!? Now i see why you can only purchase certs in $10 denominations. Ok, at least the certs have no expiration date so i guess i can go here once a month for almost a whole goddamn year. I've heard horror stories of restaurants being put out of business by groupon deals, so I understand this restriction - it just needs to be spelled out very clearly before the purchase, not after checkout. Strike 2 on the scam-o-meter. Ok, well i have the credit now - caveat emptor, etc. Might as well get it over with. I go back to buy more certs. Credit balance: $0. WHAT! THE! $#*!?! Open customer service complaint. 5 days go by with no response. I'm about to write it off completely when they give me a certificate for the missing credit. I redeem it (still a $#*!ty deal - no new restaurants), but no problem. Buy 4 more $#*!ty certs. Go to buy 2 more: credit balance: $0. $#*! you restaurant.com. $#*! you. Strike 3 on the scam-o-meter. $#*!ty deal. $#*!ty website. $#*!ty customer service. Avoid this place like the plague.

I am a restaurant owner that has been trying to cancel with Restaurant.com and am receiving the run around. Told I need 30 days notice then explained after the 30 days I will have to participate in an exit call where they will contact me to discuss my cancellation and then after that occurs they will schedule my business to be removed from their site.
They constantly change the restrictions of the coupons without consulting the businesses. They state they send emails as their notifications but an email is never received by us. They state it is not a fail safe system but there is nothing they can do and will not change the restrictions.
Restaurant.com does NOT share the money collected from the guest with restaurants and is a scam.

I paid $10 for a $25 retaurant.com retaurant certificate. I placed the order by phone and when I went to pick up the food and wanted to use the certificate I was told you have to dine in and order at least $50. I did not have time to read the seven page small print and the ordering online was so easy. What seems too good to be true, is most likely a scam like this one. I will never order another restaurant.com certificate. STAY AWAY FROM THEM!

I bought a $75 gift certificate for a restaurant and took the whole office to a nice luncheon. When we got there the restaurant said they didn't accept these certificates for lunch.

I'm very aware of the rules and limitations on all of the restaurant.com certificates and specifically looked for this limitation. On all other restaurants that have a dinner only limitation it specifically says "not valid for lunch" or "dinner only". This was not the case for this restaurant.

When I notified restaurant.com they said too bad, we'll credit your account. I didn't want a credit, I want my money back. Sorry... if you didn't read our 9 page legal contract, but please try again. I guess next time I should contact an attorney before I make a $30 restauranat.com purchase. That's not gonna happen because I will NEVER make another purchase from Restaurant.com.

I was duped into spending $30 on Restaurant.com (Specials) coupons. They told me I could purchase $100 worth of wine from OrderWineDirect.com.
The coupon was $15. The catch: You have to spend at least $200 to get the $100 savings. No big deal. I was OK with that. However, OrderWineDirect.com does NOT ship to the state of OHIO. They failed to tell me that before I spent $30 for 2 coupons. I've asked for a refund of my money back. They refuse to respond at all and have not refunded my money. I have $200 worth of OrderWineDirect.com coupons that I cannot use. Very frustrated.