• Restaurant.com

Restaurant.com

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Overview

Restaurant.com has a rating of 1.2 stars from 864 reviews, indicating that most customers are generally dissatisfied with their purchases. Reviewers complaining about Restaurant.com most frequently mention gift card, customer service, and minimum purchase problems. Restaurant.com ranks 337th among Restaurants sites.

  • Service
    107
  • Value
    107
  • Shipping
    48
  • Returns
    74
  • Quality
    93
Positive reviews (last 12 months): 0%
Positive
0
Neutral
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Negative
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How would you rate Restaurant.com?
Top Positive Review

“Up to 50% off on a meal, once a month per restaurant. Read the rules.”

Paul G.
12/9/15

So you see all these bad reviews of Restaurant.com. I took advantage of a great deal. 100 - $50 cards for $500 from Citi Easy Deals. That $4500 of free food Just avoid these assumptions: 1) It's not off any restaurant. Get a Visa Gift Card if you want that. Enjoy your fees. 2) It's not a free meal. It's up to half off the total bill. You can use the remainder elsewhere. 3) It's one use per restaurant per month. Not getting 1/2 price sushi every weekend. Goto a different restaurant tomorrow. 4) You have to log into the app to find the card to redeem. Yes it shows your name. Got to log in anyway. That bugs me! Lose one Star. 5) Let the server tap the screen to redeem. You will hit one of these the first time through. After that it's discount city. Got my food budget in line through some hard times.

Top Critical Review

“A scam”

richard t.
11/1/24

The entire experience was a scam in conjunction with a travel service. Was promised $100 in Restaurant coupons for attending sales presentation. Spent hours on the phone, with email, and online trying to obtain four $25 restaurant certificates. Never received any certificates and gave up.

Reviews (864)

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Reviews that mention popular keywords

gift card (158) customer service (125) gift certificate (113) credit card (32) phone number (19)
Thumbnail of user alexr58
New York
1 review
8 helpful votes
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September 8th, 2014

Good lord, what a disaster. Ended up paying full price for my meal, after a long and embarrassing attempt to redeem a gift certificate. Not the restaurant's fault; they showed me exactly what they were trying to do. This was restaurant.com's fault. I have not been able to use the gift certificate and I'd rather throw the money away than try again. Stay away!

Tip for consumers:
RUN

Service
Value
Shipping
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Thumbnail of user markl194
New York
1 review
1 helpful vote
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June 30th, 2016

They offer what seems to be amazing deals. Then they don't operate the promo codes in the typical fashion that everyone else does. When you do figure things out and try to type in the code, it "conveniently" doesn't let you enter the promo code. Just a scam to get you to look at their Web site without the realization of the promises made...

Thumbnail of user darrellm83
Arkansas
2 reviews
7 helpful votes
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December 3rd, 2019

Purchased a cyber Monday promo and then found that restaurant had a minimum order of $50.00. Cancelled this certificate and wanted to exchange it for another Certificate, but site said to call customer service. After much looking on site, I found the customer service phone number *******844), but company was then closed. Phone next day to their automated site which said to "hold for a representative"... but no answer... even after 15 minutes... company played loud music while I was holding and then music went off and I was disconnected. I should have reviewed their site on sitejabber before purchase. Stay away. 12/03/19.

Tip for consumers:
STAY AWAY.

Products used:
Tried to exchange Certificate, but system would not allow...site said no certificate was found even after paying for Certificate.

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Value
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Thumbnail of user pamc24
Connecticut
1 review
4 helpful votes
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October 20th, 2015

I keep reading these negative ads about restaurant.com yet I've been using them for years and never had one single issue! I think people don't read or pay attention to the fine print or are just WAY beyond cheap! Really clear in the explanations for each restaurant and you have to understand, you can't be cheap. If you don't understand the restaurant world, don't buy them.

Thumbnail of user joelb41
California
3 reviews
6 helpful votes
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February 15th, 2015

I have used many of the coupons and they were all accepted with no problems and I got exactly what I expected. They are a GREAT deal but you have to understand the restrictions for each coupon and decide if it works for you. I am not interested in going to the vast majority of their restaurants but there are a few we like and a very small number that we like a lot. For those we love the savings are big and it works great. I have never used the "specials", a lot of which are combo theater / dinner deals, because they don't work the same way as the regular coupons. They are much more restricted in where you go and what you get and other reviews confirm they apparently misleading and disappointing.

Tip for consumers:
Read the restrictions for the regular coupons (frequently not good on weekends and virtually all have minimum purchases) and wait for the sales. If there is a restaurant you like and you can live with the restrictions, saving $25 for a $4 coupon is really a great deal. Stay away from the “specials" which are highly restrictive and apparently misleading.

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Quality
Thumbnail of user cierak
Texas
1 review
7 helpful votes
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May 17th, 2015

Creates coupons for business owners without their approval. Many good businesses have had to refuse customers service or have awkward conversations with them. This website should be shut down or have a major adjustment to their B2B relationships.

Thumbnail of user wendyc1234
Florida
1 review
1 helpful vote
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August 29th, 2023

I purchased a few gift certificates from the site and was not able to retrieve the certificates I purchased. I contacted customer service, replied with a canned response, and went nowhere. Sadly, I filed the dispute too late with Paypal; they denied my case. Buyer, be aware!

Thumbnail of user madisong12
Illinois
1 review
0 helpful votes
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September 19th, 2013

Horrible choice in restaurants. Horrible minimum policies. Cannot use certificates together. Worst experience of my life. Stay far away, might not even be worth it if you are given a credit for free. It is a sick joke, how do they even afford to pay the url fee each month. I wish I could give a lower review.

Thumbnail of user nicolep62
California
2 reviews
5 helpful votes
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August 31st, 2017

You're better off signing up for "rewards" with a chain like TGIFriday's or getting "buy one get one free" meal offers with your local restaurants, if such deals are available. Not quite sure what the point of Restaurant.com is. I can definitely say it's unrealistically complicated, inconvenient, and you'll likely end up spending more money to save a little when all is said and done. We threw away frequent flyer miles on this site, what a waste. Get a magazine subscription instead.

Thumbnail of user scottc170
Illinois
1 review
13 helpful votes
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January 26th, 2018

Kenneth Chessick, M. D., J. D., Chairman & Chief Executive Officer is the greedy, slimy swindler behind all of this nonsense and should be dealt with.
Total scam, sets up deals with out business consent, restaurants can't honor deals they have not authorized, restaurant.com does not refund for their false advertising. F-

Thumbnail of user basilm40
New Jersey
1 review
2 helpful votes
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April 11th, 2021

Warehouse Restaurant Pocono Mountain PA. Food was horrible at best. Chicken wings skimpy, pizza tasteless, hush puppies stale & hamburger not cooked to order. Not advised of 18% surcharge for 6 people. Definitely would not go back or recommend this place.

Tip for consumers:
Avoid Warehouse Restaurant in Pocono Mountains PA. You would be better off eating at a McDonalds!!

Products used:
food

Service
Value
Quality
Thumbnail of user joep123
California
4 reviews
12 helpful votes
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September 1st, 2014

This site has remained almost a scamy. I have been a member for years, and lately any desirable places may be listed, but are always "out of stock" even on the first day of each month. They have lost credits on my account, they revised the customer account area and deleted some certificates I had that had been disavowed by the restaurant. Certificates are nothing more than discount coupons you have to buy. Common is a "$50 gift certificate" for a local sushi place that requires a $100 minimum purchase. That same place offers similar deals on their own for no charge - i. E. just a big discount for large purchases if you agree to tip 20%. Why pay the fee for such a "coupon"? Now, their Customer Service refuses to reply (twice) to a request to consolidate smaller certificate ("Gift Cards", specifically) into large ones that might actually be useful. SO STAY AWAY!

Tip for consumers:
Many of the places are business that offer similar deals on their own, so be cautious when getting an offer.

Service
Value
Returns
Quality
Thumbnail of user richarda64
Florida
1 review
4 helpful votes
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March 22nd, 2015

It works as advertised - prices are great but you need to check the restricts; certificates require minimum bill which usually excludes booze, some are good only on weekdays, etc. Web page is not very usuer friendly, instructions could be much better, etc. Specials E-mailed at least weekly, I once paid 1.40 for a $25 coupon (free steak dinner for my wife!), and some $5 coupons for $. 40. I have used about 16 certificates during the past. 18 months in 3 different states with only one problem (restaurant closed, however it was easy to exchange the certificate for another one in the same area) I have 5 more in my smart phone just waiting for me!,,

Tip for consumers:
Call ahead to make sure of location, hours, etc. as info changes.

Service
Value
Shipping
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Thumbnail of user clarad10
New Jersey
1 review
2 helpful votes
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January 3rd, 2014

Alert: before buying from these website, please learn and make an educated decision. Avoid regrets and sour moments. Read their many, incredibly restrictive terms here: http://www.restaurant.com/theidealmeal/about/terms

What a rip off!

Thumbnail of user aprilw15
Michigan
1 review
9 helpful votes
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May 23rd, 2015

There are VERY few quality establishments offering gift cards on this site. And it sucks that even if you buy a $25 gift certificate you still have to order $50 worth of food at the restaurant so you aren't getting away with any sort of deal.

Thumbnail of user rachelr68
Wisconsin
1 review
12 helpful votes
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March 31st, 2017

I'm a business owner, and want buyers to be aware-these "certificates" you purchase, this website pockets 100% of the cash you spend, the restaurants do not see a penny, and then are suppose to accept double the value spent! So if you purchase a $50 certificate for 25, that restaurant takes the entire cut of $50, and the website collects on it! It's the biggest scam online that involves millions of small businesses, taking advantage of there earnings!
I am a business owner and have tried twice to remove my business from their site, but I keep getting customers with these certificates! We no longer accept them, and suggest customers go on the better business bureau and read the complaints themselves.
I can't imagine how many millions of dollars they collect off consumers for this scamming operation. It's horrible.

Thumbnail of user db436
Wisconsin
1 review
8 helpful votes
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May 9th, 2019

Got email saying 10 of purchased certificates no longer honored. Exchanged for credit, but there are so few places to go to not even worth it. Took our money and it is useless now and tied up with Restaurant.com. Scam artists they are! Disgusting.

Thumbnail of user frankc5
Nevada
1 review
2 helpful votes
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February 25th, 2011

I used Restaurant.com 'certificates' three times. First time, all was perfect and I didn't even meet the minimum. Second time, the food was awful and overpriced (i. E. no savings.) Third time, the creep at the counter tells me Restaurant.com just took their logo and started selling coupons without telling them. Yeah... sure. If they take your coupon and the food's good, that's fine. Don't expect that happen all or even MOST of the time.

One more thing, I love the boring schlemiels who sit there with a calculator and buy exactly $20 worth of food. I mean a lot of these restaurants are struggling as it. What losers.

Thumbnail of user donnap9
Maine
2 reviews
4 helpful votes
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June 28th, 2012

After speaking with two restaurants in my area who got involved with restaurant.com here are some very negative highlights: For small businesses this is a very expensive deal to participate in ie: to attract new customers through greater exposure and price incentives. It does not preclude existing customers from super-clearance pricing nor does it take into account any of the product's minimal or major daily market price increases. Lenghthy expiration dates and profit at -0 to just meeting overhead for the businesses involved is a recipe for disaster. Can these small businesses dependent on tourist $ afford to be involved with this deal? Don't be surprised when a restaurant shuts the door on your coupon to save themselves.

Thumbnail of user brandonf139
Virginia
1 review
28 helpful votes
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May 3rd, 2020

During this time of covid-19, one would think their website would have information on it about using their gift cards since you usually need to dine in and no restaurants are open now. But no, there is nothing about how their business works or doesn't work in the current pandemic and when reaching out to support for a response, all I get is an auto reply message stating how they respond in 3 business days and well... that's why I am writing a review. Clearly there is something wrong with this company when their average rating is so low. What a shame.

Thumbnail of user edt12
New York
1 review
1 helpful vote
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February 26th, 2016

Jeremiah's Tavern. Ordered two Fish Sandwich's. They come with a slice of lemon and Tartar sauce. No fries or anything else. I was a little bigger than a medium size hamburger bun and it cost with tax $23.74.
Biggest ripoff in the industry.

Tip for consumers:
Don't order the Sandwich.

Thumbnail of user alext4
Washington
9 reviews
30 helpful votes
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September 27th, 2011

Probably the same thing that everyone else is saying, stay away from this site! I don't how many of my friends and family members got scammed by these hooligans (yes hooligans). Might as well tell us we're getting scammed! Half the coupons I bought are either not used, restaurants don't accept it, or they're out of business.
My recommendation: just go to sites or coupons that offer it for free. No more of this paying for coupon stuff! Or at least call the establishment before you buy it. Seriously...

Thumbnail of user josiea3
Illinois
1 review
5 helpful votes
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October 8th, 2015

Tried to use Restaurant.com certificates at several restaurants. Funny these establishments are not registered with them... SCAM ARTISTS! BBB will definitely hear about this. Can you say bye bye Restaurant.com

Thumbnail of user toms225
Florida
1 review
1 helpful vote
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April 27th, 2016

Beware! As stated many don't take at all and some that do add a 18 percent gratitudy on saying that is restaurant.com requirements. This is for two or three people at most. Way below the six or more that menus state. One not only added tip but also a "service fee" taking the $25.00 discount to be only $5.00 less when all said and done! Restaurant tell me to contact restaurant.com, but alas no response. 95% of the time... Not Worth It!

Thumbnail of user sueg158
California
1 review
2 helpful votes
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January 6th, 2019

This deal is definitely not worth the time and energy that goes into using it. I got one certificate and restaurant refused to accept. Another one and restaurant was closed. Trying to exchange as there are no refunds. Website doesn't work on multiple days - (CAPCHA) endlessly says I'm putting in the wrong code of 4 letters. Email them to say website doesn't work and a robot recommends you use the website to solve the exchange issue. Even at its best, by the time you figure where you can go and which days and how much you have to spend you're gonna need a financial advisor to calculate it for you. Do something better with your time. Who doesn't love a deal but this is no deal.

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