The best gifts are those that you would never treat yourself to. The gifts that give an experience, like a spa day, luxurious beauty products or an experience at a restaurant that you always wanted to go to, or even one you never knew existed.
This is what makes gift cards, and especially restaurant gift cards, such a great holiday or birthday gift idea. You are able to give an experience that your friends, family and loved ones would otherwise never treat themselves to.
If you are skeptical, and think that giving a dining gift card comes across as a little bit impersonal and lacks that carefully curated touch other gifts might have, think again, as a recent study from the National Restaurant Association revealed that a whopping 62% of consumers would like to receive restaurant gift cards as gifts.
Why Do People Prefer Gift Cards?
Giving gift cards as presents means that you are giving your friends, family coworkers and loved ones a chance to treat themselves to an experience that they, more often than not, would never indulge in by their own accord.
Because dining gift cards appeal to 72% of consumers, according to the Nation’s Restaurant News, it takes the guess work out of what to get anyone on your holiday shopping list, from your 6-year-old niece to your great grandma, everyone loves a great dining experience.
Most consumers, 56%, will use their gift cards to order their usual meal, whilst 35% will use gift cards to treat themselves and splurge on a more extravagant meal that they would usually never order. Did anyone say appetizer, main and dessert? Well, why not if you got one of the best restaurant gift cards in your neighborhood burning a hole in your pocket. And this is exactly why people enjoy the gift of gift cards – you get to pick exactly what you want, when you want it.
In the years following 2020, restaurants and restaurant technologies have also drastically changed to become as contactless as possible, another reason why virtual restaurant gift cards have increased in popularity as gifts, especially in major cities.
What is a restaurant gift card and how do they work?
Simply put, a restaurant gift card is either a physical card or a virtual restaurant gift card, accessible from your phone, laptop or any digital device. It is prepaid with a set amount, as set by either the retailer or the gift giver. These gift cards can only be used at the restaurant that it is intended for, making it a great way to treat friends or family to your favorite restaurants at their leisure.
One of the main concerns most consumers face when buying a gift card as a gift, is that it might expire before it can be used. But thanks to the federal credit card act of 2009, gift certificates and store gift cards can’t expire for five years. So, you can rest assured knowing that your gift of a delicious restaurant experience will not go to waste.
When is the best time to snag deals on restaurant gift cards?
As with most consumer goods, you can snag some pretty great deals on dining gift cards if you know when to buy them. Historically, the time between Black Friday and Cyber Monday offer some great restaurant gift card deals. The few weeks leading up to Christmas, when gift card sales spike, is an especially great time to buy restaurant e gift cards.
What is a good amount for a restaurant gift card?
The hardest part of buying either a physical or virtual restaurant gift card is how much money you should put on it? You don’t want to seem cheap, but you also don’t want to break the bank. So, what is the perfect middle ground?
According to the experts, general etiquette is usually under $20 for casual acquaintances, like co-workers or a secret Santa gift. You will want to spend a little bit more, about $30-$75 for close friends and family, and even more for a big occasion, like a wedding or a baby shower. But that said, always stick within your budget, and if you can only afford a $30 gift card as a wedding present that’s completely acceptable.
Which restaurants have gift cards?
The restaurant gift card business is serious business, and most restaurants nowadays will have them. From the big national chains, to your favorite local spots. And if you happen to find yourself in the New York City area, or have friends or family that will be travelling there, there is no better dining experience to gift them than a virtual restaurant gift card to dine at Souvlaki Bar.
You can enjoy Souvlaki Bar’s delectable fresh Greek food at one of two NYC locations, in either Astoria or Long Island, and you can customize the amount you want to put on one of their gift cards to suite any budget. With Greek Cuisine recently ranked number two in the world, you certainly can’t go wrong with a Souvlaki Bar gift card this holiday season.
Souvlaki Bar makes giving the gift of a delectable dining experience as easy as possible with their restaurant e gift cards, as once they are purchased, the gift card will instantly land in the inbox of the recipient, conveniently available whenever the mood for the best Greek food in New York hits. And to make life even easier gift cards from Souvlaki Bar can also conveniently be used to order online from their delivery or pick up menu.
Where to buy restaurant gift cards?
It really can’t be easier to buy restaurant gift cards these days. You can either physically go to any restaurant that offers gift cards, like Souvlaki Bar, and simply purchase one in any amount that fits your budget. Another option is to simply walk into any major retailer that has numerous gift card options available at the cash registers for purchase, or easily buy one online from the comfort of your own couch.
If you do decide to buy virtual restaurant gift cards they will be instantly delivered to the inbox of the recipient, where they will always have their gift card available on their phone no matter where they go.
Is a restaurant gift card a good gift?
Do you still have reservations about giving the gift of a delectable, memorable dining experience to one of the best restaurants in your area? Just remember that a staggering 72% of consumers said that receiving a dining gift card would appeal to them. This basically guarantees that a gift card is going to be a sure fire hit for friends and family for any special occasion.
Furthermore, most gift cards will only expire five years after they have been activated, and you can add any amount to them, making them extremely budget friendly. There are also great deals and discounts to be had on gift cards, with the best restaurant gift card deals happening between Thanksgiving and Christmas, which makes them an even better holiday gift idea.
And if you would love to get your friends and family to try your favorite restaurant experiences there is no better way to entice them than by giving them a gift card to your favorite local spot, like the e delectable Greek food at Souvlaki Bar in Astoria and Long Island City.
