House of Blues - Restaurant.com Certificate Special

[wolfepackmom]

I've never used Restaurant.com before, nor tried House of Blues, but just saw the special they are running right now, so thought I'd grab a certificate for my June trip just in case. There's a special right now for 80% off when you use the code "mom". So the $25 certificates are only $2 and the $50 certificates are only $4. There's a minimum to buy for each certificate, but it still seems like a super good deal. Wanted to share with everyone else too.

If anyone has tried the Restaurant.com certificates and ran into issues, please let me know too. We don't have any qualifying restaurants around us, so haven't given them a try before. The purchase process seemed very easy though.

[bumblebeeonarose]

I just did a little research on this because it sounds like a good deal. The best piece of advice I found is that they are not really gift certificates, more like really good coupons. That is they cannot be spent like cash, and they have restrictions.

The $25 coupon says that you must spend at least $35 and that they will charge you 18% gratuity on the price before discount, that's about $6 (if you only spend $35). Still, it is a good deal (especially at $2 for the coupon). Do a little math, bill is $35 add $6 gratuity and the $2 spent on the coupon, that comes out to $43; now subtract your $25 discount and your total cost is $18 for dinner. Decide, is it worth it to you?

Having eaten at House of Blues just once, I think it would be worth it for a dinner for two. We probably spent $25 total (tax, tip, etc.) But with the coupon we could have gotten either more expensive entrees, or an apetizer, or maybe desert and still spent a few dollars less.

Another important piece of advice I found was to call the restaurant before purchasing the coupon to make sure they take them. Apparently some restaurants have asked to be removed from the list and have not. That is probably not the case with HOB, but I would call.

Thanks for the initial tip and the code. We may look into this too. Oh, one more thing. If you use Paypal, use it for this website. I read some complaints where people said after purchasing from the website they had some strange credit charges. These were not from the website itself, but from "banner ad" companies associated with the website.

[wolfepackmom]

Thanks for the research info! I did use PayPal, so really glad I did that now based on those other comments! Maybe I'll call HOB when we are down there to make sure they are taking them before we head there for lunch. I did read Pammer's Apr 9th Trip report and it sounded like she didn't have any issue with hers http://mousepad.mouseplanet.com/show...im-Del-Sol-Inn. Her report was actually what triggered me to go look for what sort of discount they were running currently. Thanks Pammer if you read this!!

There will be 5 of us (3 adults / 2 kids) so I don't think we'll have any trouble getting to the $35, but we also wouldn't be going for the $100+ meal either so the $50 certificate, while a great deal also for bigger groups, didn't seem feasible for us. We decided for $2 it was worth getting and if for some reason we don't do it, I'm only out $2 so no big deal. But if it saves us $25 on a good meal, then that would be great.

[CariBelle]

I haven't used them at HoB but I love restaurant.com coupons! We use one almost every weekend.

[jbtaylor780]

We used one last September at House of Blues and at Fire and Ice (at the Gardenwalk). We didn't encounter any issues using the certificates at both restaurants and we easily surpassed the minimum spending since there was 4 of us. They were a great deal!!

[The old man]

Another regular restaurant.com user. My only tip is never buy a certificate unless they are offering the 80% off. Many of their restaurants offer 2 for 1 anyway.

[letshavefun]

Is anyone else having Internal server error or is it just me. I clicked on the 80% special and that is what I got. I'll try later.

[wolfepackmom]

Is anyone else having Internal server error or is it just me. I clicked on the 80% special and that is what I got. I'll try later.

I went to this link: http://www.restaurant.com/rdc/house-...?&mcn=00078500

and added to my cart and didn't get any errors. But when I tried to search on the zip code it was giving me an error, so they must be having some system issue. You could try my link above.

[letshavefun]

I just tried your link and got the same Internal server error page. I will pick trying. We want ot try HOB when we are there and the certificate is a great deal. Good to know to only do it when it's 80% off (thanks old man) I almost did it for regular price last week but never got around to it so glad I waited.

[wolfepackmom]

I hope you get it working. I clicked my link above and it still takes me to the page correctly. The 80% is only through Sunday I think. Although sounds like they may run these for other special occassions too.

[letshavefun]

I just got my $25.00 certificate for $2.00. It's working now.

[itsKim]

We used the restaurant.com coupon for HoB on our trip in February. We had no problems at all using it, they knew exactly what it was when we presented it. It's not something we would do again though. We got the coupon for $2 also, but it is a little misleading. They add a mandatory 18% gratuity on the full total of the bill, which adds up pretty quickly. Our $25 certificate saved us about $8 if I remember correctly.

The atmosphere there is decent, though it was ridiculously loud when we went. I know it's meant to be loud, but it was so loud you literally couldn't speak to anyone at your table. And the food...the food was not very good for the cost. I had a club sandwich that was made with shredded lettuce and deli turkey. You'd think for the price you'd at least get some "real" turkey and a leaf of lettuce. It really wasn't very good at all. My husband said his burger was pretty bleh, he had a MUCH better burger at Mimi's Cafe, and it was cheaper. Overall, we were pretty disappointed.

[Drince88]

They add a mandatory 18% gratuity on the full total of the bill, which adds up pretty quickly.

This is pretty standard practice. The server does the same amount of work if you pay for the dinner with a pre-paid certificate as if you paid with a credit card. Wouldn't "you"* have tipped near 18% anyway on the whole amount even if you didn't have the certificate?
(Generic you, not personal you)

[Malcon10t]

This is pretty standard practice. The server does the same amount of work if you pay for the dinner with a pre-paid certificate as if you paid with a credit card. Wouldn't "you"* have tipped near 18% anyway on the whole amount even if you didn't have the certificate?
(Generic you, not personal you)

I generally tip 20%, and make sure I tip pre-discounts. People don't always understand you tip pre-discounts. I know some restaurants even print it on their bills because so many people only tip on the presented amount. The servers deserve their tips. As a PAP holder, one thing I found helpful is the discount of the PAP is 15%. So, if I look at the discount, I know the tip is at least that, and generally add from there.

I do understand the disappointment in the food, however, you shouldn't hold that against the server. The only "non-savings" I would see is if you spent more due to the certificate than you would have if you hadn't used it.

[itsKim]

Yep, we would have tipped on the full bill anyway. I don't know that I would have done 18% though. We never saw our waiter again after he took our orders, so no drink refills etc. I like being able to decide on my own how much I tip. I know a lot of others with disagree with me, but if the service is sub par I shouldn't have to leave a mandatory 18%. We don't eat out a lot, and this was actually the first time I have been somewhere where the gratuity was mandatory. That said, when we went to the Carnation Cafe with my mother-in-law the service wasn't great, but I was horrified when I saw she only left a $2 tip which was about 5% of her bill. We ended up leaving extra on ours to make up for it.

My point more though was that the $25 certificate only worked out to about $8 for us. I should have been clearer, sorry!

[Drince88]

If you think the service is sub-par and there is a mandatory tip applied, ask to speak to the manager. They should allow you to adjust the tip.

They started adding an auto tip on the 'discount card' they have at WDW (Tables in Wonderland card). Some restaurants didn't add it in mandatory right away because the management felt it decreased the servers' tips. I tend to agree, since I'm generally like Malcon10t - but if they already charge me the 18%, I'm doubtful I'll add another 2% in, so they really did decrease the servers tips.

[Malcon10t]

My point more though was that the $25 certificate only worked out to about $8 for us. I should have been clearer, sorry!

I am curious how it saved you only $8 instead of $23? Would you have purchased less if you hadn't had a $35 minimum? That is usually the reason I won't buy certificates like this. I need to know my bill would be at least $35 regardless. So, basically, you would have spent $15 less if you hadn't had to spend the $35 on food.

One other thing to watch on these is some do not include the cost of alcohol in the certificates.

One more thing, Goofy's, Ariels, Storytellers Buffet in the morning, Mickey's Surf buffet all have 18% gratuity built into their prices.

If you think the service is sub-par and there is a mandatory tip applied, ask to speak to the manager. They should allow you to adjust the tip.

We have done this also. Rarely will I lower my tip below 10% as I know servers are taxed on 8% of the food sales even if they don't get tipped on it. And there are issues that are beyond their control. If I am going to go below 15%, the management is going to know why.

Heck, I have had a "server issue" at one of my fav restaurants, and while we tipped the appropriate amount, I did comment to another server later on the trip about a couple issues and they were very shocked, and it was "passed up the chain." But you don't just "short change" the tip.

[letshavefun]

I was going to ask if alcohol could be included in the total of this certificate. I looked for it on the website and did not see anything that said no alcohol but that does not mean anything I totally could of missed it.

[quackinup]

As a PAP holder, one thing I found helpful is the discount of the PAP is 15%. So, if I look at the discount, I know the tip is at least that, and generally add from there.

Never thought of that. I usually just do the "double the tax" thing (which I believe is always pre-discount isn't it?) which in Anaheim would put you just short of 18%.

I remember years ago staying at a low end hotel in downtown Vegas (the Gold Spike) that offered a breakfast (eggs, potatoes, bacon, toast and maybe even orange juice) for $1. I at two of them. Hmmm...a 30 to 40 cent tip? I think I left a tip that was about double the bill.

We have done this also. Rarely will I lower my tip below 10% as I know servers are taxed on 8% of the food sales even if they don't get tipped on it. And there are issues that are beyond their control. If I am going to go below 15%, the management is going to know why.

I also learned something similar while in Vegas. The cocktail waitresses that bring you the "free" drinks actually pay for the drinks (a couple of dollars, not what we would pay) so every time someone doesn't tip, or tips a quarter or 50 cents or something, they lose money.

Kind of glad I got away from my frequent Vegas trips. All those "freebies" an end costing too much!

[Malcon10t]

Never thought of that. I usually just do the "double the tax" thing (which I believe is always pre-discount isn't it?) which in Anaheim would put you just short of 18%.

It is on merchandise, its not on food I believe. I am going to look for a receipt tonight just to verify though.

[miss bianca]

I've used it at HOB with no problem at all.

[CariBelle]

We got the coupon for $2 also, but it is a little misleading. They add a mandatory 18% gratuity on the full total of the bill, which adds up pretty quickly. Our $25 certificate saved us about $8 if I remember correctly.

Directly below the Add to Cart button it states how much gratuity will be added to the check, so knowing that going in I don't see how it's misleading.

I was going to ask if alcohol could be included in the total of this certificate. I looked for it on the website and did not see anything that said no alcohol but that does not mean anything I totally could of missed it.

If alcohol can't be included in your total it will state that under the Add to Cart button where it lists the gratuity amount and any purchase minimums.

[letshavefun]

Thank you I just checked it out and it did not say anything about alcohol.

[wolfepackmom]

Got an email today that the new special code is "tasty". It's only 70% off, but still a good deal ($3 for the $25 cert I believe).

[SigalTchelet]

Got an email today that the new special code is "tasty". It's only 70% off, but still a good deal ($3 for the $25 cert I believe).

Thanks for the tip off! Just bought a certificate for my trip next week.