The holiday season frequently presents opportunities for consumers to receive additional value when purchasing gift cards, particularly from restaurant chains. These promotions typically involve receiving bonus cards, free items, or certificates that can be redeemed during subsequent visits. Based on data compiled from various sources regarding holiday 2017 offers, consumers could secure a range of freebies by purchasing gift cards within specific spending thresholds and timeframes.
Most of these deals required purchases to be completed by late December, with redemption periods often starting in January and extending through the first quarter of the following year. The value of the freebies varied, ranging from complimentary food items to significant bonus cash values attached to future purchases. It is important to note that specific availability often depended on participating locations, and standard terms regarding expiration dates and exclusions applied to the promotional items.
Restaurant Chain Bonus Offers
Numerous national and regional restaurant chains offered structured incentives for gift card purchases during the 2017 holiday season. These offers generally fell into two categories: fixed bonus amounts based on a minimum spend, or percentage-based rewards for higher purchase volumes.
National Chain Incentives
Several large restaurant chains provided consistent offers across their locations. Applebee’s offered a $10 bonus card for every $50 in gift cards purchased through January 8, 2017, with the bonus card expiring March 4, 2018. Boston Market provided a $5 bonus card for every $25 in gift cards purchased by December 31, 2017; these bonus cards were redeemable from November 24, 2017, through January 31, 2018. Buffalo Wild Wings offered a free $5 e-bonus with a $25 gift card purchase, valid through February 28.
Other notable national offers included TGI Fridays, which provided a $5 to $25 Bonus Bites card with every $25 in gift cards purchased, along with a free one-night movie or game rental from Redbox (coupons expired February 28). Blaze Pizza offered a free Pizza Pass valid through March 1, 2018, with the purchase of a $25 gift card. California Pizza Kitchen provided a free $20 bonus card with every $100 gift card purchase, valid through February.
Premium and Regional Dining Offers
Higher spending thresholds often resulted in proportionally larger rewards. Black Angus Steakhouse offered $10 in bonus bucks for every $50 in gift cards purchased by December 31. Brio Tuscan Grille offered a $25 bonus card for every $100 in gift cards purchased by December 30, valid through March 15. Morton’s The Steakhouse provided a $50 reward card for every $250 in gift cards purchased by December 24, valid January 1 through May 31, 2018 (excluding Mother’s Day and Valentine’s Day).
Regional and specific location-based offers included TAPS Fish House & Brewery, which provided a certificate for a complimentary Sunday Brunch (valued at $38.99) for every $100 in gift cards purchased by December 31. This brunch was valid from January 1 through November 30, 2018. Water Grill offered a $20 bonus card for every $100 in gift card purchases, redeemable January 1 through March 31, 2018. Leatherby’s Cafe Rouge offered a $20 bonus card for every $100 spent on gift cards by December 31, redeemable January 2 through March 31, 2018.
Fast Casual and Casual Dining Promotions
Fast casual and casual dining establishments also participated heavily in holiday gift card promotions, often offering immediate gratification or smaller spend thresholds for bonuses.
Immediate Freebies and Lower Thresholds
Some offers provided free items at the time of purchase or required lower spending minimums. Tropical Smoothie Café offered a free 24-ounce smoothie with the purchase of a $25 gift card. Juice It Up! provided a free small juice or smoothie at the time of purchasing a $25 gift card, plus a $5 coupon for future use before January 14, 2018. Village Inn offered a $5 promo card for every $25 gift card purchase, redeemable January 1 through February.
Other fast casual offers included: - Abuelo’s: $10 bonus card for every $50 in gift cards (redeemable Jan 1–Mar 31). - America’s Taco Shop: $5 bonus for every $30 gift card purchase made online. - Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar: $10 bonus card for every $50 in gift cards (redeemable Jan 1–Feb 13). - Bahama Breeze: Two $10 bonus cards (one for dine-in, one for online To Go) with purchase of $50 in gift cards, valid Jan 1–Feb 28 (excluding Feb 14). - Bonefish Grill: $10 bonus gift card with $50 purchase (redeemable Jan 1–Feb 11). - Bravo: $10 bonus gift card with every $50 in gift cards.
Bonus Cash and Bounce Back Cards
Several chains utilized "bounce back" cards or bonus cash systems. Tijuana Flats offered $5 bonus bucks for every $25 in gift cards purchased, redeemable Jan 2–Feb 28. Tony Roma's offered $15 in Roma Bucks for every $50 in gift cards, redeemable Jan 1–March 22. TooJay's offered a $5 bonus card for every $25 in gift cards purchased by December 24, redeemable Dec 26–Feb 28. Twin Peaks offered tiered bounce back cards: $5 back on a $25 card, $10 back on a $50 card, and $20 back on a $100 card (valid Jan 1–31).
Philly’s Best offered a $5 Bonus Card for every $25 gift card purchase, redeemable in January 2018. Jimboy’s Tacos offered a $5 bonus card for every $25 spent on gift cards by December 31. Benihana offered a $10 bonus card for every $50 in gift cards, valid Jan 2–Mar 31, 2018. BJ’s Restaurants offered a $10 bonus card for every $50 gift card purchase or a $25 bonus for $100 purchase, plus a 20% off VIP card, valid Jan 1–Feb 13, 2018.
Specialized and Fundraiser Offers
Beyond standard cash-back offers, some promotions included unique perks or charitable components.
The Melting Pot Fundraiser
The Melting Pot offered a distinct promotion supporting St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Through December 24, for every donation of $10, customers received a $20 Donate and Dine card. This card could be used toward a future purchase of $50 or more, valid January 2 through August 31, 2018.
Antonello Ristorante & Specialty Groups
Antonello Ristorante & Enoteca Lounge Quattro Caffé offered 10 percent back on every $100 spent on gift cards. Additionally, purchases of $500 or more included a 375 ml bottle of Hello Kitty Sweet Pink wine, and purchases of $1000 or more included a limited-edition 750 ml bottle of Hello Kitty Sparkling Rose.
Seasons 52
Seasons 52 offered a $20 bonus card for every $100 in gift cards purchased. Furthermore, spending $500 or more resulted in an additional 10 percent bonus gift card. These bonus cards were valid for in-restaurant use from January 2 through March 31, 2018.
Redemption Rules and Restrictions
Consumers should be aware of the specific terms associated with these promotional offers. The data highlights several common restrictions that apply to bonus cards and freebies.
Expiration Dates
Promotional items generally have limited validity periods. Most bonus cards in the 2017 data set were valid from January 1, 2018, onward, with expiration dates ranging from late January to late March 2018. For example, Boston Market bonus cards expired January 31, while Blaze Pizza passes were valid through March 1. Some offers, such as the TAPS brunch certificate, remained valid through November 30, 2018.
Usage Restrictions
Several offers carried specific usage exclusions. Morton’s The Steakhouse explicitly stated that reward cards were not valid on Mother’s Day or Valentine’s Day. Bahama Breeze bonus cards were not valid on February 14. Applebee's noted that bonus cards could not be redeemed on the day the gift cards were purchased.
Availability and Verification
The sources indicate that offers were often subject to availability "while supplies last" and applied only to participating locations. The data advises consumers to verify participation with their local store before purchasing gift cards. Offers were generally available through December 31, though some, like the Melting Pot fundraiser, ended on December 24, and others, like Bertucci's, required purchase by December 25.
Conclusion
The holiday 2017 landscape of gift card promotions offered substantial added value for consumers willing to prepay for dining experiences. By purchasing gift cards within specific dollar ranges, consumers could secure immediate free items or accrue bonus cash for future use during the first quarter of the following year. While the specific offers detailed in the provided sources are tied to the 2017 holiday season, they illustrate the types of promotions consumers can expect from restaurant chains, including tiered bonus cash, free food items, and charitable giving incentives. Always verify current terms and participating locations, as these details are subject to change.