The Gift of Dining

December 19, 2009

Shaun Chillingworth, Marketing Director,

Gving the gift of award-winning dining sometimes just makes sense. It’s always the perfect size. It’s something new for them to enjoy. You know they’ll definitely end up using it. It’s a nice treat.

It also helps our local restaurants and if you look around, many of them are offering a special bonus for you! Or give yourself the gift of great dining at one of your favorite restaurants you know you’ll eat at throughout the year.

Here’s a quick look at some of the specials out there at Hale ‘Aina Award-winning restaurants.

Gift Cards that Give Even More

Three Hawaii restaurants are also including a charitable component into their gift card rewards so that your gift can go even further.

Image courtesy of
Ruth’s Chris Steak House.

Ruth’s Chris Steak House is giving a bonus with both their private dining events for the holidays and gift certificates purchased.

With the purchase of $100 in gift cards, diners will receive $10 gift vouchers redeemable at all five locations island wide—Restaurant Row and Waikiki Beach Walk on Oahu, Lahaina Center and The Shops at Wailea on Maui, and The Shops at Mauna Lani on the Big Island and receive a $5 gift vouchers from Romano’s Macaroni Grill redeemable at both Hawaii locations at Ala Moana Center on Oahu and The Queens Marketplace on the Big Island. The promotion starts now and runs through December 31. The bonus vouchers are valid January 1 through June 30, 2010 and are not valid with any other promotion or with the Prime Time Menu.

When purchasing your gift cards, bring in a non-perishable food donation for the Hawaii Food Bank and receive an additional $10 dining certificate from Ruth’s Chris. (limit one per customer)

Book your private holiday event to celebrate the holidays at Ruth’s Chris Steak House Hawaii. and, for a limited time, spend $500 on your holiday event and receive a $50 dining certificate. Space is limited.

For information on private dining and charge-by-phone purchases of the gift cards, call Ruth’s Chris Steak House in Restaurant Row at (808) 599-3860; Waikiki Beach Walk at (808) 440-7910; Lahaina Center at (808) 661-8815; The Shops at Wailea at (808) 874-8880; and The Shops at Mauna Lani at (808) 887-0800.

Lobster Spaghetti.
Photo: courtesy of Romano’s.

For each $25 Romano’s Macaroni Grill gift card purchased now through December 31st at either of the two Hawaii restaurants, receive a complimentary $5 dining certificate. Purchase $100 in gift cards and receive four $5 dining certificates plus a $10 Ruth’s Chris Steak House dining certificate. The promotion runs through December 31.

The bonus $5 gift vouchers from Romano’s Macaroni Grill are redeemable at both Hawaii locations at Ala Moana Center on Oahu and The Queens Marketplace on the Big Island. The $10 gift vouchers are redeemable at all five Ruth’s Chris Steak House Hawaii locations island wide—Restaurant Row and Waikiki Beach Walk on Oahu, Lahaina Center and The Shops at Wailea on Maui, and The Shops at Mauna Lani on the Big Island. The bonus vouchers are valid January 1 through June 30, 2010 and are not valid with any other promotion.

Romano’s Macaroni Grill is also offering a bonus program where you can get when you give back. Bring in a non-perishable item when purchasing your gift cards and receive a bonus $5 gift card to Romano’s. On Oahu, the items will benefit the Hawaii Food Bank and on the Big Island, the items will be donated to the The Food Basket, Hawaii Island’s Food Bank.

For information on special event reservations and charge-by-phone purchases of the gift cards, call Romano’s Macaroni Grill at the Ala Moana Center at (808) 356.8033 and at the Queens Marketplace at (808) 443.5515.

Ryan’s Grill at Ward Centre is giving a double-bonus for all gift cards purchased. Not only will they give you $10 for every $50 in gift card purchases made. But they will also be donating 5% of all gift card purchases to the the Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children.

Ryan’s Grill gift cards can also be purchased online.

The offer is valid through January 3, 2010 and gift card is valid on your next visit. Bonus offer is not valid when purchasing with a gift card.

For reservations or more information, call (808) 591-9132.

The Gift of Dining Continues…

Gift Cards with Rewards for You

The Island Bistro Cookbook. Photo: courtesy of Watermark Publishing.

Chai’s Island Bistro has a holiday special of a free $20 gift card for every $100 in gift cards that you purchase.

Or another popular gift idea is The Island Bistro Cookbook by chef/owner Chai Chaowasaree. It’s available now through Watermark Publishing or find it at the restaurant with a special menu offering from Chai.

In The Island Bistro Cookbook, Chaowasaree captures both the contemporary ambience of his restaurants and the spirit behind his distinctive style of fusion cuisine. From Eggplant Souffle to Crème Brûée, the dishes in this lavish, hardcover volume are simple yet elegant—equally at home in a tropical bistro or on the reader’s dinner table.

See the Taste of the Island Bistro menu

For reservations or more information, call 808-585-0011.

Nobu Waikiki is offering a gift with the purchase of dining certificates. Buy a Nobu dining gift card valued at $200 or more and receive a complimentary Nobu cookbook. (a $37+ value).

Nobu Matsuhisa has released 4 cookbooks to date:

Nobu the Cookbook
Nobu Now
Nobu West
Nobu Miami: The Party Cookbook

Nobu gift cards are honored at all U.S. locations.

Other gift ideas include specialty Nobu dressings, which are also available at Nobu Waikiki.

For dining reservations or more information, please call (808) 237-6999.

Over on Maui, The Melting Pot Lahaina has a great deal for the holiday season.

Give a $100 gift card and you’ll get $100 back in the form of 4 bonus gift certificates for $25 that are redeemable each quarter of 2010.

The Melting Pot is located in the Lahaina Gateway Shopping Center. Call (808) 661-6181 for reservations or more information.

Got a big family to buy for? The winner for "Best Place for a Big Group" for the last four years has a big deal as well.

Buca di Beppo is giving a $25 reward card for every $100 in gift cards purchased.

Image courtesy of Buca di Beppo

Buca di Beppo is located in the Ward Entertainment Center at Ward Centres.

Call (808) 591-0800 for reservations or more information today.

California Pizza Kitchen is offering $20 rewards cards with the purchase of a$100 in gift cards.

Image courtesy of California Pizza Kitchen

The offer expires December 24th and rewards cards are for use January 11 through March 26, 2010.

For informtaion call a CPK location nearest to you. For locations, click here.

Wes Zane with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Photo: courtesy of Formaggio.

Formaggio Grill in Kailua has a bonus offer as well, since it’s better to give AND receive.

From now until Christmas Eve Formaggio restaurants are once again offering a free $10 voucher with every $50 increment of gift cards purchased.

Cards are valid at either of its two locations in Market City Shopping Center or Kailua.

This special offer expires December 24, 2009

Voucher valid between January 4,2010 thru April 15,2010

For reservations or more information call Formaggio Wine Bar in Market City Shopping Center at (808) 739-7719 or Formaggio Grill Kailua at (808) 263-2633.

The Gift of Dining Continues…

Mai Tai Bar at Ala Moana Center has a get a gift when you give a gift promotion as well, perfect for friends and family who are looking to unwind at one of the best bars in Hawaii.

Get a $10 complimentary card with a $50 gift card purchase or a $25 complimentary card with a $75 gift card purchase. The promotion ends on December 31st.

For more information on this special, call (808) 947-2900.

The Willows will have special gift certificates available for purchase this month.

Purchase a $50 gift certificate and get a $10 certificate and purchase $100 and get $25. This gift certificate special runs until the end of the month.

For more information, please visit www.willowshawaii.com or call (808) 952-9200 for reservations.

Morton’s the Steakhouse at Ala Moana Center has its annual bonus gift card offer this holiday season.

Now through December 31st if you buy $500 in gift cards, you’ll receive $100 or buy $300 and you’ll receive a $50 bonus card. Bonus cards are valid from January 2 – March 31, 2010 and gift cards cannot be purchased and redeemed on the same day.

Call (808) 949-1300 for details or reservations. Gift cards may also be purchased online.

Shokudo Japanese Restaurant is offering $5 reward cards with every $25 in gift certificates that are purchased.

And what’s a better gift than the gift of some honey toast?

For more information on how to purchase gift cards or reservations, call (808) 941-3701.

Tiki’s Grill & Bar has a great deal for the holiday gift card idea.

Receive a $30 gift card when you purchase $100 worth of gift cards.

Gift cards are available in any denomination. Must purchase by December 31, 2009.

For reservations or more information on the promotion, call 808-923-8454

Other Hale ‘Aina Award-winning restaurants who offer gift cards/certificates this holiday season include:

Alan Wong’s Honolulu
The Pineapple Room by Alan Wong
Chai’s Island Bistro
Lahaina Grill
TOWN
Downtown at the HiSAM
Vino Italian Tapas
Hiroshi Eurasion Tapas
d.k. Steakhouse
Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar
Chiang Mai Thai Cuisine
Tango Contemporary Cuisine

Beyond the gift card/certificates, a number of Hale ‘Aina Award-winning restaurants offer fun and unique items like t-shirts and food items like dressings and marinades (Roy’s, Gyotaku, Sam Choy’s just to name a few).