Top 5 Restaurant Gift Cards for Christmas 2008

Gift cards are always a popular gift for Christmas, and with people cutting back on extra expenses this year (eating out, movies, etc.), gift cards to a restaurant may be an ideal Christmas gift for some. When deciding which restaurant to purchase a Christmas gift card to, just make sure that you keep the person you are buying for in mind. You want to make sure to get a restaurant gift card that they will be sure to enjoy for Christmas.

Chili's - This is a well-known restaurant that many people enjoy; they have a wide variety of food - salads, hamburgers, hot wings, chicken dishes, steaks, etc. Practically everyone should be able to find something they would enjoy eating at this location. So, this restaurant gift card would be ideal for practically everyone on your gift list. It is a very fun, relaxing atmosphere and most locations also have a bar area that plays ESPN. My friends and I love to go here for great food and to have a good time.

I would suggest allotting $10-$15 per person for a meal; so, if you are buying for two people and want to include a drink and the tip, I would suggest a $30 gift card. If you want them to be able to purchase an appetizer or dessert, add on another $10. Chili's is very reasonable with meal prices, so if you are on a budget but want to make sure the person you are giving for is able to cover an entire meal, this is a great restaurant. Visit www.chilis.com to find a location near you.

Friday's - This is another laid-back restaurant that would make a great gift card for just about anyone. They offer a rather large variety of food; you can get something Asian (their pot stickers are amazing), Italian (great chicken parmesan), and a whole line of food that includes a tasteful Jack Daniels sauce. If you are buying for someone and their family, but they have picky eaters in their family, this is the place to go!

The atmosphere is laid-back and a lot of fun; there are random, eccentric pieces of history decorating the walls. (Not the boring kind of history, their decor is made up of the "hey, I played with a yo-yo like that in the 70's history.) On top of the plethora of food that they offer, their menu is also made consists of a "Right Portions" section; so, any one that is trying to watch what they eat will easily find something at Friday's. This is a fun place that will be a hit for any of your friends and family if you buy a gift card here. Budget about $15 a person, if you want to include a drink and a meal; to find a location near you, visit www.Fridays.com.

Pizza Hut (or any other pizza place) - This is obviously not a fine dining experience, but many people enjoy being able to order in, curl up on the couch, and relax after a long week at work. This is also great for anyone who has young children that do not do well eating at a restaurant yet.

You can get a gift card to any major chain pizza place, or to a local pizza shop. Prices will vary depending upon where you get the gift card to; so make sure to keep in mind how many people the gift card will be feeding, and how much those people typically eat. This gift card is great for anyone that is always running around during the week and just wants to spend a night at the house watching a movie and relaxing.

Cheesecake Factory - This is not exactly an upscale restaurant as you can wear jeans and casual clothing here, but it is definitely not the sport's bar around the corner. They have a good selection of food (seafood, pasta, steaks, etc.) but no one that I know really goes there just for the main course. This restaurant is all about the dessert - 20 plus types of cheesecake!

Their cheesecake is to-die-for and comes in more flavors than you can ever imagine; every thing is made fresh, so this is definitely not that out-of-the-freezer cheesecake that many restaurants serve.

This is a great location for anyone on your list that has a huge sweet tooth. It is a bit pricier than the other suggestions I have made; I would allot around $20-$25 per person as you know anyone that gets a gift card to here will definitely want to order some cheesecake after their meal. This restaurant also does not offer as many locations as more well-known places, so be sure to check out www.cheesecakefactory.com to see if there is a location near the person on your Christmas list.

Black Eyed Pea - This is a great place for anyone that loves home cooking; many selections on the menu will remind you of mom's kitchen growing up. They have a great chicken fried steak, and of course, a ton of other choices including many different types of chicken, salads, burgers, meatloaf, etc. They also have a large selection of vegetables, and each table is served a warm basket of fresh rolls and cornbread after being seated. So, this is a great option if you want to buy a gift card big enough to just purchase a meal and not an appetizer.

This restaurant is "homey" and will make anyone feel comfortable; it is a great place to be able to take the kids to if you are buying for a family. Most meals are a little under $10 a piece, so keep that in mind when buying a gift card to this restaurant. Visit www.theblackeyedpea.com to check out locations.