Save money dining with loyalty rewards programs.
Due to Covid some of these programs may have changed or been halted temporarily. YMMV.
Dining out can be expensive. A great way to save money is to sign up for restaurant loyalty rewards programs. Once you’re part of a program every dollar you spend (not including tax and tip) earns you a point. After you accumulate a certain number of points you can cash in for a free reward.
Many restaurants in Chicago are part of larger restaurant groups. For instance there’s Lettuce Entertain You which has 37 restaurants in Chicago. Every dollar you spend at any LEYE restaurant accumulates toward a free reward. If you eat at different restaurants it can be relatively easy to accumulate free rewards if you stay within a few groups.
Save money dining with loyalty rewards programs – Restaurant Groups:
Lettuce Entertain You: Earn $10 free when joining with my link (I get $10 also. Thank you.)You earn 1 point for every dollar spent (including booze but not including tax and tip). When you accumulate 150 points you earn a $10 award which will be automatically added to your account. The award dollars can only be used for dining, not for tip. You can earn the points by:
- Download the LettuceEats app, check into your Lettuce location, write the four digit mobile code on your check, and your points will automatically be added to your account.
- Give them your LEYE membership card and they will add the points to it. I don’t know if they still issue these you may have to email to receive one.
During the summer they have a very popular promotion where you earn double or triple points at their restaurants for dining at most of their restaurants from mid-July to mid-September . From time-to-time throughout the year they have bonus point days where you earn double or triple points. Some of the restaurants in the group: Three Dots and a Dash, Hub 51, Frankie’s, Joe’s Seafood, Shaw’s.
Levy Restaurants: A $25 reward is added to your account for every $250 you spend. You must have your reward card with you or the account number to earn points at the time of purchase. Membership costs $25 but they refund the $25 as a credit toward a future dine. They add a $25 reward to your account every year for your birthday. From time-to-time throughout the year they have bonus point days where you earn double or triple points. Some of the restaurants in the group: Bar Toma, Cafe Spiaggia, River Roast.
Landry’s: A $25 reward is added to your account for every $250 you spend. You must have your reward card with you, the account number or you can use your phone number in order to earn points at the time of purchase. Membership costs $25 but they refund the $25 as a credit toward a future dine. Restaurants: Morton’s, McCormick & Schmick.
Single Restaurant rewards
Kinzie Chophouse, River North: Spend $250 get $25. Kinzie Chophouse has a quarterly prix fixe menu that’s a good deal. They also offer double points at various times of year.
Palm: A $25 reward is added to your account for every $250 you spend. You must have your reward card with you or the account number to earn points at the time of purchase. Membership costs $25 but they refund the $25 as a credit toward a future dine. The Palm was purchased by Landry’s and now uses their program.
Pizano’s: Sign up and receive 25 points. After 100 points receive a $5 reward that can be used Monday-Thursday. I think this was discontinued.
Smith & Wollensky/Smith & Wollensky Grill A $25 reward is added to your account for every $250 you spend. You must have your reward card with you or the account number to earn points at the time of purchase. Membership costs $25 but they refund the $25 as a credit toward a future dine.
Independent loyalty programs
Ritual: Ritual is for take out only. Learn more about it here. Sign up through my link and get $10.
OpenTable is an online restaurant reservation booking service. You need to set up an account which is free. Every time you make and keep a reservation you are awarded 100 points. Some special tables award 1000 points (reservation must be for a minimum of 2). I use Opentable for all reservations. Many times I make reservations while I’m standing outside the restaurant. This adds to whatever I’m saving through loyalty programs. In fact there are some people (myself included) who generally won’t patronize establishments that aren’t on Opentable.
Once you accumulate 2000 points you are eligible to redeem for a $10-20 reward. You must redeem your reward through your account online. You must book a reservation at a participating restaurant that you select through your profile to use your reward. In addition to online they have an Android and iphone app.