Next Generation Gift CardBest Casual Dining Gift Cards
7 personal favorites — and the little things that make each one worth giving.
“A gift card pays for the meal. The experience becomes the gift.”
There are plenty of lists telling you which restaurant gift cards are the “best.” This one is a little different.
These are restaurants I personally enjoy, and each one made my list for a specific reason. Sometimes it’s a favorite appetizer. Sometimes it’s a great steak. Sometimes it’s the value of happy hour.
You’re not just giving someone money to spend at a restaurant. You’re giving them an experience.
My 7 Picks at a Glance
| Restaurant | What I Like About It | Great For |
| Applebee’s | Happy hour, half-price appetizers & drinks | Friends, couples & casual nights out |
| Olive Garden | Unlimited soup, salad & breadsticks | Families & relaxed dinners |
| Outback Steakhouse | A good steak in a casual setting | Steak lovers & date nights |
| The Cheesecake Factory | Huge menu — and cheesecake | Groups, families & dessert lovers |
| P.F. Chang’s | Chicken Lettuce Wraps | Asian-inspired food lovers & date nights |
| Chili’s | Southwestern Eggrolls & dessert | Friends, families & casual meals |
| Texas Roadhouse | Great steaks, bread & cinnamon butter | Steak lovers & families |
Happy Hour, Half-Price Appetizers & Drinks
One of my favorite ways to enjoy Applebee's is during happy hour. At participating locations, the half-price appetizers make it easy to order several things for the table, add a couple of drinks, and have a fun evening without turning it into an expensive dinner.
Happy-hour times, prices and participating menu items can vary by location, so check your local Applebee's before you go.
Great for: Friends, couples, college students, families, or anyone who enjoys a casual night out.
Shop Applebee's Gift Cards →
Unlimited Soup, Salad & Breadsticks
When I think about Olive Garden, I immediately think about the unlimited soup, salad and breadsticks. Sometimes that’s all I really need.
I also like Olive Garden for family meals. It’s relaxed, the menu has plenty of familiar choices, and it works well when different generations are eating together.
Give me the soup, salad and breadsticks and I’m happy.
Great for: Families, couples, Italian-food lovers, or someone who enjoys a comfortable sit-down meal.
Sometimes I Just Want a Good Steak
My reason for choosing Outback is pretty straightforward: I like a good steak. Outback gives me that steakhouse experience while still feeling casual and approachable.
A good steak. Sometimes it really is that simple.
Great for: Steak lovers, couples, families, or anyone who appreciates a hearty dinner.
So Many Choices… and
My Weakness for Cheesecake
The Cheesecake Factory solves a problem I’ve encountered plenty of times when eating with a group: everyone wants something different. The menu is huge.
And then there’s the other reason I like going there: cheesecake is one of my weaknesses. That variety makes it a strong gift-card choice when you’re not sure exactly what someone likes.
Leave room for cheesecake. I try. It doesn’t always work.
Great for: Families, couples, groups of friends, cheesecake lovers, or someone whose food preferences you don’t know particularly well.
I Always Think About the Chicken
Lettuce Wraps
When I’m in the mood for Chinese food in a casual but slightly more upscale setting, P.F. Chang’s is one of my choices. But there’s one particular reason it makes my list: the Chicken Lettuce Wraps.
I also like the atmosphere. It’s casual enough for a regular dinner but feels just a little more special for a date night or an evening out with friends.
Start with the Chicken Lettuce Wraps. I would.
Great for: Someone who enjoys Chinese or Asian-inspired food, couples, families, or friends who like ordering several dishes and sharing.
Southwestern Eggrolls and
Something Sweet at the End
I love the Southwestern Eggrolls. They’re one of those appetizers I associate with Chili’s and would happily order for the table — or just for myself.
And I have a hard time saying no to something chocolate for dessert. Chili’s Molten Chocolate Cake is exactly the kind of dessert that can turn an ordinary casual dinner into a treat.
Southwestern Eggrolls to start — and save some room for dessert.
Great for: Families, friends, couples, or anyone who enjoys a relaxed meal with plenty of familiar choices.
Great Steaks Without the Formal Steakhouse Feel
Texas Roadhouse makes my list for a simple reason: the steaks are great. I enjoy a good steak, but I don’t always want the formality — or the price — of an upscale steakhouse.
And it’s not just the steak. The fresh-baked bread with cinnamon butter is one of those little things that makes the experience memorable from the moment you sit down.
Great for: Steak lovers, families, couples, or anyone who enjoys a hearty meal in a relaxed atmosphere.