Several months ago, while my husband and I were eating at Benihana (a Japanese hibachi and sushi restaurant), our waiter offered us applications to sign up for one of their clubs called The Chef's Table. There was no fee to do so, though my husband was very skeptical about the potential benefits and whether or not there really were no strings attached. Despite him saying that I shouldn't, I filled out an application each for the two of us.
I completely forgot about it as the months passed, so I was very surprised when Benihana e-mailed each of us a $30 gift certificate this month for our December birthdays. Each of our certificates had our names, dates of birth, and a bar code on them to ensure that the certificate was only redeemed once and by the intended person. Though the certificate expires at the end of the birthday month, it remains valid the entire month.
I believe the only menu items which are excluded on the birthday certificates are alcoholic beverages. Other than that, the birthday guest is welcome to spend the $30 certificate any way he or she sees fit: on a single higher-end entree or on one lower-cost entree with a non-alcoholic drink and a side dish, etc., etc. The certificate cannot be used to pay for another person's entree, however -- only for food and non-alcoholic beverages consumed by the certificate bearer. Also, the certificates can only be redeemed between Monday and Thursday (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday -- when they are most busy -- are excluded).
We went in to redeem our certificates the other night, wondering if there was any "catch." Technically, only one person per party can use a certificate, but our waiter was very nice and just ran separate tickets for us both. So, we basically had a $60 gift generously donated by Benihana with which to play! And, as if that were not enough, they ended our meal by bringing each of us a wonderful single-scoop sundae with chocolate syrup, whipped cream, and a perfectly-sized sliver of banana -- complete with a lit candle, singing, and a keepsake photograph they took of us.
I'm amazed by this company's generosity and wanted to share this with you guys. We had such a great evening! (As a side note: The table next to us was full of jovial and inebriated members of the CIA who all wished us a happy birthday and sang along with the employees, so that was interesting!)
If you would like a $30 gift certificate for YOUR birthday, just go to the following website and click the black box outlined in red that says "The Chef's Table" on the right-hand side, near the bottom of the screen as you scroll down, and fill out their brief application! You won't be sorry you did.
link
I completely forgot about it as the months passed, so I was very surprised when Benihana e-mailed each of us a $30 gift certificate this month for our December birthdays. Each of our certificates had our names, dates of birth, and a bar code on them to ensure that the certificate was only redeemed once and by the intended person. Though the certificate expires at the end of the birthday month, it remains valid the entire month.
I believe the only menu items which are excluded on the birthday certificates are alcoholic beverages. Other than that, the birthday guest is welcome to spend the $30 certificate any way he or she sees fit: on a single higher-end entree or on one lower-cost entree with a non-alcoholic drink and a side dish, etc., etc. The certificate cannot be used to pay for another person's entree, however -- only for food and non-alcoholic beverages consumed by the certificate bearer. Also, the certificates can only be redeemed between Monday and Thursday (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday -- when they are most busy -- are excluded).
We went in to redeem our certificates the other night, wondering if there was any "catch." Technically, only one person per party can use a certificate, but our waiter was very nice and just ran separate tickets for us both. So, we basically had a $60 gift generously donated by Benihana with which to play! And, as if that were not enough, they ended our meal by bringing each of us a wonderful single-scoop sundae with chocolate syrup, whipped cream, and a perfectly-sized sliver of banana -- complete with a lit candle, singing, and a keepsake photograph they took of us.
I'm amazed by this company's generosity and wanted to share this with you guys. We had such a great evening! (As a side note: The table next to us was full of jovial and inebriated members of the CIA who all wished us a happy birthday and sang along with the employees, so that was interesting!)
If you would like a $30 gift certificate for YOUR birthday, just go to the following website and click the black box outlined in red that says "The Chef's Table" on the right-hand side, near the bottom of the screen as you scroll down, and fill out their brief application! You won't be sorry you did.
link
