Boston Lunch Spots - Makes Me Go YUM!

Plaza Deli & Catering's Pastrami is cured in Brown Sugar

(3/30/2012 edit - sadly, my 2nd taste of this meat was no where as yummy as the first)

Sam LaGrassa's offers my absolute favorite Potato Salad

Thai's Bistro has a unique Crab Rangoon, stuffed full to the gills and flavored with curry

Boston Kebab House's French Fries are so crispy when they do it right

Holiday Certificate Deals 2011

Skipjack’s

Our holiday gift card In-House Promotion is starting soon! On December 4th, Skipjack's gift cards will be sold at 20% less than face value. Each day thereafter the discount goes down 1%. December 19th is the last day of this promotion with cards being discounted at 5%. December 20th cards will be sold at full price. (This is an In-house promotion only. Please no phone or online orders. Valid December 26, 2011.)

http://www.skipjacks.com/index.cfm/pid/10409

Ruth’s Chris Steak House

Holiday Bonus Card Offer*

For a limited time receive a 10% bonus for gift card purchases of $250 or more.

*Offer available through December 31, 2011. Holiday Bonus Gift Cards valid from January 1, 2012 through March 31, 2012. Holiday Bonus Cards cannot be redeemed on the same day of purchase. Not valid on prior purchases. To receive Holiday Bonus Gift Cards, all $250 must be purchased in a single transaction. Offer valid only at participating locations. For online purchases, bonus cards will be shipped under separate cover to the “bill to” address.

https://giftcards.ruthschris.com/

Maggiano’s Little Italy

Holiday E-Gift Card Exclusive Offer

For every $100 in e-gift card purchases, receive a FREE $20 e-bonus card PLUS a Subscription to Food & Wine Magazine!

E-bonus card can be redeemed at Maggiano’s from 1/1/12 – 2/29/12.

Food & Wine offer valid for new US subscribers only.

Not Your Average Joe’s

Holiday Gift Card Offer through December 31

FREE $10 appreciation card* when you buy $50 in gift cards.

*Appreciation cards expire 90 days from date of issue and are valid on your next visit. Gift cards do not expire.

For questions or phone orders, call 774-213-2942, Monday through Friday 9-5 EST

http://www.notyouraveragejoes.com/gift_cards/

J.P. Licks

FREE $5 Bonus Card with every purchase of a $25 Gift Card!

It's that time of year again (you know, you've been waiting all year). Make short work of your holiday shopping and give the gift card that everyone loves to receive. And now, for every $25 card you buy, you get a $5 Bonus Card for yourself (redeemable January 1 through March 31, 2012).

And if you're just too stuffed to move, you can get the same deal online! Your cards will be mailed right to your door.

http://www.jplicks.com/cow_card.html

Added 12/5/2011 -

Au Bon Pain

Buy $25 or more in gift cards and receive a $5 coupon (offer not valid with online purchase)

IHOP

Give them a $25 IHOP gift card and get $5 off your next visit.

Limit one coupon per table. Expires January 31, 2012.

http://www.ihop.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=223

Legal Sea Foods

Give the gift of fish this holiday, and when you purchase $200 worth of gift cards from our restaurants from November 1 - December 31, enjoy a lobster dinner on us.

Our ‘Lobster Dinner Reward’ vouchers for a 1 - 1.25lb steamed lobster with a choice of two sides are redeemable in the New Year, January 1 - March 31, 2012.

http://www.legalseafoods.com/index.cfm/page/Holiday-Fishes!/cdid/44680/pid/0

Outback Steakhouse

For each $100 in gift cards purchased below receive a $20 Bonus Card*

For Qualified purchases between 11/1/11 – 12/31/11.

Bonus Card valid 1/1/12 – 2/10/12

*Maximum of 10 bonus cards per order, valid only for purchases online & in restaurant.

http://www.outback.com/gift-card/

Starbucks

Buy 4 Starbucks Card eGifts with your Visa card and get a $5 Starbucks Card eGift for yourself. Limited quantities available.

https://www.starbucks.com/shop/card

(not food related, but...)

Staples

Buy a Staples gift card of $50 or more and get a $10 bonus card.

Offer is valid in store only 11/27 - 12/10 while supplies last. Bonus card is valid for redemption between 1/2/2012 and 1/14/2012.

http://www.staples.com/sbd/cre/marketing/giftcards/index.html?cmSearchKeyword=gift+cards

Added 12/7/2011 -

West on Centre

West Roxbury, MA

A gift for them, a gift for you!

West gift certificates make the perfect gift for anyone on your list receive a complimentary $20 gift certificate with your purchase of $100!

Offer valid through December 31, 2011

Parents should be Parents

Eating out is a treat, and we tend to expect it to be an enjoyable experience. After all, here I am spending my hard earned money, which these days (given the recession and 9.1% unemployment rate) could be considered to be quite an extravagance.

This year, however, I had the unfortunate opportunity of running into two instances of irresponsible parenting.

The first was earlier in the year at Wagamama in Faneuil Hall. If you've ever been there, then you know that the dining room consists of long tables and bench seats, both of which are meant to be shared by neighboring parties. So it was no surprise that I ended up breaking bread (or at least sucking down noodles) beside a man with two young girls. Pre-schoolers, I imagine, since it was lunch time on a school day. Initially I thought, cool, a father taking time out to hang out with his daughters! But the girls got loud. Additionally, one took to standing on the bench, while the other began kicking at the metal leg of the table with gusto. The noise and vibrations began causing me a headache. She kept it up for a significant amount of time with nary a glance from the father whose full attention was on the plate before him. After waiting a reasonable amount of time for this to stop, I got annoyed, finally stopped eating, and began glaring at the father. It wasn't until he spotted me that he finally said anything to his girls!

And then tonight, there were a group of children roaming wild at Apgujung in Newton. That was annoying enough. The manager didn't go have a chat with the parents responsible for them till the kids nearly caused an accident with a waitress bearing a tray. To finish off their mayhem, they knocked over the water at our table as they made their way towards the exit. No sorry, no nothing, from either child or parent. They're lucky they didn't get scalded by the hot water they had spilt!

Please, do not be like these parents! Not only does it annoys those around you, it may actually put your child in danger. Yes, you are out for a good time, but that does not mean that you relinquish your responsibilities as a parent.