How do I pay for someone else's meal?

[Anonymous]

My brother and his wife are going out for an anniversary dinner at a fancy restaurant in a couple of weeks. My dad and I want to pay for it. I've never done this before - how does it work?

If I call the restaurant and give them my credit card do I tell them "it's up to $300"? Do I tell them what percentage tip to add ahead of time? Will they call me after? Or email me a receipt? How does this play out?

[Anonymous]

It probably depends on the restaurant. Can you get a gift card instead? We had a friend try to do that for us and they were told no.

[Anonymous]

It’s like ordering takeout, you give a credit card number and tell them the tip amount.

[Anonymous]

Why can't you just get them a gift card to said restaurant?

Or send them a Visa gift card for them to use?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why can't you just get them a gift card to said restaurant?

Or send them a Visa gift card for them to use?

This ain't Olive Garden. It's not a chain. And I don't want to give them a giftcard or Visa card and have it be short. I don't want them to have to deal with paying at all.

[Anonymous]

Just call the restaurant and ask.

[Anonymous]

You can call the restaurant and see if you can purchase a nice bottle of champagne. May be simpler.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just call the restaurant and ask.

Thanks - I'll do that when they open later today.

[Anonymous]

Depends on the restaurant. We have done this a few times for families - some do it, some do not allow it. I assume this is a fine dining establishment.

Also, you'd be surprised to know that several Michelin star restaurants use gift cards - so your faux snobbery just makes you look ignorant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why can't you just get them a gift card to said restaurant?

Or send them a Visa gift card for them to use?

This ain't Olive Garden. It's not a chain. And I don't want to give them a giftcard or Visa card and have it be short. I don't want them to have to deal with paying at all.

the irony of mocking low brow dinning, and using "ain't" in a sentence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why can't you just get them a gift card to said restaurant?

Or send them a Visa gift card for them to use?

This ain't Olive Garden. It's not a chain. And I don't want to give them a giftcard or Visa card and have it be short. I don't want them to have to deal with paying at all.

We were given a gift card for a Michelin Star restaurant for our 1st wedding anniversary by one family member and a gift card to Inn at Little Washington for our 5th. In both scenarios we had reservations and were planning to pay for ourselves. The gift was for roughly the amount of 2 tasting menus - without wine. We covered the difference since we had planned to pay anyway.

I don’t think the gift has to cover the entire meal and tip - it’s still generous!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why can't you just get them a gift card to said restaurant?

Or send them a Visa gift card for them to use?

This ain't Olive Garden. It's not a chain. And I don't want to give them a giftcard or Visa card and have it be short. I don't want them to have to deal with paying at all.

the irony of mocking low brow dinning, and using "ain't" in a sentence.

Seriously... LOL!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why can't you just get them a gift card to said restaurant?

Or send them a Visa gift card for them to use?

This ain't Olive Garden. It's not a chain. And I don't want to give them a giftcard or Visa card and have it be short. I don't want them to have to deal with paying at all.

Well, ain’t you fancy! Actually most high end restaurants these days have gift cards offered right on their sites.
Try it your way if you like, but you don’t have to be dismissive to other people who are trying to help you….especially when you’re wrong.

[Anonymous]

I'm not sure how the restaurant would handle the billing but maybe they can take your card to have on file and then you approve it after the meal.

But assuming you want it to be a surprise, maybe you can also write a card that the waiter can deliver instead of the check. So when they ask for the check they instead get a happy anniversary card from you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why can't you just get them a gift card to said restaurant?

Or send them a Visa gift card for them to use?

This ain't Olive Garden. It's not a chain. And I don't want to give them a giftcard or Visa card and have it be short. I don't want them to have to deal with paying at all.

the irony of mocking low brow dinning, and using "ain't" in a sentence.

Okay, but it’s spelled “dining.”