Boston area Holiday gift card bonuses reward you for giving gifts

This is the one time of the year when it pays to give gift cards because of all the holiday gift card bonuses retailers offer. The final purchase date vary for each promo, but most expire Dec. 31. In addition, some promos are available online or in-store only, while others are available either way. (For true savings, it’s better to buy the gift cards in-store, rather than pay any shipping charges — if a retailer doesn’t offer free shipping on gift cards.)

I’ve included both local and nationwide deals in case you have out of town friends and family who love a place we don’t have around here. Plus, there are tips and the end of the list on how to maximize the promos.

Check out this huge list of holiday gift card bonuses:

You may want to check back, as I’ll be adding more as I learn them.

Merchant – Minimum gift card purchase = bonus / promo offer —Note the minimum doesn’t always have to be on 1 card–a $100 minimum could be 4 $25 cards

42 Degrees North – pay $40 for $50 gift card
Abuelo’s – $50 = $10 VIP Card
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema: $50 = $10 food & beverage voucher
Al Dente ristorante – $25 = $5 bonus gift certificate
Applebee’s – $50 = $10 Bonus Card
The Aquitaine Group: $100 = $20 meal certificate. The Aquitaine Group includes Aquitaine, Gaslight Brasserie, Metropolis Cafe, Union Bar and Grille, Cinquecento Trattoria, La Motta’s, and Greenlight Cafe.
BBC (Boston Beer Company) – Buy any gift card get 20% extra for FREE
Benihana: $50 = $10 Bonus Card
Bertucci’s – $25 = $5 Thank you card
BJ’s Restaurant Brewhouse: $100 = $20 Bonus Card / $50 = $10 Bonus Card
Boloco —$25e card = $5 ecard
Bonefish Grill – $50 = $10 Bonus Card
Brio Tuscan Grille: $100 = $20 Bonus Card
Bruegger’s Bagels: $25 = $5 Bakery Bucks
Bubba Gump – $50 = $10 Reward Card
Buca di Beppo – $50 = $10 Reward Card
Buffalo Wild Wings – $25 = $5 Blazin’ eBonus
California Pizza Kitchen – $15 = $10 Promo Card
Carl’s Jr. – $20 = FREE Original Six Dollar Thickburger
Carrabba’s – $50 = $10 Bonus Card
CBS Scene at Patriots Place — $100 = 2 FREE tickets to the Comedy Scene
The Chateau – $50 = $10 gift card
Cheesecake Factory – $25 = FREE slice cheesecake
Children’s Place – $40 = $10 off coupon
Chili’s – $50 = $10 Bonus Card
Chipotle Mexican Grill: $30 (through Dec. 24) = BOGO FREE burrito, bowl, salad or order of tacos with receipt through Jan. 31, 2017.
Country Buffet: $25 = $5 Bonus Certificate
Del Taco: Online: $30 = FREE Small Combo Meal / $100 = 4 FREE Small Combo Meals; In-Store: $15 = 2 FREE grilled chicken tacos / $25 = 4 FREE grilled chicken tacos
Denny’s: $25 = $5 Denny’s Card
DSW (Designer Shoe Warehouse): $50 = $5 Bonus Card
Earl’s Kitchen: $50 = $10 Bonus Card
Einstein Bros. Bagels – $25 = $5 Bonus Card
Elephant Bar – $50 = $10 Promo Dining Card
Fire & Ice — $60 = $10 Certificate / $100 = $25 Certificate
Fleming’s Steakhouse – $100 = $20 Bonus Card
Friendly’s — $25 = $5 Bonus card
Golden Corral – $25 = $5 Bonus Bucks
Grimaldi’s Coal Brick-Oven Pizzeria – $50 = $10 Gift Card / $100 =$20 Gift Card
Harkins Theatres – $25 = FREE medium popcorn
Horseshoe Pub – Purchase gift card = 15% off dining bill
IHOP – $25 = $5 coupon
Il Fornaio: $100 = $20 Complimenti Card
Jamba Juice – $25 = FREE juice or smoothie
Joe’s Crab Shack – $50 = FREE gift and $60 in coupons
Legal Seafoods — $200 = FREE Lobster Dinner Reward voucher
Long Horn Steakhouse – $25 = $5 Bonus Card
Maggiano’s Little Italy – $50 = FREE one-year Food & Wine Magazine subscription /$100 = $20 Bonus Card + FREE one-year Food & Wine Magazine subscription
Margaritas – $50 = $10 Bonus Card OR buy $100 = $25 Bonus Card
Massage Envy: $100 = $25 Promo Card / $150 = $50 Promo Card
McCormick and Schmick’s – $100 = $20 Reward Card
The Melting Pot -$100 = Four $25 Bonus Certificates
Menchie’s – $25 = $5 Bonus Card
Miller’s Ale House – $50 = $10 Bonus Card
MOOYAH: $30 = $5 off your meal — in the same transaction
Morton’s The Steakhouse – $250 = $50 Reward Card
Native Foods Café – $100 = $20 Gift Card
Ninety-Nine Restaurant – $25 = $5 Bonus Card
Noodles & Company – $25 = $5 Gift Giver Bonus Card
Not Your Average Joe’s – $50 = $10 Bonus Card
Ocean Prime – $100 = $25 Bonus Card
Olive Garden – $50 = $10 Bonus Offer
Outback Steakhouse – $50 = $10 Bonus Card
Panera Bread: $50 = $10 Bonus Card
Papa John’s – $25 = FREE large one-topping pizza
Pei Wei Asian Diner – $25 = $5 Bonus Card
P.F . Ch ang’s China Bistro – $100 = $20 Bonus Card
R ed Lobster – $25 = $10 Off Coupon or FREE appetizer
R ed Robin – $25 – $45 = $5 Bonus Buck Reward
Regal Cinemas – $50 = $10 Concessions Promo Card
Regina Pizzeria — $50 = $10 Bonus Card
Ru by Tuesday – $25 = $5 Bonus Coupon / $50 = $15 Bonus Coupon
Ruth’s Chris Steak House: $250 0r more = 10% Bonus
Samba & Samba West – $50 = $10 Extra Gift Card / $100 = $25 Extra Gift Card
Scrub a Dub – Book of 5 Works or Super Choice washes = FREE wash
Showcase cinemas – Pay $40 for $50 card, Pay $45 for $60 card, pay $75 for $100 card (only available at box office)
Showcase SuperLux — $25 = $5 Bonus Card
Souplantation– $50 = FREE Meal Pass
Ste ak ‘n Shake – $20 = $5 Certificate
Swe et Tomatoes – $50 = FREE Meal Pass
Texas Roadhouse – $30 = $5 Bonus Gift Card
T .G.I. Friday’s – $50 = $10 Bonus Bites Card
Tony Roma’s: $50 = $15 Roma Bucks
Uno Pizzeria & Grill: $25 = $5 Bonus Voucher
Village Inn – $25 = $5 Bonus Card
White Castle – $25 = $5 Promo Card
Yardhouse — $50 = $10 Bonus Card

Remember, price and participation may vary. It’s also important to note that many of the promos are “bonus cards” — not gift cards. Review the fine print for limitations, including minimum purchase requirements, date restrictions or menu exclusions first. Plus, most (if not all) bonuses are not valid until Jan. 1, 2017.

If you have a favorite restaurant on the list, consider buying gift cards for yourself to “cash in” on the bonus. Plus, get more bonuses by breaking down a large purchase. For example, if the bonus is for a $25 (or more) gift card and you’re buying a $50 gift card, why not purchase two $25 gift cards in separate transactions instead? You just doubled your bonus.