Time to put away the pots and pans and let someone else do the cooking!

Check out these restaurant specials happening now at some of Plastic Jungle’s dining merchants!

Baja Fresh

Now through 8/31/11, save mucho dinero at Baja Fresh. Use this printable coupon and get $2 off any purchase of $8 or $5 off any purchase of $15 or more!

Stack it with a discounted Baja Fresh gift card from Plastic Jungle cards and get an additional 12% off!

Black Angus

Craving a juicy steak? Savor a center-cut filet mignon and grilled prawns for just $16.99 at Black Angus with this printable coupon. Or partner up for a Campfire Feast Dinner for Two for $39. The feast includes an appetizer, entrée and dessert – choose from Prime Rib, New York, Top Sirloin, Ribeye, Salmon or Chicken as your main dish. Both deals are good through 9/12/11.

Get a discounted Black Angus gift card for 12% off and really stretch that dining dollar.

Boston Market

Want a hearty and satisfying home-style meal? Print this coupon for Boston Market and get $3 off a $15 purchase! Expires 9/6/11.

Plastic Jungle currently has Boston Market gift cards discounted at 20% off! Get yours while supplies last.

McCormick & Schmicks

How ‘bout a Date Night? Enjoy a delicious meal at American seafood restaurant McCormick & Schmicks and get a movie ticket for only $5 with the purchase of a dinner entrée. Use this printable coupon by 9/21/11.

Double it with discounted McCormick & Schmick’s gift cards and save an additional 15% off!

Souper Salad

Especially hungry? Visit the all-you-can-eat buffet and salad bar at Souper Salad for just $5.99 with this printable coupon. Enjoy fresh baked bread, hand-cut veggies and soups made from scratch, with menus changing daily. Coupon expires 9/23/11.

Use a discounted Souper Salad gift card from Plastic Jungle and save an extra 10% off!

Bon Appetit!

Put away the pots and pans and treat yourself to dinner out this weekend!

With discounted gift cards from Plastic Jungle, you can save up to 35% to your favorite restaurants. Skipping dishes AND saving money? Nothing tasted so good!

Here our some of our favorite deals happening NOW!

Craving a juicy steak? Check out these discounted gift cards at Black Angus Steakhouse, Capital Grille or Fleming’s.

Black Angus Steakhouse – 12% off

Capital Grille – 10% off!

Fleming’s – 12% off!

Or maybe you want something quick and easy? How ‘bout these deals at Boston Market and Pick Up Stix?

Boston Market – 12% off!

Pick Up Stix – 10% off!

Or perhaps tantalize your international taste buds with pan-pacific fare at the Elephant Bar, Italian cuisine at Macaroni Grill, Mexican seafood at Rubio’s or Hawaiian fusion at Roy’s.

Elephant Bar – 12% off!

Macaroni Grill – 10% off!

Rubio’s – 10% off!

Roy’s Hawaiian Fusion – 10% off!

Buying discounted gift cards from Plastic Jungle is easy.

Click the Buy Gift Cards link at the top of any page on PlasticJungle.com to see a list of all discounted gift cards currently available. Or type a merchant or keyword into the search box on top of any page to see a list of discounted gift cards that meet your criteria. You can always filter the results by merchant, category, gift card balance and discount. Once purchased, we will send you a confirmation email for your records and ship your gift card(s) within two business days of processing your payment. Your package should arrive within another 5-7 business days. Shipping is on us!

So let someone else do the cooking tonight. It’s the weekend – you deserve it!

Appetite’s Choice: Stretch dollars to get multiple meals or more food (dessert?) at no additional cost!

If you find yourself in the sweet aroma of Boston Market, California Pizza Kitchen, Cold Stone Creamery, or Krispy Kreme wanting more, look no further.  With Plastic Jungle discounted gift cards, eating out has delicious rewards.

Boston Market – More corn bread, please!  Grab Boston Market discounted gift cards for 12% off at Plastic Jungle and stack it with a coupon for $3 off your next meal, $1 off $10 purchase, and $15 off $100 catering orders. Get these coupons from Boston Market and by signing up for their VIP Club.

California Pizza Kitchen – Have you tried the Pear & Gorgonzola pizza?  Snatch your CPK discounted gift cards for 14% off through Plastic Jungle and sign up for California Pizza Kitchen’s e-newsletter and get $5 off your next visit.  Your extra savings could treat you to mouthwatering Strawberry Shortcake.

Cold Stone Creamery – What’s not to love about cake batter ice cream or picking out your favorite mix-ins?  Take hold of Plastic Jungle’s Cold Stone Creamery gift cards for 10% off and join “My Cold Stone Club” and get 2 creations for less than the price of one.  Yum!

Krispy Kreme – The “hot now“ sign is on!  Get a free glazed doughnut by joining the Friends of Krispy Kreme and grab your party’s additional doughnuts and drinks for 10% off with Plastic Jungle’s Krispy Kreme discounted gift cards.

It’s time to eat out for less!

If you’re looking for a gift that will cover just about any restaurant whim of the recipient, you might want to check into Darden Restaurants Gift Cards. Darden Restaurants Gift Cards can be redeemed at any Red Lobster, Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Bahama Breeze, Seasons 52, or any other Darden restaurant in the US.

So, you can use an Olive Garden Gift Card at any Olive Garden restaurant, or any of the above-mentioned restaurants. They are interchangeable.

With graduation coming up, restaurant gift cards make a great gift, or a great way to send out the group for a meal after the graduation ceremony as a treat on you. There are over 1,700 Darden restaurants across the US, and the Olive Garden has over 650 locations around America. Check the online Olive Garden restaurant locator to find one near you.

Looking for a discounted Darden Restaurant Gift Card?

Darden Restaurants-branded Gift Cards  >> |   Olive Garden Gift Cards  >> |   Red Lobster Gift Cards  >> |   LongHorn Steakhouse Gift Cards  >> |  Bahama Breeze Gift Cards  >> |   Seasons 52 Gift Cards  >>

Remember, if your desired Darden Restaurant Gift Card is not available, you can purchase one from another Darden Restaurant and use it interchangeably. Note that Canadian and US Olive Garden gift cards are not interchangeable. At present, the Olive Garden and Darden Restaurants do not offer eGift Cards. For the latest on terms and conditions on Darden Restaurant Gift Cards, see their Gift Card FAQ page, or call their Gift Card Customer Service number: 800-642-7336, Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern.

Check the Balance on Your Olive Garden Gift Card or Olive Garden eGift Cards

Online: Check the balance on your Olive Garden Gift Card online.

Phone: Call 877-230-4120

In Person: Go to any Darden Restaurant (Red Lobster, Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Bahama Breeze, Seasons 52) and ask the host to help you. Find any Darden Restaurant.

Sell Your Gift Card

Once you know your balance, you can sell or trade your gift card securely on Plastic Jungle. At Plastic Jungle, you can trade any unused gift card for cash, or an Amazon.com Gift Card, or use it to donate the funds to charity (Gift Cards for Good—look for the green ribbon at checkout), or even fund a PayPal account.

To know how much your gift card is worth in exchange on Plastic Jungle, on the main page, click “Sell Gift Cards” at the top of the page. Look up the store and enter the gift card balance you’ve just acquired. You’ll see instantly what your gift card balance is worth in cash or trade.

Check other Plastic Jungle blog posts for the same “Check Your Gift Card Balance” information for other stores, including Sears, Land’s End, Macy’s, Best Buy, Lowe’s, and more.

Mothers Day is this weekend! Happy Mothers Day to those of you who know the real meaning of sleep, can identify the origin of over 10 stains by sight, know that permanent marker is somewhat easily removed from walls using Lysol, and live with the realization that one day, in the very near future, absolutely nothing will happen to pick up the living room unless you bend over and pick it up yourself. Here’s to a day of proposed relaxation!

Plastic Jungle’s Mother’s Day Sweepstakes — STILL TWO DAYS LEFT TO ENTER! Make sure you get over to Plastic Jungle’s Facebook Page to choose which kind of mom you are and enter to win one of the few cards left in the few days the giveaway is open.

BNC.com $50 Amazon.com Gift Card – Brand Name Coupons (dot com) is excited to give away a $50 Amazon.com Gift Card. Just “Like” the BNC Facebook page and post a comment, or sign up the Amazon Daily Deal Newsletter (a thrilling thing in itself for any deal hunter) and leave a comment on the entry page. Details, terms and conditions outlined on the entry page. The giveaway will close on May 31st, 2011. The BNC staff will randomly pick a winner.

Frugal Novice $10 Burger King Gift Card Giveaway – Four lucky readers will each win a $10 Crown Card (gift card) to Burger King! This contest is open to all US & Canadian residents. Mandatory Entry: “Like” Burger King on Facebook, then comment on the Frugal Novice blog’s entry page. Don’t forget, while you’re there you can select your “Tender 8? and get a coupon for free tenders! The contest is open through May 16, 2011.

NYC Single Mom $100 Restaurant.com Gift Card Giveaway – One NYC Single Mom Reader will win a $100 Restaurant.com Gift Card. Required Entry: Subscribe to NYC Single Mom.com via email and confirm subscription and you must leave a comment. There are tons of ways to get extra entries. For details and giveaway rules, see the entry page. Winner will be selected by random.org when contest ends, May 13 2011.

People StyleWatch Gift Card Giveaways – Here are a set of style and fashion-related giveaways. No purchase is necessary, and when you consider the amount of cool prizes there will be a lot of entries, but it’s fun to wonder what you might get: $350 Gift Cards to David Meister, $150 SwimSpot Gift Cards (perfect timing!), plus other drawings for jewelry, accessories and more. Giveaways close May 9, 2011 (HURRY!); see People StyleWatch Giveaway Rules for additional details.

Houston Garden Center’s $100,000 Gift Card Giveaway – If you live in or around Houston, it’s time to do the yard! 1,000 lucky winners will get a $100 Houston Garden Center Gift Card. Complete the official entry form and you could win a $100 gift card. Then, in the $25,000 Landscape Challenge, one winner will be chosen from the 1,000 gift card winners and will be determined by which winner has used their $100 gift card to create the most beautiful or unique design using Houston Garden Center plants. Entrants must be a legal resident of Harris County, Texas or any adjacent county. Contest ends Sunday, May 8, 2011. See entry page for full rules.

Little Chief Honeybee $50 Urban Outfitters Gift Card Giveaway – Style conscious and sweet with a Nashville edge, Little Chief Honeybee is giving away a $50 Urban Outfitters Gift Card. Just follow her blog, “Like” her on Facebook and more to enter. See entry page for details. Giveaway closes “the end of the month” (May).

It’s our genuine wish at Plastic Jungle that Moms of every style in every corner of the world have a great Mother’s Day on May 8, 2011. Make sure to comment, and let us know what you win, and how you spend your day and your Plastic Jungle savings!

If the price of gasoline seems scary, it’s probably time to start saving any way you can. The expense of going out to dinner might make you think twice about getting out and about, so getting a deal might make getting out more fun.

Of course, you can start by purchasing discounted gift cards to restaurants right here on Plastic Jungle. Chili’s is part of a restaurant group, called Brinker Restaurant Group, and you can use gift cards interchangeably between locations. Just click any of the restaurants in the list below to see if any discount gift cards are currently available for that restaurant.

Chili’s Grill & Bar

Romano’s Macaroni Grill

On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina

Maggiano’s Little Italy

One gift card equals a lot of choice! Enjoy dining at over 1,500 Brinker Restaurants around the country. Check Brinker Restaurants Terms and Conditions page or Brinker Restaurants’ FAQ page for the latest details or offers on their gift cards.

Save at Chili’s, or any of the restaurants when you sign up for their email alerts. They often send coupons and specials, and right now, Chili’s is offering a free chips & queso appetizer coupon just for singing up.

Check the Balance on Your Brinker Restaurants Gift Card

Not sure how much is left on your Brinker Restaurants Gift Card?

Online: Go to Chili’s balance check tool to check any Brinker Restaurant card balance.

Phone: 1-888-532-6092. When you call, be sure to have your Brinker Restaurants Gift Card number and PIN in front of you.

In Restaurant: You can ask at the restaurants. See Brinker Restaurants’ Restaurant Locator

Once you know your balance, you can safely sell or trade your Chili’s or Brinker Restaurants Gift Card on Plastic Jungle. At Plastic Jungle, you can also trade your Chili’s or Brinker Restaurants Gift Card for an Amazon.com Gift Card and even fund your PayPal account.

To know how much your restaurant gift card is worth in exchange on Plastic Jungle, on the main page, click “Sell Gift Cards” at the top of the page. Look up Chili’s, enter the gift card balance you’ve just acquired, and you’ll see instantly what your gift card balance is worth in cash or trade.

Check other Plastic Jungle blog posts for the same “Check Your Gift Card Balance” information for other stores, including Sears, Land’s End, Macy’s, Best Buy, Lowe’s, and more.

The Valentine’s Day date is a bit of a test. What will the night say about your romantic relationship? What kind of Valentine’s date would be the most fun and romantic for you? What kind of Valentine’s gift is appropriate – a sweet little candy necklace or a getaway trip for two to Bermuda?

Even without the pressure of a romantic holiday, today’s economy puts pressure on almost any night out. Will the restaurant be worth the money?

Valentine Dining Tip: You’ve got to know where you’re going. Finding a good restaurant doesn’t necessarily mean finding the best restaurant in town. The right restaurant should reflect your tastes, tickle your stomach, and in the end, make you and your date happy.

Do a little research. There are tons of sites that compile write-ups on local restaurants. Start with Yelp.com.  Even in the smallest cities you’ll find mostly honest reviews on Yelp from real people on popular places.

Zagat, online as Zagat.com, has little maroon-colored print guides, and is known for quick, easy reviews. The quality of Zagat’s reviews is solid – basically crowd-sourcing restaurant reviews, condensing them, and publishing a perfect outline of what to expect from the restaurant in about three sentences. Zagat is only available in select cities. (No Eagle River Zagat Guide, I’m afraid.) Zagat’s Valentine’s Day planner might be useful.

Restaurant Row offers quick overviews of restaurants, and the great thing is that you can search a chain, say Tony Roma’s, or Morton’s Steakhouse, and up pops all the locations around the country, with location and contact information. Restaurant Row also offers a “Restaurant Row Top 10” from five cities in every state – and these aren’t restaurants chosen by some snob, these are the restaurants with the most requests on their site.

Open Table hosts reviews of restaurants, and also takes reservations for some 15,000 restaurants nationally and internationally, boasting that their reservations are “free, instant, confirmed”.  Open Table’s Valentine’s Day reservations page, and invites you to make restaurant reservations at your destination if you are traveling.

Wondering what the “experts” think? Well, travel and food writers (see Guyot.com, TravelandLeisure.com, BonAppetit.com) tend to be a particularly critical bunch, offering their opinions on “the best of the best” all the time. Beware of sites that list the “Top 10 Most Romantic Restaurants in the US”, because as soon as something like that is published, the #1 restaurant closes or is topped by something more exotic. Just go with your gut, and keep it simple. Remember, it’s YOU your date wants to be with, not the expensive ambiance, the food, or the “spectacular service” at the restaurant you pick!

Remember that if you’ve got an unused gift card in your pocket, you can always sell your gift card on Plastic Jungle for cash (or trade it for an Amazon.com Gift Card, or fund a PayPal account, and more) which might defray the cost of a night out.

What about outright dining savings? You get that at Plastic Jungle, too. There are tons of restaurant gift cards available on Plastic Jungle; some, like the Darden Restaurants, are good at all the restaurants in the chain. Discount Darden Restaurant Gift Cards on Plastic Jungle are currently offered at 10% off face value, and are good at Red Lobster, Olive Garden, Bahama Breeze, Seasons 52, LongHorn Steakhouse, The Capital Grill restaurants across the US. Or try Restaurant.com Gift Cards, which are good at thousands of restaurants nationwide.

Other Discounted Restaurant Gift Cards on Plastic Jungle Include*:

Applebee’s

Black Angus Steakhouse

(The) Cheesecake Factory

Chili’s (Gift Cards are also good at Macaroni Grill, On The Border, Maggiano’s)

Morton’s Steakhouse (currently at 17% off!)

P.F. Chang’s China Bistro

Ruth’s Chris Steak House

TGI Friday’s

Tony Roma’s

Hurry, supplies are limited. You can always set an alert to be notified when your favorite gift cards come into stock at a discount on Plastic Jungle.

Let us know where you’re going for Valentine’s Day and let us know if you had fun!

*Gift card prices and availability may vary.