To the OP, yes -- you can buy a gift card / certificate and have it count as eligible spending with Rewards Network since all they look at is total dollars spent at the establishment.

If you think that checking some boxes in a Rewards Network review without dining would be confusing or morally offensive, you can always purchase some food for $6 or $7 and add a $25 gift card to the order so that it meets the minimum spend threshold. Just be sure that they submit the whole thing as one order rather than two separate orders.

ExitRowAisle
A Dissatisfied 2nd Class Starwood Platinum Member