In order to quickly hit the "elite" level, I have bought multiple $5.00 gift cards: all on the the same dining program on the same day, each with
different credit cards registered to the same dining program and same frequent flyer. I can easily explain it as they could be stocking stuffers, Easter basket gifts, birthday goodie bags, silent auction prizes, teacher thank you's.... As long as the restaurant is not a "one dine per month" place, it should work. Wait a few days after 12 transactions, and go for the Bonus Promotion. As Points Scrounger pointed out, though AA's Bonus limits you to one dine per day at a particular restaurant, you are not limited to one dine per day per restaurant without the Bonus. This works well for me at a local chocolate shop or fast food/ice cream place. I might not try it at the local bar or I'd change my story.
If you are using the same credit card, change the dollar amount on each transaction or Rewards Network will think it is a duplicate charge. I have not had that problem with using separate credit cards/transaction.
I have used this same procedure for the IDINE programs with no $ minimums that give bonus points for each "review".