I was wondering about the quality (food/ ambiance/ service) of these restaurants? I guess there is a wide variety from the best to the worst?

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AAdvantage Platinum
AMEX Platinum (Canada)

Flyaway: you are correct. There is a wide range of restaurants. For example here in SAT there are numerous Mexican restaurants. Most are quite good and fairly inexpensive.

We just got a new Gallagher's Steakhouse. This is a franchise of the NYC original. We normally don't think these specialty steak houses (like Ruth's Chris) are worth the expensive tabs. We thought we would try Gallagher's while they are on Idine.

The food was okay. The bill was $125 (for 2) so I am glad I at least got 1250 miles.

There are often Ihops and Bennigans on the list. There are many mom and pop places. The variety here is quite good.

We are eating our way through all the restaurants on the list that are within 20 minutes or so of our home. There have only been 2 that we will not go back to. We have been more than happy with the others.

I have eaten at some very good restaurants on the program. They have everything from quite fancy to delis, depending where you are located.

They are based in S. Fla and have offices in NYC, so their coverage there is very good.

They tend to get restaurants that are new or short on cash. As a result, the most popular or well-established restaurants in a city generally are not included. Still, there are usually plenty of great places on the card in most cities.

cordelli, thank you for your suggestion. I couldn't remember which credit card I assigned to what airline. I went to the idine website and input my mileage plus Firstusa card. Invalid card. I was requested to call customer service, and after a few minutes, had everything straightened out. She told me to go to www.mpdining.idine.com to create a profile for my UA account, using my MP FF number as my username. She also looked up my NW account and we updated the cc info on that, too. My CO account had been cancelled by me two years ago. I asked her to send me a new booklet, and she told me the restaurants are the same for UA and NW.

Everything was pretty easy to do. No long wait, and the website was okay to navigate on. I'm ready to go!

Linda

If someone has the know-how (and the time) they should build an online link/chart between idine and Entertainment and/or Zagat. Now that would be one useful tool!!

We don't have an IHOP on IDINE. However, if you are in this area Cafe Aspen is really fine. If you like a bar atmosphere, be sure to sit in the bar all the way in the back of the restaurant. Same food, but I think the service is more personal. Also less chatter back there. There is a back entrance for those of us (few) who know the way.

This restaurant is in a strip shopping center, but don't let that put you off. It is high class, but not a budget buster.

Isn't it funny how I insist on having a meal there once a month? My credit card, of course. I am so generous! My friends give me their cash.

Cafe Aspen is probably the finest restaurant in Fort Worth and it isn't in the ritzy, high price frame of mind! The art on the walls is for sale. The bartenders and waiters remember you.

No chain place for sure!

Another choice is Harrigan's. The only thing to order their is beef! Bar service is strickly industrial. No class! No one ever remembers your name. But it is an IDINE!

Do you like those long lists of Pizza Huts in the book?

Have anyone gone to Pizza Hut for the miles or the food?

Long lists of Pizza Huts? I just wish there was one here in SAT! The way my teenagers eat pizza I would be a million miler! Sure, we would make Pizza Hut our number one place for the miles and the food!

BTW, There is a feature add on the last page for Gordon Biersch Brewery. There are lots of locations. We ate at one in LAS and I had the best salad there I have ever had in my long salad eating life. The place was terrific for casual dining.

Zagat--the iDine site (for DL in ATL at least) does include links to those restaurants reviewed by Zagat, but not Entertainment. But I know the Entertainment restaurants by heart. And in fact, I pulled an Entertainment 50% off/iDine combo just last night! Unfortunately, the iDine miles are off the discounted price (but inclusive of tax and tip).

Man, I miss the Gordon Biersch in San Jose! My favorite was the beer-battered salmon fish and chips. Yumm!

just had dinner last weekend $175 check
5 miles per dollar onto my webmiles account
plus what i get from using credit card
got about 100 miles
i agree it's a great program
whan i first looked at it they were asking you to make reservations but now you just go
these people seem pretty savy to consumers
i agree the list of restaurants could be better but it seems to be increasing

I will be in NYC the evening of May 4. Anyone suggest a great restaurant appearing on the idine list?

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AAdvantage Platinum
AMEX Platinum (Canada)

I personally like the Chophouse in Times Square, it's part of the Heartland Microbrewery trio in the city, The food is quite good, and the beers are excellent. Was just there a week or so ago.

I have received numerous requests to do this in the last few weeks. I am still more than willing to help any fellow FTers out!

Dave

Don't know about other airline partners, but AA Pt (probably ExPt and maybe Au also) get 500 bonus miles every month if dine at 3 or more participating restaurants.

So aside from restaurants appropriate for business meals, I also like inexpensive fast food places to top off if I don't have 3 in a month. In the SJC area, I can get a taco from one of the Una Mas chain for under $2 for an extra 500 miles.