Calgary Groupons: Anyone use them?
Hey Guys!
Just wondering if anyone has used the Groupons in the Calgary restaurant scene and if you find that it's worth it. For some reason I felt kinda skeptical about them- maybe it's because it's an online coupon- for some reason I never think online coupons would work. Could some of you guys share your experiences and let me know if it's worth giving them my e-mail address.
Thanks!
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re: Jetgirly
nutellaluvr
Mar 19, 2012 11:07 AM
Thanks Jetgirly, I wrote to Living Social for a refund. I was sooo bummed when I went down to Kensington to just find them closed.
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electroleum
Jun 25, 2011 02:26 PM
I've bought quite a few of these but have yet to use any. Has anyone uncovered any tips or tricks, or perhaps anything that is important to know before going in to use one of these deals?
So far I've bought one for Beckham's on Centre St, one at Voodoo Lounge on 16th, one for the new Studio 82, and one for Double 0 pizza.
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re: electroleum
Jetgirly
Jun 25, 2011 03:05 PM
Nope. I've used them at Mango Shiva and Teatro, and everything went smoothly both times. I did mention it when I made the reservations though, and informed the servers again when we were seated.
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Mango Shiva
218- 8th Ave SW, Calgary, AB T2P 1B5, CATeatro Restaurant
200 8th Ave SE, Calgary, AB T2G 0K7, CA -
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re: AriaDream
nutellaluvr
Jun 27, 2011 11:02 AM
We purchased Groupons for Tudor Rose and my only recommendation is to avoid burdening the staff with these on a Friday or Saturday night. They are already overwhelmed and this just adds to the complexity. We used the Groupons right away and had no issues whatsoever.
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So, bought the Dealfind for Wicked Chili and went a week and a half ago for the lunch buffet. The price seemed unusually low at around $12-$13 (can't exactly remember since I'm trying to forget the experience).
The selections were paultry and insulting. There was not even raita to my great surprise, though I later found out why.
The vegetable curry was made from frozen crinkle-cut vegetables, the beef curry was more like my old Rawlings baseball glove than beef, the butter chicken seemed like a combo of fresh and leftover chicken, the dhal was a limp soup, and everything was poorly spiced. Even the one "hot" sauce was several dozen scovilles below Frank's Hot Sauce. The fresh naan was tasty, but incredibly oily. The best thing about the place was the service as everyone we spoke with was very pleasant.
In the end we did not use the coupon since we would have has to have a couple of beers apiece ( and I'm not much of a noontime boozer) to breach the threshold of the coupon and pay taxes and tip in cash as we try to do, knowing that these things are a loss-leader.
Except in my case because I bought two coupons and now expect not to use them unless:
a) Someone here can assure me that the menu selections are a whole bunch better' or,
b) I can muster up the chutzpah to give them away as gifts to a friend or relative I rarely see.
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Wicked Chili
507 17 Ave SW, Calgary, AB T2S, CA›1 Reply -
Jetgirly
Apr 20, 2011 07:22 AM
I'm thinking of buying today's Dealfind for Saint Germaine- they even have a vegetarian main!
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re: AriaDream
This is on the Dealfinder site - sounds like it came direct from Saint Germain:
"Saint Germain is offering a new promotion that Dealfind customers can take part in.
It's called "2 can dine for 99". This includes 2 three-course meals with choices for each course as well as a bottle of great wine - all for $99. GST and gratuity are extra.
We look forward to serving you!"
Makes the great offer even more appealing.
Here is the link for the deal if you dont already have it:
http://www.dealfind.com/?a=2d077cafd5d7
Enjoy
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Jasz
Apr 5, 2011 04:22 PM
Today's Dealfind is $25 for $60 at Jacqueline Suzanne's
www.dealfind.com/calgary/?&s=dd&a... -
Jasz
Mar 29, 2011 06:52 PM
Today's Dealfind is $50 for $20 at Wicked Chili
www.dealfind.com/calgary/?&s=dd&a...-----
Wicked Chili
507 17 Ave SW, Calgary, AB T2S, CA -
Jasz
Mar 24, 2011 05:33 PM
Today's Dealfind is $20 for $50 at La Casita Mexicana: www.dealfind.com/calgary/?&s=dd&a...
There's also a deal at Groupon for Il Giardino:
For $20, you get $40 worth of Italian cuisine during dinner.
For $10, you get $20 worth of Italian cuisine during lunch.-----
La Casita Mexicana
507 17 Ave SW, Calgary, AB T2S 0A9, CA -
$35 for $80 worth of food at Teatro:
http://www.dealfind.com/calgary/?a=68...
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Teatro Restaurant
200 8th Ave SE, Calgary, AB T2G 0K7, CA›1 Reply -
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Jasz
Feb 24, 2011 04:43 PM
Today's Dealfind is $25 for $60 at Mirchi.
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Mirchi
825 12 Ave SW #101, Calgary, AB T2R 0J2, CA›3 Replies -
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Chef's Table at Kensington Riverside Inn is on Groupon today. $25 for $50 but expires in April. Not sure if it's worth buying - last time I went there I seem to remember the bill was $200 plus tip. $25 off seems hardly worth the effort if you have to go within 3 months.
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re: cwant
cwant
Jan 17, 2011 06:03 PM
I'll answer my own question: my wife and I had a really nice meal there tonight.
The place is brand new (17th ave, 11 st, SW), and is basically a sports bar, which isn't my sort of thing generally, but since there was a Flames game on we both got a free pound of wings (ended taking a big portion of these home as we had too much food).
I had the braised lamb shanks with garlic mash potatoes and my wife had the fillet minion with goat cheese and black truffle butter and spaetzle (both came with asparagus, zucchini, and carrots). Both meals were very tasty, and the price was really good (even better using the Living Social deal). The waitress (Tiffany) provided excellent service.
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Jetgirly
Nov 16, 2010 04:04 PM
Finally one that I actually wanted! $25 for $50 at Mango Shiva through Living Social (November 16th)... it looks like they've actually got a few vegetarian things I'll be able to eat!
http://livingsocial.com/deals/14646?r... (I only know how to link from the email that I bought from; if you don't want to use me as a referrer there's probably another way... That being said we could probably get a good thing going with referrals here!)
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Mango Shiva
218- 8th Ave SW, Calgary, AB T2P 1B5, CA›1 Reply -
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cellophane_star
Nov 1, 2010 02:32 PM
I've bought a few (District, The Main Dish, Famoso and Organics Delivered) and they've been very good deals. I try to only purchase deals on places I already go to or that I know I want to visit soon. Otherwise, I'd spend a lot of money and then *maybe* use the coupon.
Anyway, I've only used The Main Dish groupon so far. I showed the coupon on my iPhone and got $15 worth of food at the deli counter. I only paid $7. Unfortunately, I didn't realize it was just deli counter food and I went in with the intention of buying their fresh Vital Greens salad. I find many of their deli counter items disappointing. Oh well, that was my own fault!
As for other site, LivingSocial, I got an amazing deal on hot yoga and I didn't have any problem cashing in on the deal. I'd say those sites are definitely worth trying (Groupon & LivingSocial, that is).
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re: cellophane_star
anonymoose
Nov 3, 2010 12:00 PM
Yeah you have to be careful and read the details of the deal as some are only for very specific things.
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pasaker
Oct 29, 2010 10:19 PM
Thanks for the reviews guys! I just signed up for a coupon to The Metropolitan Grill. They have a coupon where if you spend $18 you get a $40.00 towards dinner. It sounds pretty good since my husband and I are so busy during the week we get lazy to cook and dinner costs adds up pretty fast over the month. This is a nice way to try out new restaurants for the first time. I'll let you know how my experience goes with this first coupon! For some reason, I always get paranoid and have this image of me showing them my coupon and they tell me it's a fake, so now that I know people have used it and tried it I feel it's probably worth a shot.
Though I just want to note that I was looking over some of their previous deals and they had a deal for High Tea at the Banff Springs Hotel! 50% off. Isn't that amazing?!?! I was floored that they would offer something like that. I will for sure be on the look out for deals like that... :)
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re: pasaker
sweeterpea
Oct 31, 2010 12:35 PM
I signed up too and saw the tea at the BSH. Very tempting but I passed.
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re: pasaker
I bought the Metropolitan grill one, too. I hadn't been in oh maybe 5 years so I thought I'd try it again. Some glitches: first choice of wine was out of stock (it was one of two by the glass reds under $10), salmon was supposed to be served over gnocchi but they were out of gnocchi. I don't normally have dessert but apple pie with cheddar gelato sounded really interested so I ordered it. No cheddar gelato, just vanilla ice cream. Apparently they are going through a menu change. At a $22 discount not to complain, overall it was very good.
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re: pasaker
The Chowhound Team
Nov 23, 2010 11:44 AM
We've moved a digression about Groupon's impact on businesses to http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/749110
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The Chowhound Team
Oct 28, 2010 10:20 PM
Just a friendly reminder to keep replies focused on restaurant or food-related deals, please. There are lots of deals for spas, retail stores, etc, out there, but they're off-topic for our site.
Thanks
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re: Gobstopper
sharonanne
Oct 29, 2010 01:51 PM
Today's is for the Metropolitan Grill. I'll give you mine for Stagewest if/when they have one.
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Roarasaur
Oct 28, 2010 08:55 PM
I think it is such an amazing thing. Like someone else said, I've been using other websites such and dealfind as well. We bought 2 for Famosa, I bought 2 groupons for Stagewest the other day to see Tuesdays with Morrie (which by the way was excellent). I've had no complaints so far and every other thing I've ever used them for the owner of the establishment always accepted it. Companies use Groupon and other sites as a method of advertising and companies go to these sites and sell it through there. It is an awesome deal and I recommend you start giving them your email. The deals are amazing sometimes (especially if you like massages and spa things because they always have these deals). Its great. I dont want to rant and get more off topic but moral of the story is SIGN UP.
If your gonna go anyways, might as well save some money while your at it. Or if you've been meaning to try a new restaurant but was never quite sure if you should go or not, this will push you in that direction. And plus, most of these coupons dont expire for another year (usually) so its always great to have handy when your not sure where you want to go on a Friday Night. (be sure to read the specifics as each coupon is different and wont necessarily expire next year). -
Jasz
Oct 28, 2010 11:47 AM
I've bought several over the last couple of months: Jacqueline Suzanne's, Kefi, Tommy's Burger Bar and Saint Germain. Mostly it's for places I already like or ones that I keep meaning to try. Some of the deals are fantastic: we used the Kefi one this past weekend and with coupon and what we paid at the restaurant (above the coupon value, taxes and tip) it came to $41 for the two of us.
I also got the Gap one and ended up paying $35 for jeans that were regularly $80 (they were also on sale).
You really do have to be careful and only get the ones that will be of use to you or to places you would have gone to (or at least wanted to go to) anyway.-----
Saint Germain
115 12 Ave SW, Calgary, AB T2R 0G8, CA -
sidepockets
Oct 28, 2010 11:01 AM
I used one of our Groupons for District earlier this week. Saved me $10 for a place that we go to on a regular basis.
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I think they are worth it - not just for food. They had one for the Gap ($25 for a $50 gift card - off topic, I know). There are other ones too - www.livingsocial.com and www.dealfind.com. How can it be bad if you geat a great deal on something you like? I also bought (and have used) the Famosa groupon.
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re: Scary Bill
^^yea, we picked up some of the Tommy Burger Bar ones, too. While I prefer homemade ones, or e.g. rocky's, Tommy's does make a decent burger, especially considering that you get them for 50% off with the groupon. That means you're paying $6 for a burger and fries, which is cheaper than fast food. and their food is DEFINITELY superior to McDonalds or A&W.
IMO, the groupons can be an excellent deal. You just have to keep an eye on them, and only buy ones that jive with your taste. we've also had a chance to try out a few places that we otherwise wouldn't go to, because we don't think the food is worth the full price, e.g. Gaucho.
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I have a email address specifically for stuff like this. It works, and they have a good mix of stuff. They've had some good restaurants/shops and some lesser restaurants. The thing about these things is you have to watch yourself. It's a coupon. I try not to get it if it's not something I'd get anyway. Then they also push you to inform your friends (you get a direct cut if you refer somebody). Like most "deals", you can save a bunch as long as you're careful.
We got one for Organics Delivered, Cafe Rosso and Saint Germain.
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sharonanne
Oct 28, 2010 06:36 AM
I get them but have only used one for the Organics Delivered service. First box comes tonight so we'll see about the quality. Ordering was super easy.
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re: sharonanne
We signed up and signed off - It sucks - If you want to eat freezer burned appetizers at restaurants that are in the death spiral, it works pretty good.
The coupon you want is the one you never see, and if it did show up, it would be gone before you got it. i.e. Tasting menu at CAPO for 49 dollars
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re: Gobstopper
anonymoose
Oct 28, 2010 08:20 AM
Gobstopper I don't understand what you mean about something being gone before you got it. Did the restaurant change their menu? I think Groupon will give refunds if there is something wrong with the coupon.
I've used about 3 Groupons in Edmonton so far with no problems.
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re: sharonanne
sharonanne
Oct 28, 2010 08:49 PM
Replying to myself? Sad.
The box had a large bunch of kale, a small bunch of carrots, 3 avocados, 3 red onions, a bunch of celery, a head of leaf lettuce, 6 bananas, 5 apples and 4 oranges. According to the website this box would cost $48. It seems expensive for the quantity. There was one bruised banana and the top of the lettuce was a little wilted otherwise the produce was in good shape.
There was nothing on the box to indicate that it was re-usable so we tore the label off and when I looked on the website it says the box is returnable.
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re: sharonanne
I also was unimpressed with my box of veggies from the same offer. I was actually wondering if that was the normal amount/mix of fruit and vegetables. I was so excited to see the box but it was a huge disappointment to see what came in it. I got kiwis instead of onions, but it was pretty much the exact same set. Win some, lose some?
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