The Restaurant Choice

I originally left a one-star review for this gift card back in January 2024 after having issues using it, so not a great start. But credit where it’s due. Louise from the company reached out, asked me to get in touch, and actually followed through. She sorted my issue properly - a new card was reissued, and it worked without any fuss. It really… Read more ·  1

proves the point - it’s not when things go perfectly that defines a company, it’s how they fix things when they don’t. So I’m happily updating this to 5 stars.

We have a $100 gift card and every single restaurant we've tried, the card simply DOES NOT WORK. I would like a FULL REFUND. NOT HAPPY!! What a waste of our daughter's money. Zero Star rating.

SCAM received 2 cards as a gift. Attempted to use within the expiry date. Rejected. I can see the company is responding to similar complaints, if this happens to almost everyone purchasing the card then how is it not a scam?!

Fantastic Indian feast – Our first visit to this restaurant and we tried 3 different meat curries to take home. After ordering, we were advised the wait would be 25 minutes. When we arrived it wasn't quite ready so sat down for the few minutes needed and were served ice-cold water in glasses to refresh us on a 30°+ day. The food was absolutely amazing - all sauces were… Read more ·  2

delicious and there was very generous amounts of succulent, super tender meat for us to rave over. Great value. We can't wait to visit and dine in.

Great support – I did have a problem trying to obtain an answer to my questions re: expiry date. I have since received a the information I needed and now look forward using my gift card. Show reply

A good eftpos card that can be used at many restaurants – I usually buy these cards when they are selling at a discount of 5-10%. So far I have purchased 3 x $500 cards and never had an issue using them at restaurants and take away centres. I am surprised to see so many negative reviews for these cards on this forum. Cause personally I am very happy with these cards. Show reply

DO NOT BUY THIS CARD! Had a purchased gift card with value $50 branded Restaurant Choice. It had been purchased in December 2022 with a 3 year expiry date, meaning it should remain valid until December 2025. As the last gift received from my father who passed away in April 2023, I had held onto it to maximize the connection but still use it within… Read more

expiry date. So I first attempted to use card on 19 November 2025 and it was declined. Contacted company (Restaurant Choice Support) by email and received this prompt reply on 20 November 2025: We’ve identified an issue with your card that’s preventing it from being used. I’m sorry this has affected your experience. To resolve this, I’ll close your current card and transfer your remaining balance of $50 to a new Restaurant Choice Gift Card at no additional fee. This card will have a 3-year expiry and, once confirmed, will take 48 to 72 hours to be delivered via email. What great customer service I thought! But it was all a ruse. I waited 3 business days but had not received the replacement card by email as promised. Attempted to reply and was advised by auto reply that my case had been closed and a new case had been created. There has been no response to my several further emails under the new case number They appear to be ‘ghosting’ me now. Despicable company behaviour. Avoid!

DO NOT PURCHASE THIS CARD. IT'S A SCAM. I registered the card online and confirmed the $100 on the account. I have tried over several weeks to use it at multiple cafes and restaurants and it is always declined. When the card is swiped it says the transaction is declined. When the merchant enters the card manually they are asked to enter a 3-digit… Read more

pin but the card only provides a 4-digit pin and the transaction is therefore rendered invalid. I have made several calls to Restaurant Choice. I have either been cut off, or told to use it at a restaurant that accepts the card! The whole experience is frustrating, time consuming, stressful and dishonest. DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY ON THIS CARD. Woolworths should not be supporting such a shonky business.

Card was damaged after my first use as it is made with cardboard and after an attempt adding the card to my digital wallet the card was locked. called them and they said they will send through a replacement card in 72 hours but and then I was told I need to send them my ID to prove I own the card. I sent them a phote of me holding the card myself… Read more

they just closed the case and wont respond any more. Have to report this to the tribunal as well as fair trading. If the management team sees this the case ID is CS17463434. I am open to communicate.

If there was a negative star choice I would choose that. Bought for several family members as gifts at Christmas and no one has been able to use their card. When they check the card balance they can see it there but it is still un usable. SCAM. Wont recommend and will never buy again. Total waste of money and disappointed family.

Worst restaurant card, checked restaurant on their site before buying and then wasn't available...extreme limited venues. They promised a refund and then took that promise back. Can't use this useless digital card that can't be loaded to a wallet. WORST GIFT CARD

Was given $100.00 card as a Christmas gift total scam, no restaurant will take it. Have rung heaps of restaurants listed on website, not one of them take the card

Absolutely seems like a scam. Received a $100 voucher as a gift and have been rejected from all restaurants we have tried to use it at, even though they are listed on the website to accept. Do not waste your money!

All eGift cards 404 and NO Human Customer Service – Their gift card is a total scam! I purchased gift cards from Restaurant Choice in February 2023 during a promotion, and now all the activation email links lead to 404 error pages when I try to use them. I've tried every method of contact—website chat (only automated responses), the online form, phone calls (only automated messages), Facebook, and… Read more

even a DM to their dedicated ProductReviews rep—with no real assistance. I also reached out to their parent company, BlackHawkNetwork, but my case was automatically closed without any response. Apparently, they don't even have a human customer service team. Extremely disappointed! Everyone should stay away from this company! If I don't hear from them in a week, I will lodge a complaint to Victoria Consumer Affairs and the ACCC. Hopefully I can get my hard-earned money back!

Card issues with unwilling to help customer service – Not recommended. Not worth your time dealing with card issues. The customer service representatives are hard to understand due to their accents, and their condescending tone is another issue. They seem to dislike their job so much.

Restaurant Gift Card – Was given a restaurant gift card. Checked availability of venues.Went to Abbey Road, Acland St.St Kilda,Melbourne.After breakfast,time to pay.The restaurant owner said card not accepted. Who is lying?The card website or the restaurant?

Something seems off with this giftcard – This card really does seem like a scam gift card. Its so restrictive and prohibitive it almost screams SCAM. I have now tried to use it at 11 restaurants and nothing, all declined, it says it has a balance but still nothing. Would I recommend this product, HELL NO! Avoid, Avoid, Avoid. We have raised a concern with the ACCC to have a look into the legitimacy of the cards, because it seems to not be as sold as advertised.

Card doesn't work, no way to have issue resolved – Was gifted a $100 voucher. Tried to use at restaurant and it wouldn't work. Have tried to call the "customer support" number and it's nothing but a merry go round, can't speak to anyone. Tried to use the "chat" facility and waited 20 mins to be connected to a "live" agent, nothing happened. Raised a Case via website, no follow up. My next step is to report to ACCC.

Un-usable gift card – Was gifted $200 worth of gift cards from a family member as a thank you for helping out during a difficult time. I have tried to use across multiple venues, including: chain takeaway store, local pub (owned by larger corporation) and independent small bar and it has not been accepted anywhere. This is really disappointing. It’s also embarrassing… Read more

to have to go back to the person who gifted it to enquire about the card: Where did they purchase? Where can it be used? As ultimately - they are now down $200 too with nothing to show.

Stay away from this gift card – Is it possible to give them less than 1 star review? stay away from this card, lretty much a scam and you wont be able to contact anyone from their company

CAN I LEAVE ZERO STARS? ABSOLUTE WASTE OF MONEY! – I've had 2 x $100.00 cards that have expired and 2 x $100.00 cards about to expire as there isn't one single venue that accepts the cards. The cards were for my staff who have been unable to use them. $400.00 is a lot of money to spend, especially for a product that is a complete let down. I'd advise anyone to steer clear of buying these gift cards. I would give 0 stars if I could.

Don't buy – Absolutely crap I've tried so many restaurants on the Gold Coast only to be told no they don't accept it. Very embarrassing I've contacted the company and just got a standard nonsense response.

How does this company still trade?! – Worst gift card you will ever have. Didn’t work at all. I wrote to them and told them of the issues I was having. I got no help besides a generic response until I reported them to ACCC and sent a screenshot of my report. Once I did that, my concerns were taken seriously and I was given a new Visa Activ gift card (which worked). Problem solved but… Read more

not without a serious threat to report. I would recommend anyone with one of these cards that don’t work make the same report to bring this company some serious attention from ACCC.

Worse gift card ever – This card does not deserve even one star. I received this as a Christmas gift 3 years back and had so much trouble finding a restaurant that I go to where I can use the card. There was none where I live. We are visiting Chadstone this year and when I called to find out the balance, it has expired 11 days ago and apparently the card is more… Read more

accepted now (LOL). They are unable to extend the expiry of the card and so $50 just went up the air. Do not waste your money and buy this card, it’s the worse ever gift card you can give to anyone.

Would never recommend – Received two cards for Christmas from my elderly mum. She also purchased these for my sister and brother. She spent 300.00 which is a lot when on a pension, but the way these cards are advertised She thought she had found the perfect gift for us. These cards are useless unless you actually delve into how they really work. My experience so far… Read more

is....my first dining experience the restaurant would not accept the cards. 130.00 out of pocket for me. The second dining experience the restaurant said yes they would accept the card. However when trying to pay using these cards they were declined! Very embarrassing to say the least. 100.00 out of picket for me this time! I have only just become aware that the MCC has got to match the restaurant or it will decline....whatever the hell this means. So what do we have to do to use these cards? Ask the restaurant when we book if 5812 is their MCC? Most restaurants that we eat in hardly understand English let alone what this number would mean! Way too difficult and I would never even consider purchasing one of these after my experience! I have made contact via the website so let's see if I am contacted about this shall we. Looks like there are a few still waiting.