Reservations & Booking
A gift card is not a reservation. At ticketed restaurants this distinction matters more than anywhere else, because the table must still be won at release.
By The Reservation Desk Editorial Team · Published February 25, 2025 · Last updated · 5 min read
At à la carte and conventionally booked restaurants — the bistro, the family-style room, the bakery — a gift card behaves exactly as you would expect and covers the final bill.
They also work well against the beverage portion of a ticketed meal, which is settled at the table.
Because a prepaid ticket is purchased through an online checkout at the moment of release, a physical or account-based gift card may not be usable at that step. Confirm redemption method before buying one as the centrepiece of a gift.
A common workaround is to buy the ticket yourself as the gift, and hand over the confirmed booking rather than the credit.
The Reservation Desk Editorial Team — Independent research and editorial team
Our editorial team researches fine-dining access, booking windows and menu formats across the Thomas Keller Restaurant Group. Every guide is compiled from restaurant-published information, official reservation platforms and first-hand dining notes, then re-checked before each update.
This guide is compiled and checked against our verification process and editorial policy.
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