topic Re: What are the best restaurant Cards? in Credit Cards

What are the best restaurant Cards?

degs138 — Wed, 04 Jun 2014 15:51:04 GMT

I have a QuickSliver card for 1.5% cash back and a chase freedom for Gas rewards 2 quarters out of the year. I am planning on getting a Amex Blue cash every day card for the 3% back in groceries. Does anyone have any opinions on the best card to dinne out with?

My income spending is as follows:

Dinning

Outdoor stores(bikes, hiking, skiing equipment)

Grocery stores (local raised and organic)

Electronics stores

Department stores

Gas

Any suggestions would be welcome.

Re: What are the best restaurant Cards?

mongstradamus — Wed, 04 Jun 2014 15:55:30 GMT

@degs138 wrote:
I have a QuickSliver card for 1.5% cash back and a chase freedom for Gas rewards 2 quarters out of the year. I am planning on getting a Amex Blue cash every day card for the 3% back in groceries. Does anyone have any opinions on the best card to dinne out with?

My income spending is as follows:
Dinning
Outdoor stores(bikes, hiking, skiing equipment)
Grocery stores (local raised and organic)
Electronics stores
Department stores
Gas

Any suggestions would be welcome.

Unless you want/need an amex card. Sallie mae 5% on gas/groceries is an better deal. As far as dining goes US bank Cash+ with fastfood/restaurants is your best bet for 5% on all dining out.

Re: What are the best restaurant Cards?

coldnmn — Wed, 04 Jun 2014 15:57:01 GMT

US Bank Cash+ is 5% if you can qualify. You can pick two 5% categories and one 2% each quarter. Restaurants are usually a 5% category each quarter.

Re: What are the best restaurant Cards?

coldnmn — Wed, 04 Jun 2014 15:59:33 GMT

Here is the choices currently

https://cashplus.usbank.com/index.cfm/main/categories/demo/true

Re: What are the best restaurant Cards?

-NewGuy- — Wed, 04 Jun 2014 16:02:42 GMT

Cash+ is hard to beat. Do you ever spend more than 2k a quarter on restaurants?

Re: What are the best restaurant Cards?

DieGo2SHAE — Wed, 04 Jun 2014 16:39:37 GMT

Since the citi forward isn't available to new people anymore (5% cashback on any kind of restaurant with no limit of any kind), then the US Bank Cash+ is the best option for 5%. You'll have to select both fast food and normal restaurants as your two 5% categories.

If you can't qualify for it or don't have a branch in your area (you have to apply in person), then the sam's club mastercard is coming soon and will given 3% on restaurants (as well as 5% on gas and 3% on travel). Beyond that there are several cards in the 2% range, such as the chase amazon visa and citi's thank you preferred (the premiere version gives 3% but has a $125 AF).

Re: What are the best restaurant Cards?

-NewGuy- — Wed, 04 Jun 2014 16:44:20 GMT

Also, depending on how much you spend at restaurants and how much you value certain points, the CSP or even the Chase Hyatt are good options too. The CSP is 2 points with 3 points per dollar spent the first friday of every month. Depending on how you value UR points, it could be a great bet. Also it is uncapped, which is very nice.

Re: What are the best restaurant Cards?

degs138 — Wed, 04 Jun 2014 18:04:57 GMT

I sometimes spend a little over 2000 in a quarter, depends on how much I travel that quarter.

Re: What are the best restaurant Cards?

BigBS — Wed, 04 Jun 2014 18:47:06 GMT

@DieGo2SHAE wrote:
Since the citi forward isn't available to new people anymore (5% cashback on any kind of restaurant with no limit of any kind), then the US Bank Cash+ is the best option for 5%. You'll have to select both fast food and normal restaurants as your two 5% categories.

If you can't qualify for it or don't have a branch in your area (you have to apply in person), then the sam's club mastercard is coming soon and will given 3% on restaurants (as well as 5% on gas and 3% on travel). Beyond that there are several cards in the 2% range, such as the chase amazon visa and citi's thank you preferred (the premiere version gives 3% but has a $125 AF).

You can apply for the Cash+ over the phone.

Re: What are the best restaurant Cards?

Anonymous — Wed, 04 Jun 2014 18:55:56 GMT

@BigBS wrote:
@DieGo2SHAE wrote:
Since the citi forward isn't available to new people anymore (5% cashback on any kind of restaurant with no limit of any kind), then the US Bank Cash+ is the best option for 5%. You'll have to select both fast food and normal restaurants as your two 5% categories.

If you can't qualify for it or don't have a branch in your area (you have to apply in person), then the sam's club mastercard is coming soon and will given 3% on restaurants (as well as 5% on gas and 3% on travel). Beyond that there are several cards in the 2% range, such as the chase amazon visa and citi's thank you preferred (the premiere version gives 3% but has a $125 AF).
You can apply for the Cash+ over the phone.

You Can? I would have gotten this if I knew this. Their site only has "Apply in Branch" and the nearest US Bank is 100s of miles away.

Anyhow, I just use my CSP for dining now but Cash + is better like people have said.

Re: What are the best restaurant Cards?

mongstradamus — Wed, 04 Jun 2014 19:05:03 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@BigBS wrote:
@DieGo2SHAE wrote:
Since the citi forward isn't available to new people anymore (5% cashback on any kind of restaurant with no limit of any kind), then the US Bank Cash+ is the best option for 5%. You'll have to select both fast food and normal restaurants as your two 5% categories.

If you can't qualify for it or don't have a branch in your area (you have to apply in person), then the sam's club mastercard is coming soon and will given 3% on restaurants (as well as 5% on gas and 3% on travel). Beyond that there are several cards in the 2% range, such as the chase amazon visa and citi's thank you preferred (the premiere version gives 3% but has a $125 AF).
You can apply for the Cash+ over the phone.
You Can? I would have gotten this if I knew this. Their site only has "Apply in Branch" and the nearest US Bank is 100s of miles away.

Anyhow, I just use my CSP for dining now but Cash + is better like people have said.

There was an thread last month or month before with number you can call if you don't live in the area for us bank cash+ applications , I think it was Wade who gave out the 1800 number

Re: What are the best restaurant Cards?

Christina_xyt — Wed, 04 Jun 2014 19:13:11 GMT

How difficult to get approved for USbank cash + ?

what's the average score/lowest score to get approved and which credit report do they pull?

Re: What are the best restaurant Cards?

mongstradamus — Wed, 04 Jun 2014 19:16:05 GMT

@Christina_xyt wrote:
How difficult to get approved for USbank cash + ?

what's the average score/lowest score to get approved and which credit report do they pull?

They are an TU puller , and most people have low to mid 700s i think that have been approved

Re: What are the best restaurant Cards?

Christina_xyt — Wed, 04 Jun 2014 19:18:28 GMT

@mongstradamus wrote:
@Christina_xyt wrote:
How difficult to get approved for USbank cash + ?

what's the average score/lowest score to get approved and which credit report do they pull?
They are an TU puller , and most people have low to mid 700s i think that have been approved

mid 700s as in 750?! O.O

Re: What are the best restaurant Cards?

elegia — Wed, 04 Jun 2014 19:39:54 GMT

@DieGo2SHAE wrote:
Since the citi forward isn't available to new people anymore (5% cashback on any kind of restaurant with no limit of any kind), then the US Bank Cash+ is the best option for 5%. You'll have to select both fast food and normal restaurants as your two 5% categories.

That's such a shame about the Citi Forward. It was my first ever credit card (got it a little under 3 years ago) and did not even understand at the time how awesome the 5x points on dining and bookstores/Amazon was - I'm so glad that I got grandfathered in when they got rid of and changed the card for new members.

My budget is mostly food, groceries, gas, and sundries, and I only have two cards: Citi Forward and Amex BCP. If you spend a decent amount of your monthly budget on groceries, I'd encourage you to try for the BCP instead of the BCE - you get 6% on groceries and 3% on gas and department stores (although you can buy a reasonable amount of gift cards at the grocery store for an equivalent of 6%). I was leery of the annual fee, but I got a signup bonus of $250 that theoretically pays for the first 3 years, and after compiling an expense report realized that even without the bonus and with the AF I would be saving more money than with the BCE and no AF.

For what it's worth, I'm looking into the US Bank Cash+.

Re: What are the best restaurant Cards?

Anonymous — Wed, 04 Jun 2014 19:45:35 GMT

@elegia wrote:
@DieGo2SHAE wrote:
Since the citi forward isn't available to new people anymore (5% cashback on any kind of restaurant with no limit of any kind), then the US Bank Cash+ is the best option for 5%. You'll have to select both fast food and normal restaurants as your two 5% categories.
. If you spend a decent amount of your monthly budget on groceries, I'd encourage you to try for the BCP instead of the BCE - you get 6% on groceries and 3% on gas and department stores (although you can buy a reasonable amount of gift cards at the grocery store for an equivalent of 6%).

As discussed on multiple threads here, the Sallie Mae will give superior returns to the BCE, and, depending on your grocery/gas spend, possibly to the BCP (due to 5% on gas rather than 3%). For the select department stores, you can often get gift cards from brokers at well above 3% off, so I don't really count that as a benefit!

Re: What are the best restaurant Cards?

wacdenney — Wed, 04 Jun 2014 20:29:49 GMT

PayPal Extras is the best card I have for dining at ~2.5% back. I can't qualify for anything from US Bank or anything with 5% categories at all for that matter.

Re: What are the best restaurant Cards?

SunriseEarth — Wed, 04 Jun 2014 21:23:35 GMT

@degs138 wrote:
I have a QuickSliver card for 1.5% cash back and a chase freedom for Gas rewards 2 quarters out of the year. I am planning on getting a Amex Blue cash every day card for the 3% back in groceries. Does anyone have any opinions on the best card to dinne out with?

My income spending is as follows:
Dinning
Outdoor stores(bikes, hiking, skiing equipment)
Grocery stores (local raised and organic)
Electronics stores
Department stores
Gas

Any suggestions would be welcome.

Cash+ seems to be a good option at 5%, but you do have to select both restaurants and fast food to get all dining covered.

The upcoming Sam's Club MC has 3% dining. Amex Costco TE has 2%. Each of those require memberships.

Santander Bravo has 3%, but lots of people seem iffy about them, given their subpar customer service in subprime auto loans. Chase Sapphire gives 2X points for dining.

Re: What are the best restaurant Cards?

Themanwhocan — Wed, 04 Jun 2014 22:26:36 GMT

Sounds like Multiple Cash+ and multiple SallieMae rewards mastercards are called for in this situation.

Might as well get multiple BOA Better Balance Rewards cards too, while you're at it.

Re: What are the best restaurant Cards?

DieGo2SHAE — Wed, 04 Jun 2014 23:37:11 GMT

@elegia wrote:
@DieGo2SHAE wrote:
Since the citi forward isn't available to new people anymore (5% cashback on any kind of restaurant with no limit of any kind), then the US Bank Cash+ is the best option for 5%. You'll have to select both fast food and normal restaurants as your two 5% categories.
That's such a shame about the Citi Forward. It was my first ever credit card (got it a little under 3 years ago) and did not even understand at the time how awesome the 5x points on dining and bookstores/Amazon was - I'm so glad that I got grandfathered in when they got rid of and changed the card for new members.

My budget is mostly food, groceries, gas, and sundries, and I only have two cards: Citi Forward and Amex BCP. If you spend a decent amount of your monthly budget on groceries, I'd encourage you to try for the BCP instead of the BCE - you get 6% on groceries and 3% on gas and department stores (although you can buy a reasonable amount of gift cards at the grocery store for an equivalent of 6%). I was leery of the annual fee, but I got a signup bonus of $250 that theoretically pays for the first 3 years, and after compiling an expense report realized that even without the bonus and with the AF I would be saving more money than with the BCE and no AF.

For what it's worth, I'm looking into the US Bank Cash+.

Oh you're telling me, I got my Forward literally less than one month before it was downgraded for new users. At the time I was only getting it for the amazon bonus and considered the restaurants perk to be a minor benefit at best. Nowadays it's my favorite card by far because I didn't realize just how rare an unlimited 5% cashback card for literally any kind of restaurant was. I'm very very glad I got the card when i did =] I wont even request the chip upgrade for the card out of paranoia that Citi will take the chance to downgrade me, hahah

I dont use my BCE for groceries, I use my sallie mae (5% on groceries, as well as on gas and amazon/bookstores, no AF) since I dont spend anywhere near enough to meet its caps, much less to make the BCP worth it after the AF. I only have the BCE for the regular Amex promotions and to have a history with Amex in general. That and having an Amex is just nice on its own =P