Restaurant gift certificates

Greater Cincinnati Originals promotes area restaurants, and part of the deal is, they sell restaurant gift certificates online four times a year, at a discount. There are still a few left for The Grand Cafe and the Pub at Crestview Hills ($25 for $17.50), but more go online around 9 a.m. Friday. It's not a bad list to look at: Andy's, Brown Dog Cafe, Daveeds, Jean-Robert at Pigall's, Pho Paris, Kona Bistro, Mesh, One, Red, to name a few.

At Costco last weekend, I saw Mesh gift cards packaged in lovely plastic packaging, but I can't say I've ever seen them marketed in such a way - at a discount store like Costco. A new concept; pretty good marketing. Would you ever buy them there? I'm thinking about it (haven't been to Mesh yet). Good deal too - I think it was two $50 gift cards for $75. Pretty good savings.