Updated: 20-40% savings on gift cards at 60+ restaurants

The bonuses that restaurants give you when you spend $25 or $100 are a good way to save 20 to 40 percent on future visits. And they can also make good gifts,especially if the bonus is a separate gift card instead of an extra amount added. Note: most restaurants let you buy in any increments to reach the bonus threshold. For example, you can buy four $25 gift cards to get the $20 bonus instead of a single $100 card.

To get the deals, you have to purchase gift cards before the end of the year (or earlier as noted). Most of the bonus cards cannot be used until next year. Bonus cards are subject to more restrictions than gift cards, so check

carefully for expiration dates or other "gotchas." Many bonus cards cannot be used until January.

Here are some of the restaurants and grocery stores offering bonus cards with a gift card purchase. Thank you Carrie Rocha of Pocket Your Dollars for sending some new ones not previously listed. Please add any others we've missed.

Al Vento (Mpls., 612-374-3009): Get a $25 bonus card when you spend $100. Savings: 25 percent.

Applebees (37 metro locations): Get $10 bonus for each $50 spent. The bonus offer is available in restaurants only, not online. Savings: 20 percent.

Benihana (Golden Valley, Maple Grove): Get a $10 bonus card after spending $50 in gift cards. Savings: 20 percent.

Biella (Excelsior, 952-474-8881): Get a $20 bonus for a $50 gift card, a $30 bonus for $75 and a $40 bonus for $100 spent. Savings: 40 percent.

Big Bowl, Tucci Benucch, Twin City Grill. Wildfire (various locations): Get a $25 bonus certificate after spending $100 in gift cards from these Lettuce Entertain You restaurants. Savings: 25 percent.

Blue Plate restaurants (Edina Grill, Highland Grill, Groveland Tap, Longfellow Grill, Scusi and 3 Squares). Spend $100 in gift cards, get $100 in bonus deals. The $100 bonus comes in the form of a booklet with a coupon for each month of 2012, ranging from $5 to $15 that can be used at any of the six restaurants. Order in the restaurants or online.

Boston Market: (three locations): Get a coupon for $5 off with a $25 gift card. The $5 card expires at the end of January 2012. Savings: 20 percent.

Broadway Pizza (17 locations): Get a $10 gift voucher after spending $50 in gift cards. Voucher is good from 1/1/2012 to 2/29/2012. Thanks for the tip Brandons. Savings: 20 percent.

Chipotle: (47 locations) Buy $30 in gift cards and get a receipt for a free burrito ($6.92 or $7.37 value, depending on flavor chosen) at a future visit. Savings: about 23 percent.

Cosi (Mpls., 612-332-5700) Get a $10 bonus card after spending $50 in gift cards. Savings: 20 percent.

Crave: (4 locations). get $60 in bonus cards ($20 to Crave, two $10 cards to Urban Eatery, and two $10 cards to Sopranos in West End) after spending $100 in gift cards. Savings: 60 percent but note that the $60 must be split among several restaurants.

Davanni's (21 locations): Get a $5 gift card after spending $25 in gift cards. Savings: 20 percent.

Famous Dave's (17 locations): Get a $5 bonus card after buying a $25 gift card. Savings: 20 percent.

Heidi's (Mpls., 612-354-3512). Spend $80 on a gift card online or in the restaurant and get $100 in value. Go to "Stewpon" in the lower right corner. Savings: 25 percent.

Joe's Crab Shack (Roseville, 651-636-4151 ). Spend $25 in gift cards and get a $5 card or other freebie. Savings: 20 percent.

Kincaid's (St. Paul and Bloomington): Get a $20 bonus for each $100 spent. Free shipping for online orders. Savings: 20 percent.

Kowalski's (nine locations). Spend $100 in gift cards and get a $10 card. Savings: 10 percent.

LeeAnn Chin (40+ locations) Get a $5 bonus gift card with $25 gift card purchase, or get a $10 bonus gift card with a $40 card purchase. Savings: 20-25 percent.

Little Caesar's Pizza (14 locations): Get a $5 bonus card when spending $25 in gift cards. Savings: 20 percent.

McCormick and Schmick (Edina, Minneapolis, 1-877-622-6780) Get a $10 bonus for a $50 purchase or $25 for a $100 purchase. Online and phone orders include $3 shipping. Savings: 20-25 percent minus any shipping cost.

Modern Cafe (Mpls., 612-378-9882): Get a $25 gift card for $15. Savings: 40 percent.

Outback Steakhouse (7 locations): Get a $20 bonus card when you spend $100 on gift cards. Savings: 20 percent.

Parasole (Burger Jones, Chino Latino, Good Earth, Il Gatto, Manny's, Mozza Mia, Muffuletta, Pittsburgh Blue, Prohibition and the Living Room at the W Hotel, and Salut): Spend $100 in gift cards and get a $25 card. The cards can be redeemed at any of the restaurants. Order at 1-866-541-4438 or online. Savings: 25 percent.

Punch Pizza (seven locations): Get a coupon for a free margherita or Napoli pizza worth about $6 after buying a $25 gift card. Cards can be purchased by phone or in person. Savings: 25 percent at lunch or 35 percent at dinner when the same margherita pizza is about $9.

Rinata Italian Restaurant (Mpls., 612-374-8998). Spend $50 and get a $20 bonus card. If you're not familiar with Rinata in Uptown, it has an excellent $20 4-course meal on Sunday evenings. Savings: 40 percent.

Roman Anthony's in White Bear Lake. Get a $50 gift card for $30, a $75 gift card for $45 and a $100 gift card for $60. Savings: 40 percent.

Romano's Macaroni Grill (Edina, Minnetonka, Roseville): Get a $5 bonus card after spending $25 in gift cards. Savings: 20 percent.

Ruth's Chris(Mpls., 612-672-9000): Get 10 percent gift card credit after $250 spent. Savings: 10 percent.

Smashburger (8 locations): Get a $5 bonus card after spending $25 in gift cards. Savings: 20 percent.

Spill the Wine (Mpls.): Spend $100 in gift cards and get a $25 bonus card. Savings: 25 percent.

TCOriginals website: A few restaurants still have 30 percent savings on $25 or $50 gift cards, including Afton House Inn, Cork's Irish Pub in St. Paul, the Current in Afton, David Fong's in Bloomington and McCoy's in St. Louis Park.

St. Clair Broiler and Rudolph's: Spend $100 in gift cards and get a $25 card and use the bonus at either. Buy the cards at the restaurants or online.

Seven Steakhouse and Sushi (612-238-7770): Spend $100 in gift cards and get a $25 card. Savings: 25 percent.