advice about restaurant vouchers

[Yodabashi]

It's my son's birthday soon, and his girlfriend's soon after that. i thought I could gift them a restaurant voucher for them to go out for a nice meal - but I'm finding it hard to find a 'restaurant voucher' for them!

I don't want to use Squaremeal, their reviews are awful. I emailed 'Ottolenghi' to ask if the voucher they advertise on their restaurant site can have the remaining balance (if there is one after they've eaten there) can remain on the voucher, but I 've had no reply - and the 'Ottolenghi Online' reviews are also awful!
Angela Hartnett restaurants have vouchers available to buy - anyone used them?
I don't want to use Virgin Redletterdays, I found that the vouchers are only valid for off-peak times like Mon-Thur, Lunchtimes or just not suitable as they both work full time.

Anyone have any experience? Why can;t I find a voucher like a supermarket voucher, load it will money and give it to them?
They are in London.

Find out their favourite restaurant and just get a voucher direct from them.

Is there a particular place they like, see if it does vouchers, or just send money and say its for a meal out

@Dartmoorcheffy How do you think that would work? I did email a local (to them) restaurant, and they said they could take payment over the phone when Son and GF had eaten - but I thought that was a faff, and potentially embarrassing for them to sit and wait for someone to email me, get my details, pay their bill...
@Shoxfordian I could just send money, but that seems a little cold. They both earn more than i do!

You can just buy a gift card? I've used 'The Dining Out' gift card before - it covers lots of restaurants and they can use anything left on it towards the next meal at one of those restaurants. You can buy on Amazon.

Or The Ivy does gift cards if you're looking for something a bit more upmarket.

Thank you for your post. It worried me when I saw you refer to Ottolenghi. I bought good friends a voucher last year which they used in one of the restaurants. It seemed such a success that I did the same again this Christmas. I was so pleased that I could delay the start of the voucher that i didnt look further. The original voucher was sent to me so I have attached the detailed T&Cs on the voucher. So it seems clear that the voucher for online orders must be redeemed in full and then there are some other smaller restrictions. So I hope it can be partly redeemed if buying in the delis or lunch!

The Ivy or Six by nico depending where in London they are? I got a voucher for the six by nico tasting menu and it was really good.

https://www.sixbynico.co.uk/london/

I'm not sure how many there are in London, but every Christmas, my mum buys DP and I a voucher for Miller & Carter Steakhouse. It's an actual plastic card voucher and any unused balance remains on the card after. She buys it on their website and it gets posted.

It depends on how much you're putting on the card but I doubt there would be much change if they eat in one of the Ottolenghi's!

Avoid 'dining out' gift vouchers, we got bought one Christmas 23 and are yet to find a pub we eat in that'll take it

Six by nico is good
If they like cooking at home then haar is really good and does vouchers
https://haarathome.co.uk/collections/give-the-gift-of-haar

No indeed! My friends enjoy cooking and I had wondered if they might pick up bits from the delis. Waitrose stock some of the ingredients but not all.

Hawksmoor do vouchers. Can’t go wrong with that (unless they’re vegans)

The best 'gift voucher' to buy is a crisp selection of £5, £10, £20 notes. No problem finding a place to spend it and no issue if the restaurant goes bust.

How about a voucher for the ivy chain? They’re really good and many branches across London.

Thanks all - I decided to go with £80 for Ottolenghi. There is one near them, I think that should be enough for 2 for 2 courses? They don't drink.

It was surprisingly hard to find somewhere! Gap in the market, perhaps?...

With the number of pubs and restaurants closing down now, I wouldn't be buying a voucher at all in case I lost my money.