Chase Dining Experiences: Are They Worth It?

Chase Sapphire bank cards are likely to get all of the glory for factors that may be redeemed for journey. However more and more, Chase factors can fund extra than simply flights and lodges.

With Chase Experiences and J.P. Morgan Chase’s 2021 acquisition of the restaurant web site The Infatuation, cardholders now have entry to unique invites to distinctive experiences, a lot of that are associated to eating.

That features occasions such because the “Dinner on the Courtroom” collection, the place Chase Sapphire Reserve® cardmembers who purchased tickets utilizing both money or Chase Final Rewards® factors received to eat dinner on the court docket of San Francisco’s Chase Middle, house of the NBA’s Golden State Warriors. I attended the occasion as a part of a complimentary press invitation to see what these particular eating experiences are like. My mission? To seek out out whether or not it’s value spending your money or factors on them.

Chase Eating vs. Chase Experiences

Chase Eating and Chase Experiences go hand in hand, although there are some nuances.

Chase Eating launched in 2020 as a hub for Chase Sapphire, Freedom and Ink cardmembers. Powered by reservation web site Tock, this system permits cardmembers to make reservations at taking part eating places and order takeout. Cardmembers also can redeem factors for his or her meals orders.

Whereas all cardmembers earn rewards for purchases made by way of Chase Eating, cardholders earn an eye-opening charge of 10 factors for every $1 spent on Chase Eating purchases.

Chase Experiences, alternatively, is a collection of occasions out there solely to cardholders. Examples embrace presale or VIP tickets to sports activities occasions, music or meals festivals. These tickets nonetheless value cash, however you’ll be able to normally pay in money or factors.

There are additionally complimentary experiences for sure Chase cardholders. For instance, all Chase cardholders get entry to expedited entry strains at some occasions, however Chase Sapphire Reserve® members get unique lounge entry at occasions just like the PGA Championship or Broccoli Metropolis Competition 2024 in Washington, D.C. The air-conditioned lounges at scorching and crowded summer season occasions generally is a helpful reprieve for attendees.

The best way to get entry to unique Chase occasions

Probably the most unique occasions normally require a Chase Sapphire Reserve®, which instructions a $550 annual charge. Its present sign-up bonus is: Earn 60,000 bonus factors after you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening. That is $900 towards journey whenever you redeem by way of Chase Journey℠.

Chase’s Dinner on the Courtroom collection, for instance, was open solely to folks with a Chase Sapphire Reserve®.

Are Chase Experiences value reserving?

Occasions fluctuate in high quality and price, so it’ll rely in your preferences to determine whether or not Chase Experiences and Chase Eating occasions are value it. The Dinner on the Courtroom I attended was notably memorable given the celeb appearances, customized items and first-of-its-kind alternative to dine on Chase Middle’s court docket.

Dinner on the Courtroom is a set of eating occasions held at a few of the nation’s well-known basketball venues, together with State Farm Area in Atlanta and Madison Sq. Backyard in New York Metropolis. The San Francisco model of the occasion value $300 or 30,000 Chase factors, whereas the variations within the different two cities value $250 or 25,000 Chase factors.

About 100 folks attended the Chase Middle occasion. Friends consumed courtside cocktails earlier than munching on a meal from Michelin-starred restaurant Mister Jiu’s. Although the dishes served didn’t mirror the restaurant’s customary menu, Mister Jiu’s costs sometimes begin at $125 per individual (earlier than drinks, add-ons, taxes and ideas) for its tasting menu. At Mister Jiu’s, the wine pairing prices an extra $100, whereas the Dinner on the Courtroom occasion included alcohol on the open bar.

Positive, the meals wasn’t fairly as much as par with what you’d get on the Mister Jiu’s restaurant. However contemplating it was cooked in an area kitchen, that felt considerably anticipated. The meals have been nonetheless high-quality with substances like razor clams because the star of the primary course, and tender braised beef shank for one of many two primary programs.

The occasion marked the primary time a proper dinner had been served on the ground of Chase Middle. In what was a Warriors fan’s fantasy, folks may ogle the workforce’s championship trophies up shut and meet guard Chris Paul. Attendees additionally walked away with a swag bag that included a Mister Jiu’s cookbook (value about $22), a monogrammed Mark and Graham bag (value about $200) and a customized jersey with their title on the again (value about $100).

In complete, between the dinner and items, I’d estimate the expertise was value over about $450, so it was nice worth for foodies and Warriors followers, regardless of whether or not you paid money or factors.

When you’re not a lot of a sports activities fan, different food-focused Chase occasions embrace dinner at New York seafood restaurant Jeffrey’s Grocery for Chase Sapphire Reserve® cardholders. For $125 or 8,333 factors, you may get a multicourse meal with alcohol pairings, plus an look by Govt Chef Matt Griffin.

Chase additionally normally affords particular offers for EEEEEATSCON, an annual meals competition by The Infatuation. For the 2024 competition in Miami, Chase Sapphire Reserve® and Chase Sapphire Most popular® Card cardholders received a 50% low cost on presale tickets. Consider, although, that critiques are blended for large occasions like EEEEEATSCON; some folks love the celeb appearances and bites and others suppose the lengthy strains and entrance charge aren’t value it.

Reserving Chase eating experiences: Yay or nay?

Some Chase Experiences are a singular alternative to purchase a ticket to an occasion that most of the people can’t entry.

My expertise with Dinner on the Courtroom means that some experiences (particularly the unique Chase ones) are value your money and time. Given the blended critiques on a few of the larger festivals or eating places, e book Chase experiences and VIP packages with the data that your mileage might fluctuate.