Category: Restaurants

Capital One Venture X Cuts Priority Pass Restaurants

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While not the end of the world, this is still a sad development…

Venture X cutting some Priority Pass access in 2023

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has become one of the most popular premium travel credit cards, since launching just over a year ago.

While the card has a $395 annual fee, there are so many reasons to get this card, from the excellent welcome bonus, to ongoing perks like a $300 annual travel credit, 10K anniversary bonus miles, and much more.

The Capital One Venture X has offered an extremely well rounded lounge access benefit, all of which apply to both the primary cardmember and authorized users:

Unfortunately as of January 1, 2023, a change will be made to the card’s Priority Pass membership — the card will no longer offer credits or experience at Priority Pass’ non-lounge airport experiences, including Priority Pass restaurants, spa discounts, and more.

As far as premium credit card Priority Pass memberships go, this aligns the Capital One Venture X with the policy of The Platinum Card® from American Express (review) rather than that of the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card (review).

The Venture X will no longer offer credits at Priority Pass restaurants

My take on this Capital One Venture X lounge access perk change

It goes without saying that this is a negative change, and I’m sad to see this. This now makes the Chase Sapphire Reserve the popular premium card that continues to offer Priority Pass restaurant credits, at least for now (hopefully Chase doesn’t make the same change).

While this is of course disappointing, to me it doesn’t fundamentally change the value proposition of the Capital One Venture X. The way I view it, the card’s $395 annual fee is still more than covered by the $300 annual Capital One Travel credit plus the 10,000 anniversary bonus miles.

Everything else is the icing on the cake, and this remains the best premium card for families, as you can add up to four authorized users, and they all get lounge access as well. Also keep in mind that unlike the Chase Sapphire Reserve, the Capital One Venture X offers access to Plaza Premium Lounges and Capital One Lounges.

Access the Capital One Lounge DFW with the Venture X

Bottom line

As of January 1, 2023, the Capital One Venture X is changing its Priority Pass benefit. Priority Pass memberships issued through the card will no longer offer non-lounge airport experiences, such as Priority Pass restaurants and spa treatments.

What do you make of this Capital One Venture X card benefit change?

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114 Restaurants to Receive $3,000 Resilience Grants in Second Round of Financial Support This Year

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The PG&E Corporation Foundation Continues Supporting Restaurants with Pandemic Recovery

OAKLAND, Calif., December 02, 2022–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Just in time for the holidays, Northern and Central California restaurants are getting a second boost this year from the California Restaurant Foundation (CRF) and The PG&E Corporation Foundation (Foundation). The Foundation’s latest $400,000 charitable contribution to CRF will fund $3,000 grants to 114 hometown restaurants in 23 counties in Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s (PG&E) service area, as well as operating support for CRF.

The Foundation’s additional contribution to CRF’s Restaurants Care Resilience Fund will help restaurants pay for equipment upgrades to alleviate deferred maintenance, and for employee retention to help with industry-wide staffing shortages, both of which have been on the backburner for the last two years due to increased debt, losses and costs. The recent funding follows a $500,000 contribution earlier this year.

“We were elated by the additional contribution from The PG&E Corporation Foundation, bringing our total grants awarded in 2022 in the PG&E service area to 258 independent restaurants. These grants allow the restaurant owners to thank their longstanding and much appreciated crew with a retention bonus or invest in equipment to help their restaurants run safely and efficiently. What an extraordinary gift to give, especially this time of year. Together, we are spreading a bit of joy and letting restaurants know how much we value their contribution to our neighborhoods,” said Alycia Harshfield, Executive Director, California Restaurant Foundation.

For the past two years, PG&E and The Foundation have supported CRF’s Restaurants Care Resilience Fund. Grants have been made available to California resident restaurant owners with fewer than three units and less than $3 million in revenue, and prioritized minority and women-owned businesses. PG&E and The Foundation’s combined $1.4 million in charitable contributions in 2021 and 2022 have supported 367 local restaurants.

Watch a video of one of the earlier spring grant recipients, Las Mañanitas restaurant in Fresno.

“Our hometown restaurants are the heart and soul of our communities, and they represent how small businesses help our local neighborhoods thrive. As we head into the holiday season, where food and gathering are central to our celebrations, we welcome the opportunity to support the industry that provides meals and neighborhood gathering spots. We are also grateful to our partners at the California Restaurant Foundation for their dedication to helping our local restaurants continue their path to recovery,” said PG&E Executive Vice President, Corporate Affairs and Chief Sustainability Officer Carla Peterman .

Assisting Small and Medium Businesses

PG&E remains committed to providing ways for its small and medium business customers to save energy and money. Here are some ways PG&E is helping its customers:

  • Contacting business customers who would save money by choosing a better rate plan for their operations — projected to save customers over $1.5 million in 2022.

  • Providing COVID-19 relief and support information to all small business customers, including PG&E resources and external support for businesses such as California state programs.

  • Increasing outreach to small business customers highlighting payment support and energy-savings programs through email campaigns, PG&E’s Energy Advisors, and direct mail.

  • Conducting outreach to eligible customers to enroll at a discounted rate for businesses struggling to stay open.

  • Offering rebates and financing solutions to help small business customers realize sustained cost savings.

For more information on PG&E Small and Medium Business customer support visit pge.com/smbsupport.

For more information on the California Restaurant Foundation, Restaurants Care, or the Restaurant Resilience Fund, visit restaurantscare.org.

About PG&E

Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is a combined natural gas and electric utility serving more than 16 million people across 70,000 square miles in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit www.pge.com/ and http://www.pge.com/about/newsroom/.

About The PG&E Corporation Foundation

The PG&E Corporation Foundation is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, separate from PG&E and sponsored by PG&E Corporation.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221202005324/en/

Contacts

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Richmond restaurant news: At least 6 new dining options in December

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The dining room and bar at Botanya. Image: Courtesy of the restaurant

Richmond is teeming with new dining options this month, and even more places are expected to open throughout December.

⛳️ ICYMI, though I know you didn’t since it’s seemed the most reported “eatertainment” opening ever, The Park at RVA is now open Wednesday through Sunday in the Diamond District.

🧀 Truckle Cheesemongers opened two weeks ago in its new Devil’s Triangle home at 714 N. Sheppard St.

  • The spot serves cheese boards, grilled cheese, charcuterie and wine and beer for dine-in or to-go daily.

🤫 uliveto, the fish-heavy, Mediterranean-focused restaurant from the Gersi folks, opened quietly this week in the former Secco Wine Bar space in the Fan.

  • The restaurant is open Tuesday through Sunday from 5-9pm for its soft opening.

🍲 Botana Restaurant, the Carytown Italian and Spanish fusion restaurant, opens today at 4pm and will be open for dinner Tuesday through Sunday. check out themenu.

  • The restaurant is booked through Saturday, but walk-ins are OK at the bar.

🍛 Kismet Modern Indian, the Richmond location for the award-winning Northern Virginia restaurant, is opening next week in Scott’s Addition, in the former Perch spot.

  • The restaurant serves traditional and modern takes on Indian cuisine.
  • It may launch takeout and delivery this weekend for trial runs, so check Instagram for the latest.

🍔 Eazzy Burger, the Ardent and ZZQ folks’ burger joint love child, will open mid-December.

🥘 Hot Pot 757, the Chinese hot pots and Korean barbecue restaurant that opened on Broad last month, has a Chesterfield location on Robious Road next to Total Wine in the works.

😢 The Broken Tulips will close at the end of the year after five years in Carytown, the restaurant announced on Instagram this week.

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