Veterans Day 2018, observed on Sunday, November 11, saw numerous national restaurant chains and businesses offering complimentary meals and discounts to honor current and former members of the U.S. military. These promotions required eligible participants to present proof of service, typically a military ID, and were largely valid for dine-in only on the specified date, with some extending through the following Monday, November 12. The offers detailed in the provided source material focus exclusively on food and beverage promotions, with no information available on free samples, product trials, or mail-in programs in other consumer categories.
Eligibility and Verification Requirements
A consistent requirement across the listed promotions was the need for valid identification. Eligible participants included veterans, active duty military personnel, and in some cases, members of the reserves, National Guard, and military spouses. Acceptable forms of proof of service mentioned in the source data included military ID cards, state-issued IDs with veteran status, or official documentation like a Leave and Earnings Statement (LES). Some establishments, such as Firebirds Wood Fired Grill, also accepted a photograph in uniform or a Veterans Organization card. It was emphasized that these offers were generally for the service member only, though some deals allowed for a guest discount.
Restaurant Promotions for Veterans Day 2018
The following restaurant chains offered specific free meal promotions for veterans and active duty military personnel on Veterans Day 2018, based on the provided source material. Details are sourced from official announcements and verified deal listings.
Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar
Applebee’s provided a free meal for veterans and active military members on Veterans Day, Sunday, November 11, 2018. This marked the 11th consecutive year of the promotion. The offer was available at nearly 2,000 U.S. locations. Participants could choose one of eight entrées. Proof of service was required.
Bob Evans
Bob Evans Restaurants offered a choice of select free breakfast, lunch, and dinner menu items for veterans and active duty military personnel on Sunday, November 11, 2018. The available options included: - Stack of Hotcakes (Buttermilk or Multigrain) - Fresh Baked Brioche French Toast - Country Biscuit Breakfast (with a choice of hash browns, home fries, or grits) - Mini Sampler Breakfast (with a choice of hash browns, home fries, or grits) The promotion was valid at all Bob Evans locations for those with ID or proof of service.
Chili’s Grill & Bar
Chili’s offered a free entrée for veterans and active duty military on Veterans Day, Sunday, November 11, 2018. Eligible participants could choose from the following: - Chicken Crispers - Margarita Grilled Chicken - Bowl of Chili or Soup & Salad - Chicken Bacon Ranch Quesadillas - Just Bacon Burger - Oldtimer with Cheese - Cajun Chicken Pasta
Denny’s
Denny’s provided a free Build Your Own Grand Slam breakfast for veterans and active military personnel on Veterans Day, Sunday, November 11, 2018. The offer was valid from 5:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at participating locations. Military ID was required.
Golden Corral
Golden Corral offered a free meal for veterans and active military personnel on Monday, November 12, 2018, from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The promotion was valid at all participating locations.
Red Robin
Red Robin provided a free Red’s Tavern Double burger with Bottomless Steak Fries for veterans and active military personnel on Veterans Day, Sunday, November 11, 2018. The offer required a military ID or proof of service and was valid for dine-in only.
Additional Notable Promotions
Other chains with Veterans Day 2018 offers included: - Another Broken Egg Cafe: Free Patriot French Toast Combo and Coffee for the military on Monday, November 12, 2018, at participating cafes. Military ID required. - Baker’s Square: Free breakfast (Buttermilk Pancakes, French Toast, or Belgian Waffle) for active duty military and veterans on Sunday, November 11, 2018. - Bar Louie: Free Flatbread or Burger (up to $15 value) for veterans on Sunday, November 11, 2018, with ID. - BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse: Free entrée (up to $12.95) and a free Dr. Pepper beverage on Veterans Day. An additional free Pizookie® was available for military personnel from November 1–30, 2018. - Boston Market: Buy-one-get-one-free on individual meals with a drink on November 11–12, 2018. A coupon (but no ID) was required. - Bruegger’s Bagels: Free coffee (any size) on Sunday, November 11, 2018, for veterans and active military. - Charlie Brown’s Steakhouse: Free lunch (from a special menu) for veterans from 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Monday, November 12, 2018. ID required. - Chicken Salad Chick: Free Chick Special and regular-size drink for veterans or active-duty military on Monday, November 12, 2018. - Chipotle Mexican Grill: Buy-one-get-one (BOGO) promotion on burritos, bowls, salads, and taco orders for active duty military, reserves, National Guard, military spouses, and retired military with valid ID on Sunday, November 11, 2018. - Fogo de Chão: 50% off the entire meal for veterans and active duty personnel on Veterans Day weekend (November 9–12, 2018). Up to three guests received 10% off. - Hooters: Free meal (with purchase of any beverage) for dine-in customers on Veterans Day. - Olive Garden: Free entrée from a special menu, served with unlimited soup or house salad and garlic breadsticks, on Veterans Day. Proof of service required. - Outback Steakhouse: Free Bloomin’ Onion and a non-alcoholic beverage on Veterans Day for military personnel and veterans with ID. An additional 10% Heroes Discount was available through December 31, 2018. - Pilot Flying J: Free breakfast, including a free coffee of any size with a choice of a PJ Fresh breakfast sandwich, packaged pastry item, or Cinnabon Center of the Roll on November 10–12, 2018. - Red Lobster: Free appetizer or dessert (from a select list) with military ID or proof of service on November 11–12, 2018. - Romano’s Macaroni Grill: Free Mom’s Ricotta Meatballs & Spaghetti entree for current and former military with ID on Veterans Day. - Ruby Tuesday’s: Free appetizer (up to $10 value) at participating locations on Veterans Day, with proof of service. - Sheetz: Free lunch at participating locations on Veterans Day. - Starbucks: One 12-ounce hot coffee for veterans, active duty service members, and their spouses on Veterans Day, with a limit of one per customer.
Additional Offers and Discounts
Some businesses extended their promotions beyond a single free meal. For example, Fatz offered a discount for service members, though the specific details were not fully provided in the source material. Firebirds Wood Fired Grill offered a BOGO entrée for the military on Monday, November 12, 2018, with the requirement to dine with a veteran or active duty service member. The promotion listed accepted forms of ID, including a U.S. Uniform Services Identification Card, a Current Leave and Earnings Statement (LES), or a Veterans Organization card.
Important Considerations for Participants
The source material highlights several key points for those seeking to use these offers: - Participation is not universal: While these are national chains, individual franchise locations may choose not to participate. It was advisable to confirm with the local restaurant. - Proof of service is mandatory: Military ID, state-issued veteran IDs, or official documentation were consistently required. Photographs in uniform or organization cards were accepted by some establishments. - Dine-in only: Most offers were valid for dine-in service only, unless otherwise specified. - Geographic limitations: Promotions were generally valid at U.S. locations, with some including Puerto Rico (e.g., Fogo de Chão). - Supplies and timing: Offers were often valid only on specific dates and while supplies lasted. Some promotions, like the free breakfast at Baker’s Square, were for a specific day (Sunday, November 11) but not the federal holiday observed on Monday, November 12. - Exclusions: Most free meal offers excluded alcoholic beverages and were for the service member only. Some deals allowed for a discount for accompanying guests.
Conclusion
Veterans Day 2018 featured a wide array of free meal and discount offers from national restaurant chains to honor military veterans and active duty personnel. The promotions were primarily available on Sunday, November 11, 2018, with some extending to Monday, November 12. Eligibility was contingent upon presenting valid proof of service, such as a military ID. While the offers provided a tangible gesture of appreciation, participants were advised to verify details with individual locations, as participation and offer specifics could vary. The available source material does not provide information on free samples, product trials, or mail-in programs in other consumer categories, such as beauty, baby care, pet products, health, or household goods.