Comprehensive Guide to 2017 Veterans Day Food Freebies and Promotional Offers

Veterans Day 2017, observed on Saturday, November 11, featured a widespread array of complimentary meals and promotional offers from restaurants and retailers across the United States. These initiatives were designed to honor military veterans and active-duty service members. The offers spanned a variety of food and beverage categories, with many extending beyond the holiday itself to include the preceding and following days. Participation was generally available at national chains, though specific location involvement was recommended to be confirmed in advance. Eligibility for most offers required proof of military service, typically in the form of a military ID, uniform, or other official documentation, though a few promotions had more flexible terms.

Restaurant and Food Service Promotions

A significant number of national restaurant chains offered free meals or specific food items to veterans and active-duty military personnel on and around Veterans Day 2017. These promotions were often valid for dine-in service only and required proper identification.

Major Chain Restaurant Offers

Several prominent national restaurant brands provided complimentary meals. Applebee’s offered free meals for military personnel on Veterans Day, November 11. Similarly, Chili’s provided a free meal from a special menu. Red Robin gave veterans and active-duty military members a free Red’s Tavern Double Burger with a side of bottomless steak fries. California Pizza Kitchen offered a free entrée from a curated Veterans Day menu on Saturday, November 11.

TGI Fridays offered a free lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Veterans Day. IHOP offered retired and active-duty military members a free stack of three red, white, and blue pancakes between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Friday, November 10. Dunkin’ Donuts provided a free doughnut nationwide on Veterans Day.

Other Restaurant and Dining Freebies

A wide variety of other restaurants offered specific free items. These included: - Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza: Free small order of meatballs with ricotta cheese. - Arooga’s Grille House & Sports Bar: A choice of soft, crab, or buffalo pretzel (dine-in only, with some location exceptions and a 4 p.m. end time at specific sites). - Back Yard Burgers: Free Classic Burgers for veterans and active-duty personnel in uniform or with a valid ID. - Bakers Square: Free breakfast with a choice of buttermilk pancakes, three slices of French toast, or a Belgian waffle. - Bandana's Bar-B-Q: A free meal up to $10. - Billy Sims BBQ: A free meal with a special collectors cup. - Bonanza Steakhouse: Free buffet. - Bonefish Grill: Free Bang Bang Shrimp appetizer. - Boston’s Pizza Restaurant & Sports Bar: Veterans and military personnel could redeem a pre-paid pint through Sunday, while supplies last. - Brann’s Steakhouse and Grille: Free 6-ounce sirloin steak with two sides. - Bruegger’s Bagels: Free small drip coffee. - Bubbakoo’s Burritos: Free meal. - Buffalo Wild Wings: Free small order of traditional or boneless wings with a side of fries. - Burntwood Tavern: Free lunch or dinner on Saturday. - Calhoun's: Free meal. - Carrabba’s Italian Grill: Free appetizer. - Carlo’s Bakery: Free cannoli. - Cattlemens Steakhouse: Free 8-ounce sirloin steak dinner. - Chuck E. Cheese: Free personal one-topping pizza for veterans, active-duty personnel, and eligible dependents with military ID, proof of service, and promo code 5500. - Cicis Pizza: Free adult buffet on Saturday. - City BBQ: Free sandwich with two sides and a regular drink. - Country Pride: Free meal from a select menu. - Cracker Barrel: Free slice of Double Chocolate Fudge Coca-Cola Cake on Veterans Day. - Dickey’s Barbecue Pit: Veterans received a free sandwich, savory side, and a Big Yellow Cup from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. - Furr's Fresh Buffet: Free buffet and beverage on Monday (the day after Veterans Day). This could be combined with the Military Monday price for up to three family members accompanying a service member. - IHOP: Free stack of three red, white, and blue pancakes on Friday, November 10. - Ovation Brands (HomeTown Buffet, Old Country Buffet, Country Buffet, Ryan's): Free buffet and beverage on Monday (the day after Veterans Day). This could be combined with the Military Monday price for up to three family members accompanying a service member. - Red Robin: Free Red’s Tavern Double Burger with bottomless steak fries. - Twin Peaks: Free meal from a special menu on Monday (the day after Veterans Day). - Wild Wing Café: Free salad, wrap, burger, or chicken sandwich. - Wienerschnitzel: Free chili dog meal. - World of Beer: Free select draft beer or $5 off any food item (offer varies by location due to state legalities). - Zoës Kitchen: Free meal.

Offers with Specific Timing or Conditions

Chipotle offered a buy-one-get-one-free (BOGO) offer on burritos, bowls, salads, or tacos for all U.S. military (active-duty, national guard, retired), military spouses with ID, and veterans for in-restaurant orders at participating locations. Notably, this offer was valid on Tuesday, November 7, which was before Veterans Day. On Veterans Day, November 11, Chipotle provided a complimentary slice of Double Chocolate Fudge Coca-Cola® Cake.

The Fresh Mex 3-Item Combo was available from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, November 11. To qualify, diners needed to dine in uniform or bring proper identification. The combo allowed customers to create their own selection from enchiladas, soft or crispy tacos, tamales, flautas, or chile relleno, served with rice, a sweet corn tamalito, and a choice of beans.

Free Meals After Veterans Day

Some promotions extended beyond the holiday weekend. CentraArchy Restaurants (including New York Prime, California Dreaming, The Tavern at Phipps, Chophouse New Orleans, Carolina Roadhouse, Joey D’s Oak Room, Chophouse ’47, Gulfstream Café, and Burro Loco) offered a free meal from regular dinner menus on Sunday, the day after Veterans Day.

Non-Food Retail and Service Freebies

Beyond restaurant meals, Veterans Day 2017 promotions included free services and discounts from other retailers.

Automotive Services

Several car wash and oil change services offered complimentary offerings. Crew Carwash provided a free car wash for veterans and active military members on Saturday, November 11, at all 30 locations across Indiana. Delta Sonic Car Wash offered a free Super Kiss car wash and a free semi-synthetic oil change on Saturday, September 11 (note: this date appears to be an error in the source material, as it precedes Veterans Day; the offer was likely intended for Veterans Day weekend). No ID was required for the Delta Sonic offer; customers simply needed to inform the serviceperson they were a veteran or active military service member.

Retail Discounts

Target offered a 10% off coupon to all veterans and active military through Veterans Day. This coupon was available via a provided link.

Other Services and Entertainment

Wawa offered free coffee, any size, all day on Saturday for veterans, active military, and family members. White Castle offered a free breakfast combo. A free admission offer at Knott’s Berry Farms in southern California (worth up to $75) began on November 1, and free admission to the Harley-Davidson Museum extended beyond Veterans Day itself. Free entry to national parks was also available for everyone, regardless of veteran status.

Eligibility and Verification Requirements

For the majority of food and retail offers, eligibility was contingent upon verifying military status. Common requirements included: - Presenting a valid military ID. - Dining in uniform. - Providing other proof of service.

Some offers, like the one from World of Beer, varied by location due to state legalities. Others, such as the Chuck E. Cheese pizza, required a specific promo code (5500) in addition to military ID and proof of service. The Waffle House coupon was noted as a "Veterans Day coupon," but the fine print did not explicitly restrict it to veterans and active military, suggesting broader potential eligibility.

It was generally recommended to call ahead to confirm participation at a specific location, as not all franchises within a chain may have participated in the promotions.

Conclusion

Veterans Day 2017 featured an extensive lineup of freebies and discounts for U.S. military veterans and active-duty personnel, primarily focused on complimentary food and beverages from a wide range of national and regional restaurant chains. Offers were concentrated around November 10 and 11, with some promotions starting earlier or extending into the following days. Non-food offers included free car washes, oil changes, and retail discounts. Eligibility typically required proof of military service, and consumers were advised to verify participation and specific terms with individual locations before visiting.