Veterans Day 2018: Where Vets, Military Personnel Eat Free In NC

NORTH CAROLINA — Restaurants, coffeehouses and eateries of across the nation and North Carolina have come up with all kinds of Veterans Day specials — free or discounted meals, drinks and treats — for veterans, retired and active duty military personnel and, in some cases, first responders to thank them for their service.

Veterans Day is Sunday, Nov. 11, but the holiday is observed on Monday, Nov. 12. Some of the special deals are already in place. In most cases, proof of military service is required.

Here are some of the deals in North Carolina:

• Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar, which has locations across the country, will receive a full-sized entree from an exclusive menu on Sunday, Nov. 11.
• Back Yard Burgers is offering veterans and active duty military members a free burger on Sunday, Nov. 11, with proof of military service. The restaurant has locations in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina and Tennessee.
• Bar Louie is offering a free flatbread or burger (up to $15) to veterans with proof of service on Sunday, Nov 11. The pub operates in 28 states.
• BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse, which has restaurants in more than two dozen states, is offering a complimentary entree up to $12.95 and a free Dr. Pepper beverage on Sunday, Nov. 11.
• Bob Evans restaurants are offering free breakfast, lunch or dinner items on Sunday Nov. 11 for active duty military, retirees and veterans with ID or proof of service.
• Bonefish Grill, another national chain with locations in nearly three dozen states, is giving active and retired service members a free Bang Bang Shrimp appetizer on Sunday, Nov. 11. A valid military ID is required.
• Boston Market's deal is good at all U.S. locations on both Sunday and Monday, Nov. 11-12. When customers buy one individual meal, they'll get a second one free. A military ID isn't required, but customers need to download a coupon at bostonmarket.com ahead of time.
• Buffalo Wild Wings is offering a free order of traditional or boneless wings and a side of fries to veterans and current members of the military on Sunday Nov. 11. Proof of military service is required.

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• California Pizza Kitchen is offering a complimentary pizza from a special menu to veterans and active duty military members on Sunday, Nov. 11. Those taking advantage of the offer will also receive a card for a buy one, get one free offer on pizza, pasta or salad Nov. 12-18.
• Chicken Salad Chick is offering a free "Chick special" and regular-size drink to any veteran or active-duty military member who visits on Monday, Nov. 12. The restaurant has 95 locations in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.
• Chili's is offering a free meal for veterans at participating locations on Sunday, Nov. 11. Proof of military service is required.
• Chipotle has a buy one, get one free deal on a burrito, bowl, salad or order of tacos for veterans, retired and active duty military personnel, and military spouses with proof of military service or a valid military ID on Sunday, Nov. 11.
• Cicis Pizza, which has 440 restaurants in 32 states, will offer a free buffet with proof of active military service on Sunday, Nov. 11
• City Barbeque, which has restaurants in Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, North Carolina and Ohio, is offering a free sandwich platter to veterans and military members on Sunday, Nov. 11. Proof of military service is required
• Cracker Barrel Old Country Store is giving veterans a choice between a slice of its Double Chocolate Fudge Coca-Cola Cake or one of its crafted coffee beverages on Sunday, Nov. 11.
• Dunkin' Donuts is offering a free doughnut to veterans and active duty military personnel at participating restaurants nationwide on Sunday, Nov. 11.
• East Coast Wings + Grill, which has locations in Florida, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia, is offering veterans a free meal from a special menu on Sunday, Nov. 11. Call ahead to verify participation. Proof of military service is required.
• Fatz Southern Kitchen, which has 38 restaurants in the Carolinas, Georgia, Tennessee and Virginia, is giving all veterans and active military a complimentary World Famous Calabash Chicken basket, from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 12. The chain is also observing Military Appreciation Month and will give all veterans and active military personnel a 25 percent discount on entrees through Nov. 30.
• Golden Corral, which operates in 41 states, will serve free dinner buffets with a beverage from 5-9 p.m., on Monday, Nov. 12, to any person who is serving or has served in a United States military branch, including the National Guard and Reserves. Identification is not required.
• HMSHost airport restaurants will give all active-duty military and veterans with an ID a complimentary Budweiser BBQ Cheddar Burger, created by a military veteran and solely available for the month of November. The chain is donating some of the proceeds of sales of the burgers to charities that support veterans and their families. The chain offers a year-round 15 percent military discount on food and non-alcoholic beverages any day of the week for military members with valid identification at HMSHost-operated airport and travel plaza locations nationwide.
• Hooters is offering all veterans and active-duty military personnel with a free entree from a special Veterans Day menu with the purchase of a beverage on Sunday, Nov. 11. Guests must present a military ID or proof of service.
• Huddle House, which operates in two dozen states, is offering a free order of its platter-sized pancakes, called Sweet Cakes, from Nov. 9-12 to all active duty military personnel and veterans with a proper ID.
• Joe's Crab Shack, which has almost two dozen restaurants across the country, is offering 20 percent off to veterans and military members with a valid military ID or proof of service on Sunday, Nov. 11.
• Little Caesars Pizza, which has locations nationwide, is offering a free pizza or $5 lunch combinations to all veterans and active military members from 11 a.m-2 p.m. on Nov. 11. Proof of military service is required. Call ahead to verify participation.
• Mimi's Cafe is offering a free entree from a special menu to active duty military personnel and veterans all day on Sunday, Nov. 11. The restaurant operates in two dozen states.
• Olive Garden, which has restaurants nationwide, is offering veterans and active duty military personnel a free entree from a special menu on Sunday, Nov. 11. Proof of military service is required.
• Pilot Flying J is offering veterans and active duty military members a free breakfast sandwich, packaged pastry item or Cinnabon Center of the Roll item, along with a free coffee, from Nov. 10-12. To claim the offer, they need to download the myPilot app. The offer is good at the 750 Pilot and Flying J Travel Centers in North America.
• Red Lobster Seafood Restaurants is offering a free appetizer or dessert to veterans, active-duty military and reservists with a valid military ID on Sunday and Monday, Nov. 11-12. The restaurant has locations in most states.
• Red Robin is offering its Red's Tavern Double and Bottomless Steak fries for veterans and active military personnel who show a valid military ID or provide proof of military service on Sunday, Nov. 11.
• Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery is offering free meals to veterans from Nov. 10-12 at its restaurants in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin. The restaurant is also brewing a limited edition Veterans Day IPA and will donate 25 cents of each pint sold from Nov. 10-17 to a local veterans charity.
• Romano's Macaroni Grill, which has restaurants in about two dozen states, is offering free Mom's Ricotta Meatballs and spaghetti entree at all of its U.S. locations on Sunday, Nov. 11. All veterans and active military must present a military ID or proof of service.
• Ruby Tuesday's is offering a free appetizer to veterans and active duty military personnel (up to $10) at participating locations on Sunday, Nov. 11.
• Sheetz convenience stores are offering veterans and active duty military personnel a free 6-inch turkey sub, regular sized fountain drink and free car wash at its 582 mid-Atlantic locations. No purchase is necessary, but a military ID or proof of service is required.
• Sonny's BBQ, which has locations in eight states — Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee — is offering veterans and active duty military personnel a free pulled or sliced pork combo on Monday, Nov. 12.
• Starbucks is offering veterans and a free 12-ounce coffee to veterans, active duty military personnel and their spouses on Sunday, Nov. 11, with proof of military service.
• SweetFrog Frozen Yogurt is offering one of its 12-ounce premium frozen yogurt treats to veterans and active duty military personnel who show a valid military ID or proof of service on Sunday, Nov. 11. SweetFrog has locations in multiple U.S. states.
• Tijuana Flats, which has restaurants in Florida, Georgia, Indiana, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia, is offering a free entree and fountain drinks to veterans with a valid military ID on Sunday, Nov. 11. The deal includes both dine-in and carry-out meals, but isn't valid on online orders or those placed through Uber Eats.

More deals are added daily, so be sure to check the Military Benefits website or the Veterans Advantage website.

Original story by Beth Dalbey

Photo via Shutterstock