With honor: Suburban restaurants salute service members with special offers for Veterans Day
Veterans Day is Wednesday, Nov. 11, and many suburban restaurants are saluting those who have served and are currently serving in the military by saying thank you with free or discounted meals. Here are some of those offerings.
Applebee’s in Elgin will honor veterans and active-duty military members for the 19th consecutive year with a free meal from a special menu Nov. 11. For dine-in only.
California Pizza Kitchen is saluting veterans and active military with a complimentary entrée and drink from a prix fixe menu that includes full-sized salads, pizzas and pastas when dining in on Nov. 11. No purchase is necessary, but a military ID is required to redeem the special. Locations are in Deer Park, Geneva, Northbrook, Oak Brook and Schaumburg.
Veterans and active-duty military are invited to stop in to Chili’s on Wednesday for a free select entree when dining in at the locations in Algonquin, Arlington Heights, Aurora, Batavia, Bloomingdale, Bolingbrook, Crystal Lake, Downers Grove, Gurnee, Hoffman Estates, McHenry, Naperville, Rosemont, Round Lake Beach, South Elgin, Streamwood, Waukegan and Wheaton.
Chipotle restaurants will offer veterans and active-duty service members free chips plus guac, Queso Blanco or salsa with a $5+ purchase on Nov. 11. The offer is in-restaurant only (no app, online, delivery or catering) and proof of service (military ID, VA ID, a state ID with Veteran designation or discharge papers) is required.
Dave & Buster’s is offering veterans and active-duty military with a valid ID unlimited gameplay all day on Nov. 11, as well as a complimentary dessert with the purchase of an entrée (gameplay excludes purple swipe games and does not earn tickets).
Denny’s locations across the suburbs are thanking active and retired military personnel with a free build-your-own Grand Slam breakfast from 5 a.m. to noon on Veterans Day. For dine-in only with a valid military ID or DD214.
On Veterans Day, Golden Corral will continue its annual Military Appreciation Night, inviting current U.S. service members, retired military and veterans to enjoy a free buffet and beverage from 4 p.m. to close. They have suburban locations in Arlington Heights, Aurora, Bloomingdale and Bolingbrook.
IHOP locations will honor veterans and active-duty military with a free stack of red, white and blueberry pancakes served with eggs, hash browns, and bacon or sausage from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday. Military ID or proof of service is required for this dine-in special.
Kona Grill in Oak Brook will offer veterans, active-duty military, first responders and Gold Star families a complimentary entrée from a selection of four menu items with the purchase of any starter. The offer is available all day for dine-in and includes a choice of pad Thai noodles, macadamia nut chicken, Kona stir-fry or lemon garlic penne.
Lazy Dog, with locations in Buffalo Grove, Naperville, Northbrook, Oak Brook and Vernon Hills, is offering active-duty military, veterans, retirees and reserve/National Guard members a complimentary Fireside Favorite entree, a personal-sized dessert and a soda when they dine in on Nov. 11. Guests can choose from the fried chicken dinner, grilled shrimp tacos, fettuccine Alfredo, all-American burger, Mediterranean chicken and the new honey miso chicken.
McCormick & Schmick’s in Rosemont will honor veterans of the U.S. military, National Guard, Gold Star parents, Gold Star spouses and active military with a select half-priced entrée on Sunday, Nov. 8.
Mission BBQ will honor veterans with a free sandwich on Nov. 11. The fast-casual barbecue restaurants are in Downers Grove, Gurnee and Naperville. They’ll host a live national anthem at noon Wednesday.
Old Town Pour House locations in Naperville and Oak Brook will offer veterans with a valid military ID a 25% discount on Nov. 11.
Outback Steakhouse will honor veterans on Nov. 10 and 11 with a free Bloomin’ Onion and the choice of a Coca-Cola product or a 16-ounce domestic draft beer. Veterans who redeem the offer and are Dine Rewards members will earn a free “Hero’s Meal” for a future visit.
Perry’s Steakhouse is saluting veterans and active U.S. military members with two special offers: From 4 p.m. to close Nov. 11, veterans and military members can enjoy a free dinner-cut pork chop when accompanied by a guest who purchases a full-priced dinner entrée (veterans dining alone or with other veterans will receive the dinner-cut pork chop at half off). Perry’s is also offering a three-course $39 military menu. Each course offers six choices. Both offers are dine-in only, and reservations and military ID are required. Locations are in Oak Brook, Schaumburg and Vernon Hills.
Veterans and active-duty military guests with proof of service can enjoy a complimentary Red’s Big Tavern Burger and bottomless fries at Red Robin locations in Algonquin, Hoffman Estates, Schaumburg, South Elgin and Warrenville on Wednesday, Nov. 11.
Smoothie King is offering Veterans and active military personnel a choice of three fan-favorite smoothies from noon to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, with a valid military ID. Options include Strawberry X-Treme, Blueberry Heaven or Vanilla Slim-N-Trim.
Active-duty military members and veterans can enjoy a free coffee and doughnut at Stan’s Donuts & Coffee on Nov. 11 when they visit in-store and present a valid military ID.
White Castle locations across the suburbs are giving veterans and current military members a free combo meal or breakfast combo meal on Nov. 11. No purchase is necessary, but a military ID is required.
Yard House is giving veterans and active-duty military a free appetizer when they dine-in on Nov. 11. A military ID is required. They’re located in Glenview, Lombard, Naperville and Vernon Hills.
And while it’s not a dining deal for veterans, we should mention that on Sunday, Nov. 15, Copper Fiddle Distillery in Lake Zurich will host its second annual Guitars for Vets benefit, featuring live music and a guitar donation drive supporting veterans affected by PTSD and service-related trauma. Admission is a donation of an acoustic guitar, guitar strings or a gig bag, with other instruments also welcome.
rwest@dailyherald.com