On the Menu: Military vets have many free, reduced meal options this Veterans Day

Carol Kugler
·4 min read

Veterans Day is Nov. 11 and it's a day when area veterans can probably eat breakfast, lunch and dinner for free or at a reduced cost. Proof of service is required. While this list isn't necessarily complete, here are some of the restaurants offering discounts:

Free breakfast on Veterans Day in Bloomington

  • Bob Evans, 3233 W. Third St.: Ten homestyle menu items are free.

  • Denny's, 2160 N. Walnut St.: Free Build-Your-Own Grand Slam breakfast from 5 a.m. to noon.

  • Dunkin' Donuts, 300 S. College Mall Road: Free donut, no purchase needed.

  • IHOP, 410 S. College Mall Road: Free Red, White and Blueberry pancakes for dine-in only.

  • Wendy's, various locations: Free small breakfast combo, no purchase necessary.

  • White Castle, 3233 W. Jacob Drive: Free breakfast combo.

Free lunch, dinner on Veterans Day in Bloomington

  • Applebee's, 2800 E. Third St.: Veterans and active duty military personnel can select a free meal from a limited menu.

  • BJ's Restaurant, 411 S. College Mall Road: All service members can get a complimentary entree up to $14.95, plus a free Dr. Pepper.

  • Bob Evans, 3233 W. Third St.: Seven homestyle menu items are free.

  • Buffalo Wild Wings, 1350 W. Bloomfield Road: For dine-in and call for takeout, get a free order of boneless wings and a side of fries.

  • Chili's Grill & Bar, 2811 E. Third St.: Complimentary meal from a select menu available to veterans and active duty military.

  • Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, 380 N. Jacob Drive: In-store specials throughout November with veterans receiving a free slice of double fudge Coca-Cola cake with their meal.

  • Denny's, 2160 N. Walnut St.: Free Build-Your-Own Grand Slam breakfast from 5 a.m. to noon.

  • Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers, 3307 W. Third St.: Receive a card for a free double combo meal, valid through Nov. 30.

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  • Joellas Hot Chicken, 3002 E. Third St.: Free meal of two jumbo tenders, one side, dippin' sauce and drink.

  • O'Charley's, 360 N. Jacob Drive: Free meal, $10 value; also special menu for veterans.

  • Olive Garden, 320 N. Jacob Drive: Free entree from a special menu, with breadsticks and soup or salad included.

  • Outback Steakhouse, 3201 W. Third St.: Free bloomin' onion and Coca-Cola.

  • Red Robin, 2846 E. Third St.: Free double burger and steak fries, through Nov. 14, for dine-in and takeout.

  • Texas Roadhouse, 110 S. Franklin Road: From 11 a.m.-2 p.m., pick up a meal voucher.

  • White Castle, 3233 W. Jacob Drive: Free combos 1-6.

Free coffee, snacks on Veterans Day in Bloomington

  • Dunkin' Donuts, 300 S. College Mall Road: Free donut, no purchase needed.

  • Insomnia Cookies, 430 E. Kirkwood Ave.: Free six-pack in-store with any purchase.

  • Starbucks, various locations: Free tall (12-ounce) hot brewed coffee.

Although this list has 20 different restaurant companies listed, more local restaurants will have discounts or specials, so check with your favorites to see if they are participating.

Aver's Public House delivers again

People living or working on Bloomington's east side can once again make delivery orders from Aver's Public House. Besides the pizza, breadsticks, cheesesticks and wings, Aver's Public House will make and deliver meatballs, pastas and sandwiches for phone orders. Those additional items will be available online in the next couple of weeks.

Aver's Public House is at 1285 S. College Mall Road and is open 11 a.m.-10 p.m. daily. To order online, go to www.averspublichouse.com or order by phone at 812-331-5555.

Cardinal Spirits releases seasonal liquor

At 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4, Cardinal Spirits will release its seasonal Nocino (pronounced no-CHEE-no), which is a green walnut liquor using hand-harvested walnuts from northern Indiana. Nocino was missing from Cardinal Spirits' menu for a couple of years due to low harvest of nuts from the family's trees, but a small batch was made this year. The nuts are steeped in vodka, along with spices and citrus. Cardinal Spirits, at 922 S. Morton St., will sell Nocino in bottles and serve it in cocktails.

Wine dinner at Truffles

Truffles Fine Cuisine, 1131 S. College Mall Road, will host a Jackson Estate Wine Dinner on Nov. 9. Cost is $120 per person, including tax and gratuity, for the five-course meal and wines. Reservations can be made by calling 812-330-1111.

The reception begins at 6:30 p.m. followed by the first course of grape leaf-wrapped salmon medallions with rice and olive pilaf. Second course is roasted butternut squash, pecan and mascarpone in a puff pastry, served with spinach and roast garlic puree. Braised lamb shoulder in tomato and smoked chili sauce with sweet pepper cornbread will be followed with peanut-crusted beef filet served with Thai caramel and onion chutney and a warm rice noodle and vegetable salad. Dessert will be apple strudel with vanilla bean ice cream and salted caramel sauce.

Contact Carol Kugler at ckugler@heraldt.com, 812-331-4359 or @ckugler on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Many Bloomington restaurants have free food for veterans on Nov. 11