Veterans Day free food, deals in Rockford area: Starbucks, Dunkin' and more
Veterans Day is Friday, Nov. 11, and several national chains operating in the Rockford area will be saying “Thank you” with free meals and discounts for current and former military personnel.
Locally-owned restaurants, like Backyard Grill and Bar and The Olympic Tavern, participate in the tradition, as well. Here are 19 different places offering a deal to veterans on Friday in the area.
The Olympic Tavern: 50% off
The Olympic Tavern will be offering 50% all food orders for active and retired military veterans from 11 a.m. to 11:15 p.m. Friday, in honor of restaurant founder Anthony Rotello and all who serve.
Rotello spent three years overseas serving as a U.S. Marine in the south Pacific during WWII before returning to Rockford in 1945 and starting a small tavern in his northwest side neighborhood.
Backyard Grill and Bar: Free steak dinner
Backyard Grill and Bar, 6473 N. Second St. in Loves Park, is offering a free NY strip steak dinner with choice of veggies and potato to military veterans from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday.
The restaurant is celebrating 26 years in business.
From USA Today's Jordan Mendoza, here is a list of some of the deals being offered by national chains with locations in the Rockford area.
Starbucks Veterans Day deal: Free hot or iced coffee
Starbucks is adding a twist to its annual Veterans Day special, offering a free tall (12-ounce) hot or iced coffee, valid one per customer for veterans, military service members and military spouses at participating U.S. Starbucks stores.
Starbucks is also donating $100,000 each to military nonprofits Team Red, White & Blue and Team Rubicon.
More:Veterans Day free food: Vets can get deals at Starbucks, Applebee's, Outback, IHOP and more
Dunkin' Veterans Day deal: Free doughnut
Dunkin’ is offering veterans and active military a free doughnut, no purchase or proof of ID required, and for in-store redemption only.
Olive Garden Veterans Day deal: Free meal
Olive Garden told USA TODAY it is offering veterans and active-duty military personnel with a free entrée from a special menu. Meals offered include: never-ending soup, salad and breadsticks, cheese ravioli, spaghetti and meatballs, fettuccini alfredo and chicken parmigiana.
Outback Veterans Day deal: Free Bloomin' Onion and drink
Outback Steakhouse is offering all active and retired military personnel a free Bloomin' Onion and a Coca-Cola product in restaurant. The chain is also still applying its "daily heroes discount" with 10% off entire checks for nurses, doctors, medical staff, military veterans, police, firefighters and first responders.
Applebee's Veterans Day deal: Free meal and coupon
Applebee's will be offering veterans and active-duty military personnel a free meal from a select menu, including:
6 oz. top sirloin
Double crunch shrimp
Fiesta lime chicken
Chicken tenders platter
Classic bacon cheeseburger
Oriental chicken salad
Three-cheese chicken penne
In addition to the free meal, Applebee's told USA TODAY that veterans and active-duty military personnel dining in on Nov. 11 with receive a $5 bounce back card to redeem for a future dine-in, to-go or delivery order within the next three weeks.
IHOP Veterans Day deal: Free pancakes
IHOP is offering free red, white and blue pancakes – three buttermilk pancakes topped with glazed strawberries, blueberry compote and whipped topping – at participating locations from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for dine-in only.
Buffalo Wild Wings Veterans Day deal: Free wings and fries
Buffalo Wild Wings is giving veterans and active-duty service members with valid ID 10 free boneless wings and fries for dine-in only.
Red Robin Veterans Day deal: Free burger and fries
Red Robin is giving veterans and active-duty service members a free Red's Tavern Double Burger and bottomless steak fries at participating restaurants for dine-in only.
Texas Roadhouse Veterans Day deal: Free meal voucher
From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Texas Roadhouse is giving veterans and active-duty military personnel meal vouchers valid through May 30, 2023 with proof of service, no purchase necessary.
Wendy's Veterans Day deal: Free breakfast
Wendy's giving those with valid military ID or Veterans Advantage card a free breakfast combo during participating location's breakfast hours. Valid in-store or at drive-thru.
Hooters Veterans Day deal: Free meal with drink purchase
Hooters is offering veterans or active-duty military who present proof of service a free meal from a select menu with purchase of a beverage at any location nationwide. The menu includes:
Ten piece boneless wings
Hooters burger
Grilled chicken sandwich
Buffalo chicken sandwich
Buffalo chicken salad
Red Lobster Veterans Day deal: Free shrimp
Red Lobster is giving veterans, active-duty military and reservists free Walt's Favorite Shrimp, fries and coleslaw with valid ID for dine-in and to go from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Cracker Barrel Veterans Day deal: Free dessert
Cracker Barrel is giving any veteran or active-duty military a complimentary slice of double chocolate fudge Coca-Cola cake with any purchase in-store and online. To redeem the offer online, guests must add cake to order and enter code "VETSDAY22" at checkout.
Little Caesars Veterans Day deal: Free lunch combo
Little Caesars is offering veterans and military personnel free HOT-N-READY lunch combo at participating locations from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. The combo features for slices of the chain's Detroit-style deep dish pizza and a 20-ounce Pepsi product.
And here are other national chains with locations in the Rockford area that also are participating in Friday's deals for veterans.
Mission BBQ: Free sandwiches
Patriotically-themed Mission BBQ, 6820 E. State St., is honoring veterans Friday with free sandwiches for those who served in the military.
Chili's Bar & Grill: Complimentary entree
All veterans & active military members can get a free meal on Veterans Day November 11, 2022 at all participating Chili's Grill & Bar restaurants. Free meals are available for dine-in only.
Veterans and active military members will get their choice of free soup and salad, Chicken Bacon Ranch Quesadillas, Oldtimer with Cheese burger or boneless wings.
Freddy's Frozen Custards & Steakburgers: Enjoy a meal any time
Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers, which operates a restaurant at 9901 Orlando St. in Machesney Park, is offering free meal cards to all veterans and active military personnel. The cards are good for a free Freddy’s Original Double with Cheese combo meal. No purchase is necessary, and the cards can be redeemed through Nov. 30, 2022.
If you'd like to be added to this list, please email news@rrstar.com with details of your promotion.
This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Veterans Day free food, deals in Rockford area: Starbucks, Dunkin'
