Veterans and active-duty members of the nation's military are eligible for a salute this Veterans Day in the form of free breakfasts, lunches, dinners and desserts at central Ohio restaurants.
A number of national chains are offering free meals or discounts, most on Saturday but some all weekend or Monday. Here is a list of some of the deals on tap. Most require some form of proof, such as a military ID card or other identification.
Applebee’s
Eight meals – the Classic Bacon Cheeseburger, 6-ounce top sirloin, chicken tenders platter, Double Crunch Shrimp, Fiesta Lime Chicken, Asian chicken salad and Three-Cheese Chicken Penne – are free on Saturday at Applebee’s.
The chain has three local restaurants: 3894 Morse Road at Easton Town Center, 1161 Polaris Parkway, and 2755 Brice Road in Reynoldsburg.
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Bibibop Asian Grill
Bibibop has invited veterans and active-duty personnel to receive a free rice or noodle bowl on Saturday.
The Columbus-based chain has 10 local restaurants and 40 more from Maryland to Missouri.
BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse
Current and former members of the miliary who dine Saturday at BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse, 4020 Stelzer Road at Easton Town Center, can get a free Chocolate Chunk Pizookie (cookie and ice cream) for dessert.
Bob Evans
All Bob Evans restaurants have a 10-option menu of free meals for veterans and active-duty members of the military on Saturday. It includes mostly breakfast items – eggs and bacon or sausage, French toast, hotcakes, biscuits and gravy – but also a country-fried steak with mashed potatoes and green beans.
The offer doesn’t include drinks or gratuity and only extends to those eating in the restaurant.
Proof of service includes a military ID, a veterans organization card, a photo of yourself in uniform or other items.
California Pizza Kitchen
California Pizza Kitchen, 1500 Polaris Pkwy., has created a special menu that includes four full-sized salads, six pizzas and three pasta dishes from which veterans and active-duty service members can choose a free meal. Iced tea or soda is included. The free meal is available Saturday.
Chicken Salad Chick
Chicken Salad Chick is offering veterans and active-duty military a free Chick Special meal and drink on Saturday.
The chain’s local restaurants are at 1056 Dublin Road in Grandview Heights, 6301 E. Dublin Granville Road in New Albany, and 687 Worthington Road in Westerville.
Chili’s
Veterans and active-duty personnel can choose among four options – Old Timer With Cheese, Chicken Bacon Ranch Quesadillas, chicken tenders and fries, or soup with a side salad – for a free Veterans Day meal on Saturday.
Chili’s has restaurants at John Glenn Columbus International Airport, as well as 5990 N. Hamilton Road on the Northeast Side, 1170 Gemini Place at Polaris, and 3675 W. Dublin Granville Road on the Northwest Side.
City Barbeque
City Barbeque is offering veterans and active-duty military a free sandwich, side and drink on Saturday at its 12 central Ohio locations. The offer includes dine-in and carryout orders.
Dave & Buster’s
Dave & Buster’s says veterans and active-duty members of the military can get a free entrée up to $20 from Friday to Sunday. They also can get a $10 arcade Power Card.
Local restaurants are at 3665 Park Mill Run Drive in Hilliard and 1554 Polaris Pkwy.
Denny’s
Veterans Day will be celebrated Friday at Denny’s, where veterans and active-duty service members can get a free Original Grand Slam (two pancakes, two eggs, bacon and sausage) until noon.
There is one Denny’s in Columbus, at 3025 Olentangy River Road.
Donatos
All Donatos locations are offering veterans a free lunch combo meal – up to $10 – from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
Golden Corral
Golden Corral says it has served more than 6 million meals to veterans and active-duty military personnel over 20 years of annual Military Appreciation Night events. This year’s is scheduled for Monday.
There are two Golden Corral restaurants in central Ohio: 2005 Stringtown Road in Grove City and 4750 E. Main St. in Whitehall.
IHOP
IHOP is offering free Red, White and Blueberry Pancakes – they’re topped with strawberry sauce, whipped cream and blueberry sauce – from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday.
There are three locations in central Ohio: 2413 Taylor Square Drive in Reynoldsburg, 40 Polaris Pkwy. at Polaris and 7130 Sawmill Road on the Far Northwest Side.
Kona Grill
Between Friday and Monday, veterans and active-duty military can get 50% off their food at Kona Grill, 4087 New Bond St. at Easton Town Center.
MOD Pizza
MOD Pizza, which has four restaurants in the area, has a buy-one, get-one deal on pizza and salads on Saturday for military veterans. There’s an additional charge, though, for alternative crusts.
MOD locations are 4784 Morse Road on the Northeast Side, 3333 Hamilton Road in Gahanna, 1301 Hill Road North in Pickerington, and 6181 Sawmill Road on the Northwest Side.
O’Charley’s
On Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., veterans can get free lunch at O’Charley’s from a special Veterans Day menu that includes chicken tenders and fries, a cheeseburger and fries, Honey-Drizzled Southern Fried Chicken, Southern Fried Chicken Tender Salad or Bayou Shrimp Pasta.
At dinner, veterans can get a free slice of pie. Customers also will receive discount coupons when they donate to the Folded Flag Foundation, which provides assistance to the families of service members killed in the line of duty.
O’Charleys has restaurants at 6224 Gender Road in Canal Winchester and 2272 Baltimore-Reynoldsburg Road in Reynoldsburg.
Red Robin
Red Robin, the national burger chain with locations at Easton, Polaris, Grove City, Hilliard and Pickerington, is offering members of the military and veterans a free Red’s Big Tavern Burger with its signature steak fries.
The offer isn’t valid for online or to-go orders.
Starbucks
In addition to active-duty service members and veterans, military spouses can get a free 12-ounce – that’s tall in Starbucks-land – hot or cold-brewed coffee on Saturday at participating locations. Starbucks also is donating $100,000 each to two organizations that support veterans: Team Red, White & Blue and the Travis Manion Foundation.
Texas de Brazil
Texas de Brazil Steakhouse, 4040 Easton Station at Easton Town Center, is offering 25% off dinner pricing for tables of up to four people that include a veteran in their party.
The discount extends through Sunday.
rvitale@dispatch.com
