561191 Mon Sep 29 18:31:29 -0700 2008 12 27 General Chowhounding Topics 0 4071085 This year I decided to sign up for a bunch of birthday clubs to see what I’d get. Some places limit the location. They ask about your local restaurant and that’s the only place to redeem the coupon. Most give a week to redeem your treat. For some this generates a lot of promotional emails … seems like Marie Calendar’s greets me daily. I’ll list the offers in the first post. What else is out there? Also, not just chains but what other nice things have restaurants done for birthdays? Some nice restaurants where I’m a frequent customer often buy me a drink. At one place the staff picked up my entire tab one year. This was especially sweet because I had mentioned my birthday months before while chatting casually with the bartender and she noted it. Mon Sep 29 18:31:30 -0700 2008 10264 rworange 1 4071088 Here’s my booty it order of what I thought was the best deal COLD STONE CREAMERY – Free small ice cream with one topping. Restrictions: Valid at one location. expires one week from after birthday This was pretty generous. I actually despise the ice cream here. HOWEVER, they have a new tart and tangy fro-yo that is actually decent. Very nice paired with frozen blueberries. CARROW’S – free slice of mile-high chocolate cake with unlimited juice, coffee, milk or soft drink, Restrictions: Any location. Forgot the expiration date. Ok cake with about 4 layers. About the same as any supermarket bakery cake. Nice with the hot fudge sauce. Chocolate cake and milk … Nothing wrong with that. Also haven’t been to Carrow’s in a zillion years. One good feature they have currently is bottomless beverages. While lots of places do coffee and soda, it seems quite the deal to drink all the apple, orange, tomato, cranberry or pink grapefruit juice for $2.19. Also available: regular or chocolate milk. hot cocoa, French vanilla iced coffee. The staff was very nice at the location where I got the cake. BASKIN-ROBBINS - Free 2.5 oz scoop of ice cream. Restrictions: Any location. Expiires one week after birthday. The bad news was that I picked a bad flavor … tropical ice (mango, pineapple coconut sherbet). It tasted like frozen Kool-Aid. Should have stuck with my usual – pralines and cream. ARBY’S – Free regular roast beef sandwich with purchase of regular fries and medium drink. Restrictions: Any location. Expires one week after birthday. I forgot I liked the roast beef sandwich at Arby’s. It is still pretty decent. Nice thin tasty beef on a buttered, grilled bun. Packets of BBQ sauce and horseradish sauce. Horsereadish was decent. BBQ – just say no. Bad news is that fries and drink set me back $3.25 and the curly fries were downright awful. Still, I’d stop by again for a roast beef sandwich. Haven’t tried the rest of these QUIZNOS – free cookie. Restrictions. Valid only at one location. Valid 10 days after birthday. Marie Callendar’s - $5 off entrée and free slice of pie. Restrictions: One Location. Dine-in only. Expires three weeks after birthday. I think the dine-in thing is to get you to pony up for beverages. BLACK ANGUS – Free steak dinner (up to $19.99) with purchase of an entrée. Restrictions: Any location. Valid two weeks prior and two weeks after birthday. HOME TOWN BUFFET – free buffet with purchase of regular buffet. Restrictions: Any location. Expires one week after birthday Not such a deal since they always have coupons for buy one get one. Mon Sep 29 18:32:05 -0700 2008 4071085 10264 rworange 2 4071151 The HTB's in San DIego seem to only send out coupons for buy one get secdon fro $5.99. My list of birthday coupons: Del Taco-free premium shake Souplantation-Buy one plus two beverages get one free Dairy Queen- Buy one blizzard get one Rubio's-$7 off your purchase (we went on Taco Tuesday and got 5 tacos, side of beans and side of guac and paid $2) Daphne's-free entree, no other purchase required Most coupons came one week prior and expired one week after the birthdays. Problem is The Mister's birthday is 7 days before mine. I am sick of going out to eat.... Mon Sep 29 19:15:39 -0700 2008 4071088 12123 Cathy 3 4072201 Nice score at Rubio's, I'll have to remember Tuesday's. Tue Sep 30 09:38:44 -0700 2008 4071151 149836 cstr 4 4072533 I know the last three years Rubios 'only' gave you chips and guac...which was always a nice additional side on Tuesday... Tue Sep 30 12:04:31 -0700 2008 4072201 12123 Cathy 1 4071880 There's this blog post that offers a huge list of free birthday food. http://www.ickypeople.com/2007/10/restaurants-giving-free-food-on-your.html Tue Sep 30 07:16:00 -0700 2008 4071085 10763 Miss Needle 2 4073050 Yeah, there are a lot of sites out there listing free birthday food. That was a good one. Here’s a few more … also, some of these list freebies on your birthday other than food. I wish I knew about Krispy Kreme .. Free half dozen glazed donuts and a coffee mug with either coffee or soda in it! http://seanramblings.blogspot.com/2008/05/free-birthday-food.html http://www.mrcheapstuff.com/deals/2006/10/huge-list-of-restaurants-that-give-you-free-birthday-meals/ http://www.heyitsfree.net/2006/10/03/eat-free-on-your-birthday/ http://www.spoofee.com/index.php?section=birthday http://www.absolutelyfreebies.com/misc_free_stuff/food_freebies.html http://iheartfreestuff.com/?p=49 http://www.cheapstingybargains.com/7857/free_meal_on_yo/ If you live in the Twin Cities area http://community.livejournal.com/twin_cities/1704200.html Some other good tips How to Get Free Food for a Birthday http://www.ehow.com/how_2046812_get-free-food-birthday.html At the end of this post is a quick and dirty list. Some are specific to certain regions. If you don’t recognize the restaurant name … move on. Looking thru this stuff it seems that small local chains offer the best deals, like a free entrée. I also didn’t include freebies for kids in the list, since I personally don’t care about that. Also, since this topic is birthday-oriented, I didn’t include free stuff for just signing up. IMO, if you can’t do take-out then a free dessert or app isn’t worth it. You are stuck with a tip which probably exceeds the value with the freebie … if you add a beverage … no deal at all. Also, another reason I didn’t include kid’s stuff other than I don’t have kids … is that it isn’t much of a deal. They expect the adults are going to pony up for something to eat themselves. This is just an idea of what has been offered and might still be available There is no guarantee that the offers won’t change. Also, restaurants at different locations may or may not honor your free birthday meal. Funny … these joints seem like a Chowhound Hall of Shame … the kind of stuff Chowhound wanted to wean us from. Hey, the economy’s tough … a freebie or two isn’t such a bad thing, eh? ABBOTTS FROZEN CUSTARD (NY, FL) Free Treat ALFY'S PIZZA Free Mini Pizza ALL-AMERICAN CAFE Free dessert AMATO’S SANDWICH SHOP free birthday sandwich. APPLEBEES RESTAURANT Free Dessert and song ARBY'S Free regular roast beef sandwich with med fries and med drink. ATLANTA BREAD COMPANY free cookie AUNTIE ANNE Free Pretzel AUSTIN GRILL (DC/MD) Complimentary Entrée B.B.Q’S free piece of cornbread with whip cream on top and a candle BAILEY'S PUB & GRILL Buy 1, Get 1 Free Entree BAKERS SQUARE free pie BANDIDO’S [IN] Free entree BANJARA INDIAN CUISINE [SUNNYVALE, CA] free meal BARNSIDER’S/DEPOT RESTAURANTS [BOSTON / N.SHORE / PROVIDENCE, RI / ALBANY, NY) 1/2 off meal + cake & song BASKIN ROBBINS FREE 2.5 oz ice cream scoop BD'S MONGOLIAN BBQ Free Stir Fry BEACHES RESTAURANT Free meal BEN & JERRY'S ICE CREAM Free Ice Cream BENNIGAN'S RESTAURANT Buy 1 Entree, Get 1 Entree FREE and Brownie Ice Cream Dessert Free BERN'S free meal BILL KNAPP'S [MI & OH] gives adults a % discount equal to age; plus free cake BJ’S RESTAURANTS Free Pazookie BLACK ANGUS Free steak dinner (up to $19.99) with another entree BLACK BRISKEE [BURLINGTON, MA] free meal BOB’S BIG BOY Free hot fudge ice cream BONANZA STEAKHOUSE free birthday surprise BUCA DI BEPPO free dessert BUFFALO WILD WINGS free dozen hot wings CANEY FORK FISH CAMP Free meal CARROW'S RESTAURANT Free Cake and bottomless beverage CATTLEMEN’S Free dessert and cowboy hat CHAMPPS One free slice of Mile High Pie CHANDLER’S CHOPHOUSE (SCHAUMBURG, IL) Free entree - up to $15 CHARLIE BROWN'S STEAKHOUSE Free Dessert CHARLIE’S SEAFOOD [NE] Free Dessert CHEESECAKE FACTORY Free Dessert CHEVY'S MEXICAN RESTAURANT Free Dessert CHICKEN OF THE SEA free birthday gift CHILI'S Free Dessert and Happy Birthday Song CHIPS N GIGGLES Free meal CLAIM JUMPER Free Dessert COLD STONE CREAMERY Free bowl of Ice Cream with one topping CRACKER BARREL Free Dessert CRAZY BUFFET [WESTPALM & TAMPA, FL] free meal DAIRY QUEEN Free Ice Cream Cone DAMON'S STEAKHOUSE Buy 1, Get 1 Free Entree, Birthday song and More! DAPHNE'S GREEK CAFÉ free plate on your birthday as well as other discounts DEL TACO two free soft tacos now and a free premium milkshake DESPARADOS MEXICAN RESTAURANT [GARLAND, TX] free meal DOCKSIDE RESTAURANT [MALDEN & SAUGUS, MA] free meal DUKE’S CHOWDER HOUSE [SEATTLE, WA] free dinner EINSTEIN’S Free meal EL CHICOS Free dessert ERNIE’S STEAKHOUSE free meal FAMOUS DAVES BBQ Free Gift maybe a piece of birthday cake, an appetizer, some ribs FAZOLI’S free dessert FINLEYS free meal FIRE MOUNTAIN free meal FIREHOUSE SUBS Free Sub on Birthday FLAT TOP GRILL free stir fry FOX & HOUND RESTAURANT Buy 1, Get 1 Free Entree FRIENDLY'S RESTAURANT Free ice cream cone FUDDRUCKERS RESTAURANT Free Sundae GAROZZO’S free birthday meal GELATO BLUE Free Gelato GLORY DAYS GRILL Free Sundae GOLD STAR CHILI free dessert GOLDEN CORRAL Free Meal GORDON BIERSCH special “e-gift” GRILLFISH Free meal HANA JAPAN [DUBLIN, CA] free meal HARD ROCK CAFE Free dessert HARD TIMES CAFÉ Buy 1, Get 1 Free appetizer HERRELL’S ICE CREAM free sundae HOMETOWN BUFFET Buy 1 buffet, get 1 free HOSS'S STEAK HOUSE AND RESTAURANT [GETTYSBURG, PA) free cake + song HOULIHAN’S Free entree INTERNATIONAL HOUSE OF PANCAKES Free Sundae JOE SENSOR GRILL AND BAR Free Birthday Meal JOE'S CRAB SHACK Free cake KEG STEAKHOUSE AND BAR 10oz. prime rib dinner with Caesar salad KING BUFFET [CLINTON, NJ] free meal KRISPY KREME Free half dozen glazed donuts and a coffee mug with either coffee or soda in it! LA CAPILLA FAMILY MEXICAN RESTAURANT free combo dinner LADONNA [MANSFIELD, MA] free meal LAMBERT’S, THE HOME OF THROWED ROLLS (OZARK, MISSOUI) free meal LOGAN’S ROADHOUSE Free song and slice of cheesecake LOMBARDI’S IN BALLARD [SEATTLE, WA] free meal LONE STAR STEAK HOUSE free dessert LOTUS Free meal MACARONI GRILL Free dessert plus an OPERA-style “Happy Birthday” song MAGGIANO'S LITTLE ITALY Birthday Gift MAMMA LUCIA Free desert with purchase of at least two dinner entrees MARIE CALENDERS Free dessert and $5 off entrée (dine-in only) MARITIME CAFÉ (SF) Free entree MAX AND ERMA [OH] free $5 dessert MCCORMICK & SCHMICK’S Free Signature Desert MEMPHIS BBQ free Rack of Ribs & strawberry shortcake MEXICAN VILLAGE free meal MOE'S Free Entree MONGO CLUB free meal MONGOLIAN’S B.B.Q. free birthday meal. MOONIES DINER free meal MUCKLESHOOT CASINO [SEATTLE, WA] free sushi dinner NEWICK’S SEAFOOD RESTAURANTS [SO. NH / SO. ME] free entrée NITTY GRITTY [MADISON, WI] free drink + souvenir glass NOODLES & COMPANY free meal O'CHARLEY'S Free Dessert and song OKAYAMA RESTAURANT [SAN JOSE, CA] free meal OLD CHICAGO free dessert OLD SPAGHETTI WAREHOUSE free meal ON THE BORDER MEXICAN GRILL & CANTINA Free Appetizer OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE Free Blooming Onion P.F. CHANG’S Free cake or cheesecake PALOMINO’S RESTAURANT $20 off coupon PANDA INN RESTAURANT (6 LOCATIONS IN SO-CAL free Ice cream PAPPA’S RESTAURANTS free meal PARADISO’S free dessert PERKIN’S free stack of pancakes PONCHO’S Free meal, dessert & picture PROVINO’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT Free $10.99 meal and ice cream dessert QDOBA MEXICAN GRILL free burrito QDOBA MEXICAN RESTAURANT Free entrée QUIZNOS SUBS Free cookie RADISSON[WINNIPEG, CAN] free entree in their 12th floor restaurant RAM RESTAURANT & BREWERY Free Mud Pie REAL SEAFOOD COMPANY [ANN ARBOR] free meal and dessert RED LOBSTER Free ice cream sundae or piece of cake RED ROBIN Free Hamburger and Fries RICE & COMPANY [PITTSBURGH, PA] free meal ROCK BOTTOM free appetizer ROCKFISH RESTAURANT Free Item ROUND TABLE Free personal pizza RUBY TUESDAY’S free dessert RUTH'S CHRIS STEAKHOUSE Any dessert on menu RYAN’S FIRE MOUNTAIN GRILL free meal SAN FRANCISCO OVEN Free Meal SCHLOTZSKY’S free sandwich SOUPER SALAD free birthday meal SPAGHETTI WAREHOUSE Free Spaghetti dinner STEAK AND ALE free cake TACO BELL Free combo meal of your choice. TAHOE JOE’S (SACRAMENTO,CA) free dessert + a poem TEXAS CATTLE COUNTRY (ST. PETERSBURG AND LAKELAND, FL) Free 16 - 18 oz steak with salad and side TEXAS DE BRAZIL $40 gift certificate! TGI FRIDAY'S Free Appetizer THE 99 [BOSTON, MA] free meal THE BESH STEAKHOUSE AT HARRAH’S (NEW ORLEANS) free white chocolate dessert THE CHARLIE HORSE Free Meal THE LOFT [FL] Free meal THE MELTING POT Free fondue for two THE PALM 3lb lobster, but you mustfollow a few rules. THE PARADISO [GRAND FORKS, ND] free entrée + sombrero & song THE PASTA HOUSE Free dessert THE VINE TAVERN Free meal THE VORTEX (ATLANTA, GA) free entree, a free (non-alcoholic) drink, and a free dessert. TODAI SEAFOOD BUFFET Free Meal TONY ROMA'S RESTAURANT FREE dinner UNO’S PIZZA free personal pizza UP THE CREEK [MARYVILLE, TN] free meal and dessert VACCARO’S ITALIAN PASTRY SHOP [MD/DC AREA]] free dessert and drink VALLEY VIEW CASINO free buffet WIENERSCHNITZEL free chili dog WINGSTOP 10 free buffalo wings Z’ TEJAS $15 coupon ZIO’S free dessert Tue Sep 30 16:32:38 -0700 2008 4071880 10264 rworange 3 4073869 Priceless: CATTLEMEN’S Free dessert and cowboy hat Wed Oct 01 05:55:40 -0700 2008 4073050 36661 Sam Fujisaka 4 4082235 IIRC Chevy's gives you a sombrero with your free dessert. Sat Oct 04 18:39:04 -0700 2008 4073869 10159 Ruth Lafler 1 4077698 Dine Out NY, gives you a gift certificate for $50 on some of their restaurants if you spend $100. Last year we tried Brasserie 8 1/2, the year before that we did Brasserie. I think it also includes what you spend on alcohol. Thu Oct 02 14:18:32 -0700 2008 4071085 11701 MrsT 1 4077841 Great idea for a thread - very helpful! Flat Top Grill gives out a free stirfry coupon for your birthday and gives you a whole month to use it at any location! That's my favorite birthday perk. Thu Oct 02 15:01:53 -0700 2008 4071085 112406 Chew on That 1 4080916 Arborwiki has an exhaustive list of birthday deals in Ann Arbor: http://arborwiki.org/city/Birthday_Deals Note that Bill Knapp's on the list @rworange printed is gone now; they gave out too many birthday dinners to patrons 93 years old at 93% off. Sat Oct 04 00:46:54 -0700 2008 4071085 67641 edwardvielmetti 2 4081597 Oh wow. They didn't have this when The Mister I were in school in AA. Oh. Our computers used keypunch cards then... Sat Oct 04 11:11:48 -0700 2008 4080916 12123 Cathy