This Veterans Day, veterans and active-duty military can take advantage of an extra day of deals.
As they do each year, restaurants are saluting veterans by offering free food and meal deals.
Thanks to the federal holiday falling on Sunday, it's officially observed Monday. This leads to a split with some businesses showing their appreciation Sunday and others Monday.
Proof of service such as a military ID is typically required and a few businesses will allow dressing in uniform as a form of identification. Discharge papers, VA cards and veteran organization membership cards also can be used to prove service at most businesses.
Deals are available at participating locations and offers can vary. Check with your closest location to confirm. The businesses listed here have more than 20 locations. Many smaller chains and individual restaurants also will offer deals and the easiest way to find specials is by checking social media.
Monday free meals and discounts
Another Broken Egg Café: Free Patriot French Toast Combo and coffee Monday.
Benihana: Free appetizer with purchase of an entree Monday.
Ben’s Soft Pretzel: Free regular Jumbo Soft Pretzel 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday.
Bertucci's: Free small cheese pizza Sunday and Monday.
Black Angus Steakhouse: Special top sirloin steak meal for $9.99 Monday.
Boston Market: Buy one individual meal and a drink, get one individual meal free with a coupon posted at www.bostonmarket.com Sunday or Monday. This deal is not only for veterans.
Bruegger’s Bagels: Free drip coffee Monday.
Burgerim: 50 percent off Monday.
Chicken Salad Chick: Free Chick Special and regular drink to veterans and active-duty military Monday.
Claim Jumper: Free meal Monday.
Corner Bakery Cafe: Free “Choose 2” meal Sunday with military ID.
Country Kitchen: Free Country Scramble Monday at participating locations.
Country Pride: Free meal and beverage from a select menu Monday.
Creamistry: 50 percent off any single item Sunday and Monday.
Denny's: From 5 a.m. to noon Monday, active, inactive and retired military personnel get a free Build Your Own Grand Slam at participating locations.
Famous Dave's: Free two meat lunch combo Sunday and Monday for veterans or active military with valid identification.
Farmer Boys: Free Big Cheese cheeseburgers Monday.
Fatz Southern Kitchen: Free World Famous Calabash Chicken Basket Monday. Plus, in November active military and veterans get 25 percent off entrees.
Gigi’s Cupcakes: Free cupcake Monday for to veterans and first responders.
Glory Days Grill: Free appetizer or a regular order of boneless or grilled wings Sunday and Monday for veterans.
Golden Corral: Free dinner buffet with beverage from 5 to 9 p.m. Monday to any person who is serving or has served in a United States Military branch, including the National Guard and Reserves.
Grimaldi’s Pizzeria: 15 percent off Sunday and Monday. Not valid in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.
HMSHost: Free Budweiser BBQ Cheddar Burger at participating HMSHost-operated airport restaurants Monday.
Hopdoddy Burger Bar: Every location will give 50 percent off to veterans, active military and their guests Monday.
Hoss’s Family Steak & Sea House: Free salad bar and dessert 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday. Or buy a meal and add on the salad bar for free.
Huddle House: Free order of Sweet Cakes through Monday.
Hy-Vee: Free breakfast Monday.
IHOP: Free Red, White and blue pancakes from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday or a free patriotic pancake combo offer varies by location.
Country Pride: Free meal and beverage from a select menu Monday.
Metro Diner: 20 percent off Monday.
O’Charley’s: Free meal from special menu Sunday and Monday.
Pilot Flying J: Saturday through Monday, there will be a coupon on the myPilot app for a free Pilot Coffee with choice of a fresh breakfast sandwich, packaged pastry item or a Cinnamon Center of the Roll. This deal is open to all.
Ponderosa and Bonanaza Steakhouses: Veterans can choose a free buffet and beverage or 50 percent off a menu item. Some locations will honor veterans Sunday and other locations on Monday so check with your closest location.
Potbelly Sandwich Shop: Free cookie with any purchase Monday.
Ovation Brands: Free buffet and bottled water at Old Country Buffet, Ryan's, HomeTown Buffet and Country Buffet and Furr's Fresh Buffet Monday.
Red Lobster: Free appetizer or dessert Sunday and Monday.
Rock Bottom Restaurants & Breweries: Vets eat free Saturday through Monday. Plus, each brewery will be brewing a limited-edition Veterans Day IPA and Saturday through Nov. 17, 25 cents from every pint will go to a local veterans charity.
Rock & Brews Restaurants: Free meal from select menu for veterans, active military and first responders Monday.
Scooter’s Coffee: Free drink of any size Sunday. Plus, stores will be taking donations for Wounded Warriors Family Support Sunday and Monday.
Shoney’s: Free All-You-Care-To-Eat breakfast bar 6 to 11 a.m. Monday.
Sonny’s BBQ: Free pulled or sliced pork big deal combo for veterans and active duty military Monday. Dine-in only.
Texas de Brazil: Two veterans dine for free plus 20 percent off for up to six additional guests on Sunday and Monday.
TGI Fridays: Free meal up to $12 Sunday and Monday.
Twin Peaks: Free meal from a special menu 11 a.m. to midnight Monday.
Waffle House: Use a printable coupon to get one free classic waffle through Nov. 30. The coupon's fine print does not say it’s only for veterans and active military but does need to be printed. Find the coupon at www.wafflehouse.com/veteransdaycoupon.
White Castle: Free combo meal for veterans and active military members who dine in or go through the drive-thru Sunday and Monday.
Zaxby’s: Free chicken fillet sandwich Monday at more than 600 locations.
Zoës Kitchen: Free meal Sunday and Monday with a valid military ID.
Other Monday freebies
Cinemark: Free tickets Monday to veterans, active-duty and their spouses for Universal Pictures' movie First Man at more than 60 locations nationwide.
Hair Club: Free haircuts to veterans and active military personnel in honor of Veterans Day for the month of November. Also get half price off select hair restoration solutions through Nov. 30, an offer also available to first responders.
Kelly Tyko is a consumer columnist and retail reporter for Treasure Coast Newspapers and TCPalm.com, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK. Read her Bargainista tips at TCPalm.com/Bargainista, follow her on Twitter @KellyTyko and email her at kelly.tyko@tcpalm.com. Sign up for her weekly newsletter at www.tcpalm.com/newsletters.