Keep in mind that most businesses require proof of military service, which can include a VA Universal Access Card, Military I.D., DD-214 (Discharge Papers), Veterans Service Organization Card (VSO’s include groups like the VFW, DAV, AmVets, MOAA, FRA, and the American Legion), or in some cases businesses will accept a picture of the veteran in uniform.

Note: Not all franchise locations participate in their national chain’s Veterans Day programs — be sure contact your nearest establishment to make sure they are participating.

2015 Veterans Day Restaurant Offerings:

Applebee’s — Veterans and active duty military receive a free meal from a limited menu, on November 11.

*NEW* Bob Evans — Veterans and active military personnel receive a free breakfast from a select menu on November 11.

Bonanza Steakhouses — Active duty and retired military get a free buffet on November 11, 4 pm to close.

Cattlemens — Active, inactive, and retired military personnel get a free Small Sirloin Steak Dinner on November 11.

Cheeseburger in Paradise — Active and retired military personnel receive a complimentary burger with fries on November 11.

Chili’s — Veterans and active military service members get a free entrée from a limited menu on November 11.

Friendly’s — Friendly’s is treating veterans and active military to a free breakfast, lunch or dinner from a limited menu on Veterans Day,November 11.

Golden Corral — Golden Corral Restaurants’ Military Appreciation Night free dinner will be available on November 11, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Military retirees, veterans, active duty, National Guard and Reserves are all welcome.

*NEW* IHOP— On November 11, participating IHOP Restaurants offer veterans and active duty military free Red, White and Blue pancakes from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

*NEW* Little Caesars — Veterans and active military members receive a free $5 Lunch Combo from 11:00a.m. to 2:00p.m. onNovember 11.

McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurants — On November 8, participating McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurants will offer a complimentary entree to veterans from a special menu.

Max & Erma’s – On November 11, participating Max & Erma’s locations are offering veterans and active military personnel a free Best Cheeseburger in America Combo meal.

Menchie’s —  All active and retired military personnel will receive a free 6 oz. frozen yogurt on November 11.

Mission BBQ — Veterans and active duty military get a free sandwich and a slice of cake on November 11.

O’Charley’s – Veterans and active duty service members get a free $9.99 meal on November 9, as well as free pie on November 11.

On the Border — Veterans and active duty military can enjoy a free meal from the “Create Your Own Combo menu” on November  11.

Ponderosa Steakhouse — Active duty and retired military get a free buffet on November 11, 4 pm to close.

*NEW* Red Hot & Blue — Veterans receive a free entrée with the purchase of a second entrée on November 9, 10 and 11. Coupon required.

Rock and Brews — Veterans and active military personnel receive a complimentary pulled pork sandwich with a side choice throughout the day on November 11.

Sammy’s Woodfired Pizza & Grill — Sammy’s Woodfired Pizza & Grill is offering the choice between complimentary hummus served with grilled herb flatbread or garlic cheese bread on November 11.

Shoney’s — Shoney’s will offer a free All-American Burger to veterans and active duty service members on November 11.

Texas Roadhouse — Texas Roadhouse locations nationwide will offer veterans a free lunch on November 11 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Offer is good for active duty, retired or former U.S. military.

Village Inn — Veterans and active military personnel receive a free breakfast on November 11 from a select menu at participating locations. Village Inn is also providing a “Thank you For Your Service Card valid for 20% off on the next visit.

Wienerschnitzel — Veterans and active duty military receive a free Chili Dog and a small Pepsi on November 11.

The following discounts were offered in 2014 but have not confirmed yet for 2015:

2014 Veterans Day Restaurant Offerings:

54th Street Grill — Veterans and active duty military get a free meal (up to $12) on November 11.

Bakers Square— Veterans and active duty military get a free breakfast on November 11.

Bar Louie – On November 10 and 11, veterans and active military personnel get a free meal up to a $12 value.

BJ’s Restaurant — Active duty military and veterans receive a complimentary lunch entree under $9.95 on November 11.

Black Angus Steakhouse — Veterans, active and retired military personnel receive a free appetizer on November 11.

Boston Market – Boston Market is offering a free individual dessert with individual meal purchase on November 11 with military ID.

Bugaboo Creek Steakhouse – Veterans and active duty military personnel receive a $10 gift card on November 10 and 11.

California Pizza Kitchen – Veterans and active military receive a complimentary entrée from a special menu on November 11.

Carlo’s Bakery — Veterans and active service members get a free large cannoli on November 11.

Carrabba’s – All active and retired veterans get a free appetizerNovember 8 through 11.

CentraArchy Restaurants – Veterans and active duty service members get a free entrée and 25% off to their accompanied family and friends on November 11 at participating restaurants.

Champps — On November 11, veterans and active duty military get a free cheeseburger.

Chophouse & Tavern — Veterans and active military personnel receive a complimentary craft beer on November 11.

Chuck E. Cheese’s – Veterans and active duty military get 20 free tokens from November 9 through November 15.

City Barbeque – All veterans get a free sandwich platter onNovember 11.

Claim Jumper — On November 10, all Claim Jumper locations will provide veterans with a complimentary meal from a special menu.

Coffee Beanery — Veterans and active duty military get a free tall cup of coffee on November 11 at participating locations.

Country Cookin — Active, reserve, and retired military personnel receive a free meal on November 11.

Cracker Barrel — Veterans get a complimentary Double Chocolate Fudge Coca-Cola Cake dessert during lunch and dinner on November 11.

Denny’s — Active, inactive and retired military personnel get a free Build Your Own Grand Slam on November 11, from 5 a.m. to noon at participating locations.

East Coast Wings & Grill — Veterans get a free appetizer or a free dessert on November 11. Offer good with a minimum purchase of $10.

Famous Dave’s — On November 11, former and active military receive a free One Meat Salute at participating locations from 11:00 am to 4:30 pm.

FATZ Café — Veterans and active military get a free entrée onNovember 11.

Figaro’s Pizza — Veterans and active duty service members get a complimentary medium 1-topping pizza on November 11.

Fire and Ice – Veterans, active duty and their families get a free lunch or dinner on November 11.

Food City – Veterans and active duty military get a free hot bar meal on November 11.

Gordon Biersch — Veterans and active military personnel receive a complimentary craft beer on November 11.

Green Mill Restaurant and Bar – Veterans and active duty military get a free lunch or dinner on November 11.

Greene Turtle — Veterans and active duty military receive a free meal from a select menu on November 11 at participating locations.

Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream — Veterans and active duty military get a free single scoop ice cream cone on November 11 at participating locations.

Hooters – Veterans and active duty military get a free meal up to $10.99 in value with a drink purchase at participating locations onNovember 11.

Hy-Vee — Veterans and active-duty military members get a free breakfast buffet on November 11.

JJ’s Red Hots – Veterans and active duty military get with an unlimited free meal on November 11.

Kangaroo Express — Service members visiting between 12 a.m. and 11:59 p.m. on November 11 get a grill item for 25-cents.

Krispy Kreme – Krispy Kreme is offering a free doughnut and small coffee to all veterans on Tuesday, November 11 at participating locations.

Krystal — Active and retired military receive a free Krystal Sausage Biscuit from 6 AM to 10:30 AM on November 11.

LaMar’s Donuts — Veterans and active duty military get a free donut and 12 oz. coffee at participating locations from 6:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. on November 11.

Lone Star Steakhouse — On November 11, active duty, reserve and retired service members get a free appetizer.

LongHorn Steakhouse – Veterans and current service members receive a complimentary Texas Tonion appetizer and non-alcoholic beverage from a select menu on November 11.

MOD Pizza — Veterans and active duty military get a free individual, artisan-style pizza or hand-tossed salad on November 11.

Old Chicago Pizza & Taproom — Veterans and active military personnel receive a complimentary craft beer on November 11.

Old Country Buffet — Active duty, reservists and retired military enjoy a free dine-in lunch at select Old Country Buffet locations from open until 3:30 pm on November 11.

Olive Garden – On November 11, all veterans and current service members get a free meal from a limited menu.

Orange Leaf — Retired and active duty military get a free cup of froyo on November 11.

Outback Steakhouse – All active and former service members receive a free Bloomin’ Onion and a beverage on November 11. Outback is also offering active and former service members 15% off their meals Nov. 12 through Dec. 31.

Petro Stopping Centers — On November 11, all CDL drivers who are military veterans eat free at participating full-service restaurants.

Pie Five Pizza — Active duty, reserve and retired service members get a free customized pizza on November 11.

Pinnacle Entertainment — Veterans and active duty military get a free meal at select casinos on November 11.

Pizza Factory — Veterans get a free lunch special or a free lunch buffet on November 11.

Pizza Schmizza — Veterans and active duty service members get a free slice of pizza on November 11, between 1 and 4 p.m.

Ponderosa Steakhouse — All former and current service members enjoy a free buffet on November 17.

Port of Subs — Active duty military and veterans get a free small sub on November 11.

Red Lobster — Veterans, retired and active-duty military personnel receive a complimentary appetizer from a limited menu fromNovember 10 to November 13.

Red Robin – Veterans and active duty military get a free Red’s Tavern Double Burger with Bottomless Steak Fries on November 11.

Rib Crib — Veterans and active duty military eat free at participating locations on November 11.

Rock Bottom — Veterans and active military personnel receive a complimentary craft beer on November 11.

Ruby Tuesday — Veterans, active duty and reserve service members get a free appetizer on November 11.

Ryan’s — Active duty, reservists and retired military enjoy a free dine-in lunch at select Ryan’s locations from open until 3:30 pm onNovember 11.

Sizzler — Sizzler offers active duty and veteran military members a free lunch from a limited menu on Tuesday, November 11 until 4 p.m.

Smokey Bones Bar & Fire Grill — Veterans and active duty get a free meal from a select menu on November 11.

Spaghetti Warehouse – On November 11, buy one entrée and get the second entrée free. Coupon required.

Starbucks — Veterans, active duty service members and spouses get a free tall coffee on November 11 at participating locations.

Texas Corral – Active duty service members and veterans receive a free entrée on November 11.

Texas Land & Cattle — On November 11, active duty, reserve and retired service members get a free appetizer.

TGIFridays — Veterans and active duty military get a free lunch from a select menu on November 11 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Tijuana Flats — Veterans and active duty military get a free meal onNovember 11.

Tim Hortons Café & Bake Shop – Active duty military and veterans receive a free donut all day long on November 11.

Tony Roma’s – Veterans and active military personnel receive a free draft beer on November 11 at participating locations.

Travel Centers of America — On November 11, all CDL drivers who are military veterans eat free at participating full-service restaurants.

Tubby’s — Veterans and active duty military members get a free small Grilled Steak N’ Cheese or Tubby’s Famous Sub on November 11.

Tucanos Brazilian Grill – Past and current military receive a free shrimp skewer November 8 through 11. They are also offering a Veteran Card on those dates that gives 25% off 4 Churrasco Meals.

Uno Pizzeria & Grill – Veterans and active military get a free entrée or individual pizza with an entrée or pizza purchase of equal or greater value on November 11.

Wayback Burgers – Veterans and active duty military get a free Wayback Classic Cheeseburger with purchase of any side and any drink on November 11.

Woody’s Bar-B-Q — Veterans get a gift certificate for a free entrée with purchase of an entrée on November 11.

Zoes Kitchen – Active duty military and veterans get a free entrée, and family members get 10% off on November 11.