Chains Serve Up Free Food for Vets

Locally owned restaurants are typically hip to holidays. Any sort of celebration is an excuse for a scrappy restaurant to promote a thematic tie-in, as the Rangers’ run for a World Series ring proved.

But on Veterans’ Day, the major chains have the mom-and-pops beat. The only local restaurants that have publicized their plans to serve free meals to vets today are Bread Winners and Norma’s Café, where former military members were treated to breakfast. (If you know of any other eateries offering similar deals, we’d love to hear about it.)

While a complimentary plate of pancakes may seem like an awfully small token of gratitude for veterans’ service and sacrifice, it’s a good-hearted gesture. I’m surprised more single-location restaurants don’t fuss over vets, since so many restaurant owners, cooks and dishwashers have logged time in the military. Surely that’s as worthy of celebration as Thanksgiving and baseball games.

Here’s where vets can eat free today:

Applebee’s
Free entrée from Veterans’ Day menu; selections include 7-ounce sirloin, bacon cheeseburger and double crunch shrimp.

Cantina Laredo
Free entrée priced at $15 or less

Chili’s
Free entrée from six-item Veterans’ Day menu

Outback Steakhouse
Free Bloomin’ Onion and non-alcoholic beverages