Good news: Budget-conscious restaurant-goers can still splurge on a meal out. Plenty of restaurants offer free food, from takeout meals to kids meals to treats, when a member of the dining group orders an entree or meets another requirement.
Whichever day you’re dining out, you’ll find freebies at various national chains. The lineup below shows where you (or someone in your party) can get free food every day of the week without joining a single mailing list.
But before you tuck into a free plate of pasta, here are a few guidelines to know before walking in and asking for free food.
Freebies usually require you to make a purchase. Restaurants aren’t usually in the business of handing out free food for nothing in return. You’ll need to purchase something (typically an entree) to get a free treat or free kids meal.
Free kids meals often have limits. You’re entitled to only a certain number of free kids meals for kids-eat-free days. Usually, it’s one free kids meal per adult meal purchased.
Offers vary by location. This information is based on the chains’ national websites. Local franchises may not participate in all national deals. So call ahead to confirm.
Freebies are more plentiful earlier in the week. If you’re dining out on a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday, you’ll have more free-food deals available. Restaurants are simply less generous on days when tables are full and wait times are long.
Read on for the free food offers available every day of the week.
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Monday
Bertucci’s. On “Pasta Pair Mondays,” buy any pasta classics dinner and get a free rigatoni and polpette lunch as carryout. The free entree will be packaged for you to take home. This offer is valid after 4 p.m. for dine-in customers.
Perkins. Get a free slice of pie with the purchase of an entree between 11 a.m. and 9 p.m. at participating locations.
Marie Callender’s. Earn a free slice of pie with the purchase of an entree. This deal excludes cheesecake and seasonal fresh-fruit pies.
Texas Corral. Buy a half-slab of baby back ribs, get a second half-slab free every Monday.
Tuesday
Bertucci’s. On Tuesdays after 4 p.m., buy any large pizza and take home a free large cheese pizza. This offer is valid for dine-in or carryout customers, but if you dine in, your free pizza must be taken to go when you leave. There’s a limit of one free pizza per check.
Buffalo Wild Wings. With the “Boneless Twosdays” deal, buy one order of boneless wings, get one order of the same size free. This deal is valid at participating locations only and includes a side of celery or carrots and ranch or blue cheese dressing.
Ikea. Kids eat free at the Ikea restaurant every Tuesday. Get up to two kids meals when you purchase one adult entree. This offer is valid for kids 12 and younger.
Ruby Tuesday. Fittingly, the restaurant offers this special on Tuesdays (5 p.m to close). Receive one free kids entree per adult entree purchased. This deal is valid for kids 10 and younger.
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Wednesday
Bakers Square. On Wednesdays, get a free slice of pie with the purchase of any menu item (excluding beverages and sides) between 10:30 a.m. and close. This offer is valid for dine-in customers only.
Carvel. Carvel runs its “Wednesday is Sundae” special each Wednesday. Buy one classic soft serve sundae and get one free.
Chompie’s. Buy a dozen bagels and get six bagels free every Wednesday.
O’Charley’s. Get a free slice of any pie with the purchase of an entree. This offer is valid for dine-in customers only.
Village Inn. Get a free slice of pie (“classic fruit” or “feature” pie) between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. on Wednesdays with a dine-in purchase.
Thursday
Brixx Wood Fired Pizza. Participating locations (not all locations) run buy-one-get-one-free specials on pizzas and appetizers on Thursday nights. Start times for this special vary by location, but expect it to start after 10 p.m. or 11 p.m.
Bruster’s Real Ice Cream. These specials are available daily, including Thursdays. Kids shorter than 40 inches get a free baby cone with no purchase required. Or bring your dog with you to your local store and receive a free doggy sundae (a 1-ounce scoop of vanilla ice cream in a dish).
Friday
O’Charley’s. Kids 10 and younger eat free all day, every day, including Fridays (a rare day for specials). Get one free kids meal with the purchase of an adult entree. This offer does not include beverages and is valid for dine-in customers only.
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Saturday
Marie Callender’s. Kids 12 and younger eat free on Saturdays. Get a free kids meal with purchase of an adult entree.
Steak ‘n Shake. Children 12 and younger eat free all weekend. Get a free kids plate for every $9 spent. This deal is valid for dine-in customers only.
Sunday
Dickey’s Barbecue Pit. Every Sunday, kids eat free. Receive one kids meal with $10 purchase per adult when dining in. This deal is valid only for children 12 and younger.
Tumbleweed. Kids 10 and younger eat free every Sunday. Get one free kids meal for every adult entree when dining in.
Companies and products mentioned in this article may be promoted on www.offers.com.
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How to Score Free Food Every Day of the Week originally appeared on usnews.com
