14850 Dining

Around the country, many merchants are continuing a tradition this Friday of offering free meals and discounts to military service members and veterans to observe Veterans Day. While some are national chains that don't have outlets in Central New York, we've compiled a list for our area.

• Applebee's is offering a free meal on Friday to veterans and active service members during each location's business hours, with seven entrees to choose from. Last year, Applebee's served 1,024,000 free meals.
• Chili's is offering a free meal on Friday to "military veterans past and present," with a choice of six meals, from 11am-5pm.
• Denny's diners in certain areas (including Syracuse, Rochester, and Buffalo areas) are offering a free Grand Slam Breakfast to any veteran, with hours varying from 6am-2pm to 6am-10pm. Call ahead to check.
• Little Caesars Pizza is offering veterans and active military service members a free Crazy Bread.
• Outback Steakhouse is offering a free Bloomin' Onion appetizer and Coca-Cola product to active duty military and veterans all week, through Friday.
• Subway is offering a free six-inch sub or flatbread to military veterans on Friday at participating locations.
• The Olive Garden is offering a free entree from a special menu to veterans and active duty military service members during regular business hours on Friday.

Home Depot and Lowe's home improvement stores have both traditionally offered a 10% discount to active, reserve, and retired military personnel and their families on Veterans Day, but both companies have said that this discount is available every day.

Veterans and active-duty service members may need to provide proof of military service to obtain these discounts or free meals. Required proof may vary by establishment, from wearing a uniform, to a photo of yourself in uniform, to Uniform Services ID Card or discharge paperwork. We suggest checking with local franchises to make sure they're participating in the national chain's promotions.

Thanks to themilitarywallet.com for much of the information provided here. We've looked into similar offerings from local eateries, but there don't seem to be any such plans.