These Charlotte-area restaurants are offering free meals and other Veteran’s Day deals
.jpg "Caroline Ale House is offering military members and veterans a free rib platter on Veterans Day.")
Each Veterans Day, restaurants across the nation — and in Charlotte — celebrate our military members for their service to our country with free meals, discounts and special attention.
With Veterans Day 2023 landing on a weekend, some restaurants have moved their celebrations to other days, so make sure to check the dates on each offer. Not all events are taking place on Veterans Day, which lands on Saturday, Nov. 11.
“This is absolutely the best time of the year for restaurants and more importantly veterans,” said Derek Farley, president of derekPR, which represented Applebee’s when the industry took notice of its annual Veterans Day promotion and the practice grew more widespread.
“We never viewed it as a competition, rather a call to action. And to sit and know that all 16.2 million veterans can take their pick of multiple meals on their day of honor is tear-worthy,” he said.
Find free meals, discounts and more below, and keep a watch on this space for updates as the holiday approaches:
Another Broken Egg Cafe
Location: 11324 North Community House Road, Charlotte, NC 28277
Location: 502 Cherry Road, Suite 101, Rock Hill, SC 29732
When: Saturday, Nov. 11
Veterans and active duty military members with a valid military ID who dine in at Another Broken Egg Cafe can get a free Patriot French Toast, topped with strawberries, blueberries and fresh whipped cream, and Barista House Blend Coffee.
Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar
Location: Multiple, with locations in Charlotte, Concord Gastonia, Huntersville and Mooresville
When: Saturday, Nov. 11, 11 a.m-3 p.m.
Bad Daddy’s will honor all active and retired military personnel with a free All American Burger and a small side of fries, chips or tots.
Bonefish Grill
Location: 8503 Concord Mills Boulevard, Concord, NC 28027
Location: 8805 Townley Rd B, Huntersville, NC 28078
Location: 10430 E Independence Blvd, Matthews, NC 28105
When: Saturday, Nov. 11
All day, .Bonefish Grill is offering a free order of the restaurant’s Bang Bang Shrimp with a soft drink to service members, veterans and first responders with valid ID. No purchase is required. Year round, Bonefish Grill offers a 10% off Heroes Discount to service members, veterans and first responders.
Carolina Ale House
Location: 7404 Waverly Walk Avenue, Suite I-1, Charlotte, NC 28277
Location: 8695 Concord Mills Blvd., Concord, NC 28027
Location: 1342 Broadcloth Street, Fort Mill, SC 29715
When: Saturday, Nov. 11
Carolina Ale House will offer a free rib platter with coleslaw and french fries for all veterans and military members on Veterans Day.
Carrabba’s Italian Grill
Location: 7900 Lyles Lane, Concord, NC 28027
Location: 16408 North Cross Drive, Huntersville, NC 28078
Location: 10408 E. Independence Blvd., Matthews, NC 28105
When: Saturday, Nov. 11
All day on Veterans Day, Carrabba’s Italian Grill is offering a free dine-in appetizer or dessert paired with a soft drink for veterans and active-duty military with show of ID. The restaurant also offers a year-round 10% off Heroes Discount to all service members, veterans and first responders.
Condado Tacos
Location: Promenade at Providence, 10706 Providence Road, Charlotte, NC 28277
Location: 1515 S Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28203
When: Saturday, Nov. 11
Condado Tacos is offering a free taco with purchase to any veteran who presents a military ID.
Dave & Busters
Location: Concord Mills, 8361 Concord Mills Blvd., Concord, NC
Location: Carolina Place Mall, 11049 Carolina Pl Pkwy Suite LS-05, Pineville, NC 28134
When: Saturday, Nov. 11
Dave and Busters is celebrating Veterans Day by offering a free entree up to $20 and a free $10 Power Card with a valid veterans identification card.
Food Lion
Location: multiple, with locations in Charlotte, Concord, Denver, Fort Mill, Gastonia, Huntersville, Matthews
When: Saturday, Nov. 11
Food Lion is saluting the service of all U.S. active duty military personnel and veterans by providing a 10% discount at all stores across its 10-state footprint. To receive the discount in store, active-duty military, veterans and their families should present their Food Lion MVP card and military identification at the time of checkout. Customers will then receive 10% off their entire grocery bill (excluding pharmacy, alcohol, tobacco, gift cards, lottery, pharmacy, postage stamps and services).
Freddy’s
Location: multiple, with locations in Concord, Indian Land, Mt. Holly, Rock Hill
When: Saturday, Nov. 11
For Veterans Day, Freddy’s Frozen Custard and Steakburgers is offering active duty military members and veterans a gift card for a Freddy’s Original Double combo meal that may be redeemed through Nov. 30. No purchase is necessary.
Golden Corral
Location: 7701 N. Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC 28262
Location: 1540 Us Highway 29 North, Concord, NC 28025
Location: 2300 E. Franklin Blvd., Gastonia, NC 28054
Location: 11025 E. Independence Blvd., Matthews, NC 28105
Location: 2507 West Roosevelt Blvd., Monroe, NC 28110
Location: 120 Gallery Center Drive, Mooresville, NC 28117
Location: 2370 Cherry Rd., Rock Hill, SC 29732
When: Monday, Nov. 13
At Raleigh-based Golden Corral, all military members who dine in from 5 p.m. until closing will receive a free dinner and drink on Monday, Nov. 13.. Disabled American Veterans members will also be onsite to seek donations from Golden Corral guests during its Military Appreciation Night.
Hickory Tavern
Location: Multiple, including Charlotte, Huntersville, Fort Mill/Indian Land, Gastonia, Rock Hill and Mooresville
When: Friday, Nov. 10
Veteran and active-duty service members who dine in at Hickory Tavern the day before Veterans Day will get a free meal of equal or lesser value with purchase of another meal. Year-round, the Charlotte-based restaurant chain also donates $1 from every purchase of its Freedom Burger to The Independence Fund, which devotes funds to assist veterans and their families.
IHOP
Location: Multiple, including Charlotte, Gastonia, Indian Trail, Kannapolis, Matthews and Mooresville
When: Saturday, Nov. 11, 7 a.m.-7 p.m.
Participating IHOP locations will be offering a free short stack of Red, White & Blueberry Pancakes for veterans and active-duty military who dine in.
Island Fin Poke Co.
Location: 4833 Berewick Town Center Dr A, Charlotte, NC 28278
When: Saturday, Nov. 11
Veterans and active military members can get a free poké at Island Fin Poke Co. by presenting their military ID, veteran ID or DD-214 form.
Matthews Rotary Club
Location: Levine Senior Center, 1050 DeVore Lane Matthews, NC, 28105
When: Monday, Nov. 6 from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m
The Matthews Rotary Club is inviting veterans for a Veterans Day luncheon, featuring Gary Dolan, a Ranger who served in Vietnam in the 75th Infantry (Airbone) and author of “On Their Own Accord.” RSVP by Wednesday, Nov. 1 to Terry Fallatt at tlfallatt@gmail.com or at 980-298-3590.
Metro Diner
Location: 8334 Pineville-Matthews Rd Suite 110, Charlotte, NC 28226
Location: 10412 E Independence Blvd #400, Matthews, NC 28105
When: Saturday, Nov. 11
Metro Diner is offering 50% off meals for active and retired military members with valid military ID on Veterans Day, and 10% off year-round.
O’Charley’s
Location: 1389 Concord Pkwy N., Concord, NC 28025
When: Friday, Nov. 10 and Saturday, Nov. 11 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m
O’Charley’s will offer a special free lunch menu each day for dine-in only. Veterans and active duty military members with ID can order one of the following free entrées at lunch and/or receive a free slice of pie at dinner at dinner (after 4 p.m.):
- Tenders & Fries
- Classic Cheeseburger & Fries
- Honey-Drizzled Southern Fried Chicken with mashed sweet potatoes and broccoli
- Southern Fried Chicken Tender Salad
- Bayou Shrimp Pasta
- Or, for $10, veterans can upgrade to the Louisiana Sirloin meal.
Starbucks
Location: Multiple
When: Saturday, Nov. 11
Starbucks will offer a free tall-sized hot or iced brewed coffee for veterans, military service members and military spouses at participating U.S. stores.
Taziki’s Cafe
Location: 7107 Waverly Walk Ave. Suite 5, Charlotte, NC 28277
When: Saturday, Nov. 11
Taziki’s Mediterranean Cafe will honor veterans who dine in with a “Gyros for Our Heroes” promotion that includes a free chicken gyro, a choice of side and chips.
Town Brewing
Location: 800 Grandin Road, Charlotte, NC 28208
When: Saturday, Nov. 11
On Veterans Day, Town Brewing will offer all military veterans a free entree. New menu items at the brewery available to choose from include the Mr. Silvia, a Philly cheesesteak with white American cheese, sautéed onions and jalapeños., and the Phanatic, a flatbread with red sauce, mozzarella, parmesan, shaved steak, sautéed onions and jalapeños.
Twin Peaks
Location: 8601 Concord Mills Boulevard, Concord, NC 28027
When: Saturday, Nov. 11
Twin Peaks is offering veterans a free lunch, with choices including a cheeseburger, chicken tenders, chicken or shrimp Caesar salad or Chicken Street Tacos. Guests donating that day to Tunnel to Towers, a charitable organization that provides mortgage-free homes to Gold Star families and fallen first responders’ families, will receive a gift card for $5 off.
Viva Chicken
Location: Multiple, including Charlotte, Concord, Gastonia, Huntersville and Indian Land
When: Saturday, Nov. 11
Charlotte-based Viva Chicken will offer a free meal to veterans and active duty service members who dine in at any of the chain’s 17 restaurants,
VooDoo Wing Co.
Location: 1646 S.C. 160, Fort Mill, SC 29708
When: Saturday, Nov. 11
VooDoo Wing Co. will be offering 25% off for active duty military members and veterans on Veterans Day.
This story was originally published October 30, 2023 at 5:30 AM.
