RI restaurants say thank you: Where to find free meals, discounts on Veterans Day

Veterans Day may not rival Mother's Day in holiday dining out numbers, but it is a popular occasion for taking out friends or family who have served in the military or are active military.

Restaurants, coffee shops, farm stands, breweries and cocktail bars will be saying thanks to U.S. military veterans on Saturday, Nov. 11, with discounted meals, free food and other offers. Most offers are for veterans and military only, but at least two offers are for other guests as well.

Both local businesses and national chains are offering a range of discounts. All require you to show a valid military ID, so come prepared. Most offers are good only for dining in.

This list doesn't cover every R.I. business. It is worth asking your favorite restaurant or cafe if they have a discount for military service, not just on Nov. 11. That's because a few restaurants reported they always offer a percentage off a veteran's or active duty member's meal.

Check the dates for the offers. Most are for Nov. 11 but some are for Nov. 10 and there's at least a few offering a weekend of specials.

Here's your second reminder: Have your valid military ID at the ready.

Mill's Tavern

Mill's Tavern, 101 North Main St., Providence, is offering a 25% discount on all food and non-alcoholic beverages from Friday, Nov. 10, through Monday, Nov. 13. The offer is valid for veterans and active duty military service personnel and their guests.  Sister restaurant Red Stripe is offering the same deal at 465 Angell St., Providence.

Grey Sail Brewing

They are offering complimentary food and Grey Sail beverages on Friday, Nov. 10 but note that a military discount is always available at Grey Sail, 63 Canal St., Westerly. Friday is also the day they are releasing their Triple IPA version of Captain’s Daughter. They do ask for donations to support Work Vessels For Veterans, the local American Legion and The American Flag Fund.

Blackie's

Located at 280 George Washington Highway, Smithfield, eatatblackies.com, offers 10% off a meal every day for veterans and military. They have an extensive gluten-free menu.

Coast Guard House

Located at 40 Ocean Road, Narragansett, thecoastguardhouse.com, noted they offer 20% off food for veterans and active military every day, not just Veterans Day.

Dunkin'

All Dunkin' shops nationwide will be giving out a free doughnut of their choice on Saturday, Nov. 11, to veterans and military. No purchase necessary.

IHOP

Free pancakes are on the menu at all IHOPs on Nov. 11 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Veterans and military get a free order of Red, White and Blueberry Pancakes or a Pancake Combo. Dine-in only.

Rhode Island IHOP restaurants are in Providence at 45 Pleasant Valley Parkway; in Warwick at 1802 Post Road; in East Providence at 75 Highland Ave.; in Middletown at 159 West Main Road; and in nearby Massachusetts at 383 Washington St., Attleboro.

99 Restaurant & Pub

All three locations in Rhode Island offer a free lunch to veterans and military on Friday, Nov. 10, from opening to 5 p.m. Find the restaurants at 1171 New London Ave. (Route 5), Cranston; 199 J.T. Connell Highway, Newport; and 7 Airport Road, Westerly. Order the free entree from their Veterans Day Menu. Learn more at 99restaurants.com.

The Guild breweries

The beer hall at The Guild brewery at 461 Main St., Pawtucket, and the Warren Guild on the water at 99 Water St.,  will offer half-price to veterans and military for their first beer, order of food and/or beer-to-go. The offer is also good at the PVD Beer Garden in the Providence Innovation District Park, near the pedestrian bridge, where only beer is served.

The George

The downtown Providence restaurant at 121 Washington St., thegeorgerestaurantri.com, will give 15% off a veteran's meal.

Don Jose Tequilas Restaurant

The Mexican restaurant at 351 Atwells Ave., Providence, will offer 10% off.

Fogo de Chão

The new Brazilian steakhouse at street level at 148 Providence Place, has 50% off of the full churrasco experience of meats for veterans. There is 10% off of the same experience for the rest of the table. The offer is valid Nov. 10 to Nov. 12.

Newport Vineyards & Taproot Brewing Co.

Have fun at the vineyard and taproom at 909 East Main Road, Middletown, newportvineyards.com and enjoy a complimentary sandwich from their farm-to-table menu.

Venda Bar & Costantino Ristorante

The Italian restaurant at 265 Atwells Ave., Providence, costantinosristorante.com, offers 10% off on Nov. 11.

Bacco Vino & Contorni

Get 15% off at the Italian restaurant at 262 Atwells Ave., Providence.

Jaswell's Farm

There's a 10% discount for purchases on Nov. 11 at the family farm at 50 Swan Road, Smithfield, jaswellsfarm.com.

Rosa's Tavern

Rosa’s Tavern at 92 Waterman Ave., East Providence, will take 50% of the bill for veterans and military on Nov. 11.

Harry's Bar and Burger

All burgers are half-price for veterans on Nov. 11 at both of Harry's restaurants in Providence. They are at 301 Atwells Ave. and 121 North Main St.

Legal Sea Foods

Veterans and military will enjoy a free cup of chowder on Friday, Nov. 10, and Saturday, Nov. 11, at 175 Hillside Road, at Garden City, Cranston, legalseafoods.com.

Trattoria Appia

Formerly Zooma, the restaurant at 245 Atwells Ave., Providence, offers 15% off.

Cassarino's Restaurant

The Italian Providence restaurant at 177 Atwells Ave. on Federal Hill is offering 10% off.

Opa

The Lebanese restaurant at 230 Atwells Ave., Providence, offers 20% off.

Narragansett Beer

Narragansett's taproom at 271 Tockwotton St., Providence, has 30% off for veterans and military from Nov. 3 through Nov. 12. They also launched Big Mamie, a new beer using the Yakima Chief Veteran’s blend, which donates $3 per pound to Homes For Our Troops. The beer is named after the USS Massachusetts, now in Battleship Cove.

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Saje Kitchen

The restaurant with a menu that ranges from oysters to coconut shrimp and lobster stuffed wontons is at 332 Atwells Ave., Providence, sajekitchen.com, and offers 15% off.

XO Bar

The Providence cocktail bar at 125 North Main St., offers 25% off.

Saint Restaurant

The restaurant at 289 Atwells Ave., Providence, offers 15% off.

Terra Negra Cantina

The Mexican restaurant at 59 DePasquale Ave. on Providence's Federal Hill, offers 15% off.

Afrique D'Lounge

The African restaurant at 126 Spruce St., Providence, on Federal Hill, offers 20% off for vets.

Free first pours

These breweries are offering a free first pour or drink for Veterans Day: Smug Brewing Company, 100 Carver St., Pawtucket; Sons of Liberty,1425 Kingstown Road, South Kingstown, with food from veteran-owned Big Dog Eats; LineSider Brewing, 1484 South County Trail, East Greenwich, on Veterans Day with food from veteran-owned South County Barbecue offering free mac and cheese for vets; and Vigilant Brewing, 44 Ballou Blvd., Bristol, plus 20% merchandise and 4-packs.

Shaizdon Beer Co.

Shaidzon, 41 Fairgrounds Road, West Kingston, will be offering an 11% discount to all veterans and military, all weekend long.

Diego's

The three Diego's restaurants will all take 20% off the bill for vets and military on Friday, Nov. 10. They are Diego's Newport at 11 Bowen's Wharf, Newport, diegosnewport.com; Diego’s East Side at 192 Wayland Ave., Providence, diegosprovidence.com; and Diego’s Barrio Cantina at 116 Aquidneck Ave., Middletown.

Bluefin Grille

The restaurant at the Providence Marriott Downtown, 1 Orms St., will take 20% off for veterans.

Island Fin Poké

Veterans get a free 3 Scoop Bowl on Veterans Day at the restaurant at 445 Putnam Pike, Smithfield.  Drinks, additional toppings and extra protein will be charged.

Rejects Beer Co.

The brewery at 124 Aquidneck Ave. in Middletown, will offer 20% off of merchandise and the entire bill for vets on Friday, Nov. 10.

Ours Restaurant

At 223 Atwells Ave., Providence, the restaurant offers 10% off.

Foolproof Brewing Co.

They always have 10% off the purchase price for veterans and military at the brewery at 241 Grotto Ave., Pawtucket, run by the Brewery Collective.

Wharf restaurants in Newport

It's 20% off the bill for vets on Friday, Nov. 10, at Wharf Southern Kitchen & Whiskey Bar, 37 Bowen’s Wharf, Newport, wharfsouthernkitchen.com and Wharf Fish House, 41 Bowen’s Wharf, Newport, wharffishhouse.com.

VL Restaurant & Lounge

This veteran-owned restaurant at 242 Atwells Ave., Providence, offers a free meal on Veterans Day.

Buffalo Wild Wings

Buffalo Wild Wings will offer a free order of 10 Boneless Wings and Fries for all past and present armed services members, dine-in only. Their restaurants in Rhode Island are at 400 Bald Hill Road in Warwick and 51 Dowling Village Blvd. in North Smithfield. Also, there is a restaurant in Seekonk at 120 Highland Ave.

O'Brien's Pub

It's 20% off the bill (not including alcoholic drinks) at the 501 Thames St. restaurant in Newport, theobrienspub.net.

Lucia Italian Restaurant

Vets get 10% off their bill at 190B Thames St., Newport, luciasrestaurant.com.

Crooked Current Brewery

It's 15% off the bill at the Pawtucket brewery at 560 Mineral Spring Ave.

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Smokey Bones Bar & Grill

31B Universal Blvd., Warwick, smokeybones.com, offers a free meal from a special menu for dine-in only.

Applebee's

349 West Main Road, Middletown, applebees.com, offers a free meal for veterans and active-duty military. Must dine in and order from a special menu of seven of the restaurant's most popular items. Excludes tax and gratuity.

Chili's Grill & Bar

855 West Main Road, Middletown, chilis.com, offers a free meal from a select menu on Nov. 11.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Veterans Day dining deals and free meals at RI restaurants