The North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association (NCRLA), the voice of North Carolina’s $20.2 billion restaurant, foodservice and lodging industry, today announced many restaurants across the state are celebrating members of the military and thanking them for their service with numerous offerings on Veterans Day, Wednesday, November 11, 2015.

“North Carolina restaurateurs give generously every day to causes that matter in their local communities,” said Lynn Minges, NCRLA president and CEO. “On Veterans Day, it’s impressive that many are choosing to honor the men and women who have given so much to protect our country’s freedoms.”

NCRLA compiled a roundup of North Carolina restaurants that are offering discounts or free meals to military veterans or current service members on Veterans Day. Participating locations may vary, check with your local restaurant for further details.

• Applebees – Free Thank You Meal menu from open to close. Choose from: 7 oz. House Sirloin, American Standard All-In Burger, Double Crunch Shrimp, Three-Cheese Chicken Penne, Fiesta Lime Chicken, Chicken Tenders Platter, or Oriental Chicken Salad

• Bar Louie – Free meal up to a $12 value on November 11

• Bob Evans – Free meals include choice of Stack of Hotcakes, Fresh Baked Brioche French Toast, Sunrise Breakfast, Country Biscuit Breakfast or Mini Sampler Breakfast

• Bonanza Steakhouse – Free buffet from 4 p.m. – close (beverage not included)

• Buffalo’s Café – All veterans and active duty military eat free

• BURGERFI – Complimentary small (6 oz.) sundae. Customers can opt for Vanilla, Chocolate, or Swirl topped with whipped cream and a cherry

• California Pizza Kitchen – Complimentary entrée from a special Veterans Day Menu. Pizza choices include: The Original BBQ Chicken, Hawaiian, Mushroom Pepperoni Sausage, Pepperoni, Five Cheese + Fresh Tomato and Untraditional Cheese. Assorted Salads and pastas also on the menu

• Cattlemen’s Steakhouse – Complimentary small sirloin steak dinner

• Chicken Salad Chick – All Chicken Salad Chick restaurants will be offering a free meal. The offer is one free Original Chick which includes one sandwich, one side, a pickle and a cookie.

• Country Buffet – Free lunch buffet from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• Country Cookin – Free meals for Veterans from 2 p.m. until 8 p.m.

• Cracker Barrel – Complimentary Double Chocolate Fudge Coca-Cola Cake dessert during lunch and dinner

• Denny’s – Free Build Your Own Grand Slam from 5 a.m. until noon

• El Fenix – Free meal. Choices include Enchilada Dinner, Chicken Tortilla Soup, Juarez Plate, Durango Dinner, Monterey Chicken Platter or Mexican Cobb Salad

• Fatz Café – Complimentary World Famous Calabash Chicken Meal

• Fire Mountain – Free lunch buffet from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• Golden Corral – Free dinner buffet with beverage from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

• HomeTown Buffet – Free lunch buffet from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• Hooters – Choice of one of the following free menu items: Hooters Burger, Buffalo Chicken Sandwich, Buffalo Chicken Salad, 10-Piece Traditional Wings, 10-Piece Boneless Wings

• Hurricane Grill & Wings – Free meal from a limited menu with a non-alcoholic beverage. Available menu items include: 10 winds, Yuengling Beer-Battered Fish & Chips, BBQ Pulled Pork Quesadilla, Beach Burger Sliders, Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad, Chicken Sandwich (Grilled or Crispy) and Tacos (Mesquite Beef, Tropical Chicken or Carolina Pulled Pork)

• IHOP – Free Red, White and Blue pancakes from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

• Krispy Kreme – Free doughnut and small coffee

• Little Caesars – Free $5 Lunch Combo, which features four slices of Little Caesars popular Detroit-style DEEP!DEEP! Dish pizza, paired with a 20-ounce Pepsi product

• Logan’s Roadhouse – Logan’s Roadhouse supports veterans throughout the year with a 10% discount to guests who present a military or veterans’ ID. On Veterans Day, November 11, those military and ex-military guests will also receive a free dessert

• McCormick & Schmick’s – Free entrée. Choose from: Salmon Rigatoni, Buttermilk Friend Shrimp, Cedar Planked or Grilled Salmon, Blackened Chicken Fettuccine, Parmesan Crusted Chicken, Beer Battered Fish & Chips, Skillet Bronzed Tilapia, Tender Beef Medallions, Romano Chicken Chopped Salad, or McCormick’s Cheeseburger. Reservations required

• Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt – Free 6 oz. frozen yogurt any time of day. This includes any toppings

• Miami Subs – 50% off their purchase

• Mission BBQ – Free sandwich and cake (while it lasts)

• O’Charley’s – Free meal from $9.99er menu. Choose from O’Charley’s Famous Chicken Tenders & Twisted Chips, Bayou Shrimp Past and Chicken Fried Steak, among other meals

• Old Country Buffet – Free lunch buffet from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• Olive Garden – Free entrée. Choices include Cheese Ravioli, Spaghetti with Meat Sauce, Lasagna, Chicken Parmigiana, Garlic Rosemary Chicken or Unlimited Soup, Salad and Breadsticks

• On the Border – Free meal from the “Create Your Own Combo” menu

• Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt – Free cup of froyo, up to 11 oz.

• Pie Five Pizza – Free individualized pizza

• Ponderosa Steakhouse – Free buffet from 4 p.m. to close. Beverages not included

• Red, Hot & Blue – Buy-one-get-one-free offer that is available for three days with the purchase of two drinks and a coupon

• Red Lobster – Offering a free appetizer or dessert. Choices include Signature Shrimp Cocktail, Crispy Shrimp Lettuce Wraps, Sweet Chili Shrimp, Parrot Isle Jumbo Coconut Shrimp, Lobster Pizza, Warm Chocolate Chip Lava Cookie, New York-Style Cheesecake with Strawberries, Carrot Cake and more

• Red Robin – Free Red Robin’s Tavern Double Burger with Bottomless Steak Fries

• Ruby Tuesday – Free appetizer

• Ryan’s – Free lunch buffet from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• Shoney’s – Free All-American Burger

• Sizzler – Free lunch entrée of a six-ounce Tri Tip Steak, a single Malibu Chicken or a Half Dozen Fried Shrimp. Free beverage choices are coffee, iced tea or a fountain drink. Until 4 p.m.

• Smokey Bones Bar & Fire Grill – Free entrée. Choices include ½ lb. Premium Burger, Pulled Pork Platter, Chicken Fingers, Tomato Basil Cavatappi or Nutty Chicken Salad

• Sticky Fingers Smokehouse – Free meal up to $12.99. Veterans also receive a $10 OFF coupon for their return visit

• Texas Roadhouse – Free lunch (includes choice of Coca-Cola product, Iced Tea/Sweet Tea or coffee). Choose from: 6 oz. Sirloin Steak with two sides, Country Fried Chicken with two sides, Country Fried Sirloin with two sides, Pulled Pork Dinner with two sides, Grilled Pork Chop (single) with two sides, All-American Cheeseburger with fries, BBQ Chicken Sandwich with fries, Pulled Pork Sandwich with fries, Grilled Chicken Salad, or Chicken Critter Salad

• Texas Steakhouse & Saloon – Free entrée up to $20

• TGI Friday’s – Free lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Choices include All-American Stacked Burger, Signature Jack Daniels Burger, Rotisserie Chicken Salad Sandwich, California Club, Pecan-Crusted Chicken Salad, Harvest Apple Chicken Salad and more

• Twin Peaks – Free menu item from Annual Veterans Day Appreciation Menu

• World of Beer – Free select draught beer

Is your establishment planning to celebrate Veterans Day in a special way? North Carolina restaurants may be added to this listing by contacting Karen Mann at kmann@ncrla.org. For more information about NCRLA, please visit www.ncrla.org.