Do Restaurants Offer FREE Birthday Dinners Anymore? Yes!

My dad used to always say to me, "The only thing that's free in life is a foul shot." I was a basketball player but I never really understood that metaphor. Were there really no free things out there in the world besides shooting a free throw at the foul line? That couldn't be possible!

Then I grew older and started paying my own bills. I realized that in 2024, the days of receiving anything "free" is rare. Grocery stores and retail shops will trick you with verbiage like "buy one, get one free," but that's just clever marketing. Usually the prices are already marked up to begin with so the buyers aren't really getting anything free after all.

In general, I am a BIG fan of birthday's. I think everyone should be fully celebrated on the day that they were born. That celebration should even extend to a birthday week or a birthday month if you can make that happen! (That might take some negotiation with your friends and family though).

I am part of a Facebook group called "Weymouth Foodies," where people post about food-related things. Such as good and bad food they've tried on the South Shore, great experiences they've had at restaurants and questions they have about food. One of the questions really caught my eye. Cynthia Ann asked the Facebook group a question: Does anyone do free birthday dinners anymore?

Under Cynthia's question were 18 answers from people who lived on the South Shore. They said that there were some local restaurants that still offer free birthday meals. (You will find a full list of chain restaurants down below that still offer free Birthday perks). But to add to that long and impressive list, they said that there were a few more local spots that offer free Birthday meals.

Abington Ale House in Abington offers a free birthday meal. Someone noted that they are closed on Monday's and Tuesday's though. Bracks is another option. They have three locations in Brockton, Newport and Taunton. Someone also mentioned The Chateau in Braintree. But since The Chateau is a chain, I can only assume that all locations will offer a free birthday meal. Last local restaurant on the South Shore that was listed was The Inn at Bay Pointe in Quincy. All of those offer free Birthday meals.

There are dozens of restaurants out there that want to help you celebrate your birthday with free food!

There is no question that one of the best things about celebrating another trip around the sun is the food you choose to mark the occasion with.

There are a lot of restaurants that know this, and they use your birthday as a hook to get you in to spend some time with them on your special day.

A lot of your favorite fast food and casual dining eateries are ready to give you a perk, just for being born! The only thing you have to do is show your license, or sign up for their loyalty programs.

The 99 Restaurants are gifting you a free dessert when you pop into their locations during your birthday. You do have to be a member of the 99 Rewards club ahead of time, as the offer is sent to your email on your birthday. You also have up to 2 weeks to redeem from your birthday.

Enjoy a free scoop of ice cream or swirl of soft serve at participating Baskin Robbins locations to celebrate your birthday. You do need to opt-in to the Baskin Robbins Birthday Club ahead of time, as the offer is sent to your email. Participating locations only.

How does free wings sound for your birthday? Buffalo Wild Wings is giving you six free wings that can be redeemed during your birthday month. You do need to be a Blazin' Rewards member ahead of time, though.

Baby back ribs for your birthday sounds like a treat, and Chili's is ready to celebrate you special day with a free dessert. You have to be a My Chili's Rewards member and spend at least $5 or more when dining in the restaurant, but the birthday offer is good for two weeks past your birthday.

Chipotle Rewards members get "The Gift of Guac" on their birthday. That's free chips and guac anytime during their birthday month with a purchase of $5 or more at participating locations.

Dunkin' Rewards members get a free beverage on their birthday. You do have to be signed up for the rewards program ahead of time. The birthday offer is valid for 7 days, and shows up in the Dunkin' app.

Celebrate your birthday with ice cream! And if you do it at Friendly's, that ice cream is free! You do have to sign up to be a member of the Friendly's Sweet Rewards Club, but once you do, you'll get a birthday offer of a free medium sundae from the restaurant.

IHOP has their International Bank of Pancakes rewards program, which trades in "PanCoins," which sounds like one of the most stable crypto currencies at the moment. Members get 5 PanCoins free for their birthday, which can be spent on free food items in the "stack market." All puns aside, it sounds like there are free pancakes in your birthday future if you sign up.

Who doesn't want a free sandwich on their birthday? Jersey Mike's is ready to give you a free birthday sub, but you need to be a MyMike's rewards member. It's good for a free sub every year on your birthday.

Ronald McDonald wants to wish you a happy birthday with a free birthday treat. You have to have an active rewards account with McDonald's. The free birthday offer may vary depending on location, but it could be an entree, dessert, side, or beverage.

Moe's wants to give you a free burrito to celebrate your birthday. All you need to do is sign up for the Moe Rewards club on their app. They do ask that you refrain from wearing your birthday suit when showing up at a location to redeem the offer.

If soup, salad, and breadsticks is on your mind, you can add a free dessert when you eat at Olive Garden for your birthday. Just sign up for the Olive Garden's rewards program, and you'll be eating a free tiramisu in no time!

While Papa John's is known for pizza and breadsticks, they are ready to give you a free dessert to celebrate your birthday. You do need to sign up for Papa Rewards to get your free dessert offer, and it's valid online only at participating locations, but it is good for 14 days.

When you think Red Robin, you think bottomless fries, but the burger joint also is willing to give you a free burger for your birthday at participating locations. You do need to sign up in advance to the Red Robin Royalty program in order to get your free birthday gift. As of this writing, the free burger can be redeemed any day during the month of your birthday.

Starbucks is willing to give you almost any beverage or food item for free to celebrate your birthday. You do need to sign up for Starbucks Rewards, and it must be redeemed on the date of your birthday.

Ready to Cross the Border? Maybe you're thinking outside the bun, or just want to Live Mas on your big day? Taco Bell is ready to give you a free Mountain Dew Baja Blast Freeze for your birthday. You need to sign up for their rewards program at least two weeks before your birthday.

Texas Roadhouse is giving you a choice of a free appetizer for your birthday at participating locations. You do need to sign up for the Texas Roadhouse VIP Club in order to get your birthday coupon. Even if it's not your birthday, those rolls with the cinnamon butter are always a good bet.

Head out for a birthday lunch or birthday dinner at your local TGI Fridays and claim a "birthday surprise," we're told it's a free dessert. You have to be a member of their rewards program to be eligible, so sign up here.

Ayla Brown is the host of "Country Mornings With Jonathan and Ayla" on Country 102.5. You can read the rest of her blogs here.