Honoring Veterans with a Free Meal

Several area restaurants and chains are offering free lunch to honor veterans today:

Soprano’s, a favorite local Italian restaurant in Costa Mesa, is honoring veterans this Friday by offering veterans or anyone currently in the military a complimentary lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Soprano’s offer fresh Italian recipes handed down from the owner, Brooklyn-born Joe Morano’s Italian grandmother. Favorite menu items include penne alla Joe’s Nana, lightly breaded eggplant and fresh ricotta with housemade marinara sauce; and penne con sarge with sliced grilled chicken and sundried tomatoes in a light cream sauce flavored with tarragon and cognac.

Also choose from antipastis, insalate, hot and cold sandwiches on Italian baguettes, homemade calzones, pastas, entrée specials and fresh made-to-order pizzas.

Soprano’s is open for lunch 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and dinner 4:30 to 10 p.m. Monday through Sunday at 2400 Newport Blvd. in Costa Mesa. For more information, call (949) 645-8515.

Café Lucca in Irvine is also honoring Veterans Day from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday by giving all active-duty military and veterans a free lunch plate (choose from sandwiches, salads and pastas) with a soft drink or coffee. “There are no strings attached — we encourage those who have served our country in the past, or are doing so now, to come in and allow us to express our appreciation with a small gesture,” co-owner and chef Cathy Pavlos says. “It’s the least we can do for all that they do to serve and protect our country.”

Cathy and her husband Elliot Pavlos are celebrating the day in honor of her father, a Korean War veteran who passed away earlier this year. Guests can also leave their name, rank, company and dates of service to be thanked in within Lucca’s weekly e-newsletter.

Lucca is in the Quail Hill Village Center at 6507 Quail Hill Parkway in Irvine. For more information, call (949) 725-1773 or visit http://www.luccacafe.com.

The Military Wallet has a comprehensive list of the chain restaurants offering a free meal to servicemen and women on Veteran’s Day. Among them are:

Applebee’s – free meal, Friday, Nov. 11: Last year, Applebee’s served 1,024,000 million free meals to military veterans and active servicemembers. Applebee’s is again offering a free meal to military veterans and active-duty service members on Veteran’s Day, Friday, Nov. 11, 2011. There will be 7 entrées to choose from. Military ID or proof of service required. Find locations at http://applebees.com/.

BJs Restaurant and Brewhouse, Fri. Nov. 11th. Complimentary lunch entree or a one topping mini pizza for dinner. Offer valid to all active duty military and veterans, with proof of service. More info.

Chili’s – free meal, Friday, Nov. 11. Chili’s is offering all military veterans past and present their choice of one of 6 meals. This offer is available from 11am – 5pm on November 11, 2011 at participating Chili’s in the U.S. only. Dine-in from limited menu only; beverages and gratuity not included. Veterans and active duty military simply show proof of military service. Visit their website to find locations

Denny’s Veterans Day Appreciation Event, Nov. 11. 2011. Free Grand Slam breakfast to any veteran from. Participating markets include select diners in Maryland, Virginia, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Indiana, Colorado and Washington, DC (from 6:00am – 2:00pm), as well as the following New York locations: Syracuse, Rochester, and Buffalo areas (from 6:00am – 10:00pm). Call ahead to verify, and check with your local Denny’s if you live in another area. Source.

For additional listings, details, and information on other discounts, visit The Military Wallet’s and read the source article: http://themilitarywallet.com/veterans-day-free-meals-and-discounts/#ixzz1dQKqbblR