These are other birthday freebies that I got for my birthday that I didn’t feel warrant their own post but I wanted to put them somewhere. I’ll also talk at the end about a few things that I didn’t take advantage of that are out there for you to get for your birthday, too!
[Chocolate Croissant from Panera Bread]
The My Panera card yields you free goodies throughout the year – not just for your birthday. I’ve gotten free bagels, free coffees, free pastries, free teas and other goodies since I’ve signed up, plus coupons off breads. I have never gotten free whole meals (like sandwiches or soups), mostly just the smaller stuff, but that’s okay with me. For my birthday I received an email indicating I had something special for my birthday. It was for a free pastry and I got this chocolate croissant for a quick breakfast.
Normally I would love these, but I had that weekend had a homemade chocolate croissant during a pie making class from Rachel Going, a pastry chef at the Banker’s Hill Restaurant, and let’s just say that I was spoiled because it was one of the bestest croissants ever. Oy.
How to get? You must go into a Panera Bread to get a card, but it’s free and easy to get. Just ask for a card and register it online. I think you get something free right away, too.
[Vanilla Tea Latte (venti, aka large!) from Starbucks]
Free Starbucks drink for your birthday. Any drink. Any size.
I don’t drink coffee anymore (it makes my tummy very, very angry) so instead I got a Vanilla Tea Latte. I got a large venti just because I could. I got it unsweetened with 2% milk. It was pretty good and I almost drank all of it.
Yes, those droids on my desk at work.
How to get? You need a Starbucks card for this one. Any gift card will do. Just register it on their website and they will send you a postcard in the mail. I got mine the day before my birthday and it expired 2 weeks later.
[Peanut Butter Cup Perfection / Cheesecake Fantasy from Cold Stone Creamery]
Cold Stone changed their birthday coupon. Boooo.
It used to be that you got one free “Love it!” creation but now it’s basically a buy one get one free coupon. Jake and I went here because I thought I had a group-deal coupon that was still good (it wasn’t, it expired a few days before) and since we were already there I just got some ice cream. I barely ate any of mine (the chocolate-pb one) and gave the rest to my dad when I got home.
Jake really, really liked his cheesecake ice cream thing – it had fresh fruit and graham cracker in it and it sort of almost makes him like Cold Stone. Sort of.
We both got signature creations so it cost like $5.49 or something. God, that’s a lot of money for ice cream.
How to get? Sign up online at the My Cold Stone Club for an okay coupon deal. Pfftt.
Some Other Birthday Deals
->Free Grand Slam at Denny’s (must do it on your birthday) – Denny’s Rewards
->Free sandwich combo at Jersey Mike’s (must do it on your birthday) – Jersey Mike’s Email Club
->Free breakfast sandwich with drink purchase at Einstein Bros. Bagels – eClub
->Front of the line pass to Phil’s BBQ – Phil’s Club
->Free corn dog from Wienerschnitzel – Wiener Lover’s Club
->Free Giant Messy Sundae from Sammy’s Woodfired Pizza or Roppongi – eClub
->$30 birthday certificate to Benihana – the Chef’s Table
->Free bowl of noodles at Noodles & Company – Noodlegram
->Free scoop of ice cream at Baskin-Robbins – Birthday Club
All 2011 Free Birthday Food Posts:
- Free birthday burger at Red Robin
- Free birthday meal at Daphne’s California Greek
- Free dessert at Islands Restaurant
- Free birthday meal at Rubio’s
- Free birthday entree at the Restaurant at the Pearl Hotel
- Free birthday meal at IHOP
- Free birthday entree at Paradise Grille
Missing Deals?
Jake got the Benihana certificate and I did not. Last year I got a coupon for FreshMXNFood but didn’t get it this year. Also didn’t get one for El Torito this year, but their website still states you get a free meal for your birthday.
I’m mostly interested in learning about more local deals than what the chain’s offer, so if you know of a great birthday deal in San Diego, please comment and let me know!
Thanks for all the tips about birthday deals! I knew about some of them, but now that I’m signing up for more, I can’t wait until my birthday rolls around! I might have to sign my husband up as well since his birthday is sooner than mine…
Nice roundup! I’ll be sure to take advantage of them next year.
nice round up of all the different place you went to (and didn’t go to)…very useful indeed.
Glad you all enjoyed it! Now I can post the many posts in a row and take a little break! 🙂
I can’t think of any local, non-chain restaurant that offers birthday deals. It does seem like it’s a chain-restaurant thing to have birthday offers. I’ve done a bunch of the ones you mention, and you can add Souplantation and Hometown Buffet (I know – more chains!).
The one for Phil’s BBQ was nice (front of the line pass), but it seemed weird to not wait in the line!
Hi Sandy – I know, it is mostly chains! I think I’ve found some good local ones though so I’ll have to keep a look out for any others. Thanks!
Benihana has changed their birthday program starting in 2014. It is now a buy-one-get-one deal. Not as good as getting it free. I actually signed up late last year for my b-day in 2014 to take advantage of a free meal, but I think I will be skipping them now.
If you go in a group and someone else is already buying a meal, then yours is free. If you go buy yourself, then you still need to buy a meal in order to get your free meal. I was so looking forward to this one too! I will check out your other recommendations.
Hi Susie – Thanks for the head’s up. It seems a lot of places have been cutting back on their freebie birthday programs. Too bad!
Saw this link from another post-I do read and just don’t comment much.
The Mister signed up on Sycuan’s site while I was in Michigan because it was something about military and also he was bored. He just got a birthday coupon for TWO free buffets. I tend to not sign up for the same things he does, because our birthdays are seven days apart and I feel bad trying to use two freebies at the same time- and now this!
Ooo, thanks for the birthday tip, Cathy! Didn’t know about this one!