Free (and discounted) restaurant food

The only place I know that gives out free food without joining an email list or club is Sparky's Homemade Ice Cream on 9th Street. When it's your birthday, you get free ice cream, and kids always get a 1/2 scoop free!

I guess I should say that many restaurants (mostly chains, like Applebee's) would also give you free dessert on your birthday without having to join anything.

Warning: The rest of the free food (and special discounts) on this post are earned through joining email lists or membership clubs through the restaurant websites.  If you're wary of using your main email address, you can opt to create a new email account specifically for promotions and memberships.  Also, although a lot of restaurants offer freebies, they are not all created equal, so pick well and eat free!

Baskin Robbins Birthday Club -- free 2.5 oz scoop on your birthday, special offers

Bob Evans Kids' Birthday Club -- free kids' meal

Chevy's Compadres Club -- special birthday gift, special offers

Chilis -- free Chips and Queso within 48hrs of signing up, special offers

Cold Stone Creamery Birthday Club -- free birthday ice cream

Country Kitchen eClub -- $4 off entree for joining, special offers

Dairy Queen Blizzard Fan Club -- coupon for a second blizzard free, special offers

Fazoli's -- welcome gift, special offers 

Flat Branch Pub & Brewing -- special offers

Friday's Give Me More Stripes -- a one-time skip the line pass and a coupon for a free appetizer or dessert when you first sign up, earn coupons based on your purchases, special offers

Fuddruckers Fudds Club -- special offers

Hooters Hoot Club --  birthday gift, special offers

Houlihan's -- free appetizer for joining, free entree on your birthday, exclusive access behind the scenes (wonder what that means), special offers

Jimmy John's -- special offers

Longhorn Lowdown -- free appetizer for joining, special offers

Macaroni Grill -- free appetizer, birthday gift, special offers

Olive Garden -- special offers

Papa John's Pizza -- special offers (e.g. free pizza, free cheesesticks)

Quiznos QClub -- free birthday cookie, special offers

Red Lobster -- surprise birthday gift, special offers, automatic entry in a prize drawing for a dinner for two

The Rome -- special offers

Ruby Tuesday So Connected -- special birthday gift, special offers

Shakespeare's Pizza -- special offers

Steak 'n Shake -- special offers, special birthday month offer

Waffle House -- special offers

I will update this post as I find more offers...