Eat free on your anniversary with restaurant freebies and specials

When you’re discussing anniversary dinner ideas with your loved one, consider booking a restaurant with anniversary specials. You know you can get free stuff on your birthday, but you can also score anniversary freebies at a number of restaurants near you. These anniversary deals include free food and drink and other surprises, perfect for the frugal couple.

To qualify for a free anniversary gift, at a restaurant chain you must sign up for a restaurant’s mailing list, eClub or loyalty program. Essentially, you allow the restaurant to market to you in exchange for that free pasta dish or slice of cake. But some Chicago restaurants will just give you a free dessert or champagne to acknowledge your anniversary celebration.

Restaurants define anniversaries loosely, which gives bargain hunters more ways to take advantage of these anniversary freebies. Here are some tips to scoring big with anniversary deals:

None of the restaurants ask for proof of a wedding or an anniversary date beyond the date you enter in the registration field. If you sign up for each restaurant with a different anniversary date, you can celebrate your love with free food and restaurant discounts every month, rather than having to choose where to go on your wedding date each year.
Restaurants also do not judge you if you have not followed the traditional path to marriage. If you’re in a committed relationship or partnership and you have an anniversary you celebrate, go ahead and sign up for these bargains. Don’t remember the exact date you got together? Make it up!
Speaking of committed relationships: Some of the deals listed below are for the anniversary of the date you committed to the restaurant’s club or mailing list, not your partner. Since it is an anniversary, we’ve included those deals.

2025 anniversary freebies and deals

Celebrate your anniversary of any kind on the cheap with free food or drink, a coupon or some kind of discount on your meal. Great restaurant anniversary ideas! Here are the current offers from restaurants that celebrate anniversaries:

Be sure to always verify as these can change quickly, even overnight. Check out these local Chicago restaurants as well as chains for your anniversary celebration.