Who doesn't love free stuff?
Here's a look at some popular national chain restaurants and coffee shops where you can get either free or discounted food and drinks on your birthday:
You can get a "birthday special" when you sign up for the restaurant's email list. What that might be varies, and you also might get a song from the servers.
Bakers Square also has an eClub. Along with a free slice of pie on your birthday, you also get a free entree (with purchase of a sepatare entree) when you sign up.
By signing up for a Baskin-Robbins account and joining the Birthday Club, you'll get coupons for a free scoop of ice cream and $3 off an ice cream cake.
Michigan's First The Cheesecake Factory opening in late 2013 at Twelve Oaks Mall. (PRNewsFoto/Taubman Centers, Inc.)
You don't need to join any clubs or email lists here. Just tell your server it's your birthday to get a free ice cream sundae (you might have to prove it). If you choose to order an actual dessert, you can get the plate customized with "Happy Birthday" and your name written in chocolate or caramel.
While its website says each restaurant handles birthdays differently, most Chili's locations will hook you up with a free dessert and a song, if requested.
Here's yet another opportunity to get free birthday ice cream. My Cold Stone Club members get a coupon for by-one-get-one-free "Creations" on their birthdays.
If you haven't had enough ice cream at this point, Dairy Queen gives "extra-special coupon" offers to members of its rewards program.
Dot Crazy members can get a free order of the "ice cream of the future."
Denny's employee Maria Hidalgo carries a tray with free Grand Slam breakfasts for customers in Hialeah, Fla., Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)
Those on Denny's email list will get a free Grand Slam Breakfast (meaning a choice of any four items) for their birthday.
DD Perks members get a free drink on their birthday.
Join the Shmear Club to get a free egg sandwich (with a purchase) on your birthday.
Sign up to get a free meal on your birthday.
Sign up on or before your birthday to get a free medium sub. The offer can be redeemed up to six days after your birthday.
Gold Club members get a free adult buffet on their birthdays (with purchase of a separate adult buffet).
Waitress Letty Hernandez serves breakfast to customer Kathy Triphow Monday, July 16, 2007, at an Ihop restaurant in Burbank, Calif. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)
By joining IHOP's Pancake Revolution, you'll (very appropriately) get free pancakes on your birthday — as well as your joining anniversary.
Rewards members get a free "sweet treat" for their birthdays.
Sign up for the Outback Club newsletter to get a free birthday gift.
Fresh Catch Club members get a free "surprise birthday offer."
By signing up for Red Robin's Royalty program, you can get a free burger (excludes Finest Burgers) once during the month of your birthday
FILE - In this July 20, 2009 file photo, a Starbucks customer drinks a beverage outside Starbucks, in Beverly, Mass. (AP Photo/Lisa Poole)
Starbucks Rewards members get a free birthday treat each year. The catch: You need to have a Starbucks card to register an account.
Sign up for the eClub to get "a little something extra" on your birthday.
Rewards members get a free dessert to be redeemed anytime during the month of their birthday.
