Patch Parents: Where To Score Back-To-School Dining Deals And Freebies

CALIFORNIA — Summer may be coming to an end, but family-friendly food deals are heating up at eateries across the state.

Back-to-school season can also bring added expenses and stress, so these budget-friendly offers not only satisfy cravings but also wallets.

Snooze A.M. Eatery is helping families start their day off right with a special back-to-school promotion. Customers can receive one free kid's meal with the purchase of a regular priced entrée. The deal is available before 9 a.m. every day through Aug. 31 at the breakfast and brunch restaurant chain.

"With summer winding down and the start of the school year, we know how hectic August is," Andrew Jaffe, chief marketing officer of Snooze A.M. Eatery, told Patch. "We wanted to provide an easy solution for families to dine out together and start the day off right with Snooze on the weekdays or weekends."

Families can end their day with a special back-to-school treat at Tender Greens. The fast-casual restaurant chain is offering free kid's meals after 4 p.m. with the purchase of a single adult entrée. The deal is available through Aug. 31 and includes a variety of nutritious and tasty options.

"We are very proud of our offerings for children," Oliver Plust, corporate executive chef, told Patch. "We emphasize on seasonality through scratch cooking, the same way as we serve adults, just in smaller portions."

From back-to-school deals to year-round freebies, here's a look at some other family-friendly promotions that restaurants are offering as kids return to school.

Burger King

Burger King rewards members can gear up for the new school year with a free King Jr. Meal when they make a purchase of $10 or more at the fast food chain. The deal runs through Aug. 25 at participating locations on the chain's app and bk.com.

Burger Lounge

Kids eat free every Tuesday at Burger Lounge. Get one free Kid's Lounge Meal with the purchase of any entrée. The deal is available for dine-in, takeout and delivery. Use the online promo code KIDS.

Coco's Bakery

Kids can also eat free every Tuesday at Coco's Bakery. Get a free kid's meal with the purchase of an adult entrée. The dine-in-only offer is valid all day on Tuesdays.

Denny's

Denny's offers another family-friendly Tuesday deal. Kids eat free with an adult entrée purchase of $6 or more from 4-10 p.m. every Tuesday at the diner-style restaurant chain. Participating locations may vary, so diners should check with their local Denny's.

IHOP

IHOP's popular all-you-can-eat pancake offer is back in time for back-to-school season. Through Sept. 15, customers can enjoy all-you-can-eat pancakes for just $5. Get a full stack of five buttermilk pancakes to start, followed by additional flapjacks served two at a time, on an as-requested basis. Select breakfast combos that include a short stack of all-you-can-eat pancakes are also available. Additional pancakes are served two at a time.

Additionally, IHOP is offering a special back-to-school gift card deal. For a limited time, customers can buy a $30 gift card and get a $5 bonus card.

Johnny Rockets

Johnny Rockets is making back-to-school season fun with a free kid's meal deal. Get a free kid's meal with the purchase of an adult entrée through Aug. 18. Customers must mention the promotion to their server.

P.F. Chang's

P.F. Chang's has launched Back-To-School Bundles, a three-course family-style meal with a choice of soup or salad, an appetizer and a selection of entrées for each guest. The bundle starts at under $20 per person.

As a special treat, kids under 12 can also get a free scoop of ice cream with any food purchase.

Red Robin

Kid's meals are half off every Wednesday at Red Robin. The deal includes a kid's entrée, side, and drink.

Sizzler

Sizzler customers can score a free "We Goin' Sizzler" Sundae with any meal purchase. Diners can build their own sundae at the dessert bar, which now features brownies. The sweet treat comes in a limited-edition collectible baseball helmet bowl. The deal is available at all Sizzler locations while supplies last.

Smashburger

Kids eat free every Wednesday at Smashburger. Customers can get a free kid's meal with the purchase of an adult meal. The deal runs through the end of the year.

Snooze Eatery

Start the day off at Snooze A.M. Eatery, where customers can receive one free kid's meal with the purchase of a regular priced entrée. The promotion is available before 9 a.m. every day through Aug. 31.

Tender Greens

Tender Greens is offering free kid's meals after 4 p.m. with the purchase of a single adult entrée. The deal is available through Aug. 31 and includes a variety of nutritious and tasty options.

Wendy's

Wendy's is giving out free kid's meals to kick off the new school year. Customers can get a free kid's meal with the purchase of a premium combo meal through Sept. 2. The offer is only available on the chain's app. There is a limit of one free kid's meal per visit.

Patch Parents is written by Patch Editor Kristina Houck, a mom of three boys. Have a story idea? Email [email protected].