Free on Your Birthday on Long Island, NY

It's always great to get presents on your birthday, and here's a surprise for you: there are a number of restaurants on Long Island that want to give you free meals or desserts on your special day. Some require that you join a birthday club (also free) and some restaurants' offers may have certain restrictions, such as bringing along a friend or two who must pay for their own meals.

Read on to find out how you can score free eats on your birthday. (Note: the following information was correct at the time that this article was written. Always check to make sure that the offers are still valid.)

• Benihana
  When you join Benihana's Chef's Table for free, they'll send you a complimentary $30 Benihana Birthday Certificate, as well as the latest news from the restaurant. Note: you must be at least 13 years old to join the club. Please read their terms and conditions online.

  Please note: the maximum value of the certificate is $30 and does not include alcoholic beverages, tax or gratuity. The certificate is only valid for one person. Benihana Birthday dinner certificates are e-mailed to you at the beginning of your birth month and can only be used from Monday through Thursday. Not valid Friday through Sunday.

  All certificates are e-mailed at the beginning of your birth month. If you register during the month of your birthday, you'll need to allow two business days before you receive your certificate.

  Benihana locations on Long Island: Benihana's - Manhasset
  2105 Northern Boulevard
  Manhasset, NY
  (516) 627-3400

  Benihana's - Westbury
  920 Merchants Concourse
  Westbury, NY
  (516) 222-6091

• Indian Wells Tavern
  Enjoy a FREE entree on your birthday at Indian Wells Tavern in Amagansett, NY. As of this writing, the offer is ongoing and you can get your free entree from one week before or one week after your special day. Note: the eatery requires you to show your driver's license or other proof of the date of your birth to qualify for this special offer.

  Indian Wells Tavern
  117 Main Street
  Amagansett, NY
  (631) 267-0400

• Country Kitchen
  When you join their free Country Kitchen's eClub, they'll send you special offers, and according to their website, "birthday surprises."

  Location on Long Island:
  Country Kitchen
  240 East Main Street
  Patchogue, NY
  (631) 654-8438

• California Pizza Kitchen
  Children can also get freebies on their birthday. Parents can register their kids who are 10 years of age and under in the CPKids Birthday Club and they'll receive a FREE meal during their birthday month. The offer will be sent to you via e-mail once your sign up your child. (Adults who sign up receive a $5 coupon towards their next CPK visit.)

  California Pizza Kitchen locations on Long Island, NY:
  
  Costco Plaza 1256 Old Country Road, Westbury, NY.

  At Walt Whitman Mall, 160 Route 100, Huntington Station

  And at the Smith Haven Mall, 618 Smith Haven Mall, Lake Grove, NY

• IHOP
  Sign up at IHOP's Pancake Revolution or on IHOP's Facebook page and you'll receive a free meal on your birthday, as well as a free meal on the first anniversary of your joining the Pancake Revolution. Expect to receive your offer within 24 hours of signing up online.
  
  
• Red Lobster's Fresh Catch Club
  When you sign up online --for free-- for Red Lobster's club at least 7 days prior to your birthday, you'll receive a coupon -- on their website, they call it a birthday gift that's "a surprise... to help you celebrate," --- as well as e-mail about upcoming Red Lobster events, special promotions and offers, and more.

  Red Lobster Locations on Long Island:
  

  Red Lobster
  211-217 Old Country Road
  Carle Place, NY
  (516) 248-7411

  Red Lobster
  606 West Sunrise Highway
  Valley Stream, NY
  (516) 825-0277

  Red Lobster
  1 Nevada Street
  Hicksville, NY
  (516) 822-8393

  Red Lobster
  801 Sunrise Highway
  Copiague, NY
  (631) 842-3640

  Red Lobster
  5010 Expressway Drive South
  Ronkonkoma, NY
  (631) 580-2864

  Red Lobster
  2220 Nesconset Highway
  Stony Brook, NY
  (631) 689-9060

• Baskin-Robbins
  Sign up for the Baskin-Robbins birthday club and you'll get a FREE 2.5 ounce scoop of ice cream on your birthday. An e-mail will be sent to you five days before your birthday, and you'll also receive a discount on a birthday cake if you choose to purchase one.

  You can also opt to get special offers and coupons, plus an instant coupon for a free ice cream. Just go to www.baskinrobbins.com and click on "Birthday Club." (Click on "Find A Store" for the nearest Baskin-Robbins.)

• Friendly's
  Join Friendly's BFF Club and get a coupon. Kids 12 and under get a free kids' meal with adult purchase, and if you're 12 years of age through adults, you'll get a free scoop Sunday, plus special birthday offers and more.

  Visit www.friendlys.com and click on "Join BFF" on the top right-hand corner, and fill out the form to register.

  To find the nearest Friendly's in your area on Long Island, type in your zip code in the store locator on their home page.