What Is the Olive Garden Veterans Day Offer?
For many years Olive Garden has thanked veterans and active-duty military on Veterans Day (November 11) with a free entrée from a special menu, served with unlimited soup or salad and breadsticks. It is dine-in only and limited to the day itself. Olive Garden announces each year's details in early November, so confirm on olivegarden.com or with your local restaurant before you go.
Veterans Day 2026 falls on a Wednesday.
Who Qualifies and What Proof to Bring
The offer has been open to veterans and active-duty service members. Bring one form of proof, for example:
- Military ID or Veteran ID card
- VA health card or a driver's license with a veteran designation
- DD-214 or other discharge papers
- A photo of yourself in uniform or a membership card for a veterans organization
How to Make the Most of It
- Go at lunch or mid-afternoon; Veterans Day dinners get very busy.
- Join the online waitlist before you leave. See our waitlist guide.
- Family members pay for their own meals as usual.
- Please tip on what the meal would have cost; servers work the busiest shift of the season that day.
Other Ways for Military Families to Save
Olive Garden doesn't run a standing military discount, so the rest of the year the best savings are weekday lunch, Take Home entrées and discounted gift cards. See Olive Garden coupons and specials and deals.
Veterans Day Offer: Questions People Ask
Does Olive Garden do a free meal for Veterans Day?
Olive Garden has offered veterans and active military a free entrée from a special menu on Veterans Day for many years. Confirm this year's details on olivegarden.com.
Is the Olive Garden Veterans Day meal dine-in only?
Yes. The Veterans Day offer has been dine-in only.
What ID do I need for the Olive Garden veterans meal?
Any proof of service, such as a military or veteran ID, VA card, DD-214, a veteran driver's license, or a photo in uniform.
Does Olive Garden have a military discount every day?
No standing chain-wide military discount, though individual restaurants may choose to offer one.