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Restaurants let kids eat free to lure the parents

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By Jill Kelley, Staff Writer Updated 10:45 AM Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Cheap is good, but free is better.

That is not a new concept, but what is new is that more and more restaurants are offering free food to remain competitive in this slumping economic environment.

According to data released in July from market research company the NPD Group, total restaurant industry traffic declined 2.6 percent for this year’s spring quarter versus the same quarter last year. The group said it is the sharpest decline in industry traffic since 1981.

The research also found that consumers, especially households with children, cut back on their visits to all types of restaurants.

To combat that trend, many area restaurants are offering free kids’ meals.

On Monday, Aug. 17, IHOP became the first nationwide chain to offer free kids’ meals from 4 to 10 p.m. seven days a week (drinks are not included). That offer runs through Sept. 13. The closest IHOP locations are in Mason and West Chester, with several others in Cincinnati near I-75.

IHOP, like its competitors, requires the purchase of an adult meal and is for those younger than 12 (or 10, in some cases).

In the Dayton area, most restaurants that have a kids-eat-free deal offer them on certain days (Tuesdays seem to be the most popular), during restricted hours (evenings are best) or for a limited time.

The deals often vary by location, so it is recommended that patrons call ahead to ensure the restaurant they intend to visit is offering that deal.

Locally, many restaurants offer discounts for kids’ meals, but the Miami Valley Restaurant Association only noted one that offered them for free — La Piazza at 2 N. Market St. in Troy.

La Piazza had been running the free meal deal earlier this year and will resume it in September. Patrons will get a free kids’ meal, with the purchase of an adult entree, for children younger than 10 from 4 to 9 p.m. Sundays.

If you know of other local restaurants offering similar kids’ free meal deals, let us know at DaytonDailyNews.com/go/bargains .

There also is a Web site, KidsEatFree.com, that is updated with the latest free kids’ meal deals across the nation.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-7325 or jikelley@DaytonDailyNews.com.

Some area restaurants that offer free kids’ meals:

Fazoli’s has free kids’ meals on Saturdays and Sundays through August, and has 99 cent meals on Tuesday nights.
Moe’s Southwest Grill, which has a location in Beavercreek, offers free kids’ meals after 4 p.m. Tuesdays.
W.G. Grinders offers a free kids’ meal every day when you buy an adult combo meal.
Beef O’ Brady’s has the kids-eat-free deal all day Tuesdays.
Captain D’s offers free kids’ meals on Thursdays, and patrons can get two free kids’ meals for each adult dinner purchased.
Champps, which has a restaurant in Centerville, also offers two free kids’ meals with the purchase of one adult meal. That deal is good after 4 p.m. Tuesdays.
Denny’s offers two kids’ meals per adult meal and has two days a week to get this deal — 4 to 10 p.m. Tuesdays and Saturdays. The area Denny’s is on Main Street in Dayton.
Gold Star Chili has free kids’ meals Tuesdays for dine-in only. This is only for the Gold Star locations that are free-standing and not in a mall.
Lone Star Steakhouse, kids can eat free all day Tuesdays. This is another one that allows you to get two free kids’ meals per adult meal, and is for dine-in only.
Perkins Restaurant and Bakery offers free kids’ meals, one per adult meal, from 4 to 10 p.m. Tuesdays.
Steak n’ Shake has a deal in which you get a free kids’ meal for every $8 you spend on Saturdays and Sundays.
Tropical Smoothie Cafe offers a kids-eat-free deal on Sundays with the purchase of a Paradise Combo for $9.99.