Restaurants offering freebies, deals or extra fun on July 4th

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The meal comes with choice of salad, sides and dessert. The entree choices for the $21 dinner option include Sautéed Tenderloin or Chicken Pesto. A $25 three-course meal option has the following entree choices: Sweet Cajun Salmon, Carvers Prime Rib, Filet Mignon or New York Strip Steak. The $30 option includes “Surf & Turf,” a six-ounce filet topped with fresh crabmeat. The dessert choices are Hazelnut Crème Brûlée or Chocolate Truffles.

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Two Dayton-based restaurant chains — Hot Head Burritos and Rapid Fired Pizza — are rewarding their customers on the Fourth of July with a bonus of four times the rewards points for every entree bought.

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“Independence Day is a day worth celebrating, and what better way to celebrate than by earning free food faster,” Ray Wiley, CEO and co-founder of both Hot Head and Rapid Fired, said in a release.

And Spinoza’s Pizza & Salads at the Mall at Fairfield Commons in Beavercreek — which usually shuts its doors at 4 p.m. on previous July 4 holidays — is bucking tradition this year and inviting diners and bluegrass enthusiasts to “Celebrate Independence at an Independent Restaurant.” The restaurant will be serving special grilled pizzas created by Spinoza’s Kitchen Manager Ben Liston and his his culinary team to accompany the music of bluegrass band The Folkin' Grassholes. The festivities start at 7 p.m.

In Lebanon, the historic Golden Lamb us celebrating two all-American traditions with a long weekend of family-style dining. The restaurant is offering a special Fried Chicken Weekend Thursday thru Sunday to celebrate American Independence Day and National Fried Chicken Day on Saturday, July 6. For lunch or dinner Thursday through Sunday, diners can enjoy Golden Lamb’s Famous Golden Fried Chicken with mashed potatoes, pan gravy, farm-fresh vegetables, salad, and local strawberry shortcake, served family-style for $21.95 per person.

TGI Fridays, which operates a restaurant near the Mall at Fairfield Commons in Beavercreek, is offering both in-restaurant or online ordering special one-day pricing on “Fridays Big Ribs” starting at $7.99 on July 4 only, and will also be serving up its latest Drink of the Month, Friidays Rum Punch, for $5 all month long.

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Several national chains also are offering deals on burgers, bagels, pizza and cheesecake, and some of those offers are available before and after the holiday. Here's a sampling of some of the best deals:

(Note: Not every restaurant in a chain may be honoring the deals, so be sure to check with local restaurants to confirm which deals are available before you go. Most offers are dine-in only and can't be used with any other discount or coupons. Prices may vary with location.) 

Applebee's: Kids, 12 and under, eat free for anyone dining in on Independence Day. The deal allows for two children with the purchase of an adult entrée.

BJ's Brewhouse: Buy one entree and any two beverages and get a second entree half off. The deal is good now through July 15 on dine-in orders. One per table. 

Boston Market: From July 2 to July 6, buy one meal and a beverage and get a second meal free. Good when you take this coupon to get the deal. Good only for lunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Bruegger's: Get $2 off a Big Bagel Bundle on July 3-4. Join the Bruegger's reward program to get the deal.

Carvel: Carvel is offering two July Fourth-themed cake – either a square flag cake or a round heart-shaped Stars and Stripes cake.

Cheesecake Factory: Order from The Cheesecake Factory using Door Dash July 3-7 and receive an Oreo Dream Extreme cheesecake. Your order must total $17.76 or more. 

Dairy Queen: Dairy Queen is offering a limited release "Star Spangled Blizzard" to celebrate the holiday.

Einstein Bros. Bagels: Get a buy-one-get-one deal on the Flavors Across America sandwich series. The deal runs July 2-6. Einstein Brothers Bagels will have red, whiteand blue bagels, as well. You need to preorder these bagels for in-store pickup July 2-4.

Logan's Roadhouse: Active duty military members and veterans can eat for free with proof of service from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on July Fourth.

Mimi's Café: Purchase an adult entrée and get a free Mimi's funnel cake on July Fourth. Dine-in meals only.

Papa John's: Use the code JULY4 and get any large or pan one-topping pizza for $7.04 

Potbelly Sandwich Shop: Buy one sandwich or entrée salad and get one free Sunday through July 8. You get the free sandwich or salad when you bring your receipt back on a second visit the following day.

Quiznos: Quiznos Toasty Points members get a free barbecue pulled pork sandwich when they buy one July 1-8. Good for all new and existing members. Join here.

Restaurants open Thursday

Some franchise locations may decide to stay closed for the holiday.