Food Freebies & Deals: July 9-16, 2010

Albuquerque restaurant deals this week – it’s freebie city! Free Panda Express Thai entree with NO purchase needed, free burger combo,  free Chick-fil-A, free Slurpee, free Krispy Kreme (for some), plus Starbucks $2 drink, free Waffle House pie, 50% off for military, police, firefighters, 80% off Sophia’s Place… read the deals fast, some expire TODAY!

Free Lotaburger Combo TODAY Friday July 9 from 10 am to 4 pm (in case you missed our Wednesday Lotaburger post!). Free burger, fries, and drink combo ONLY at this location: Blake’s Lotaburger, 2529 Washington St. NE.

Free Chick-fil-A meal TODAY Friday July 9 for Cow Appreciation Day at all locations all day if you go fully dressed as a cow! If you come partially dressed as a cow, such as a cow spotted hat or bandana, you’ll get some kind of free entree item/sandwich. If you didn’t see our post on this last week, then it’s cutting it fine to grab the starter kit and details for Cow Appreciation Day, but you can make some effort at the partial cow kit, can’t you? Albuquerque locations are Chick-fil-A Paseo del Norte and Chick-fil-A Cottonwood Corners.

Free Slurpee at 7-Eleven on Sunday July 11 at participating stores. Apparently it’s 7-Eleven Day 2010 – another birthday party!

Free Panda Express on July 14 with no purchase needed!? Get a free entree of Thai Cashew Chicken Breast only on July 14 with this Thai Cashew Chicken coupon.

Free Krispy Kreme Doughnuts on July 13? Maybe… for some of you! We’ll try to keep you posted but the scoop so far is that they’re opening their new ABQ Krispy Kreme location on July 13 at Wyoming Mall on Wyoming & Menaul with promises of free doughnuts for a year if you’re one of the first in line at 5:30 am (gulp!) and that the first two dozen people in line get prizes. Does that mean that first 24 people all get free Krispy Kreme for a year? Dunno, they’re being irritatingly coy about the specifics. But if you’re an early bird it seems something sweet and sticky good will happen…

Starbucks $2 cold beverage with the Starbucks Treat Receipt promotion.  Make a Starbucks purchase before 2 pm any day and then return the same day after 2 pm with your receipt to get a grande sized cold drink for just $2! Promo good till October 4, 2010.

80% off Restaurant.com certificates and gift cards with the promo code: FUN  (Enter the code at checkout to see the discount). Buy by July 12, no expiration date on certificates. Participating Albuquerque restaurants include:

• Asian Cafe , Sophia’s Place, Peppers Cantina, Casa Chaco, Cazuela’s Mexican Grill
• 80 cents for a $10 certificate
• $2 for a $25 certificate
• $4 for a $50 certificate
• $8 for a $100 certificate
• $8 for a $100 Restaurant.com Gift Card
• To get the 80% off, select your Restaurant.com certificates and enter the promo code FUN at the check out page. (The full 80% discount doesn’t show till then.)

Military, police, and firefighters get 50% off Marcello’s Chophouse at lunch, when you wear your uniform! You serve us, let them serve YOU. What a great deal Marcello’s!

$1 off the New Double Chili Cheeseburgers at Wienerschnitzel with this coupon good to July 31.

$15 bottles of wine at Vivace Nob Hill On Monday and Tuesday nights, Vivace serves 15 different wines at just $15 a bottle.

Free pie at Waffle House - get a free small slice of pie when you dine in. Last chance reminder on this! The coupon expires July 10, 2010.

NOTE: Not all locations may be participating in all offers – call ahead if you want to be sure.

Thanks for tips from Tucson on the Cheap and Wichita on the Cheap.

–Tania. FYI: I’ve given you my Restaurant.com affiliate link. If you feel like sending a little love this way to support the ABQ on the Cheap site, please use the link.

Food Freebies & Deals: June 25-July 2, 2010

Albuquerque dining deals: free quesadilla at Church Street Cafe, free DiGiorno pizza, half price wine at Mimi’s, 80% off Asian Cafe and Sophia’s Place, Denny’s BOGO coupons, 10% off Cafe Giuseppe, free Villa Pizza beverage, two people wine and dine for $60, and more…

Free quesadilla at Church Street Cafe in Old Town with the purchase of a full service meal – mention you saw the offer on Yelp.

Free DiGiorno Pizza: You have to sign in to Facebook for this one, insert a photo of your face into one of their cut-out pix, and then you get a coupon for a FREE Deep Dish pizza! If you’re not on Facebook, you can still get a coupon for $1 off a DiGiorno Deep Dish Pizza.

50% off Edible Arrangements. Get certificates worth $50 for half price at $25, via Clear Channel Albuquerque. Select fresh fruit bouquets, including chocolate dipped fruit (yum!) for a party or gift. Quantities are limited, and certificates must be used by November 1, 2010

Free Villa Pizza drink: Get a free medium beverage with the purchase of a Triple Play Dish using this coupon at Villa Pizza in Cottonwood Mall, valid till July 31.

Half Price Wine at Mimi’s Cafe: Every Wednesday ALL day, ALL bottles of wine are 50% off.  Also: Mimi’s Cafe Happy Hour specials give you $2 off starters, $2 off wine, $1 off beer, on Monday to Friday from 4-7 pm, and 9 pm to closing.  (Thanks to Beth for the tip!)

80% off Restaurant.com certificates and gift cards with the promo code: SUMMER. Buy by June 30, no expiration date on certificates. Participating restaurants include:

• Asian Cafe , Sophia’s Place, Peppers Cantina, Casa Chaco, Cazuela’s Mexican Grill
• 80 cents for a $10 certificate
• $2 for a $25 certificate
• $4 for a $50 certificate
• $8 for a $100 certificate
• $8 for a $100 Restaurant.com Gift Card
• To get the 80% off, select your Restaurant.com certificates and enter the promo code SUMMER at the check out page ( The full 80% discount doesn’t show till then.)

Certificates are delivered by email (free) and free shipping on gift cards. Check the individual deals for any minimum purchase required, or other restrictions such as dine-in only.

10% off for cyclists at Cafe Giuseppe: Ride your bike to Cafe Giuseppe and get a 10% discount! No web link for this discount, but I noticed it when I was in there chilling out with a gorgeous iced latte – although they’re better known for the strong stuff – espresso! Mention that you rode your bike to the barista when ordering. Cafe Giuseppe is in Nob Hill at 3222 Silver Ave, SE, on the corner of Wellesley.

Dinner & Wine for 2 for $60 at Prairie Star Restaurant on Wednesdays evenings: Starter, entree, and dessert for two, PLUS a bottle of wine for $60 on Wednesdays only, at the Prairie Star Restaurant at the Santa Ana Golf Club. No coupon needed, but it’s probably wise to reserve a table in advance.

Denny’s coupons for buy one get one free (via Valpak) all currently showing to expire July 9. See the list of participating locations at the link, there are 3 in ABQ to get:

• BOGO Dinner: Buy one American dinner classic and two drinks, get one free
• BOGO Late Night Rock Star Favorite: Buy one rock star favorite and two drinks, get one free
• $4 for 2 Buffalo Chicken Wraps & Tortilla Chips

40% off at High Finance Restaurant and Cosmo Tapas – in case you missed our post yesterday about how to get $50 worth of dining for $30.

Lavender in the Village Festival: Cooking with lavender classes, wine tastings, and lots of lavender tasties to buy on June 26 and 27. Plus family activities and live entertainment – see the full scoop in our earlier Lavender Festival post.

–Tania. FYI: I’ve given you my Restaurant.com affiliate link. If you feel like sending a little love this way to support the ABQ on the Cheap site, please use the link.

Food Freebies & Deals: June 11-18, 2010

Albuquerque restaurant deals include free Hot Dog on a Stick, Quiznos $2.99 meal, free gelato tasting, BOGO at Sophia’s Place or Ezra’s place, half-price beer and wine, deals at Godiva chocolate, Mario’s Pizzeria & Ristorante, Pars Cuisine, Zinc, and Father’s Day freebies.

Free Hot Dog on a Stick on June 15 from 5 to 8 pm. One free hot dog per customer within these promotion hours. The two Albuquerque Hot Dog on a Stick locations are in the Coronado Center and Cottonwood Mall.

Free Large Godiva Chocolate Bar when you spend $35, through June 20. Dad like chocolate? Buy him a sweet gift and keep the freebie bar for yourself…heh, heh, heh! (Or be a bigger person than I am, and give him the free chocolate too.) Godiva is in the Coronado Center.

Quiznos $2.99 meal. Get a small sub, chips, and fountain drink with this Quiznos coupon, currently showing as expiring June 17, although the date keeps rolling back. One coupon per person per order (implying you can print and redeem another coupon on a later visit.) Thanks to Ron for the tip.

Savor Albuquerque restaurant coupons we mentioned last week are still valid till June 13:

• $10 off Prairie Star Restaurant and Wine Bar with $25 food purchase
• Free appetizer or dessert at La Oja Restaurant  with dinner purchase
• $10 off Pars Cuisine with $40 food purchase

Free tastings from Van Rixel Bros. Gelato at the Downtown Growers’ Market on Saturday June 12. Sampling starts at 9 am till they run out. ABQ CVB implies it’s for kids only, ABQ Downtown Action team newsletter makes no such distinction. The Downtown Growers Market own website isn’t updated from 2009 yet, so all we know is that there WILL be gelato… The market is at Robinson Park on Central and 8th Avenues.

Blanco fundraiser by Rhythm for a Reason on June 12 includes a sunset champagne toast, light hors d’oeuvres, and dancing to music by DJ Felonious Groove. A $15 minimum donation benefits Albuquerque Storehouse, which provides food and clothing to people in need. There’s a cash bar, and it’s suggested that you wear white! The party is from 7:30 to 11 pm at The Place Lofts in Nob Hill.

Buy One Get One Free at Sophia’s Place or Ezra’s Place with these coupons (via Valpak) for:

•  BOGO Huevos Rancheros (any day)
•  BOGO lunch on Tuesday to Friday only
•  BOGO dinner up to $10 value at Ezra’s only, Tuesday to Friday.

Coupons currently expire June 24 (but they usually roll back dates according to when you print, until the deal disappears altogether.)

Asian Cafe Half price beer and wine and free appetizers in a new happy hour Summer Special, from 2:30 to 6 pm. This is according to their Craigslist notice. Asian Cafe (formerly Chows) is at 1950 Juan Tabo Blvd. NE.

Mario’s Pizzeria & Ristorante deals with a Premium Shopping Guide coupon:

• BOGO Free Entree or Pizza – Buy one entree or 12” Pizza and two drinks to get the second entree or pizza free, up to $10 discount, valid Sunday to Thursday on dine-in only.
• $5 lunch deal for combos of pizza, Coke, salad/soup to eat in or carry out.

Both are good at the three Albuquerque Mario´s Pizzeria & Ristorante locations till July 31, 2010.

$6 Late Night Zinc Specials – from 9 pm to midnight on Monday to Saturday in the Zinc Cellar Bar, choose from six $6 items including Baja Shrimp Cocktail Ceviche Tostada and Baby Back Pork Ribs.

Free movie when you eat candy… Don’t forget you’ve got a great excuse to eat Hershey’s candy in the Hershey’s Kisses Movie Ticket Promotion we posted in May, but you must print out the coupon by June 30 to get a ticket (up to $12 value) .

Father’s Day Heads Up

Free appetizer for Father’s Day at Pelican’s Restaurant two Albuquerque locations – they’re serving the usual menu and specials on June 20, and they say an appetizer is on them!

Denny’s free ice cream floats for Fathers’ Day – you have to be a Facebook member, but if you send a customized e-card to Dad via Denny’s Facebook card application, you and dad each get a coupon for a free ice cream float with the purchase of an item from the $2, $4, $6, $8 Value Menu or any entree.

Note: Not all locations may be participating in all offers – call ahead if you want to be sure.

–Tania

Friday Food Freebies & Deals: June 4-11, 2010

Albuquerque restaurant deals this week include free doughnuts, $10 off Prairie Star, $10 off Pars Cuisine, 50% off Casa Vieja, $1 off Wienerschnitzel burgers, $15 bottles of wine,  half priced burgers, three for two tapas, free Coca-Cola at Waffle House, $1 off draft beers, pizza specials, and more…

Free doughnuts today Friday June 4 at Krispy Kreme and Dunkin’ Donuts in celebration of National Doughnut Day – just in case you missed our post earlier this week!

$1 off the New Double Chili Cheeseburgers at Wienerschnitzel with this coupon good to July 31. (Yeah, I’m sorry, that’s how they spell it. It’s actual chili as opposed to actual chile. I expect it’s still very nice.) Thanks to Editor at Large Ron for the tip.

$15 bottles of wine at Vivace Nob Hill On Monday and Tuesday nights, Vivace serves 15 different wines at just $15 a bottle. Fittingly for the Italian restaurant, wines on offer are from Italy, and from California too!

Savor Albuquerque restaurant coupons are valid from June 4 to 13:

• $10 off Prairie Star Restaurant and Wine Bar with a food purchase of $25 or more
• Free appetizer or dessert at La Oja Restaurant at the Doubletree Hotel with dinner purchase
• $10 off Pars Cuisine with a food purchase of $40

Save 50% at Casa Vieja in Corrales, thanks to Good Day New Mexico’s Half Price Thursday. Buy a $50 dining certificate for $25, and use it till the end of December 2010. (Note: It’s not valid on Friday or Saturday nights, and shipping cost is $3.75.) Casa Vieja is one of my fave restaurants, and I guess I’m not alone in that, so you’d better act fast – quantities are limited!

Gecko’s Bar & Tapas specials after 6 pm only:

• 20 cent wings on Mondays
• Three for two tapas on Tuesdays
• Half priced burgers on Wednesdays

Free Coca~Cola brand soft drink at Waffle House with this coupon expiring June 15. (Scroll down a bit to see it.) Dine in only, one coupon per customer per visit. (So I guess you can take it in several times if you’re a frequent Waffler.) Thanks to our mother ship Cities on the Cheap for the tip.

Venezia’s Pizzeria daily specials include:  

• $18 for a 16 inch 2 topping pizza and 12 wings on Fridays
• Free two-liter soft drink when you buy a large extreme pizza on Saturdays
• $3 off a 24 inch pizza on Sundays
• 50 cent Buffalo Wings on Wednesdays

$1 off draft beers all day Wednesdays at Hallenbrick Brewery. The bargain beer deal is running through June 2010. Hallenbrick Brewery is at 3817 Hawkins NE.

Wine Down Thursdays take place through July 29th at the Downtown Crossroads Mall and onto the Hyatt Regency patio. Sadly, the wine isn’t free (or if it is, someone should tell me about it PRONTO!) but the event includes live music, plus food, arts and crafts vendors, and it sounds like a fun food and wine event. It’s from 4:30 to 7:30 pm on Thursdays.

Note: Not all locations may be participating in all offers – call ahead if you want to be sure.

–Tania

Friday Food Freebies & Deals for 4/9/2010

Tax Day treats plus freebies, discounts and coupons for the week ahead at Cinnabon, PF Chang, Quiznos, Chick-fil-A, Saffron Tiger free entree and kid’s bowl too, Gold Bar nostalgia, El Norteño Buy-One-Get-One-Free on breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and Standard Diner’s beer feast.

• On Saturday April 10, satisfy your sweet tooth with a free breakfast cinnamon cluster at Chick-fil-A Cottonwood Corners between 6:30 and 10:30 am.
• Join Chick-fil-A at Paseo Del Norte’s free viewing of the new VeggieTales movie Pistachio on Saturday April 10 at 6 pm. The free movie party includes face painting, giveaways, and popcorn. Pick up a free Pistachio coloring sheet in advance, take it home for your little one to color in and bring it back to the April 10 party…. and they’ll get a free kid’s ice cream!
• This coupon (mentioned last week) for an Arby’s free roast beef sandwich when you buy any soft drink is still (just) valid – coupon expires April 10.
• Sweet relief on Tax Day April 15 with free Cinnabon cupcakes. They’re giving away two free bite-sized cupcakes per person between 6 pm and 8 pm – note those are both PM times, it’s an evening offer – at participating mall-based Cinnabon bakeries.
• P.F Chang’s also eases the Tax Day burden with 15% off all food – dine in or take out – on April 15! Not valid on beverages or happy hour food but otherwise just turn up with a taxing appetite.  No coupons necessary. (If you’re a Warrior Card member, you don’t get 10% off on top of that – just the same 15% as everyone else!)
• Quiznos coupons valid till April 18  for:
  - Free chips and regular fountain drink when you buy any regular/large sub, or regular chopped salad
  - $1 off 1 sub, $2 off 2 subs, $3 off 3 subs
  (Thanks to Atlanta on the Cheap for the lead!)
• Get a taste of nostalgia with the Gold Bar fundraiser for the ’98 Del Norte High School 12 Year Reunion – buy the peanut butter and chocolate desserts that were sold in Duke City schools. One pound (about 12-14 gold bars) costs $9.80, two pounds = $18, and three pounds = $26. So you save by ordering more (what a great excuse! I mean, incentive.) Order your Gold Bars online, pay by PayPal, then pick ‘em up at Del Norte High School on April 17 or May 8 from noon to 1:30 pm. OR have them delivered to your door ($5 shipping for one pound of Gold Bars.) Or just turn up slavering at the school on those sale dates  – April 17  and May 8 – and pay with cash.
• My mouth’s watering at the thought of East Indian food, and Saffron Tiger Indian Cuisine Express adds to the temptation with a coupon for a free entree OR chai tea or mango lassi, PLUS a free kid’s bowl for children aged 12 and under, when you purchase any two entree combo. Saffron Tiger is located on Paseo Del Norte, just east of San Pedro, and the coupon is good through April 15, 2010. (Thanks to Denise for THAT tip. Not sure if Denise works there or is just a wonderful reader, either way, thanks D!)
• Editor-at-Large Ron is quite excited that  El Norteño Buy-One-Get-One-Free coupons are back in Valpak – and no wonder! BOGO coupons serve you a free breakfast, lunch, and dinner, valued up to $8 each. Coupons are valid till at least April 23, 2010 at current time of viewing, for dine in only. 
• Standard Diner’s Beer Dinner on Sunday April 18 is $50 a head, but that’s for six… count ‘em… SIX courses, all paired with Marble Brewery beers.  The menu starts with Cheddar/Beer Soup and ends up with Cinnamon Baked Brie, by way of Kobe Sliders, Lollipop Lamb, and a couple of other courses you’ll just have to do your best with. Reservations are required, and I’d say bring a tent, ‘cos I can’t see anyone walking home after this feast. Or maybe even rising from the table for 24 hours.
• If you’re more of a wine buff, Standard Diner uncorks half price bottles of wine on Monday nights!

NOTE: Not all locations may be participating in all offers. Call ahead if you want to be sure.

–Tania

50 Wines by the Glass plus Half Price Tapas

We just can’t wait until Friday to feed you great deals on food and drink. Especially not when they’re mid-week specials.

Any Tuesday through Thursday, from 5:00 – 7:00pm, head on up to the wine bar at the Prairie Star Restaurant and enjoy half price tapas. Plus, take your choice of 50 wines by the glass or half-glass. Unwind and watch the sun go down from their newly expanded patio.

When we say “tapas,” we ain’t talking your garden variety nosh. A typical sampling of Prairie Star tapas may include truffle potato skins or lobster-shrimp fritters. Now them’s tapas!

Sure, it’s a bit of a buzz from ABQ, but well worth it for an ocasional indulgence. And since reservations are never required at the wine bar, you don’t have to rush to get there at any specific time.

The Prairie Star Restaurant is located at Santa Ana Golf Club is located at 288 Prairie Star Rd, Bernalillo.

–Elizabeth Hanes