From the South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Birthday bonanza

A birthday is a time to celebrate, scarf down some freebies and maybe get humiliated in the process.

by Colleen Dougher

May 18 2005

There may be no such thing as a free meal, but many South Florida restaurants offer a complimentary dinner, slice of pizza, T-shirt, dessert or shot to diners celebrating a birthday. We uncovered a host of restaurants eager to help you blow out the candles on your cake. But be forewarned: At least one of these eateries specializes in humiliating diners who expect special treatment just because it's their freakin' birthday.

A free meal

Bobby Rubino's offers a complimentary entrée valued up to $13.99 with the purchase of another entrée to diners who present their driver's license as proof that it's their birthday. 4100 N. Federal Highway, in Fort Lauderdale (954/561-5305) and 2501 N. Federal Highway, in Pompano Beach (954/781-7550).

Creolina's sends a free birthday dinner coupon to subscribers who register at the restaurant for its e-mail list at least a few months in advance. 209 S.W. Second St., in Fort Lauderdale (954/524-2003).

The Downtowner Saloon offers a birthday lunch or dinner entrée to e-mail subscribers. To subscribe, just fill out a card, available on tables inside the restaurant. 408 S. Andrews Ave., in Fort Lauderdale (954/463-9800 or www.downtownersaloon.com).

Jalapeños Mexican Kitchen's Web site allows diners to register for birthday coupons, though it's not a requirement for celebrating here. Just arrive with friends or family and show your ID, and your meal is on the house. After dinner, a server places a silly hat on your head and then drops a big, heavy tray to the floor to get everybody's attention. That's when the singing begins. On weekends, a mariachi band sings "Las Mañanitas," the Mexican birthday song, and finishes off with the American version. On weeknights, a crew of waiters and busboys does the honors. 8229 W. Sunrise Blvd., in Plantation (954/473-5351 or www.jalapenosmexicankitchen.com).

Maju Jaya at Gao's Garden offers a free Malaysian dinner to birthday celebrants who arrive with at least two paying friends. 3856 N. University Drive, in Sunrise (954/578-1715).

Pizza Girls offers a free slice to anyone who provides a driver's license on his birthday. 114 S. Clematis St., in West Palm Beach (561/833-4004 or www.pizzagirls.com).

The Ratskeller, a German eatery, offers a free dinner to any birthday boy or girl who arrives with three or more dining companions. 2471 E. Commercial Blvd., in Fort Lauderdale (954/771-5151 or http://theratskeller.tripod.com).

Steak and Ale will send you a $10 coupon during your birthday month if you register at one of the burger chain's locations at least a month in advance. Nine South Florida locations (www.steakandale.com).

Dessert and hoopla

Athena by the Sea treats diners to a piece of cake and a birthday song. On weekends, belly dancers and the entire wait staff create a big scene upon hearing of your birthday. 4400 N. Ocean Drive, in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea (954/771-2900 or www.floridarestaurantguide.com/broward/athena).

Blue Moon Grille makes a fuss as long as the diner is not too unwilling. Before bringing a candle-topped ice-cream brownie, the staff announces that a birthday party is in the house. The diner gets a ridiculous little hat, and a server snaps a Polaroid picture to capture the moment. 4599 S. University Drive, in Davie (954/727-0035 or www.bluemoongrille.com).

Gaucho Rodizio Brazilian Steakhouse also gives diners cake, a birthday song and a Polaroid to take home. 4060 N. Federal Highway, in Lighthouse Point (954/784-7667 or www.gauchorodizio.com).

Istanbul decorates your table with balloons and provides free dessert for your dinner party if you give the staff at least a day's notice. 707 N. Broadwalk, in Hollywood (954/921-1263).

Romano's Macaroni Grill serves up a free slice of chocolate cake. On Friday and Saturday nights, an opera singer belts out the birthday song in Italian and English. Nine South Florida locations (www.macaronigrill.com).

Try My Thai turns off the dining room lights and brings Thai doughnuts with a candle to the table. The staff claps and plays a recording of the Thai birthday song. In Thai tradition, this song is a blessing intended to wish the celebrant a happy and prosperous life. 2003 Harrison St., in Hollywood (954/926-5585).

Dessert without the hoopla

Applebee's offers a free dessert but, with rare exception, no birthday song. Instead, servers drop by your table one by one with a helium balloon. By the time you finish eating, you will have a whole bouquet of balloons, each with the Applebee's logo. Fourteen South Florida locations (www.applebees.com).

The Bamboo Club provides a free dessert called BC berries, a mixture of strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries that's flamed with raspberry liqueur and VSOP brandy, then served over two scoops of vanilla ice cream. Your server won't sing for you, but he will offer you a birthday candle. 10300 W. Forest Hill Blvd., in Wellington (561/753-6606 or www.thebambooclub.com).

JB's on the Beach offers a complimentary dessert but no song, as it has apparently had mixed reviews on the staff's singing abilities. 300 N. Ocean Blvd., in Deerfield Beach (954/571-5220 or www.jbsonthebeach.com).

Dessert and/or booze

Loco Cantina hands out free drinks to birthday diners. 204 S.W. Second St., Fort Lauderdale (954/463-2003).

Lulu's Bait Shack offers a dessert or a shot. 17 S. Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd. (BeachPlace), in Fort Lauderdale (954/463-7425 or www.lulusbaitshack.com).

Scopa, an Italian restaurant, rewards diners with a free piece of cake and a bottle of wine. 2447 E. Sunrise Blvd., in Fort Lauderdale (954/630-8058).

Free T-shirt

Hamburger Mary's sends an e-mail inviting you to come in on your birthday for a free T-shirt as part of its Very Important Mary program. You must register in advance in person or on the restaurant's Web site. 2449 Wilton Drive, in Wilton Manors (954/567-1320 or www.hamburgermarysftl.com).

Free humiliation

Buca di Beppo is a great place to take a friend or relative on his birthday -- especially if your goal is to totally embarrass him. Once alerted that a birthday party is in the house, the staff will cause a scene. "We come in with a big candelabra and literally yell at the top of our lungs, 'Hey, it's Robert's birthday' and make them stand on their chair while the whole room sings 'Happy Birthday' to them," says Robert Fayer, events coordinator for Buca di Beppo in Fort Lauderdale. "Some are like, 'I don't want to,' but when we're standing there with the candelabra and the whole dining room is looking at them, they tend to do whatever you tell them." Four South Florida locations (www.bucadibeppo.com).