Food deals: free kids meals, cookies

We couldn't find many new food and restaurant deals this week. Could this be a sign that the recession is easing, or is it just a lull?

Sit-down casual chain restaurants still have ongoing deals. You can download local restaurant coupons from Valpak, find online deals for pizza chains and be notified of deals via Facebook. 

Remember, not all local franchises participate in all national promotions, so be sure to ask at your local store.

Here are this week's deals, courtesy of our friends at Cities on the Cheap:

• Save at Boston Market through Oct. 31 during the Two Kids Eat Free promotion. Two kids 14 and under eat free with a $6 minimum adult purchase. If you buy a family meal, up to four kids can eat free. You don't need to bring a coupon, but you do need to bring the kids to get the deal.
• Fleming's Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar is offering free mini-burgers from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 30. The restaurant is using the promotion to introduce its new line of prime burgers: sliced filet mignon, Ahi tuna, jumbo lump crab cake, Portobello mushroom, and the signature Fleming's prime. The new burgers normally are $10 at the bar for the regular size.
• Get a free chocolate chip cookie from Mrs. Fields from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1, in honor of National Cookie Day.
• Get a free small Lime-aid with food purchase from A&W Restaurants with this coupon, good through Oct. 3.
• Free FruiTea at Arby's with any sandwich purchase Sept. 30.

Related reading:

• Is eating out cheaper than cooking?
• The 99-cent recession menu
• Desperate restaurants try new tricks