Free for the asking
Birthday treats
By Gerald M. Gay
ggay@azstarnet.com
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 01.03.2008
For people born on Jan. 1 and 2, actors Luis Guzmán, Kate Bosworth and "Mini-Me" Verne Troyer among them, a chance at free birthday stuff in 2008 has already come and gone.
The rest of us still have something to look forward to.
Tucson is brimming with free dessert and drink specials to help honor the occasion.
Caliente scoured the city in search of indulgences to help you celebrate the day you were born — or comfort you, depending on how you look at getting older.
We found that it's super easy to have your complimentary cake and eat it, too. Or your shot of ouzo, your tempura ice cream, your crème brûlée. . . . You get the idea.
Know of a great deal we missed? Tell us at caliente@azstarnet.com.
Places to celebrate from A to Z
Free birthday treats are offered with purchase. Call ahead to make sure the deal hasn't changed.
Agave Restaurant, 1100 W. Pima Mine Road — A piece of flourless chocolate cake. 342-2328
Athens on Fourth, 500 N. Fourth Ave. — Serving of baklava and a shot of ouzo. 624-6886.
Bamboo Club, 5870 E. Broadway — Fresh berries flambé. 514-9665.
Bluefin Seafood Bistro, 7053 N. Oracle Road — A dessert from the menu. Options include sour cream apple pie, German chocolate cake, and vanilla bean crème brûlée. 531-8500.
Bob Dobbs, 323 E. Eighth Street — Drink of the birthday patron's choosing. 325-3767.
BrushFire BBQ, 2745 N. Campbell Ave — A brownie or cookie. 624-3223.
Cafe Poca Cosa, 110 E. Pennington Street — A serving of flan. 622-6400.
Cereal Boxx, 943 E. University Blvd. — Free bowl of cereal during your birthday month (newsletter coupon required). 622-2699.
Claim Jumper, 3761 E. Broadway Blvd. — Slice of ice cream cake. 795-2900.
Cup Cafe, 311 E. Congress Street — Slice of cake from the daily options. 798-1618.
Delectables Restaurant, 533 N. Fourth Ave. — Fudge brownie made from Ghirardelli chocolate. 884-9289.
Eclectic Cafe, 7053 E. Tanque Verde Road — Dessert of your choosing from the regular menu. Options include key lime or banana chocolate chip pie, flan and triple-chocolate cake. 885-2842.
El Corral Steakhouse, 2201 E. River Road — Slice of "Adobe Mud Pie," a frozen dessert filled with mocha ice cream in an Oreo cookie crust. 299-6092.
Elle Wine Country Restaurant, 3048 E. Broadway — A dessert from the regular menu. Options include bread pudding, chocolate paté, crème brûlée and a lemon tartlet. 327-0500.
French Quarter, 3146 E. Grant Road — One of the restaurant's regular desserts, including Banana's Foster, bread pudding, or pecan pie slice. Signature drinks like the Hurricane or Mississippi Mudslide are also options. 318-4767.
Guadalajara Grill, 1730 E. Prince Road — Slice of chocolate cake with a happy birthday song from the trio or mariachi group performing that night. 323-1022.
Intermezzo, 5350 E. Broadway — Crème brûlée. 748-8100.
Janos and J-Bar, 3770 E. Sunrise Drive — An edible birthday ribbon made from marzipan and chocolate, a personalized birthday card, a gift and a box of chocolates (advance notice required). 615-6100.
La Fuente Restaurant, 1749 N. Oracle Road — Fried ice cream or flan. 623-8659.
La Parilla Suiza, 5602 E. Speedway — A serving of flan. 747-4838.
Romano's Macaroni Grill, 5100 E. Broadway — A piece of a chocolate cake and a birthday song in Italian. 790-0177.
Maloney's, 213 N. Fourth Ave. — A shot of the bartender's choosing. 388-9355.
McMahon's Steakhouse, 2959 N. Swan Road — Crème brûlée. 327-2333.
Mona Lisa Corleone Italian Restaurant, 6632 E. Tanque Verde Road — A Sicilian cannoli. 751 7447.
New Delhi Palace Cuisine of India, 6751 E. Broadway — A bowl of mango, coconut, almond or pistachio ice cream. Rice pudding is also available. 296-8585.
Opa Greek Cuisine, 2990 N. Campbell Ave. — One serving of baklava. Waiter sings a birthday song in Greek. 327-2841.
Outback Steakhouse, 4871 E. Grant Rd — Ice cream sundae with chocolate sauce. 323-8892.
Ra Sushi, 2905 E. Skyline Drive — Cinnamon tempura ice cream with chocolate and raspberry syrup. 615-3970.
Sam Hughes Place Championship Dining, 446 N. Campbell Ave — Crème brûlée. 747-5223.
Takamatsu, 5532 E. Speedway — Three scoops of mango, plum or green tea ice cream served in a martini glass if you sit in the teppan room. Chefs come over and sing a Japanese birthday song. 512-0800.
Terra Cotta, 3500 E. Sunrise Dr — Birthday chocolates at the end of the meal with your check. 577-8100.
Trident Grill, 2033 E. Speedway — A slice of cheesecake. 795-5755.
Vila Thai Cuisine, 972 E. University Blvd. — Traditional Thai dessert, black rice pudding with coconut milk and lotus seed, sweet mango sticky rice with coconut milk, or a coconut, mango, lychee sorbet. 903-9777.
Zona 78, 78 W. River Road — A dessert option from the menu (tiramisu, gelato, apple tart, among others). If you are not a Zonafied member, you can sign up for the free membership that night. 888-7878.