11 Restaurants With Awesome Rewards Programs

Starbs recently revamped its rewards program, making it easier for members to claim small rewards instead of having to save up. For 25 stars, you can get a free espresso shot or dairy substitute; if you're patient, you can get free merch or at-home coffee with 400 stars. Best of all: Members are the first to know about Starbucks' weekly happy hour deals.

Chick-fil-A's tiered membership program starts out awarding members 10 points for each dollar spent. As you move up the chain, Silver members can early 11 points per dollar and red members 12 points. While that doesn't seem like a huge difference in value, red members earn bigger prizes like tickets to the Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame and Backstage Tour Tickets, too. All members get a birthday reward!

This April, Tim Hortons launched Tims Rewards in the U.S. The program is pretty straightforward: After every 7 purchases, you'll earn a reward. Pick from a free coffee, tea, or baked good.

Dunkin's rewards program gives members 5 points for every $1 spent, with bonus points available on special days. Once you earn 200 points, you'll get a free drink of any size.

If you can't get enough burrito bowls, you might as well start getting rewards for them. Chipotle Rewards launched in March with 10 points awarded for each $1 spent. When you hit 1,250 points—periodic bonuses will help you reach it faster—you'll earn a free entree.

Earn 10 points for every $1 spent at P.F. Chang's. At 2,000 points, you'll get a free entrée. To make it easier to claim that first reward, P.F. Chang's gives you 1,000 points when you first sign up.

With Papa Rewards, you earn 1 point for every $1 spent online or in store. With every 75 points earned you'll get a $10 Papa Dough certificate to put toward a pie (or bread, or wings).

Let's start with the grand prize: When you sign up for BJ's rewards program, you immediately get a coupon for a free Pizookie. After that, you'll earn 1 point for each $1 you spend on food or beverages at the restaurant. For each 100 points you earn, you'll get a $10 off coupon.

If your family or friends frequent Dave and Busters, it's worthwhile to sign up for their free rewards program. When you sign up, you'll get a free $10 game play card; after that, you'll get the same amount each time you spend $100. You'll also receive monthly savings emails and updates on what's new.

When you join MyPanera, you automatically earn a free pastry or sweet from the bakery. How much you have to spend to get rewards is a little vague, but a ticker on your dashboard will show you how close you are to your next reward. "The frequency of visits, the volume, and type of purchases made" are factored in to your total, Panera's fine print states.

Outback's rewards program is rolled into a larger umbrella of restaurants that includes Carabba's Italian Grill, Bonefish Grill, Fleming's Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar. To earn a reward, you have to visit any of the restaurants three times during a six month period. You'll then get 50 percent off your check on your next visit, though it's capped at $20 off ($40 off if you're eating at Fleming's). For families who eat out often, it's a pretty easy way to save some cash.