Chef Michael Psilakis has a treat for your little ones this Halloween: All children under 12 can eat for free from Kefi’s kids’ menu all day long! That includes meatballs in tomato sauce, and a mini-Kefi burger with fries (both normally $6.95), among other things. Perhaps he’s banking on the kids being too sick from free candy to want to take advantage of the offer…
Whether you’re flaunting your freakiest in the 36th annual Village Halloween Parade or are just there to watch, fortification is key. Gonzo will make the most of its parade-route proximity by offering its two-for-one pizza deal—normally available Mondays only—on Saturday the 31st from 5 to 8pm. The grilled pies include one that appropriately features pureed pumpkin, along with caramelized onions, pancetta and Romano cheese ($19). Costumes are welcome, and grown-ups can drink their candy in the form of a dessert cocktail, like the Thin Mint martini with Godiva white chocolate liqueur, Stoli vanilla vodka and crème de menthe ($12).—M. Elizabeth Sheldon
Dirt Candy—the vegetarian restaurant described as “nature’s candy store” by its chef, Amanda Cohen—will celebrate birthday numero uno next Thursday, October 29. To mark the occasion, appetizers that evening—such as the jalapeño hush puppies with maple butter—will all be $5.30. Entrées—like ricotta fritters with green-tomato marmalade—will cost you $10.29. Dinner is by reservation only, so call 212-228-7732 or hop on opentable.com to secure a table. Of course, no birthday would be complete without cake: Enjoy a free slice of red-pepper velvet with your meal through the 31st. Many happy returns!—Kate Wertheimer
What’s better than rich, creamy gelato? Free rich, creamy gelato, tons of which will be scooped from 11am to 7pm tomorrow, Oct 15, at Melt Café and Gelato Bar. Okay, maybe not tons, but Melt is trying to set a new world record—so, you know, a lot. And the deal gets even sweeter: While you’re waiting, spend a minute at the Susan G. Komen table and support the fight against breast cancer. Give a little; get a little. Melt’s got the right idea, and a tasty incentive.—Kate Wertheimer
Carnival may be months away, but you can fill your belly now with Brazilian faves like feijoada (pork and black bean stew), coconut flan and fresh fish ceviche every Monday through Thursday as part of Esperanto’s $19.95 three-course prix fixe. Get there between 5:30 and 7:30pm to score the deal—and if you really want to milk it, go on a Monday, when bottles of wine are half price from 5:30pm till close.—M. Elizabeth Sheldon
Frugal foodies and Francophiles alike can now get their three-course French fix (or prix fixe, rather) for $24.99 Sundays through Thursdays at Le Jardin Bistro. The menu changes weekly, but usually includes classic brasserie fare like steak tartare, duck à l’orange, house-made sorbet and profiteroles. Also, on “Red Mondays” you can get a glass of red wine and either steak frites, steak with green peppercorn sauce or steak tartare for $20. —Liz Sheldon
Free food alert: New York Hotdog & Coffee will hand out 100 free spicy bulgogi ssam starting at 1pm this Wednesday, September 16, at their Bleecker Street location. Grab your wrap—filled with thinly sliced marinated beef, spicy sauce and lettuce—before supplies run out. And if you need a little extra convincing, enjoy the tantalizing pic after the jump. Read more »

Freemans Alley
Got five dollars and don’t mind waiting interminably for cheap food? (Um, check.) Visit Freemans until September 14, where a Lincoln can buy you a house classic like an artichoke dip or a Freemans cocktail (rye, lemon juice, pomegranate molasses and bitters). A flack confirmed this is an unlimited deal at lunch and dinner—go forth and storm the alley!
There’s nothing quite like a free lunch to get you through hump day. Korean import New York Hotdog & Coffee obliges with a free Kimchi Burger for the first 100 customers to show up this Wednesday, starting at 12:30pm. More good news? The West Village eatery will be offering these midweek giveaways throughout the month of September, so be sure to follow @NYHDC for updates on the what and when. Breath mints not included.
UPDATE: PR reps from Union Square Hospitality Group write in to tell us that the software company, Arkadium, never received permission from them or the Parks Department to run this promotion in Madison Square Park near Shake Shack. Arkadium will instead give $5 to whomever participates, and they are free to spend the money where they want. Some things, it seems, are too good to be true.
Free deals sometimes seem like a dime a dozen in this city, but many aren’t compelling enough to actually take advantage of. This one is different. For two consecutive Fridays, August 21 and 28, Arkadium, an online gaming company, will give free Shake Shack burgers to the first 50 people who play one of its games at the Madison Square Park Shack location and provide feedback. It says the offer is from 3 to 6pm on both days, but we have a feeling they’ll hit that 50 mark pretty quickly. Get ready, get set, get in line!