The restaurant will accept coupons, gift cards, and gift certificates — expired or not — from any business, giving up to 50% off food purchases throughout March.

March Madness is here, and the excitement extends well beyond the basketball court. For the second year in a row, Applebee’s is offering a crazy deal that almost sounds too good to be true.

All during the month of March, every Applebee’s in Houston (and all across Texas, actually) will be accepting any gift cards, gift certificates, and coupons — regardless of whether they’re expired or not — from any business and brand. Yes, you read that right. You could bring in an expired Old Navy coupon, old gift card from Walmart, a gift certificate from another restaurant…you name it, and get that amount off your purchase — all the way up to 50% off your food.

Here’s what you need to know:

You need to bring in a physical (paper, plastic, or printed) coupon, gift card, or gift certificate

The coupon, gift card, or gift certificate can be from any business

It doesn’t matter if the coupon, gift card, or gift certificate is expired or not

You get whatever amount is on the coupon or gift card/certificate credited toward your meal — up to 50% off your food purchase

Deal may not be combined with any other Applebee’s discounted offer or applied to alcohol

Deal is only available at Texas Applebee’s locations

“When we offered this promotion last year our guests were thrilled when we accepted their expired or just unwanted gift cards or coupons and they received up to 50 percent off their meal,” said Chris Dharod, president of SSCP Management, parent of Apple Texas.

And while the offer can’t be applied to alcohol, it’s also worth noting that Applebee’s also has $2 Absolut vodka lemonades all month long. So, all in all, it’s a great time to enjoy a great deal on good food and drinks at Applebee’s.

The promotion comes at a time when Applebee’s is focusing on returning its brand “back to its roots” of offering a value-driven menu that includes hearty, delicious foods, like burgers, chicken tenders, and ribs.

Applebee’s has numerous locations throughout the Houston as well as the surrounding areas, including in Stafford, Humble, and Pasadena.

“It’s a fun promotion, it’s a great way to give back to the neighborhoods where we operate and it’s an easy way to visit us and get 50 percent off your food bill,” says Dharod.

For any questions on the promo, call your local Applebee’s or visit in person.

This post was sponsored by Applebee’s. We only accept sponsored content that we believe offers a great value to our loyal readers in the greater Houston area. Sponsored content allows Houston On The Cheap to manage the expenses of running this website and to work tirelessly to bring you extensive coverage of the area’s best deals and events.