Denny's Grand Slam Breakfast promotion a home run

CLEVELAND -- There may be no such thing as a free lunch, but thousands of Greater Clevelanders enjoyed free breakfasts at area Denny's restaurants.

Click here to see photos.

It's part of a nationwide promotion launched during the Super Bowl.

From 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, customers were served free Grand Slam breakfasts.

Denny's signature meal consists of two eggs, two pancakes, two sausages and two strips of bacon. It normally sells for $5.99.

At the Denny's in Cleveland on Brookpark Road, late morning lines stretched 30 or 40 people outside for a 15 to 20 minute wait to be served.

Servers said the crowds were polite and patient and most, but not all customers, left tips.

A double shift of workers hustled to serve patrons.

Many customers shared tables and booths with strangers and made new friends.

Short-order cook Chuck Nutting said this was "10 times busier than normal."

Customers still in line at 2 p.m. got rain checks good for 10 more days.

The restaurant on Brookpark Road served about 730 free meals.

Nationwide Denny's project it would serve about two million Grand Slams.

The promotion is to reacquaint customers with Denny's.

In the 1990's and early 2000 years, Denny's faced and settled a series of lawsuits alleging discriminatory treatment serving minorities.

Since then the company has tried become a model requiring employees to take sensitivity training.

Customers were grateful for the free meal.

Said one woman, "I'm so full. The food was good. Thanks you Denny's! Thank you! Thank you!"

Said another, "I wish more restaurants would do this."