Super Bowl meals and deals continue, plus more menu news of the week

Restaurants are gearing up for a big day on Sunday, with Super Bowl packages targeted to smaller watch parties. All are designed to travel well for delivery and takeout—whether customers are ordering a single football-shaped cake or an entire spread. Several operators are looking beyond the big game, promoting specials for Mardi Gras and dishes that differentiate their menus.

Barbecue specialist Dickey’s is offering Super Bowl packages in varied sizes, for pickup or free doorstop delivery on Sunday. Wings and ribs are the menu stars in Dickey’s Big Yellow Box Ribs & Wings Party Pack, which can feed 10. Along with those favorites, there’s mac and cheese, cole slaw, rolls and sauces ($115). Customers can also order the pit-smoked wings and ribs in quantities ranging from six to 24. And the chain is offering a free kids’ meal with every purchase over $10.

On a smaller scale, Smashburger’s new Pulled Pork Tailgater Burger is available at a promotional price of $5 for game day. The burger features slow-smoked pulled pork, caramelized onion, melted Swiss chess and a grilled Certified Angus Beef patty on a pretzel bun with spicy mustard.

Football fans who are also fans of chicken tenders should appreciate the promotion from PDQ. The Tampa-based chain has a BOGO deal for the big game—customers who purchase a platter of 25 tenders will get a second one free. The offer is valid on both Saturday and Sunday for pickup orders only and must be reserved in advance.  

Those cooking up their own Super Bowl spread can focus on the snacks and leave the dessert to Paris Baguette. The bakery-cafe is offering a themed football-shaped Game Day Cake for carryout or delivery until Sunday. The dessert features three layers of rich chocolate cake and a filling of sweet cream and chocolate pearls.

Queso may lose out to guacamole as the most popular Super Bowl dip, but it definitely has its fans. On the Border is feeding their passion with the debut of Queso Fest this week. In addition to the dippable Queso Fundido—a combo of melted Mexican and Montery Jack cheeses mixed with caramelized onions, poblano peppers and chorizo—the annual promotion includes several line extensions. There are Texas Queso Fries, a Queso Steak Torta, Cheesy Queso Enchiladas and Grilled Queso Chicken. Customers can also add a helping of queso to any meal by requesting a “$1 Queso ‘Pour’ Favor.”

Walk-On’s, the sports bar with Louisiana roots,is celebrating Fat Tuesday with $5 menu specials every Tuesday in February. Included in the promotion are beignets and boudin balls on the food side, and a Bloody Mary and Mad Mary on the drinks side. The latter is a bloody with a “mad” garnish of cucumber slices, peppadew pepper, green beans, olive, bacon, lemon and a mini Tabasco bottle stirrer. Another $5 signature cocktail is the vodka- and rum-based Death Valley, named after a Baton Rouge stadium.

For the first time on a national level, Jimmy John’s is adding chicken to its sandwich lineup. The new Smokin’ Kickin’ Chicken Sandwich is layered with seasoned chicken, Creole chili pepper sauce, peppers, provolone cheese, avocado, onions, lettuce, oil, vinegar and mayo on fresh-baked bread. The LTO runs through Mar. 21 and is priced at $8.50.

Casual-dining chain Red Lobster is bringing back its Lobsterfest this month. Two new dishes join the regular roster of this yearly event: Ultimate Surf and Turf and Kung Pao Noodles with Fried Lobster. In addition, guests can order Lobster Linguine, a Lobster Shrimp and Salmon combo and two other lobster-centric entrees—the Bar Harbor Lobster Bake featuring petite lobster tails and other seafood over linguine and Lobster Lover’s Dream, with two types of lobster tails and linguine in creamy lobster sauce. For every Lobster Lover’s Dream purchased, Red Lobster will contribute a portion to lobster sustainability efforts.

Quiznos is also returning lobster to the menu for a limited time. Customers can order up the traditional lobster sub or the newly-created Old Bay Lobster Club. Like the Lobster Classic sub, the club sandwich is filled with a lobster and seafood salad. But Quiznos elevates the new item the addition of Old Bay seasoning to the mix, and the addition of lettuce, bacon and tomato. The lobster club is served on a toasted roll spread with spicy mayo. 

Another fried chicken sandwich joins the crowd with the introduction of Habit Burger Grill’s Crispy Chicken Sandwich. The fast casual double-breads the chicken breast and cooks it to order, then serves it on a toasted bun with lettuce, tomato, pickles and mayo. The same breading, flavored with a proprietary spice blend, goes on Habit’s Crispy Chicken Bites. These are available with six or 10 pieces to an order and come with barbecue sauce and ranch dressing. Both chicken items will be on the permanent menu.

Church’s launched its upgraded fried chicken sandwich last October, and now is riffing off its success with the creation of Texas Tenders. The boneless chicken pieces are marinated in buttermilk, hand breaded and cooked until crispy, then served with Church’s new Smoky Honey-Q sauce. The tenders are debuting in a limited-time Tenders ‘N Shrimp meal but will be a part of Church’s permanent menu.