We’ve been reporting for a while on all the menu activity in the beverage category, but now there’s one chain that’s generating even more buzz: Logan’s Roadhouse is mixing up three THC-infused cocktails. In other drink news, everything’s coming up Pink at Dunkin’, pineapple, strawberry and watermelon are refreshing the refresher lineup, and cold brew is getting a glow up. June also brings summer salads and other seasonal flavors to menus.
Three THC cocktails are in test at Logan’s Roadhouse locations in Texas. The drinks are made with the Flora brand of cannabis-infused spirits and each contains 5 milligrams of hemp-derived THC. Scarlet Haze boasts flavors of prickly pear, lemon and lime; Pineapple Express blends pineapple, orange juice and grenadine; and High Tide combines pineapple and coconut. Bars in every unit are offering more traditional summer cocktails. The Big Easy Blue Roadhouse Tea is a Long Island Iced Tea made with Blue Curaçao, and the Rockin' Strawberry Groupie is a mix of tequila and lime juice topped with a frozen Margarita and strawberries.
Logan's THC-infused cocktails
Just as buzzy but without THC or alcohol is Dunkin’s new pink beverage lineup. The chain is teaming up with fashion icon Barbie to introduce Barbie Pink Strawberry Cold Foam, a limited-time topper for iced drinks. The Ultimate Pink Daydream Refresher combines pineapple flavors with oatmilk, while the Double Strawberry Daydream Refresher blends strawberry with oatmilk. There’s also a Pink Mango Daydream Refresher and Pink Cherry Daydream Refresher, as well as a Strawberry Cloud Matcha and Strawberries & Crème Cloud Dunkalette. The latter is a mix of espresso, coffee milk and vanilla flavors. All the drinks are either layered or topped with Barbie Pink Strawberry Cold Foam for additional fruit flavor and fluffy texture.
Pineapple is the fruity flavor of choice at HTeaO, where Pineapple Crush Iced Tea makes its debut. The limited-time offer launches Wednesday on National Iced Tea Day, when customers can try the new tropical flavor or any others in the chain’s lineup with an all-day BOGO promotion.
Meanwhile, Peet’s Coffee is rallying around strawberry, watermelon and banana. On offer are Sparkling Strawberry Energy and Sparkling Watermelon Energy, both made with caffeinated sparkling water. Banana puree flavors the Protein Banana Cold Brew Oat Latte and Protein Banana Matcha Oat Latte, both of which contain two scoops of whey protein, providing about 30 grams protein per beverage.
Matcha continues to trend at Black Sheep Coffee with the launch of Matcha Cloud. To make the drink, coconut water is poured over ice and topped with matcha cold foam. Fans can also top any Black Sheep beverage with a Matcha Cloud for an additional $1.
Sweet sipping at Philz
Cold brew is the base for two new drinks at Philz Coffee. Both the Campfire S'Mores Cold Brew and Peanut Butter Cup Cold Brew offer sweet sipping. The first features a marshmallow swirl, cream, cinnamon and mini marshmallows, while the second is swirled with peanut butter sauce and cream; both are finished with a dusting of cocoa powder. Tea drinkers can opt for Raspberry Mint Iced Tea, a blend of cold brew black tea, lemonade, mint and raspberry.
Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf launches an assortment of Americanos, lattes, teas and more in a variety of flavors and colors. It starts with a trio of Americanos in classic, flavored and iced versions, the latter a mix of espresso, vanilla powder and caramel drizzle served over pebble ice. Next up is a latte duo—Iced Coconut Cream Latte and Iced Coconut Cream Matcha Latte—plus a Coconut Ice Blended Drink made with espresso, toasted coconut flakes and ice carrying through the same flavor profile. Color-changing butterfly pea flower tea rounds out the collection, showing up in a Dragonfruit Lychee Butterfly Tea, Coconut Butterfly Tea and Daydream Ice Blended Drink.
Summer flavors hit menus
Tomatoes and peaches freshen up the menu at Mendocino Farms, starting with an Heirloom BLT. The sandwich is layered with heirloom tomatoes, applewood smoked bacon, habanero honey, arugula and mayo on toasted sourdough. The Seasonal GOAT with Summer Peach is an update of a favorite salad featuring chicken, marinated goat cheese, honey roasted almonds, peaches, shaved fennel, pickled red onions, mint, romaine lettuce, kale, mixed greens, farmhouse vinaigrette, and hot citrus honey. Rounding out the current “Adventure Tastes Like This” collection is a Tuscan Pesto Salad starring chicken, cherry tomatoes, sweet-hot peppers and crispy polenta pieces.
The Gochujang Chicken Market Plate at Just Salad
Just Salad jumps into the “summer of spice,” leading off with gochujang. The Gochujang Chicken Market Plate has a base of basmati rice topped with gochujang chicken, sweet potatoes, kimchi, roasted broccoli and crispy onions, all tied together with gochujang sauce. Chicken Poblano Soup taps a different heat source with poblano peppers. Less fiery but flavor focused are the Backyard BBQ, a romaine salad topped with crispy chicken, white cheddar, pickled red cabbage, corn and crispy onions with a BBQ ranch dressing, and Honey Crispy Chicken with a romaine, red cabbage and spinach base topped with crispy chicken, feta, quinoa, corn, crispy onions and carrots with a honey mustard vinaigrette.
The newest guest-created Whopper By You at Burger King is the Loaded Jalapeño Whopper. The burger is stacked with a 4.4-ounce flame-grilled beef patty, crispy and pickled jalapeños, lettuce, tomatoes and American cheese with a slathering of creamy jalapeño sauce. On the cooler side are the Orange Dreamsicle Freezee King with a frozen orange base topped with orange cream cold foam, and the Firecracker Cookie Pie, a creamy dessert with a sugar cookie crust and topping of red, white and blue star-shaped sprinkles.
Burger King's summer lineup
And Dubai chocolate makes a comeback for summer, with Carvel introducing Dubai Decadence, a chocolate and pistachio soft serve swirled with fudge ribbons and crunchy cookie pieces. Ice cream lovers can also order the flavor in the Dubai Decadence Sundae Dasher and an Affogato topped with coffee. For those who prefer a creamsicle flavor profile, there’s an Orange Shake that blends Fanta orange soda with soft serve.
Check out Menu Tracker for more food and drink items trending now at chain restaurants.
Members help make our journalism possible. Become a Restaurant Business member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.