Hooters, Graze Craze and Condado Tacos catch football fever

With football season in high gear, restaurant chains are getting their game on with menu items themed for tailgating, watch parties and more. Seasonal vegetables are also making their way into salads and sides, and comfort foods are showing up ahead of chillier fall days. Here’s a roundup of the latest menu news.

The Game Day board from charcuterie concept Graze Craze is packed with enough meats, cheeses, fruits and veggies to feed 10. The board includes soppresatta, fennel-spiced ham, pepperjack, Swiss and goat cheese, grapes, nuts, mini sweet peppers, assorted breads and crackers and spreads such as cranberry-orange jam, lemon-dill mayo and hummus.

Wings are still in abundance at Hooter’s, but the sports-bar chain is also offering a selection of other football fare through Nov. 18. Shrimp and Sausage Gumbo, Pretzel Bun Sliders and Cinnamon Swirl Cheesecake are available for a limited time, along with a new Buffalo Lemon Pepper Wing Sauce. The sliders are filled with ham, provolone, bacon, lettuce and tomatoes on mini pretzel buns and are ideal for sharing.

Buffalo chicken is spicing up several LTOs at Condado Tacos, including Buffalo Chicken Nachos, Buffalo Chicken Queso and Buffalo Chicken Tacos. According to the chain, the Buffalo items are a crowd favorite that “welcome groups to dig in and cheer on their favorite teams.” On the drinks side, the fall-flavored Harvest Pear Margarita returns to the menu, also available as a mocktail.

Crispy Maple Glazed Brussels Sprouts, tossed in olive oil, air-fried and glazed with house-made maple sauce, are spotlighted in three seasonal specials at Sweetgreen. The Autumn Harvest Bowl combines the Brussels sprouts with blackened chicken, roasted sweet potatoes, apples, goat cheese and warm wild rice, while Maple Glazed Brussels + Chicken is a protein plate featuring the same combo of ingredients with the addition of crispy onions and a side of hot honey mustard for dipping and drizzling. The third item, Maple Glazed Brussels + Sweet Potatoes is a side that can be added to any Sweetgreen order.

Habit Burger & Grill brings back its Basil Pesto Chicken Sandwich for a limited time. The fan favorite features a chargrilled chicken breast topped with melted Parmesan cheese, tomato, green leaf lettuce and basil pesto aioli, all sandwiched between Parmesan-encrusted sourdough bread. Also rolling out is Roasted Garlic Cauliflower, a side seasoned with Habit’s signature spice blend and served with garlic aioli and lemon.

Four new Mega Melts from Perkins American Food Co. layer premium meats, melted cheese and other flavorful ingredients into a warm, toasted sandwich served with complementary dipping sauces. There’s a Buffalo Chicken Melt with bacon, pepperjack and mozzarella cheeses, and coleslaw; The Hangover Melt filled with sausage, bacon, eggs, tots, and cheddar and mozzarella, then dipped in French toast batter and grilled; Grilled Steak Melt with shaved ribeye, jalapenos, bell peppers, onions, and cheddar and mozzarella; and The O.G. Melt with two beef patties, cheddar, sauteed onions and Perkins’ secret sauce. On the lighter side is a Kale Apple Walnut Salad.

Just in time for National Cheeseburger Day on Wednesday, the Hard Rock Café is rolling out the winner of its Hard Rock World Burger Tour: the Pittsburgh Burger. It’s built with two smashed and stacked beef patties, Hard Rock’s legendary sauce, pickles, beer cheese sauce, french fries, whiskey bacon jam, smoked bacon and American cheese, and served with seasoned fries. It will be available until the end of the month, but the Oktoberfest menu goes longer. On offer are a Jumbo Soft Pretzel, Bratwurst, Schnitzel Sandwich, a Whiskey Apple Mule and Sam Adams Oktoberfest Beer.

The limited-time featured burger at Wayback Burgers is flavored with candied bacon and bourbon mustard. The Sweet Bacon Burger is composed of two beef patties topped with cheddar cheese, crispy candied bacon and a sweet and tangy bourbon mustard. It’s joined by Cheese Fries and a Cookie Butter Shake, all running through Nov. 29.

Three cozy pasta dishes welcome fall at Fazoli’s: Creamy Tortellini Bake, Three Meat Tortellini and the Spaghetti and Tortellini Pasta Duo. The tortellini is filled with Swiss, ricotta, and Parmesan cheeses, and covered in creamy marinara, then baked with another layer of mozzarella and provolone cheese and topped with Parmesan and Italian herbs for the creamy version. The meaty version starts with the same cheese-filled tortellini, then is covered in a hearty meat sauce, topped with Italian sausage and crispy bacon, and baked with mozzarella, provolone, and cheddar. On the sweet side, Cinnamon Swirl Breadstick Bites return to the menu.

Elevated dishes including Roasted Bone Marrow served with crispy toasts and chimichurri, Caviar Brioche topped with egg salad, Tobiko black roe and parsley, and whole roasted Branzino are new to the menu at Fogo de Chao. The chain’s popular Market Table has some unique fall offerings too, such as Roasted Apple & Butternut Squash Salad, Seasonal Fall Hummus and Carrot Ginger Soup.

A new permanent plant-based option at Just Salad is Impossible’s Unbreaded Chicken Filet. It’s featured in the Southwest Crunch Salad and Vegan Chipotle Wrap, but can be ordered with any customized bowl. Just Salad also collaborated with Mike’s Hot Honey to take Hot Honey Goat Cheese to the permanent menu. It’s also a player in the chain’s Chicken + Hot Honey Bowl, which combines fresh arugula, regenerative organic quinoa, crisp sliced apples, roasted beets and crunchy chopped almonds.

For the first time since opening its doors, Rusty Taco is adding a burrito to the menu--a breakfast burrito, in fact. The Sunrise Slammer Burrito combines seasoned tater tots, breakfast aioli, and a filling blend of bacon, chorizo and diced jalapeno sausage, topped with both American cheese and queso fresco. Fluffy scrambled eggs go in last, then the burrito is folded up and lightly browned on the flat top.

Mac & Cheese has arrived at Schlotzsky’s, available in several variations. The basic recipe is prepared by tossing large elbow macaroni with loaded cheese sauce, then topping with more shredded cheddar before baking. It also comes in a Mac & Cheese Bundle accompanied by a small Oven Baked Sandwich Tray, two quarts of Mac & Cheese, one Group Salad with dressing, 10 Breadsticks, one Cookie Tray, one gallon of a beverage, and one bottle of Hot Sauce. Then there’s the Cheesy Meal Deal, a combination ofa Chicken or Beef Smokecheesy, small Mac & Cheese and regular-size drink.

Two new entrees join the lineup at Mendocino Farms, along with a selection of house-made sides. The Black Tie Turkey Club tweaks the classic club by layering roasted turkey breast, Applewood smoked bacon, white cheddar, pickled red onions and arugula on a toasted brioche bun, with a touch of house-made truffle aioli. The Hummus Pita Crunch Salad features a scoop of hummus, pita chips, and sliced chicken along with hearty vegetables, romaine lettuce, feta cheese and marinated black olives, all topped with creamy pomegranate ranch dressing. Inventive sides include Dan Dan Noodle Salad and Greek Lemon Chicken & Farro Soup.

The Cali Gold BBQ Menu launched at Starbird and isavailable through December. It’s highlighted by three food items: Cali Gold Bacon BBQ Sandwich, Cali Gold BBQ Salad and Cali Gold Wings, each of which is prepared with Cali Gold BBQ Sauce. To sip, the beverage lineup includes two newcomers: Berry Bliss Lemonade and Peach Iced Tea.

Jamba’s new line of Blended Coffees is a first for the chain. Coffee Dream Machine combines frozen yogurt, milk, ice and instant coffee, while Buzzin Mocha                                           Moo’d is a creamy chocolate-coffee Both are made with 2% milk. For seasonal fans, Jamba’s Pumpkin Smash Smoothie is coming back, along with a new Pumpkin Coffee Smoothie and Pumpkin Pie Crunch Smoothie blended with granola; the latter two are finished with coconut whip.

Vegan treats concept Cinnaholic is offering two new rolls: Cinnamon Apple Cobbler Roll with maple frosting and Pumpkin Spice Roll with pumpkin spice frosting. Also on hand are one-pound loaves of Pumpkin Bread and Pumpkin Patch Baby Buns—bite-size treats with pumpkin spice frosting.