Memorial Day weekend is the “unofficial” start of summer for many Americans, even though the actual solstice is still three weeks away. A couple of restaurants are getting an early start, crafting menus to tie in with summer movie releases and games. Others are ready with beverages, sweets, burgers, salads and more bursting with summer flavors. Here’s a look at what’s trending on menus this week.
Operators are expecting thirstier customers as the weather heats up, with new drinks flowing onto menus. Peaches are the pick for Chick-fil-A with the annual return of the Peach Milkshake, a blend of the chain’s proprietary Icedream soft serve with real peaches, topped with whipped cream and a cherry. New this year is Peach Frosted Lemonade, a blend of Chick-fil-A lemonade or diet lemonade, Icedream and peaches.
Peaches also star in the new Peach Basil Fresca at Piada Italian Street Food, available for a limited time starting Wednesday. The drink features peaches, fresh basil, a hint of ginger and lime. The crisp, clean flavor pairs well with Piada’s pastas, salads and hand-rolled sandwiches.
Mission Impossible—The Final Reckoning hit movie theaters this week and Alamo Drafthouse is celebrating with a themed menu through June 9. There are five mac ‘n cheese variations, including The Reckoning baked with pepperoni, Italian sausage, bacon, pizza sauce and herb truffle Parmesan cheese; The Fallout with goat cheese, roasted broccoli, red pepper and spinach; and The Rogue with jalapeños, dill pickles and barbecue sauce topped with house-braised pulled pork. Also on tap is a special cocktail called "Mission Accepted” made with rum, spicy ginger syrup, passion fruit, lime and seltzer.
A Hot Wheels-themed menu launched at Dave & Buster's.
Dave & Buster’s is teaming up with Mattel on a Hot Wheels-themed menu. Starting Monday, guests can dine on Turbocharged Chicken Sliders with Buffalo Kick and Turbo Bites donut holes in collectible trays while they sip fizzy, fruity Hot Wheels Refreshers. Those of legal drinking age can order a Stoplight Punch Flight instead–a trio of color-coded rum punches. It all coincides with the launch of the new Dave & Buster’s arcade game Hot Wheels Victory Lap.
Branded cereals are the tie-in for Chip City with the debut of the cookie chain’s Cereal Week this Friday. Cookie flavors include Cap’n Crunch, Frootie Crunch, Cocoa Crunch and Cinnamon Toast Crunch, as well as “milky” classics like Lucky Charms, Oatmeal Cream Thinwich, Teddi Freddi and Chocolate Chip. During the introductory weekend on May 30-31, two breakfast specials are available: the Blueberry Waffle Cookie and Glazed Cinnamon Doughnut Cookie.
Speaking of breakfast, Ruby Slipper and Ruby Sunshine, both specializing in morning meals, are going all out on berries. The new Very Berry Beignets are filled with mixed berry cheesecake, topped with a triple berry coulis, sweet biscuit crunch, whipped cream, fresh strawberry slices and a dusting of powdered sugar, while Very Berry Stuffed French Toast features brioche layered with the same cheesecake and berry flavors. The limited-time brunchy items make an indulgent start to summer.
The Pico de Gallo Burger returns to Whataburger by popular demand.
On the savory side, Whataburger brings back its Pico de Gallo Burger Tuesday after repeated customer requests on social media. The LTO is built on a five-inch toasted bun, layered with a fresh beef patty or crispy Whatachick’n patty, melted pepper jack cheese, house-made pico de gallo, and a zesty cilantro-lime sauce. The fan favorite first debuted in 2020.
Over at Vicious Biscuit, summer kicks off with a “Biscuits ‘n BBQ” promotion showcasing “The Babe.” The new sandwich is layered with slow-smoked pulled pork, sweet-and-spicy house-made bacon, Carolina Gold barbecue sauce and cowboy candy, piled on Vicious Biscuit’s signature made-from-scratch buttermilk biscuit. Guests can pair it with freshly brewed Sweet Tea, available for $1 with a Babe purchase, available through June 29.
Chop’t Creative Salad Co. is getting its beach vibe on through a collaboration with Lunch Lobster Roll, a Hamptons-area destination hear the tip of Long Island, N.Y. Starting Thursday at select NYC locations, Chop’t is serving the Lobster Roll Caesar Salad—a toss of kale and romaine, aged Parmesan, croutons, and a four-ounce scoop of Lunch’s legendary lobster salad, served with a lemon wedge and a toasted bun. It’s available in very limited quantities only on Thursdays, but the Summer Corn Caesar Salad and Sweet Peach Burrata Bowl, rolling out June 11, are more widely available every day of the week.
Cowboy Chicken introduced three summer salads.
Salads are also in the summer spotlight at Cowboy Chicken, this time with chicken as the protein of choice. The trio includes a Buffalo Chicken Salad made with Buffalo-tossed tenders served over chopped greens with Monterey Jack cheese, grape tomatoes, avocado and bacon bits, finished with a ranch drizzle; the Sonoran Salad, a combo of wood-fire cilantro lime chicken over chopped greens with Monterey Jack cheese, pico de gallo, avocado, tortilla strips, Cowboy Dust and chipotle ranch dressing; and the Monterey Salad with wood-fire chicken over chopped greens with avocado, cilantro, tomatoes, Monterey Jack cheese, cheese crisps, chicken cracklins and chili lime dressing. For dessert, Strawberry Shortcake is back for a limited time.
Through Aug. 3, Wings and Rings is serving up several limited-time specials. New on the sauce side is Huli Huli Wing Sauce, a tropical Hawaiian-inspired combo of pineapple-ginger teriyaki sauce topped with scallions. Joining the sauce is a Pesto Chicken Wrap, Cinnamon Roll Pretzel Bites and a Summer Crisp Salad with grilled chicken, chopped romaine, red peppers, grape tomatoes, red onions, croutons and Parmesan with house-made basil pesto ranch dressing. Exclusive at Texas locations are a Chorizo Chicken Sandwich and Chorizo Loaded Nachos or Fries.
Trolli Sour Blast, the flavor of the month at Baskin-Robbins.
The June Flavor of the Month at Baskin-Robbins is Trolli Sour Blast, based on Trolli Sour Brite Crawlers candy. Each scoop is swirled with Trolli lime-flavored ice cream and orange sherbet, finished with more lime-flavored swirls. Also on offer are a Trolli Sour Blast Fizz, a frozen treat with lemon-lime soda, and a Trolli Dirt ‘n Worms Sundae with chocolate ice cream, hot fudge, Oreos and mini Trolli candies.
Norms Restaurants rolled out a limited-time summer menu spanning a variety of items. Leading off are BBQ Bahn Mi Sliders on toasted Kingʼs Hawaiian Buns filled with beef burnt ends, pickled carrots and jicama, Sriracha mayo, fresh jalapeño and cilantro, and a Chile Crisp Fried Chicken Sandwich with fried chicken breast, chile crisp, Sriracha mayo, pickles, pickled carrots and jicama, lettuce, and red onion on a toasted Kingʼs Hawaiian Bun. Also on offer are Jalapeño Cheese Cornbread, Kings Hawaiian French Toast, Half Rack Baby Back Ribs, Umami Bomb Mac & Cheese, Fizzy Boba and Tres Leches Cake with Strawberries.
Chicken & Waffles has arrived at Grumpy’s Restaurant, a result of “responsive menu innovation.” After repeated requests from customers, the Southern-style diner developed the scratch-made item, which features three crispy fried chicken strips over a Belgian waffle, topped with signature berry butter, powdered sugar and a side of hot honey.
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