Panera, Chili's and P.F. Chang's wrap menus in comfort

As the weather turns chillier, restaurants start warming up guests with soups, gooey cheese, noodles, fried chicken and indulgent desserts. The season for comfort is just beginning, but the deluge of holiday beverages is well underway at coffee chains and other concepts. Shareables and family meals also come rolling out at this time of year, along with plenty of treats to satisfy sweet cravings. 

Ciabatta Dippers are on hand at Panera Bread to warm up customers through January. The two melty sandwiches are designed to dip into soup, combining two comfort-food favorites. There’s the French Dipper with marinated steak, melted provolone and asiago cheeses, and a garlic aioli drizzle paired with Panera’s Bistro French Onion Soup, and the Spicy Chicken Dipper, a combo of grilled chicken, creamy salsa verde spread and melted provolone paired with Creamy Tomato Soup.  Both sandwiches are made with ciabatta bread and both soups are served in smaller dipping portions.

Fried chicken has arrived on P.F. Chang’s menu for the first time, inspired by Korean culture where the first snowfall of the season is celebrated with a feast. The Asian casual-dining chain is offering its own Golden Feast of Korean Fried Chicken flavored with dry-rub five spice seasoning or sweet and spicy Korean sauce, in both bone-in and boneless versions. It’s available with an optional pairing of prosecco, champagne or beer. Those who prefer a different flavor profile can choose Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken; crisp, lightly battered boneless chicken thighs tossed with dry-rub five spice seasoning, roasted guajillo chili and basil leaves. Accompaniments to both include fresh pickled cucumbers and red onions along with a curated sauce flight of Sweet Soy Glaze, Dynamite Sauce, Hot Honey and Chili Crisp. 

Another first is happening at Chili’s with the debut of the casual-dining chain’s first new dessert in 10 years. It’s a Peanut Butter Pie featuring a creamy peanut butter and chocolate chip filling, chocolate crust and a rich ganache, topped with Reese’s cups and a drizzle of white chocolate. Chili’s suggests pairing it with its November Margarita of the Month, the Autumn Breeze, selling for $6. The cocktail is a blend of tequila, triple sec, orange juice, cranberry juice, and fresh sour. 

Thanksgiving doughnuts are popping out of the fryers at Krispy Kreme. The new limited-time Thanksgiving Pies Doughnuts Collection features four flavors: Chocolate Silk Pie Doughnut, Lemon Creme Pie Doughnut, Blueberry Crisp Doughnut and Apple Crumble Doughnut. The pie-inspired doughnuts offer a sweet twist on tradition for turkey day.

Caribou Coffee announced its holiday lineup, which includes energy drinks, nondairy options and classic flavors. New this season is Cranberry Energy with Coconutmilk Cold Foam and the Cranberry Dark Chocolate Espresso Shaker, a mix of rich espresso, dark chocolate and cranberry. Making a return appearance are Spicy Mocha and Ho Ho Mint Mocha made with white chocolate, along with nondairy Vanilla Oat Nog Latte and Vanilla Oat Nog Crafted Press. All are available in several styles, including hot, iced, blended and/or nitro.

Two winter beverages made their debut at Philz Coffee. Spiced Gratitude Cold Brew is a new format for the brand’s Gratitude blend, previously available hot or iced. The blend, created in 2020 to thank customers and team members after a tough pandemic year, has notes of toasted walnut, caramel and dried citrus. Winter Bliss Cold Brew incorporates spiced Gratitude into a mocha drink made with Ghirardelli chocolate. The return of the Gratitude blend marks the beginning of giving season at Philz with its fundraising drive for Food 4 Farmers.

Eggnog Latte, Candy Cane Crunch and Frosted Gingerbread make up the holiday coffee menu at Ziggi’s Coffee. All are available hot, iced and blended. There’s also a Sugar & Spice Infusion, an energy drink blend of orange, cinnamon and pomegranate flavors mixed with an energy shot and limited-time pomegranate boba. Guests can enjoy the drinks in the chain’s new specially designed holiday cups in both hot and cold sizes, along with holiday motif sleeves. 

Four festive coffees and two seasonal blends offer holiday cheer at PJ’s Coffee. Cookie Butter Latte combines PJ’s smooth espresso and creamy steamed milk infused with notes of cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger. Joining this signature are Peppermint Bark Velvet Ice, Peppermint Bark Latte and Butter Rum Latte. For those who want to brew some holiday spirit at home, Santa’s Blend (sugar cookie and vanilla flavors) and Jingle Bells (cinnamon and hazelnut cream) are both seasonal specials.

Gingerbread Cookie and Peppermint Dark Chocolate flavor new holiday coffee drinks at Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. For tea drinkers, a White Chocolate Winter Dream Tea Latte joins the menu, featuring a mix of black tea, rooibos, sweet spices, vanilla and white chocolate powder. Selected café locations are also offering festive cake pops and Orange Cranberry Muffins and Scones.

Sloppy Joe Sliders and Mac & Cheese Nibblers return to White Castle’s menu for a limited time. The sliders come in three variations, all based on lean ground beef blended with onions, tomatoes and bell peppers for a sweet and tangy flavor profile. The Smoky Joe Slider is topped with smoky cheddar cheese and onion crisps, while The Spicy Joe Slider turns up the heat with spicy jalapeño cheese and jalapeño crisps. 

The Winter Wonderland Menu launched at Ruby Slipper with a lineup of seasonal brunch items. Croque Madame Benedict features coffee-glazed ham with poached eggs over brioche French toast topped with Swiss crisps and Mornay sauce. On the sweet side are Mint Chocolate Beignets and Gingerbread Eggnog Pancakes with eggnog pudding topped with cranberries. And to sip, guests can order a Spiked Sugar Cookie Cold Brew with sugar cookie cream and a touch of Amaretto.

Turkey is in the spotlight at Denny’s with the return of its take-home Holiday Turkey Bundle. Included is turkey breast, savory bread stuffing, red-skinned mashed potatoes, turkey gravy, cranberry sauce and a choice of a second side (herb-glazed corn, fresh broccoli or creamy mac and cheese.) Pecan and pumpkin pies are available to add on to an order, whole or in slices. Dine-in customers can enjoy the Turkey Feast Sandwich layered with turkey slices, stuffing and cranberry sauce, served with a side of gravy for dipping. There’s also a Turkey and Dressing Dinner.

Three mac & cheese items are in test at Noodles & Company locations in Columbus, Ohio, Milwaukee and Colorado Springs. Buffalo Chicken Ranch Mac & Cheese combines elbow noodles with a creamy cheddar and jack cheese sauce, topped with Parmesan-crusted chicken, a drizzle of Buffalo sauce, green onions and crispy onions, while Garlic Bacon Crunch Mac & Cheese features a garlic-cheddar sauce enhanced with bacon and white cheddar, finished with crispy onions, Parmesan and fresh herbs. The third item in the trio is Pulled Pork BBQ Mac & Cheese with smoky pulled pork and tangy BBQ sauce over noodles in a creamy cheddar and jack cheese sauce, garnished with green onions and crispy onions.

Cotton Patch Cafe offers Homestyle for the Holidays Chef-Made Meals to-go for the holiday tables. The Ultimate Holiday Spread includes Roasted Boneless Turkey Breast or Holiday Ham with accompaniments of cornbread dressing, scratch-made gravy, three sides and choice of dessert, such as peach cobbler or pumpkin crunch. For those planning a smaller celebration, the Festive Sides Feast starts at $45 and packs in the holiday extras. 

The 2024 Holiday Board is ready to order at Graze Craze, the charcuterie specialist. The spread, which includes a brie wreath with dried figs, bourbon salami, cinnamon cranberry goat cheese and peppermint chocolate bark, can feed 15 to 20 people and comes with a complimentary bread and cracker box. Available through the end of the year, the board can serve as a holiday centerpiece or gift.

Candy canes are the holiday icon and main ingredient for four treats at Shipley Do-Nuts. The Candy Cane Crunch Donut comes in chocolate or white iced on the chain’s signature hexagon-shaped yeast donut, topped with crunchy candy bits. It’s joined by the Candy Cane Shake and Candy Cane Mocha Frappe, the latter a blend of dark chocolate, coffee and peppermint finished with whipped topping and crushed candy canes. 

Haagen-Dazs is also going down the peppermint flavor route with a Peppermint Bark Shake, Peppermint Bark Dazzler and Peppermint Bark ice cream—the last available in a waffle cone coated in dark chocolate and peppermint bark candy pieces. While the shake is enjoyed with a straw, the Dazzler needs a spoon; it features Peppermint Bark ice cream layered with hot fudge and chocolate cookie pieces, topped with whipped cream, cookie crunch and crushed peppermint bark pieces.