With summer’s more relaxed mealtime schedules, snacking is on the rise. Operators are taking advantage of this trend by adding more snacks and treats. We’re also seeing activity in the salad, beverage and sandwich categories. Here’s what’s happening on chain restaurant menus this week.
Snacky Hour is Sonic’s version of Happy Hour, with a selection of discounted snacks on offer between 2 and 5 p.m. every day for a limited time. These include a Corn Dog, two Mozzarella Sticks and a Soft Pretzel Twist, all priced at $1. On Mondays, customers can score medium-size Slushes for 99 cents to sip along with their snack, and on Thursdays, the deal is a buy one, get one free Footlong Quarter Pound Coney.
The chip-and-dip duo at Cava.
The “Saucy Snack,” a chip-and-dip duo, is how Cava is snagging snackers. Guests choose one of the fast casual’s signature pita chip flavors—like Hot Harissa or Classic—and pair it with one of three new sauces for $4.20. Garlic Herb has a base of garlic enhanced with herbs and a jalapeño kick; Sweet + Spicy combines dates with harissa and a touch of vinegar; and Herby Tahini blends dill, tahini, yogurt and a little lemon.
Potbelly bakes cookies in-house for a sweet pick-me-up or add-on, and the fast casual just returned its popular S’Mores Cookie. It’s packed with mini Hershey’s kisses, graham cracker pieces and marshmallows, and in honor of National S’Mores Day Sunday, locations will be giving away the cookies for free through Aug. 15 to Potbelly Perks members.
Also on the sweeter side, Taco Bell launched a new flavor of Cinnabon Delights: Dulce de Leche Cinnabon Delights. The treat features a Mexican-inspired dulce de leche filling tucked inside a warm donut hole and dusted in a salted caramel coating. A 2-pack is priced at $2.69, but through Wednesday, it can be ordered for $1 exclusively through Uber Eats.
Taco Bell's Dulce de Leche Cinnabon Delights.
Beverages are increasingly being ordered as snacks, and Dunkin’ dropped two new icy drinks for late summer sipping. The Golden Hour Refresher is a tropical combination of Mango Pineapple and Strawberry Dragonfruit flavors mixed with sweet-tart lemonade, while the Blueberry Breeze Refresher is a crisp, blueberry-forward beverage. To promote the introduction of the two drinks, actor Gavin Casalegno stars in a new social video called “King of Summer.”
Burgerville covers drinks, snacks and more in the debut of its late summer LTOs. Oregon Marionberries are a local fruit in season now, and they show up in an Oregon Marionberry Shake, Sundae and Lemonade. The Shake and Sundae both also feature local Umpqua Ice Cream or Cosmic Bliss Plant-Based Ice Cream and whipped cream or coconut whipped cream; a marionberry drizzle finishes the shake, while sprinkles decorate the sundae. Aside from the lemonade, there’s Blackberry Jasmine Iced Tea with marionberries, topped with Cloud Cream. On the food side, Walla Walla Onion Rings join the menu, along with a Walla Walla BBQ Cheeseburger topped with roasted Walla Walla onions in barbecue sauce. The onions are grown in neighboring Washington State.
A line of five fruity lemonades rolled out at the Texas locations of Taco Cabana. Called “Cabana Refreshers,” each starts with a lemonade base that’s enhanced with a quintet of fruit flavors including Peach, Mango, Strawberry, Blackberry and a strawberry-mango fusion named Pink Blend. The Refreshers, priced at $3.29 each, are the latest addition to the fast casual’s cold beverage lineup.
Apple Harvest Turkey Sandwich at Schlotzsky's.
Sandwich and salad specialist Schlotzsky’s introduced two fall-inspired selections: the Apple Harvest Turkey Sandwich and Apple Harvest Chicken Salad. The sandwich layers turkey, Swiss, fig jam, sliced green apples, mixed greens, red onions and Sweet Vidalia Onion Dressing on a sourdough bun, while the salad is a mix of grilled chicken, candied pecans, sliced apples and red onions tossed in Sweet Vidalia Onion Dressing on a bed of greens and served with breadsticks. The chain also taps into the snack trend with Cinnabon Churro Dippers with cinnamon frosting or caramel sauce for dipping.
U.S. soccer star Emily Sonnett is partnering with Chopt Creative Salad Co. on a limited-time protein-packed salad launching Wednesday. Sonnett’s Signature Salad features grilled chicken, bacon, feta cheese, almonds, peaches, pickled red onions and a white balsamic vinaigrette. The LTO runs through Aug. 27.
All-You-Can-Eat Wings are back at Golden Corral, including both bone-in and new boneless options. The Traditional Bone-In Wings are tossed in Buffalo sauce, while the Hand-Breaded Boneless Wings come with a choice of Sweet Chili, Garlic Parmesan or Buffalo sauces. Two summer lemonades are also on offer: Blue Raspberry and Strawberry Lemonade.
Pepper Lunch launches Surf & Turf.
Surf & Turf comes to Pepper Lunch as the chain’s first limited-time offer. The dish combines Certified Angus New York strip steak and crispy Panko Shrimp, served with fresh vegetables on a sizzling hot plate. The LTO, which sells for $19.99, begins a series of new global menu items rolling out in the coming months.
Three new menu specials are now available at Bob Evans. Breakfast customers can order up a Big Wrangler Breakfast, which includes two buttermilk biscuits topped with sausage gravy, eggs, cheddar cheese and green onions and served with bacon, hickory-smoked ham and home fries. Also on the morning menu is Honey Butter Chicken French Toast—a hand-breaded chicken breast with honey, butter and powdered sugar on brioche French toast. For lunch or dinner, there’s a Buffalo Chicken Sandwich on a brioche bun served with ranch, fries and pickles.
New York-style pizza specialist Sbarro has teamed up with Mike’s Hot Honey to spice up its Double Duo pizza with extra heat. The Double Duo is built with two types of pepperoni, shredded whole milk mozzarella and San Marzano tomato sauce on hand-stretched dough. Customers can dial up the flavor with a drizzle of hot honey through the current “Eat the Heat” promotion. Both Sbarro and Mike’s are Brooklyn-born brands.
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