2017 top independents' most successful menu additions
By Restaurant Business Staff on Oct. 05, 2017Popular new offerings from the Top 100 independent restaurants run the gamut from high-end to casual, with operators listing drinks, seafood, steaks and more as popular new items.
Bento box
The specialty platter from Acme Feed & Seed (No. 31) includes orange chicken, pork gyoza, half of a California roll and rice.
Crab Rangoon
The Crab Rangoon—jumbo lump crab and sweet Thai chili pearls on a crispy crab cracker—was added to the “Jewels on Toast” section of the menu at Beauty & Essex (No. 50).
Vegan options
Boa Steakhouse (No. 78) names far-from-steakhouse-fare vegan options, such as the Mediterranean chick pea panelle with smoked carrots, summer squash and tsatkiki (shown here), among its most successful new menu additions.
Tartufo pizza
The Tartufo pizza at Bottega Louie (No. 18) is topped w ith mozzarella, fontina, truffle pecorino, creme fraiche, black truffle mushroom and eggs.
Fried Chicken & Jefferson Donut
Founding Farmers (No. 92) replaced the waffles in a classic pairing with its signature Jefferson donut.
Salmon tacos
Komodo (No. 51) has added salmon tacos, with avocado, spicy may, truffle oil and eel sauce, and they’re found on the sushi section of the menu.
Bone-in filet
Lavo Las Vegas (No. 55) names it bone-in filet mignon, which comes in at 14 ounces, as a menu success.
Frog Legs Provencale
This dish on Le Diplomate’s (No. 49) hors d’oeuvres menu features San Marzano tomatoes, nicoise olives, garlic and lemon.
Makoto sake
Makoto (No 97) offers a private label sake, one of almost 30 menued.
Aged steaks
Portland City Grill (No. 68) cites aged steaks like the double ribeye pictured here as new menu successes.
Tomahawk ribeye
Prime 112 (No. 13) offers plenty of steaks, chops and racks, but calls its 50-oz. prime dry-aged tomahawk ribeye a successful new menu addition.
Southern burger
The Southern Burger at The Southern Steak & Oyster (No. 62) boasts Bear Creek beef, topped with lettuce, tomato, jalapeno bacon, pimento cheese and fried onions, served with sweet potato fries.
Avocado toast
Tavern on Rush (No. 93) tops its avocado toast with ripe tomatoes, baby greens and poached eggs.