Chain restaurants are heading into the fall with new menu items, new deals, and new flavors.
Twin Peaks Turns to Global Inspirations
Twin Peaks Restaurant is leaning into globally inspired flavors and football season with the launch of several new menu items.
“Guests are craving bolder flavors and aren’t afraid to try new things, especially when it comes to sauces and spices,” said Chef Alex Sadowsky, Executive Chef of Twin Peaks. “Our new menu items and wing sauce additions capture these flavors in an accessible way, offering complexity and balance without just being about the heat.”
Here are some of the new items on Twin Peaks' menus:
- Quesabirria Tacos: Three crispy flour tortillas stuffed with in-house smoked brisket, mozzarella, onions and cilantro. Served with birria broth for dipping, pickled red onions, lime wedge, grilled jalapeño, chips and fire-roasted salsa on the side.
- Backyard BBQ Brisket Flatbread: In-house smoked brisket, pimento cheese, mozzarella, parmesan, red onion, green chiles, cilantro, parsley, crushed red pepper and a smoky sweet BBQ sauce drizzle.
- Chicken Tikka Flatbread: In-house smoked chicken, tikka sauce, mozzarella, parmesan, pepper jack, red onion, cilantro, parsley and crushed red pepper, topped with jalapeño pesto.
- New Wing Sauces:
- Tikka (medium heat): A rich blend of tomatoes, garlic, chilis, ginger and a variety of Indian spices like cardamom, cumin, cloves, cinnamon, coriander and more, finished with a hint of heavy cream.
- Spicy Chili Crisp (medium/high heat): Made with Mr Bing’s Spicy Chili Crisp, this sauce is a kicked-up interpretation of a northern Chinese classic, inspired by Beijing’s street carts. A fusion of four smoky and fruity peppers, mushroom powder, garlic and onion, it's a perfect balance of sweetness, spice, umami and crunch.
Cracker Barrel Bets on Apple
Cracker Barrel is looking past pumpkin and betting on the popularity of apple for its fall menu with four new items inspired by its signature fried apples.
"As autumn approaches, guests are seeking flavors beyond the standard pumpkin spice, and we know they're ready for warm comfort food to accompany cooler temperatures outside," said Cracker Barrel Vice President of Marketing Communications, Julia Perry, in a press release. "Cracker Barrel's fall menu is equipped to meet both of those needs."
The new apple items include:
- Signature Fried Apple French Toast Bake
- Southern Apple Cobbler
- Granny Smith Apple Mimosa
- Granny Smith Apple Tea
- Southern Apple Cobbler
Cracker Barrel is also introducing a twist on its fan-favorite hashbrown casserole with the new Hashbrown Casserole Shepherd's Pie.
Eddie Merlot's Goes for Value
Eddie Merlot’s new Happy Hour and Lounge Menu sets a new standard for value and quality.
The new Happy Hour menu, available Monday through Thursday from 4 to 6:30 p.m., will introduce $5 off Craft Cocktails and Martinis and $8 off Select Red, White and Sparkling Wines. The enhanced Bar Bites selection now also showcases new tiers, including:
- $20 tier: Lobster Roll, Lamb Lollipops and Crab & Avocado Cocktail
- $15 tier: Eddie’s Prime Cheeseburger, Filet Mignon Sliders and Onion Ring Tower
- $10 tier: Ahi Tuna Wontons, Loaded Potato Chips, Filet Mignon Potstickers, Prime French Dip Sliders and House Fries
The Lounge Menu, available daily during regular hours, features a selection of high-quality bites priced from $10 to $29. Guests can enjoy dishes such as:
- Crab & Avocado Cocktail
- Filet Mignon Potstickers
- Lamb Lollipops
- Onion Ring Tower
- Lobster Roll
- Ahi Tuna Wontons
- Eddie’s Prime Cheeseburger
- Prime French Dip Sliders
- Filet Mignon Sliders
The Greene Turtle is Hoping for a Win from Football Season
The Greene Turtle is offering deals and new menu items to entice football fans to come in for game days, host fantasy drafts, and more.
A 3 for $25 deal includes one shareable appetizer and two entrées for just $25. Fans can also take advantage of The Greene Turtle’s new thirst-quenching Personal Pitchers available on Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays, with options including $5 domestic beer personal pitchers, $8 craft beer personal pitchers, $12 cocktail personal pitchers, and $15 crush personal pitchers.
For those planning fantasy football drafts, The Greene Turtle offers $3 Fireball shots and a $10 reward for each member of parties of 10 or more from Sept. 5-30.
“This season, The Greene Turtle is the ultimate destination for football fans," said VP of Culinary & Concept Development Kevin Curley. "With our unbeatable game day personal pitchers, fantastic specials. and awesome fantasy draft perks, we offer the perfect environment to watch, celebrate, and immerse yourself in the excitement of the NFL season.”
Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar Embraces Fall Flavors
Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar is paving the way for fall by curating new menu items that embody the rich, comforting flavors of the season, available from Sept. 4 through Nov. 4 at all locations. One of the new additions is the Bratwurst Burger, which includes a housemade bratwurst patty packed with sautéed peppers and onions, melted provolone cheese, and an apple-sauerkraut. Finished with a drizzle of whole-grain dijonnaise and served on a soft pretzel bun, it is paired with Samuel Adams Octoberfest Beer Cheese.
Bad Daddy’s has also crafted an array of fall-inspired beverages:
- Orchard Special Mocktail: Combines apple juice, Crisp Apple Reàl, lemon juice, cinnamon syrup and ginger beer.
- Cinnamon Apple Twist: A cocktail featuring Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum, Crisp Apple Reàl, lemon juice, apple juice and cinnamon syrup.
- Autumn Old Fashioned: Blends Bulleit Rye Whiskey with Pumpkin Reàl and Angostura orange bitters.
- Shake Your Pumpkins Shake: A blend of real pumpkin pie — crust and all — with vanilla soft-serve ice cream topped with whipped cream and a sprinkle of nutmeg.
“We’ve taken classic fall ingredients and given them the Bad Daddy’s twist, resulting in a lineup that’s both innovative and deeply satisfying,” said John Masterson, culinary director at Bad Daddy’s. “Each item has been crafted to bring out the best of what autumn has to offer — we can’t wait for our guests to experience these new flavors.”
Applebee's Offers Value to Football Fans
Applebee’s is launching a new line-up of limited-time $10 cocktails in NFL-themed buckets when guests dine-in. Options include the $10 Captain’s Kickoff Bucket, a Bahama Mama featuring Captain Morgan Spiced Rum, creme de banana liqueur, grenadine, orange and pineapple juice, and Starry lemon lime soda. Or, guests can cheers with the $10 M.V.Tea Bucket, featuring Applebee’s “most valuable” Long Island Iced Tea made with Smirnoff Vodka, Captain Morgan Spiced Rum, Crown Royal Canadian Whisky, triple sec and premium lemon sour topped with Pepsi and served in a 32 oz. bucket decorated with all 32 NFL Football Team logos. Applebee's is also offering a $5 Strawberry Spiked Sangria featuring Barefoot Moscato, strawberry, pineapple juice and Starry lemon lime soda with an extra kick of Smirnoff Vodka, served in Applebee’s signature Mucho glass.
In addition to the drink specials, the chain is offering boneless wings for 50 cents each to dine-in, To Go, and delivery customers. The boneless chicken is available in a variety of different sauces, including Classic Buffalo, Honey BBQ, Sweet Asian Chile, Garlic Parmesan, Extra Hot Buffalo or Honey Pepper.
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