What is in this article?:
This article is part of the 2012: Year in Review series from Nation's Restaurant News, which recaps notable news from the restaurant industry over the past year. This article can also be found in the Dec. 17 issue of Nation's Restaurant News. Subscribe here.
Spruced up sides
Side dishes also got a makeover in 2012. Sonic introduced sweet potato tots and Renton, Wash.-based Taco Time Northwest introduced sweet potato “Mexi-Fries” as a limited time offering.
Wendy’s added baked sweet potatoes as well as macaroni and cheese and chili cheese fries.
Cracker Barrel launched a sides-only meal option in the fall, as well as such seasonal dishes as apple cider-glazed pork roast for dinner and apple streusel French toast for breakfast, as well as a pumpkin custard and gingersnap dessert.
