GREENWOOD VILLAGE Colo. Red Robin Gourmet Burgers & Spirits is offering two Italian-inspired sandwiches and a Caramel Apple Smoothie this fall.
The Wise Guy Burger gets its Italian flavor from its add-ons of special seasoning, marinara sauce, fried mozzarella sticks, pepperoni slices and banana peppers. For the Chicken Caprese Burger, a grilled chicken breast is topped with fresh mozzarella slices and balsamic vinegar-marinated tomatoes and served on a ciabatta roll with romaine lettuce and pesto aioli.
The sandwiches, which are available through Nov. 8, come with the casual-dining chain’s signature Bottomless Steak Fries option and their prices vary by market. The LTO is in play at all U.S. Red Robin locations, chain officials said, and spot checks showed that prices ranged from $7.99 in some Midwest restaurants to $9.49 and $9.79 for the burger and chicken sandwich, respectively, at some West Coast outlets.
The smoothie is a blend of fruit puree, fresh apples, apple juice, soft-serve ice cream and caramel sauce. It's topped with whipped cream, crisp apple wedges and a drizzle of caramel syrup. Prices for the smoothie also vary by market, with some stores offering the product for $3.99 and others asking a dollar more.
Red Robin’s LTO began Sept. 15 and comes amid upscale burger mania.
Quick-service players, such as McDonald’s, with its Angus Third Pounders, and the Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s chains, with their lines of Six Dollar Burgers, now are trying to upsell more affluent patrons, while Red Robin’s casual-dining competitors, such as Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar and Ruby Tuesday, are presenting as value fare gourmet burgers with such add-ons as unlimited fries.
For the fiscal year ended December 2008, Red Robin had U.S. systemside sales of $1.18 billion from 405 domestic restaurants, up from $1.10 billion in fiscal 2007.
In recent filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Red Robin Gourmet Burgers Inc. reported that for the 28 weeks, ended July 12, company restaurant comparable-store sales fell 9.6 percent from a 11.1-percent dip in guest traffic that was partially offset by a 1.5-perent rise in guest check.
“One of our goals at Red Robin is to create creaveable and unique burgers, salads and entrŽes,” David Woolley, the chain’s executive chef of culinary development, said in a statement about the LTO. “These new items, with their fresh ingredients and delicious flavors, are sure to leave guests wanting more.”
