Ruby Tuesday Inc. debuted its new Garden Bar systemwide Tuesday, after testing it in several markets last year.
The Maryville, Tenn.-based casual-dining operator said the Garden Bar now features 55 ingredients, which is nearly double the number of items previously offered.
The Garden Bar offers more than a dozen new fruits and vegetables, premium cheeses, toppings and eight dressings that are made in house, the company said.
“Our Garden Bar adds a level of complexity that our competitors do not have,” Lane Cardwell, Ruby Tuesday interim CEO, told analysts earlier in January. “Because the Garden Bar is not something that can be easily replicated, it remains a unique feature to us and our category, and a key competitive differentiator for our brand.”
Last year, Ruby Tuesday tested the upgraded Garden Bar in Atlanta, Charlotte, N.C., and St. Louis.
“Our fresh, new Garden Bar is our core strategy to enhance our food offering and reconnect with our target of women and families,” Cardwell said, adding that “approximately half of our guests utilized the Garden Bar when they dine with us, either as an add-on or as a main course.”
Of those Garden Bar users, 80 percent visited specifically for that offering, he said.
The new Garden Bar is priced at $8.99 for lunch and $9.99 for dinner. It can also be added to any entrée for $3.99, or substituted as a side starting at $1.49.
“Ruby Tuesday has always been known for its Endless Garden Bar. More guests order the Garden Bar than any other item on the menu, and it’s a big reason why people come to dine with us,” said David Skena, chief marketing officer for Ruby Tuesday, in a statement.
As of Nov. 29, Ruby Tuesday owned or franchised 613 Ruby Tuesday restaurants in 42 states, 14 countries and Guam.
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