Arby’s, Brick House Tavern + Tap, El Pollo Loco, Mimi’s Café, Newk’s Eatery, Panda Express, Popeyes, Stevi B’s Pizza, Tropical Smoothie Café, Zoës Kitchen also introduce new menu items
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Tim Hortons' a Grilled Steak
has introduced a Grilled Steak & Cheese Panini, part of a move to innovate its lunchtime menu, the company said.
The sandwich will be available through the rest of the year at participating locations in the chain’s 4,275-unit system in North America.
A sandwich served at lunch is priced at $4.99. A breakfast version of the sandwich, priced at $3.49, is served on a biscuit that is toasted on a panini grill. The breakfast item marks the first time Tim Hortons has used its panini grill on a biscuit.
Burger King's Satisfries
has introduced a lower-calorie French fry systemwide. Satisfries have 40 percent less fat and 30 percent fewer calories than its conventional fries.
Suggested prices are $1.29 for a value size, $1.89 for a small, $2.09 for a medium and $2.29 for a large. Satisfries are available in kids’ meals at no additional charge.
Arby’s has added a Smokehouse Brisket Sandwich made with smoked USDA Choice and USDA Select brisket, available through November. The sandwich is priced at $5.29, or $7.49 in a combo with a small drink and fries.
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Brick House Tavern Tap, a 16-unit subsidiary of Houston-based Ignite Restaurant Group, has introduced brunch. The menu is available on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and features:
• Southern Fried Chicken Benedict: Spicy buttermilk-marinated fried chicken, poached eggs, toasted brioche and Sriracha bacon hollandaise, $13
• Prosciutto Benedict: Prosciutto, poached eggs, toasted brioche and hollandaise, $12
• Filet Mignon Benedict: Beef tenderloin, poached eggs, toasted brioche and hollandaise, for $16
Arby's Smokehouse Brisket
The chain also offers $2 house mimosas and a Bloody Good Mary during brunch. The Bloody Mary is made with vodka, hot sauce, stout beer and pickle juice, topped with a deviled egg, salami, smoked Cheddar, an olive skewer and a spiced pork rind rim. It is priced at $8.
El Pollo Loco has introduced a new line of Puffy Shell Tacos made with the 398-unit chain’s signature citrus-marinated, fire-grilled chicken.
The Chicken & Chorizo Puffy Shell Taco features shredded chicken mixed with pork chorizo, shredded Monterey Jack cheese and green cabbage, dressed with poblano salsa and pico de gallo. The Chicken Avocado Poblano Puffy Shell Taco is made with Monterey Jack cheese, chicken thigh meat and a lettuce blend, topped with poblano cream sauce, avocado slices and pico de gallo. The Chicken Guacamole Puffy Shell Taco is made with pinto beans, chicken, guacamole, cotija cheese, green cabbage, pico de gallo and sour cream.
El Pollo Loco's Puffy Shell Tacos
The tacos are available systemwide, starting at $5.49. They are available for a limited time, but the Costa Mesa, Calif.-based chain did not state when the offer would end.
Mimi’s Café has introduced a new breakfast menu, part of an effort to turn around the 143-unit chain, which Le Duff America Inc. acquired in February. Among the new items are:
• Bacon Apple Waffles: Three petite waffles topped with apples, hickory-smoked bacon, syrup and orange zest, $7.49
• Pommes Lyonnais Benedict: Potato galettes topped with hickory-smoked bacon, sautéed spinach, sliced tomatoes, poached eggs and hollandaise sauce, served with fruit, $9.89
• Croque Madame Waffle: Ham and Swiss cheese on two petite herb waffles with Mornay sauce, topped with fried eggs and served with fruit, $8.99
• Marseille Omelet: Egg white omelet with sautéed spinach, mushrooms, caramelized onions, tomatoes and goat cheese, served with fruit, $9.59
Mimi’s plans to introduce new lunch and dinner menus on Oct. 7.
Newk's PB
, a 58-unit chain based in Jackson, Miss., has introduced two sandwiches featuring brined pork tenderloin, available through November.
The PB&Q is made with pork, bacon, Swiss cheese and the chain’s signature white barbecue sauce, priced at $7.50. The Cuban is made with pork topped with ham, Swiss cheese, mustard and pickles, priced at $7.75.
The chain is also offering a platter of pork with crostini and dipping sauces. A 60-ounce tray for 10 people is priced at $49.95. An 80-ounce tray for 12–15 people is priced at $69.95.
Panda Express's Honey Sesame Chicken Breast
is introducing Honey Sesame Chicken Breast at its more than 1,600 locations.
The dish combines chicken strips, string beans and yellow bell peppers, which are stir-fried and served with a honey-sesame sauce.
The item is available through Nov. 26 for the same price as other items on the quick-service chain’s buffet line.
Popeyes is reprising its Dip’n Chick’n limited-time offer at its 1,679 units nationwide, through Oct. 27. The item is deep-fried chicken breast medallions cut for easy dipping. The Atlanta-based chain is offering the item with a new Cajun Chili Garlic Sauce. Dip’n Chick’n is available as part of a combo meal at a suggested price of $4.99.
Steve B's Pizza's Pumpkin Pie Pizza
has added a Chicken Pesto Thin Crust Pizza to its buffet line, which ranges in price from $5.99 to $6.99. The pizza is made with basil pesto, mozzarella cheese, tomatoes and chicken on a thin, crispy crust.
The chain has also brought back its Pumpkin Pie Pizza, also available on the buffet line. The dessert pizza is topped with warm pumpkin pie filling, a sweet crumb topping and icing. It is available through the fall.
The 48-unit chain is based in Atlanta.
Tropical Smoothie Café's Spicy Mongolian Steak Noodle Bowl
has added two noodle bowls to its more than 340 locations.
The Spicy Mongolian Steak Noodle Bowl is made with noodles, steak, green and red bell peppers, baby spinach, scallions and sesame seeds, topped with Mongolian barbecue sauce. The Thai Peanut Chicken Noodle Bowl tops noodles with chicken, edamame, shredded carrots, baby spinach, scallions and peanuts layered with Thai peanut sauce.
The items are priced at around $6.75; prices vary by location. They are available through Oct. 27.
Zoës Kitchen, a 93-unit chain based in Dallas, has added a quinoa salad as a permanent addition to its menu. The salad is made with quinoa, tomatoes, cucumbers, broccoli, greens, celery, feta cheese, green onions and a light lemon vinaigrette. It is priced at $6.99.
Contact Bret Thorn at [email protected].
Follow him on Twitter: @foodwriterdiary
