April Fools’ Day promotions test a journalist’s mettle: Which ones are real, and which ones aren’t?
We double checked a number of deals crossing our desks, and we found at least three that passed muster. Thank you BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse, Cheesecake Factory and Del Taco for verifying these for us.
First up: the BJ’s Restaurant features the Pizickle Pizookie.
On Monday, April 1, BJ’s Restaurants Inc. will put its signature Pizookie — a pan of warm chocolate cookie topped with ice cream — dessert in a quite a pickle.
The Huntington Beach, Calif.-based casual-dining brand is topping the Pizookie with dill pickle slices for a savory-on-sweet combination. And for one day only, the Pizickle Pizookie and any of the 10 flavors of Pizookie will be free with a minimum purchase of $14.95.
"The Pizickle Pizookie is the answer for anyone craving a sweet-meets-savory, briny delight," said Heidi Rogers, BJ’s senior vice president of marketing, in a statement. Senior "Guests can choose the signature Chocolate Chunk Pizookie as a pickle-topped creation, introducing a delicious new way to enjoy this treat.”
BJ's Restaurants has more than 200 casual-dining restaurants in 30 states.
Second, Cheesecake Factory offers loyalty rewards.
Calabasas Hills, Calif.-based Cheesecake Factory Inc., which launched its loyalty program in June of last year, is rewarding signups through April 1 with surprise gifts in the participants’ accounts on April Fools' Day.
Potential awards include:
- Free slice of cheesecake
- $10 off $40
- $5 off $25
- Free whole cheesecake
- Free slice of cheesecake for a year
Loyalty program participants will have until Tuesday,, April 16, to redeem the rewards. ! (If you win the free slice of cheesecake per year, you get one slice per month for the year!)
Participants who sign up on April 1 will receive half price off any slice of cheesecake or layer cake, redeemable April 1 through April 16.
Third, Del Taco gets Tic Tac minty.
Del Taco, the division of Jack in the Box Inc. since 2022, is offering Del Tic Tac-o packs on April Fools’ Day and until supplies are exhausted. They are inspired by the brand’s hot sauce flavors.
The spicy mints are available for a limited time at a suggested price of $1.59. The 60-mint packs come in the flavors of mild, Del Scorcho and Del Inferno.
As of Jan. 21, the end of its first fiscal quarter, Del Taco had 592 restaurants systemwide, with 179 company-owned and 413 franchised, in 16 states.
Update March 28, 2024: This story has been updated with suggested pricing on the Del Taco mints.
Contact Ron Ruggless at [email protected]
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