Well, 2024 is behind us, and none too soon according to many people in the restaurant industry, and elsewhere.
It’s been a rough year in many ways, but judging from the first Menu Tracker of 2025, many operators are looking to … the past?
Bar Louie is celebrating its 35th anniversary with cocktails from bygone eras. Was that smart? Does anyone really want a Tequila Sunrise or a Sex on the Beach anymore?
Maybe. Bar Louie will find out.
Chick-fil-A’s not going as far back as that, but it is bringing back sandwiches and a frozen drink from a few years ago.
Cowboy Chicken’s bringing back its Campfire Bolero Bowl, Pokeworks has an O.G. Bowl, and White Castle is reprising its French Toast Slider from a couple of years back.
The new year used to be a time for chains to introduce better-for-you items to help those resolution seekers, and maybe they will in the weeks to come, but for now, they seem to be focused on the morning after with items like the Hangover Krystal and Velvet Taco’s Hangover Breakfast.
There are a few new better-for-you items. Scooter’s Coffee has a new high-protein cold foam and some new sugar-free options, Del Taco has drinks with dragon fruit and blueberry (with sugary bursting boba, though), and Mooyah has a matcha shake that isn’t particularly good for you, but it probably does have more antioxidants than your average milkshake.
Bibibop has a variety of nutrient-dense items, and they’re permanent additions to the menu.
Sunny Street Café seems to be anticipating a demand for indulgence this winter, ditto Dog Haus with its corndog, and IHOP, which has a snickerdoodle pancake for its Pancake of the Month.
Dunkin’ looks like it just wants to have fun with a shaken brown sugar oat milk drink it developed with Sabrina Carpenter, as well as a Whoopie Pie doughnut.
Contact Bret Thorn at [email protected]
