Meet the 2018 MenuMasters Award winners

Courtesy of Kitchen 1883

This year, for the first time, one of the awardees is a powerhouse in retail. The Kroger Co. is being honored as Trendsetter of the year for its restaurant, Kitchen 1883, as well as its state-of-the-art Innovation Center.

Courtesy of Del Taco

Best New Menu Item goes to Del Taco, for its Epic Queso Chicken Burrito, which showcases the chain’s new queso sauce that has streamlined operations while also signaling freshness cues.

Courtesy of Sonic Drive-In

Sonic-Drive-In’s Slinger has been named Best Limited-Time Offer for introducing a low calorie, high flavor burger by replacing around 25 percent of the beef with mushrooms. The 2017 LTO was so successful that Sonic reprised it this year.

Courtesy of Fogo de Chão

Fogo de Chão’s Bar Fogo menu is being honored for Best Menu Revamp for enabling customers to eat at the restaurant even when they don’t want the full churrasco experience.

Courtesy of Walk-On's

Walk-On’s Bistreaux and Bar won for Best Line Extension for its new Louisiana-inspired dishes.

Courtesy of the University of Connecticut

University of Connecticut Department of Dining Services gets the nod for Healthy Innovation with its Healthy & Lean Bean Pasta Dishes.