One thing you can count on with America’s restaurant chains is that they don’t rest on their laurels. Sure, they keep their most popular menu items front and center and phase out those that don’t sell too well, but they’re also constantly attempting to bring new choices to consumers – sometimes for limited periods or sometimes for as long as they keep selling.
What do some of the country’s favorite chains have in mind for February? To find out, 24/7 Tempo reviewed several editions of the Menu Tracker column published regularly by Nation’s Restaurant News, a leading national restaurant trade publication. The column, compiled by NRN’s senior food and beverage editor, Bret Thorn, details new additions to menus at a wide range of multi-unit operations around the U.S. – many of them among the most successful restaurant chains in America.
Seasonal specialties are always a feature of these lists, so you’ll find a Valentine’s Day-themed cocktail and a “spicy lover’s pizza” here. Plant-based meats – a trend that obviously isn’t going anywhere – make three appearances, and America’s favorite animal-based protein, chicken, shows up four times.
From Applebee’s to Wienerschnitzel, see what novelties these chains have to offer this month.
Applebee’s Neighborhood Bar & Grill
> Menu item: Tipsy Cupid (Tito’s vodka with strawberry purée and lemonade)
> When available: Unspecified limited time
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $5
Blimpie
> Menu item: Plant-based meatball parmigiana
> When available: Through April 3
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): Varies by location
Burger King
> Menu item: Crispy chicken toasted breakfast sandwich
> When available: Unspecified limited time
> Where available: Select Buffalo, N.Y., locations
> Price (may vary): $2.99
Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s
> Menu item: Bacon Beast Burrito (bacon, hash browns, cheese, scrambled eggs)
> When available: Unspecified limited time
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $3.99
Dairy Queen
> Menu item: Oreo Mocha Fudge Blizzard Treat
> When available: Unspecified limited time
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $3.59 (small)
Hard Rock Café
> Menu item: Messi Burger (two patties with provolone, chorizo, etc.)
> When available: Through March 1 in Miami and Hollywood, Florida, then all locations for an unspecified limited time
> Where available: Miami and Hollywood, Florida (through March 1), then all locations
> Price (may vary): $11.95
Little Caesars
> Menu item: The Batman Calzony (bat-shaped calzone attached to a pepperoni pizza)
> When available: Unspecified limited time
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $7.99
McDonald’s
> Menu item: Blueberry & Crème Pie
> When available: Unspecified limited time
> Where available: About 6,800 U.S. locations (about half of the total)
> Price (may vary): Price varies by location
Panera Bread
> Menu item: Thai chicken soup
> When available: Indefinite
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $8.19
Pizza Hut
> Menu item: Spicy Lover’s Pizza
> When available: Unspecified limited time
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $12.99 (large)
Pret a Manger
> Menu item: Meatless Meatball Wrap
> When available: Indefinite
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $9.99
Round Table Pizza
> Menu item: Stuffed crust pizza with mini crispy pepperoni
> When available: Through March
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $19.99
Shake Shack
> Menu item: Buffalo chicken sandwich
> When available: Through April 25
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $7.79
Subway
> Menu item: Baja Turkey Avocado sub
> When available: Through June 30
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $9.79 (footlong)
Sweetgreen
> Menu item: Miso bowl (with blackened chicken and root vegetables)
> When available: Through March 30
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $11.45-$14.95
TGI Fridays
> Menu item: Sizzling Cheesy Bacon Mac & Cheese Bites
> When available: Though March 31
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $10.79
White Castle
> Menu item: Strawberry Swirl Cheesecake
> When available: Permanently
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $1.09-$1.29
Wienerschnitzel
> Menu item: Backyard Veggie Dog
> When available: At least through June
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $5