Latest news with #menu
Condé Nast Traveler
2 days ago
- Condé Nast Traveler
Nonalcoholic Wine Is Finally Having Its Moment in NYC
Come March every year, nothing about New York City feels charming to me—even the slightest train delay (looking at you, Q) sets me off, and my favorite wool coat suddenly feels like a straitjacket. This year, I happily traded that melancholy for the sandy beaches of Palm Heights, an iconic hotel on Grand Cayman. But unlike my previous early spring escapes from the city, this trip happened just weeks after finding out I was pregnant. So at the hotel restaurant, when I asked our server if I could order just the non-alcoholic bubbly in a zero-proof cocktail, he seemed confused. 'We have many drinks without alcohol,' he said, gesturing to the menu in front of me, which had six thoughtfully crafted options using various fruit juices, extracts, ginger beer, and tonic. After a bit of back and forth, my booze-free bubbly arrived, and upon signing the check, I suggested that the staff consider adding the zero-proof sparkler to the menu by itself. It was crisp, dry, and paired perfectly with my plateful of shoestring fries and Caesar salad. Rather than detracting from the carefully crafted mocktail list (as my server perhaps feared it might), the addition of the non-alcoholic wine would simply have made the menu more inclusive. Mocktails are increasingly offered at restaurants in the US, at least at the ones worth their salt. But the options for someone who can't or doesn't drink, but just really craves a glass of wine—and isn't a big cocktail drinker to begin with—are surprisingly still limited. At Gramercy Tavern, non-alcoholic wines have become so popular that the staff are increasing their supply. Maura McEvoy/Gramercy Tavern Thankfully, that seems like it is changing. A few spots in New York City are offering more nonalcoholic wine options (often abbreviated as 'N/A wines') both by the glass and bottle. At the iconic Gramercy Tavern, by-the-glass booze-free wines have become so popular that beverage director Randall Restaino recently added them to his usual bi-weekly bar ordering sheet. 'We now restock these wines weekly,' Restaino tells Condé Nast Traveler. 'I remember eight years ago, at Chef's Table at Brooklyn Fare, we had one guest per service asking for this. Fast forward and now at Gramercy Tavern, the N/A options are among the top ten wines sold nightly.' I visited Gramercy Tavern recently on a quiet weekday, and I nosily clocked another bar patron, who seemed to be there for post-work drinks, asking for Dr. Steinbock Fischer's Riesling Zero from Martin Hofstatter, who makes Riesling and Pinot Noir in Italy's Alto Adige region. 'He crafts real wine grapes from real terroir and then dealcoholizes them," Restaino says. "It's a real pleasure when you drink a wine with no alcohol and the flavor profile really stays the same as if it were a traditionally made wine."
The Sun
19-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
McDonald's fans slam new ‘overpriced' menu item with some branding it ‘rank' and ‘messy'
MCDONALD'S fans have slammed a new "overpriced" menu item, with some branding it "messy" and "rank". The fast food chain launched the Big Arch burger yesterday alongside a host of other savoury and sweet options. The never-before-seen burger combines two beef patties, white cheddar cheese slices, crispy onions, fresh onions, shredded lettuce, crunchy pickles, and a brand new Big Arch sauce. Customers can buy it for £7.99 on its own or £9.99 as part of a medium meal with a drink and side. Thomas O'Neill, head of menu at McDonald's UK&I, said it had taken things "up a notch" with the introduction of the Big Arch, adding: "This isn't about size, it's about flavour." Indeed, some customers are keen on the new burger, saying on Facebook they like the sauce and cheese while others have branded it one of McDonald's' "best" burgers ever. Some customers have noted just how big the burger, which contains 1057 calories, is as well. However, others have been quick to point out some major flaws in the new menu item. One posted on the Snack Reviews Facebook page: "Very nice but very messy." Another added: "It's very messy, the sauce is nice." Meanwhile, a third said it "looks rank" while a fourth simply added: "Dog mess." Others have pointed out how "overpriced" the burger is, with one saying: "£9.99 for a meal now!" While another added: "It might be nice but just a semi posh up version of a normal big pay over £10 which for McDonald's is a rip off." A McDonald's spokesperson said it had received "overwhelmingly positive" feedback from customers about the Big Arch. They added: "We designed the burger with our customers in mind and we're delighted to hear that our most exciting burger ever is thrilling burger fans across the UK - delivering on quality and taste! "As with all of our menu items, we refused to compromise on quality and as our biggest burger ever, the Big Arch contains more beef than other products, so the recommended price and calorie content reflect this. "Our customers return to our restaurants day after day as they know they can rely on us to deliver that quality McDonald's experience they love, at a price they can afford and we're committed to continuing that." It comes after McDonald's launched a major menu shake-up yesterday, which included the new Big Arch burger. Customers can also buy a Cheesy McCrispy burger, which costs £6.69 on its own or £8.49 in a medium meal. Halloumi Fries have made a return, with a regular portion costing £2.99 and a large sharebox £7.59. Those in the mood for something sweet can also try the Toffee Crisp McFlurry or Toffee Apple Pie, for £2.39 or £2.09. This is the full list of new items: Big Arch - £7.99 Big Arch medium meal - £9.99 Big Arch large meal - £10.79 Cheesy McCrispy - £6.69 Cheesy McCrispy medium meal - £8.49 Cheesy McCrispy large meal - £9.29 Toffee Crisp McFlurry - £2.39 Halloumi Fries (four-piece) - £2.99 Halloumi Fries Sharebox - £7.59 Toffee Apple Pie - £2.09 The menu shake-up has led to some fan favourites being ditched to make space for the new arrivals though. The Cheesy Garlic Bread Dippers, Lotus Biscoff McFlurry and McSpicy x Frank's RedHot burger were all served for the last time on Tuesday. The Sun revealed last month McDonald's had quietly axed the Chicken Bacon Caesar Wrap as part of a "rotation" of its offering. The wrap, which combined chicken breast strips, crispy onions, rashers of bacon and lettuce, was first launched in summer 2023. A spokesperson said: "As part of our regular wrap rotation, we've taken the Caesar wrap off the menu for now. "We're always evolving our menu with our customers in mind to keep things fresh and exciting." Last October, McDonald's announced it was bringing back its iconic McRib after almost 10 years for a limited time. It came after customers begged for the pork-based sandwich, which first launched in 1981, to make a comeback. However, it was quietly discontinued the following month. A host of other items have come off menus in recent years to make way for new ones including the fan favourite Chicken Legend. The Breakfast Bagel and iconic Sundaes have also fallen off menus since 2018. How to save at McDonald's You could end up being charged more for a McDonald's meal based solely on the McDonald's restaurant you choose. Research by The Sun found a Big Mac meal can be up to 30% cheaper at restaurants just two miles apart from each other. You can pick up a Big Mac and fries for just £2.99 at any time by filling in a feedback survey found on McDonald's receipts. The receipt should come with a 12-digit code which you can enter into the Food for Thought website alongside your submitted survey. You'll then receive a five-digit code which is your voucher for the £2.99 offer. There are some deals and offers you can only get if you have the My McDonald's app, so it's worth signing up to get money off your meals. The MyMcDonald's app can be downloaded on iPhone and Android phones and is quick to set up. You can also bag freebies and discounts on your birthday if you're a My McDonald's app user. The chain has recently sent out reminders to app users to fill out their birthday details - otherwise they could miss out on birthday treats. Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@
Bloomberg
16-06-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Reb Lobster Recovers From Bankruptcy
Red Lobster's new CEO said customer feedback has improved significantly since the restaurant chain emerged from bankruptcy with a revamped menu and a renewed focus on hospitality. Reb Lobster CEO Damola Adamolekun has more on the story. (Source: Bloomberg)
CBS News
16-06-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Portillo's expanding breakfast menu to five more Chicago area locations this week
Portillo's now serving breakfast at certain locations Portillo's now serving breakfast at certain locations Portillo's now serving breakfast at certain locations Portillo's will expand its newly popular breakfast menu to five more restaurants in the Chicago area starting Tuesday. The restaurant chain launched its new breakfast menu in April. With the expansion, a new maple sausage and egg croissant will also be added to the menu—joining other items including the Polish sausage, egg and cheese and pepper, egg and cheese sandwiches, a loaded breakfast scramble, hash brown bites with a cheese cup, and a collaboration with Stan's Donuts for a Portillo's Chocolate Cake donut that's finished with Portillo's chocolate cake frosting. If you want to sample any of the menu items, breakfast is served between 6:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. at the following locations: Chicago – 520 W. Taylor St. Elmhurst – 155 S. Route 83 Tinley Park – 15900 S. Harlem Ave. Shorewood – 1155 Brook Forest Ave. Niles – 8832 W. Dempster St. Summit – 5532 S. Harlem Ave. Skokie – 9400 Skokie Blvd Glendale Heights – 235 North Ave. Harwood Heights – 7308 W. Lawrence Ave. Addison and Kimball – 3343 W. Addison St. Breakfast is available for dine-in, takeout, online ordering, and via the drive-thru. The chain did not say when it plans to add breakfast to its remaining restaurants. The video above is from a previous report.
Bloomberg
16-06-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Red Lobster CEO Wins Back Diners With New Menu, Friendlier Service
Red Lobster 's new CEO said customer feedback has improved significantly since the restaurant chain emerged from bankruptcy with a revamped menu and a renewed focus on hospitality. The chain monitors online reviews to gauge how happy diners are. Positive comments now far outweigh negative ones and overall ratings are trending well above the industry average, Chief Executive Officer Damola Adamolekun said in an interview. He credited the shift in part due to the company training workers to engage more with customers.
