As the weather turns colder and diners crave comfort foods, restaurants can fill that need with seasonal flavours and fall LTOs. Getting creative with a fall menu that features nostalgia and comfort foods means offering something that’s appealing to your guests, a change from refreshing summer options, and something unique from your competition. New, fresh fall flavours can help operators raise revenues this season.
Here are some of the QSRs featuring comfort food on their fall menus:
Shake Shack’s seasonal menu, inspired by French onion soup, features the French Onion Soup Burger, vegetarian French Onion ‘Shroom Burger, Parmesan Garlic Fries, and beer-battered crispy Onion Rings. The menu also offers a combination of both burgers with the French Onion Shack Stack, featuring a quarter-pound patty of 100 per cent Angus beef topped with Gruyere cheese, a ‘Shroom Burger, caramelized onions, and roasted garlic parmesan aioli on a toasted potato bun.
Firehouse Subs is bringing back the Thanksgiving Turkey Sub as part of its new Thanksgiving Menu, featuring carved turkey breast, traditional stuffing, cranberry sauce, and mayo, and on toasted bread. Turkey gravy for dipping is a new addition this year as part of the limited-time menu feature.
Little Caesars is adding comfort food to the menu with The Ultimate Cheesesteak Pizza, topped with cheesy white sauce and classic cheesesteak sandwich elements, including mozzarella cheese, steak, onions, green peppers, and mushrooms. Cheesesteak Crazy Puffs are also new this season, and the bite-sized puffs are stuffed with sliced steak, melted cheese, and onions, and topped with parmesan cheese.
Panera’s fall menu is filled with comfort food, incorporating the long-awaited return of the Black Bean soup, after a seven-year hiatus. The fall menu also includes Panera’s Autumn Soup, featuring butternut squash and pumpkin blended with vegetable broth, honey, apple juice, cinnamon and curry, finished with sweet cream and topped with roasted pumpkin seed. Fireside Chili also returns, and the Harvest Medley Chicken Salad is a new addition to this year’s fall menu.
Including comforting and nostalgic seasonal items on the menu can help restaurants invite guests to try something new, satisfy their cozy cravings, and discover new favourite flavours.
