While autumn celebrations are still underway, major dining brands are wasting no time rolling out their winter holiday lineups. As Restaurant Business reports, “Halloween isn’t over until that last piece of candy hits the trick-or-treat bag, but restaurant menus are already on to Thanksgiving and Christmas”. Rather than waiting for November, operators are introducing festive items early to capture seasonal dining demand. According to Restaurant Business, “Several chains are getting a head start on themed foods and beverages along with catering deals to ease the holiday crunch”.
Traditional Thanksgiving staples are leading the charge across both sit-down and fast-casual concepts. Restaurant Business notes that “Turkey takes center stage at Cracker Barrel, where the Country Fried Turkey dinner returns to the menu,” offering guests breaded and fried turkey tenderloin topped with herbed pan gravy alongside cranberry relish and buttermilk biscuits or corn muffins. Meanwhile, Popeyes is bringing back its fully cooked, marinated Cajun-Style Turkey starting at $59.99, which comes ready to thaw, heat, and pair with signature sides like Homestyle Mac & Cheese. Cowboy Chicken is also catering to large gatherings with its $160 Take Home Turkey Feast, featuring an 8- to 10-pound wood-fired rotisserie bird, country-style stuffing, green beans, mashed potatoes, rolls, and peach cobbler.
For diners seeking portable holiday fare, several chains are reimagining the classic feast between bread. At Polly’s Pies, Restaurant Business highlights that “Turkey Day Sliders are a way to enjoy Thanksgiving flavors in a handheld option,” layering turkey breast, stuffing, and cranberry sauce onto mini rolls alongside crispy Holiday Hushpuppies. PDQ has similarly debuted a Thanksgiving Sandwich built with breaded chicken breast, herb mayonnaise, and cranberry sauce on a toasted brioche bun. At Friendly’s, Restaurant Business observes that “The new Snow Days Menu at Friendly’s covers a broad swath of the winter season,” headlined by the Harvest Stack sandwich—sourdough piled high with grilled turkey, stuffing, garlic red-skin mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and gravy.
Beverage and dessert menus are shifting just as quickly toward December festivities. Restaurant Business points out that “Caribou Coffee is ready for Christmas” with seasonal drinks like the Ho Ho Mint Mocha, Cookie Butter White Mocha, and Cranberry Dark Chocolate. Fast-food competitors are joining the celebration with Sonic’s cherry-and-vanilla Santa Slush Float, Zaxbys’ Peppermint Cookies & Cream Milkshake, and Whataburger’s Sleigh Berry Whatafresher. Even beyond holiday themes, Restaurant Business emphasizes that “innovation isn’t taking a holiday, with all kinds of LTOs continuing to flow out of the pipeline,” ranging from North Italia’s winter pasta dishes to Benihana’s customizable Hibachi Bowls.
Sources
- Restaurant Business: Thanksgiving and Christmas get off to an early start on menus – https://www.restaurantbusinessonline.com/food/thanksgiving-christmas-get-any-early-start-menus
Disclaimer
Artificial Intelligence Disclosure & Legal Disclaimer
AI Content Policy.
To provide our readers with timely and comprehensive coverage, South Florida Reporter uses artificial intelligence (AI) to assist in producing certain articles and visual content.
Articles: AI may be used to assist in research, structural drafting, or data analysis. All AI-assisted text is reviewed and edited by our team to ensure accuracy and adherence to our editorial standards.
Images: Any imagery generated or significantly altered by AI is clearly marked with a disclaimer or watermark to distinguish it from traditional photography or editorial illustrations.
General Disclaimer
The information contained in South Florida Reporter is for general information purposes only.
South Florida Reporter assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions in the contents of the Service. In no event shall South Florida Reporter be liable for any special, direct, indirect, consequential, or incidental damages or any damages whatsoever, whether in an action of contract, negligence or other tort, arising out of or in connection with the use of the Service or the contents of the Service.
The Company reserves the right to make additions, deletions, or modifications to the contents of the Service at any time without prior notice. The Company does not warrant that the Service is free of viruses or other harmful components.
