Summer menu launches continue at Carrabba's, Logan's Roadhouse and Eggs Up Grill

New menu items and limited-time offers continue to flow out of the pipeline as we head into the July 4th weekend. This week, we’re seeing revamps of favorites, including chicken wings, burgers, salads and icy drinks. But some restaurant chains are tying into a summertime theme, with luau menus, leisurely brunches and grilled specialties.

Carrabba’s Italian Grill debuted new appetizers, entrees, cocktails and desserts. On the drinks side, there’s the blue-tinted Capri Cooler made with passion fruit vodka and prosecco and a Watermelon Basil Lemonade spiked with vodka. The appetizer is a summery Tomato Caprese with Fresh Burrata, while Crab & Shrimp Florentine, Prosciutto-Wrapped Pork Tenderloin and Sicilian Citrus Mahi join the entrée selection.

It’s luau season at Logan’s Roadhouse, where an array of Hawaiian-style dishes and drinks are on offer.  “Logan’s Luau” menu includes a Mesquite Grilled Sausage Sampler; BBQ Ranch Chicken Salad; Hawaiian Strip steak topped with grilled pineapple; Coconut Shrimp Dinner; Big Bite Grilled Pork Sandwich with two sauces, cheese, pickles and crispy onions; a Grilled Zucchini and Mushrooms side; and Nana’s Banana Pudding. Four seasonal cocktails range from a Tennessee Whiskey Sour to a Vodka or Bourbon Mule and BullBerry Lemonade.

Strawberries are popping up all over the menu at Eggs Up Grill. Summertime LTOs include Strawberry Cheesecake Pancakes, Strawberries & Cream Croissant-Style Donuts and a Strawberry Lemonade Mimosa. Returning to the menu is the Southwest Chicken Salad, and new this month is the BLT + E—a BLT served on Tuscan toast and topped with an egg.

Celeb chef JJ Johnson’s fast-casual Fieldtrip partnered with the team behind 50Cut mushroom root blends to create the Jerk Meatball Bowl. The meatballs, a blend of ground turkey and mushroom root, are paired with herbed rice, wok veggies, cucumber and coconut yogurt. The use of 50Cut reduces the amount of meat needed in the recipe by half while boosting umami.

Boneless Wings have landed on Popeyes’ permanent menu in six flavors. There’s Classic, Honey Lemon Pepper, Signature Hot, Honey BBQ, Sweet ‘N Spicy and Roasted Garlic Parmesan. Each wing is made from white meat chicken breast, hand-battered, breaded, and fried. Popeyes teamed up with actor and comedian Jimmy O. Yang—previously a boneless wing skeptic—to help roll out the menu addition nationwide.

A new Street Fest Menu is available at Taco Cabana starting Wednesday. The lineup includes Al Pastor Tortas and Street Tacos with marinated diced pork, a Cheetos Flamin’ Hot Taco and Brisket Loaded Fries and Nachos. The loaded fries join the menu’s nachos, both of which are topped with smoked brisket and served with refried beans, queso, sour cream and guacamole. To quench thirsts, there’s Caramel Iced Coffee and MTN DEW Major Melon Rum Punch.

The World Burger Tour kicked off at Hard Rock Cafe, featuring five globally inspired burgers running through Sept. 2. There’s the Bengaluru Burger created by the café’s chef in Bengaluru, India, but showcasing Mexican toppings like black bean corn salsa, roasted jalapenos and guacamole; the Bucharest Burger with horseradish aioli, marinated camembert, smoked onions and red wine cranberry jam; and the Gramado Burger with aioli, crispy mozzarella cheese fritter and whiskey bacon jam from the cafe in Gramado, Brazil. The Pittsburgh Burger and Kathmandu Burger round out the selection.

A burger with a Mediterranean accent, the Whipped Feta Lamb Burger, launched at Taziki’s. It’s layered with two griddle-cooked lamb patties, creamy whipped feta, sliced tomato, grilled red onions and peppers on a toasted Kaiser bun. The lamb burger will be on the menu through Sept. 8 along with a Watermelon Spinach Salad featuring roasted pecans, fresh basil, crumbled feta and watermelon on a bed of spinach leaves.

Instead of burgers, BurgerFi is promoting its new Buffalo Chicken Sandwich this summer. The breaded chicken breast is tossed in Frank’s Red Hot sauce and topped with coleslaw and pickles. Customers who want to pause and refresh can build-their-own Coca-Cola Freestyle Float with vanilla frozen custard.

The Buffalo Ranch Chicken Strip Sandwich returns to Whataburger this summer, one of the most popular LTOs the chain has offered. It’s made with three crispy chicken strips smothered in Buffalo sauce and buttermilk ranch and topped with Monterey Jack cheese, all filling a five-inch bun. Whataburger has some branded merch to promote the sandwich.

Wraps continue to trend on menus, with the latest from salad concept Crisp & Green. The fast casual’s Hero Wraps are crafted with low-carb, high-protein Hero Bread and come in four varieties: Caesar Crunch, Spicy Southwest, Honey Mustard and Italian Chopped. All feature roasted chicken combined with vegetables and other ingredients, except the Italian Chopped, which is filled with salami, shaved Parmesan, pepperoncini, kalamata olives, roasted peppers and onions, tomato and cucumber.

Iced Energy Beverages in two flavors—Melon Burst and Tropical Citrus—have arrived at Starbucks. Both caffeinated drinks combine fruit flavors balanced with teas. The coffee giant is also adding Caramel Vanilla Swirl Iced Coffee and two new food options: an Egg, Pesto & Mozzarella Sandwich and Blueberry Streusel Muffin.

Nashville Hot ‘N’ Spicy Chicken Pizza and Wings are making a comeback on Cici’s menu. The pizza, which is topped with crisp, spicy chicken and crunchy dill pickles, will be an option on the chain’s buffets through Aug. 18. The wings boast the same flavor profile and can be enjoyed as a buffet add-on for dine-in customers or ordered to-go.

Southern chain Viscious Biscuit goes with a tropical theme for summer. Caribbean Cordon Bleu is a large, fluffy buttermilk biscuit enveloped with smoked ham, melted white cheddar and grilled chicken topped with pineapple salsa. Two cocktails—Strawberry Vodka Lemonade and Tropical Pineapple Mimosa—carry out the theme. The seasonal items are on the menu through Aug. 31.

Guava, watermelon and strawberry are trending at Juice It Up! restaurants through Sept. 2. On offer are a Passion Fruit-Orange-Guava Smoothie, Strawberry Lemonade Twist and Sandia Loca Smoothie, the latter based on watermelon. For customers who want a snack along with their sips, eight-piece Pretzel Bites are available in two versions: butter and salt and cinnamon and sugar.

Pinkbox Doughnuts is going all out for Fourth of July, with a collection of treats celebrating the all-American holiday. For sale on July 4 and 5 only are nine themed doughnuts with names like American Pee Weez, American Tie Dye, American Flag, Hot Dawg, It’s Ya Birthday and American Vegan.