With sales slipping, Olive Garden is trying to win back customers who have fallen out of love with the nation’s largest Italian chain.

It is a major challenge for Orlando-based Darden Restaurants, which owns Olive Garden, Red Lobster and other brands.

Americans are eating out less but demanding more at a lower cost when they do. And in a sea of new and tougher competition, some restaurant and brand experts say Olive Garden seems to have lost its way.

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Opening in Anchorage marks Darden Restaurant, Inc.’s first restaurant in the state

Olive Garden Italian Restaurant Opens First Location in Alaska

Orlando, FL  (RestaurantNews.com)  Olive Garden Italian Restaurant, the leading restaurant in the Italian dining segment with more than 750 restaurants, will open its first location in Alaska on Monday, Jan. 23, creating 165 jobs. The restaurant is a division of Darden Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE: DRI), the world’s largest full-service restaurant operating company.

“We are excited to open the first Olive Garden in Alaska and are honored to join the Anchorage community,” said Dan Kiernan, executive vice president of operations for Olive Garden. “Our team here in Anchorage is looking forward to delivering a great dining experience for all of our guests.”

The Olive Garden menu features Italian specialties including signature items such as homemade soups, garden fresh salad and warm, garlic breadsticks, as well as limited-time offerings.  Unlimited soup or salad and breadsticks come with all entrees or are served as a meal. Guests at Olive Garden will find great value and choice for lunch and dinner.

Olive Garden also offers Garden Fare options which allow guests to personalize their Italian meal to help meet their dining needs. Substitutions are offered for any side dishes to accommodate a guest’s meal, including lower in fat and carbohydrate options, as well as gluten-free versions of some favorite Olive Garden recipes.

The new 7,441 square-foot restaurant hosts up to 246 guests and features a design that is inspired by traditional farmhouses found in Tuscany, Italy. Olive Garden design teams traveled to Italy to work with Italian architects Fabio and Lucia Zingarelli and the result is a restaurant design that recreates the warmth and simple beauty of a Tuscan farmhouse.

The Anchorage Olive Garden has a rustic stone exterior, typical of the buildings in the Italian countryside, and an interior accented by Italian imports designed to make the dining experience here a tribute to the restaurant’s Italian inspiration. Ceilings supported by exposed wood beams, stone and wood accents throughout, and terra cotta tile highlight the interior.

In addition, the bar top is crafted from lava stone and hand-painted by artisans in Italy with a design created exclusively for Olive Garden. Vibrant imported fabrics decorate windows and dining seats, while hand-painted plates, designed by Lucia herself, adorn rustic stone and stucco walls. The interior also features lighting fixtures that are all distinctly Italian.

The restaurant also will feature a number of sustainable design elements, including recycled building materials, enlarged windows to increase natural light, low-water landscaping and energy-efficient equipment.  These enhancements are part of the Sustainable Restaurant Design initiative launched by Darden Restaurants.

Dawn Bellerose has been named general manager and will be responsible for leading a team that maintains the highest quality of food, wine and service — aiming to consistently exceed guests’ expectations. Bellerose brings extensive restaurant industry experience to her new position. She has been with Olive Garden for five years, most recently as general manager of the Olive Garden in Worcester, Mass.

To recognize Bellerose’s role as head of the Olive Garden family in Anchorage and to emphasize the importance the company places on its general managers, Olive Garden honored Bellerose by setting her name in stone. Travertine marble imported from Tuscany was chiseled with Bellerose’s name and placed prominently by the restaurant’s front door.

A second Olive Garden location will open in Alaska later this year in South Anchorage. To receive the latest information on Olive Garden, guests can visit www.Facebook.com/OliveGarden or sign up for the “Our Family Table” newsletter at www.OliveGarden.com.

Olive Garden is the leading restaurant in the Italian dining segment with more than 750 restaurants, more than 88,000 employees and more than $3 billion in annual sales.  Olive Garden is a division of Darden Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE: DRI), the world’s largest full-service restaurant operating company. In 2012, Darden was named to the FORTUNE “100 Best Companies to Work For” list for the second year in a row and is the only full-service restaurant company to ever appear on the list.  Olive Garden is committed to making a difference in the lives of others in the local community. As part of this commitment, the Anchorage Olive Garden will participate in the Darden Harvest program, which has donated more than 50 million pounds of food to local community food banks across the country. For more information, visit www.olivegarden.com.

Darden Restaurants Named to Fortune's "100 Best Companies To Work For" List For Second Consecutive Year

Orlando, FL  (RestaurantNews.com)  Darden Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE: DRI), whose restaurant brands include Red Lobster, Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse and more, announced today that it has been recognized for the second consecutive year by FORTUNE magazine as one of the “100 Best Companies to Work For.”  Darden, ranked # 99, is the largest employer on the list and remains the only full-service restaurant company to ever appear on the list.

“Once again, we’re honored to be included on the FORTUNE list,” said Clarence Otis, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Darden. “In a service-oriented business like ours, often times the difference between a good guest experience and a great one is the discretionary effort of our employees. That’s why we make a promise to every one of our employees that what you do, who you are, what you learn, and who you’re with, matters.

“We’re convinced that our commitment to maintaining a strong, people-focused culture is the single most important reason we’ve continued to enjoy the success we have.”

FORTUNE recognized Darden for:

• Creating the second-most number of new jobs (5,137) among companies on the list.
• Being a diversity champion. The company ranks among the Top 20 companies on the list for diverse workforces; 42% of Darden employees are minorities.

“In addition to ensuring our guests have an exceptional experience in our restaurants and that we positively impact the communities we serve, we’re equally focused on making Darden a special place to be,” said Drew Madsen, President and Chief Operating Officer of Darden.  ”Our goal is to help every one of our 180,000 employees have the opportunity to fulfill their personal and professional dreams.”

To pick the 100 Best Companies to Work For, FORTUNE partners with the Great Place to Work Institute to conduct the most  extensive employee survey in corporate America; 280 firms participated in this year’s survey. More than 246,000 employees at those companies responded to a survey created by the institute, a global research and consulting firm operating in 45 countries around the world. Two-thirds of a company’s score is based on the results of the institute’s Trust Index survey, which is sent to a random sample of employees from each company. The survey asks questions related to their attitudes about management’s credibility, job satisfaction, and camaraderie. The other third is based on responses to the institute’s Culture Audit, which includes detailed questions about pay and benefit programs and a series of open-ended questions about hiring practices, methods of internal communication, training, recognition programs, and diversity efforts. After evaluations are completed, if news about a company comes to light that may significantly damage employees’ faith in management, we may exclude it from the list.  Any company that is at least five years old and has more than 1,000 U.S. employees is eligible. For information on how to apply, visit www.greatplacetowork.com.

The full list and related stories appear in the Feb. 6, 2012 issue of FORTUNE.

About Darden Restaurants

Darden Restaurants, Inc., (NYSE: DRI), the world’s largest full-service restaurant company, owns and operates more than 1,900 restaurants that generate over $7.5 billion in annual sales. Headquartered in Orlando, and employing 180,000 people, Darden is recognized for a culture that rewards caring for and responding to people. In 2012, Darden was named to the FORTUNE “100 Best Companies to Work For” list for the second year in a row and is the only full-service restaurant company to ever appear on the list. Our restaurant brands – Red Lobster, Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, The Capital Grille, Bahama Breeze, Seasons 52 and Eddie V’s – reflect the rich diversity of those who dine with us. Our brands are built on deep insights into what our guests want. For more information, please visit www.darden.com.

Olive Garden’s troubles are a rare case of indigestion for Darden and the firm’s boss, Clarence Otis Jr. Since Otis took the helm in late 2004, Darden has revived its other big eatery, Red Lobster; bought other chains (LongHorn Steakhouse, The Capital Grille and, this fall, Eddie V’s Prime Seafood and Wildfish Seafood Grille); gotten rave reviews for its niche outlet, the healthy-food-centric Seasons 52; and, most important for investors, nearly doubled its stock price. The firm now has more than 1,900 restaurants. “Darden is just very consistent on the whole,” says Lynne Collier, restaurant analyst at Sterne Agee.

Consistent until it tried to tinker with Olive Garden, home of unlimited salad and breadsticks (the chain serves 9 million breadsticks a week). The Gorgonzola dish, along with some other menu moves, had performed well during test marketing, but many bombed once they were rolled out nationwide. Otis concedes that the Italian eatery got too “adventurous.”

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At Olive Garden restaurants, diners were casting a wary eye at the gnocchi.

Customers didn’t order the doughy potato pasta in a red wine marinara sauce, or in a Parmesan cream sauce. The dishes failed these field tests until chefs at the company’s Orlando, Fla., headquarters tried gnocchi in chicken soup, billed as a “traditional Italian dumpling.” Sales took off.

Ordering a potentially unfamiliar ingredient in soup is “less of a commitment,” says Julie Elkinton, senior vice president of culinary and beverage operations for Olive Garden, the largest of Darden Restaurants Inc.’s chains.

Casual-dining restaurants, the chains dotting the suburban landscape that serve $13 entrees, increasingly find themselves in a difficult spot—riding the fine line between the culinary advanced and the utterly familiar.

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Darden Restaurants Inc. Tuesday issued a gloomy outlook for its second quarter and fiscal year as the push to market the low prices at its Olive Garden chain failed to bring in as many customers as it had expected.

The casual-dining chain operator, which also owns Red Lobster and LongHorn Steakhouse, has struggled to garner momentum for Olive Garden, its largest chain with about 750 restaurants. Over the past year, Darden has emphasized Olive Garden’s food quality in its advertising, then switched back to the chain’s low prices. Neither strategy has worked for the chain, which has reported disappointing sales results for five straight quarters.

Olive Garden’s woes represent the difficulties facing the oversaturated casual-dining market, which generated $21.3 billion in total sales in the third quarter, according to research firm NPD Group.

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The economy might still be in the tank in the United States, with consumer discretionary spending down, and the global economy may still be slumping along displaying tepid growth, if any, but as the old saying goes, “People still have to eat.”

With that in mind, many of the staples in the US restaurant business are taking their game overseas into markets still booming for new brands. Here are a few names that you might recognize, and some you might not, that are out to repeat domestic success in high-growth international markets:

McDonald’s (NYSE: MCD) may be the recognized leader of US restaurant brand growth overseas, with golden arches appearing in 119 countries around the globe with locations just about right on top of famous historic sites such as the Pantheon in Rome and The Great Pyramids in Egypt. In Europe, as well, McDonald’s has made such an inroads over the past couple of decades that the street corners in every major city – and many not so major – resemble those in the United States that are surrounded by the fast food restaurant chains of your choice; namely McDonald’s.

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Olive Garden Supports Education Through 16th-Annual Pasta Tales Essay Writing Contest

Educators across the country are continually looking for ways to enhance education with limited budgets and resources. This year’s Olive Garden Pasta Tales national essay writing contest invites students to share their ideas on how to meet that challenge and generally support education in their community.

Beginning Monday, Nov. 21 and continuing through Sunday, Jan. 29, Olive Garden is asking writers in first through 12th-grade in the U.S. and Canada to submit an essay of 50 to 250 words answering the question: “If you were given $5,000 to support education in your local community, how would you use it and why?”

The grand prize winner of Olive Garden’s 16th-Annual Pasta Tales essay writing contest will receive a three-day trip to New York City that includes dinner at the Olive Garden in Times Square and a $2,500 savings bond. In addition, Olive Garden will provide a $5,000 grant to support education in the winner’s local community, which will bring his/her essay to life. The winners in each grade category will be awarded a $500 savings bond and a family dinner at their local Olive Garden restaurant.

With its focus on education, this year’s essay question aligns with Darden Restaurants’ Recipe for Success initiative.  Darden is the parent company of Olive Garden.  Recipe for Success is designed to enable and empower youth to pave their own path to success by providing them access to the tools and information necessary to prepare for and navigate the process of postsecondary education.  The initiative also helps break down financial barriers by providing students with scholarships.  Just like Recipe for Success, the goal of the Pasta Tales contest is to help youth forge a path to success and help them realize their dreams through a thought-provoking and educational exercise.

Pasta Tales entry forms and complete rules are available on Olive Garden’s website at http://www.olivegarden.com/About-Us/Community/Pasta-Tales/ and at local Olive Garden restaurants beginning Nov. 21.

All entries must include the writer’s first and last name, complete address, phone number with area code, grade, date of birth including year and a statement that the work is his or her own.  Entries must be submitted either online or postmarked by January 29, 2012 and sent to Pasta Tales, PMB 2000, 6278 N. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308-1916.

Submissions will be judged based on creativity, adherence to theme, organization, grammar, punctuation and spelling by the Quill and Scroll Society of the College of Journalism and Communications at the University of Iowa, with winners selected by Olive Garden.

Olive Garden’s Pasta Tales essay contest provides students in its local communities an outlet to creatively express the influences, experiences and stories that have shaped their lives. For more information about Olive Garden’s Pasta Tales, contact Lauren Simo or Catie Jackson at (954) 776-1999 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. EST.

Olive Garden is the leading restaurant in the Italian dining segment with more than 750 restaurants, more than 88,000 employees and more than $3 billion in annual sales.  Olive Garden is a division of Darden Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE: DRI), the world’s largest full-service restaurant operating company.  In 2011, Darden became the first full-service restaurant company ever to be named to the FORTUNE “100 Best Companies to Work For” list.  Olive Garden is committed to making a difference in the lives of others in the local community. Olive Garden participates in the Darden Harvest program, which has donated more than 50 million pounds of food to local community food banks across the country.

Restaurant News Bites: Wingstop, Noodles & Company, Legal Seafood

Krispy Kreme has developed a new line of Halloween themed products just in time for the fall holiday. Three of their most popular spooky doughnuts will return, along with the new pumpkin flavored coffee. The donuts include a pumpkin spice cake, the Jack-O-Lantern and the chocolate iced donuts covered with icing spider webs or black and orange sprinkles.

Noodles & Company is bringing its unique menu of noodle dishes, salads and sandwiches to the Deerfield community. The restaurant will open on October 18 and is located in the Deerbrook Mall area. This brings yet another location to the region around Chicago. The menu combines flavors from American, Asian and Mediterranean cultures.

Drew Gooden, a forward for the Milwaukee Bucks basketball team, has become the newest franchisee with Wingstop. His first agreement with the company secured him the rights to open four restaurants around Orlando, Florida. He’s been a part of the NBA for nearly a decade and is continuing to grow his own brand.

Boundless Brands has opened another combination location of Scooter’s Coffeehouse and Yoji Frozen Yogurt. The location opened in Omaha, Nebraska. There are two other co-branded stores in the state, and over 35 locations for Scooter’s Coffeehouse around Omaha. The Scooter’s brand is growing rapidly across the Midwest.

Elicott City’s Crab Shanty has changed its name and identity after over 30 years of business. The new Shanty Grille will feature an improved and updated interior and a broadened menu. Old classics like crab cakes will remain, but high-end small plates and appetizers are being added. The restaurant hopes to please both new and old customers with the changes.

Legal Sea Foods has released a new ad campaign that has environmentalists up in arms. On the heels of their Blacklist Fish Dinner, the television and radio ads mimic public service announcements about preserving the habitats for seafood. Instead of encouraging conservation, the ads encourage customers to eat the seafood instead of worrying about it.

Towns across the country are offering attractive tax breaks to bring some of Darden Restaurants‘ biggest brands to them. Restaurants like Olive Garden or LongHorn Steakhouse are causing towns like Decatur, Alabama and Bristol, Virginia to offer $300,000 or more in tax incentives. This is helping Darden pursue a continuing expansion plan.

The Coca-Cola Freestyle offers over 100 unique beverage options in a compact fountain machine. It has been testing in limited markets for a few months and customers are wowed by it. The touch screen allows customers to view a hundred different flavor options including natural fruit juice and rare European soda options.

Despite the effect that the failing economy has had on the restaurant industry for the past three years, the bakery cafe section has been finding higher growth and profits. The segment produces about $5 billion each year in sales and has about 3,600 units in the country. Bakery cafes are a new segment that largely emerged in the past five years.

As Burger King builds new restaurants, like the one in Ionia, they’re integrating technology in better ways. The Ionia location offers LCD screens in place of normal menus, allowing for quick changes and high quality displays of food images. It also offers Wi-Fi and the new Coca-Cola Freestyle machine.

Darden Restaurants to Buy Two Seafood Brands for $59 Million

Darden Restaurants, Inc. and Eddie V’s Restaurants, Inc. today jointly announced a definitive agreement under which Darden has agreed to purchase the Eddie V’s Prime Seafood and Wildfish Seafood Grille restaurant brands, and all related assets for $59 million, in an all cash transaction. The brands will become part of Darden’s Specialty Restaurant Group. Darden expects to complete the transaction by the end of the calendar year.

Eddie V’s currently owns and operates eight Eddie V’s restaurants, three Wildfish restaurants and four Roaring Fork restaurants. (The Roaring Fork brand is not part of the transaction.) Eddie V’s is a leading luxury seafood brand with strong consumer appeal, high average unit volumes and a strong return on invested capital. It was founded in 2000 by Guy Villavaso and Larry Foles. Wildfish, Eddie V’s sister concept, opened its first location in 2005.

“Our Specialty Restaurant Group, which is comprised of The Capital Grille, Bahama Breeze and Seasons 52, has been making an increasingly meaningful contribution to Darden’s sales and earnings growth,” said Clarence Otis, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Darden. “Eddie V’s and Wildfish are an excellent complement to those brands, enabling us to capture incremental guests in an important segment of full-service dining. The Group is now even more strongly positioned to help us achieve competitively superior, long-term profitable sales growth.”

Guy Villavaso and Larry Foles, Eddie V’s founders, stated, “This deal offers tremendous opportunity for our management team and employees, and puts our brands even more firmly on a path to achieving their full potential. For our employees, it means becoming a part of one of the world’s most successful restaurant companies. Darden’s culture and resources will enable Eddie V’s and Wildfish to prosper in a highly competitive industry.”

Gene Lee, president of Darden’s Specialty Restaurant Group commented, “With the addition of the Eddie V’s and Wildfish brands, our Specialty Restaurant Group has an opportunity to achieve meaningful growth in the very attractive luxury seafood category. Guy, Larry and their team have done an outstanding job creating distinctive guest experiences that are comparable to The Capital Grille, but with an emphasis on fresh seafood. Most importantly, these brands have a culture and focus that aligns very nicely with our own, which we believe will be an important factor in our ability to help them grow successfully.”

Highlights

• Darden has agreed to purchase the Eddie V’s and Wildfish restaurant brands for $59 million; the brands consist of eight current Eddie V’s locations in Arizona, California and Texas; and three current Wildfish locations in Arizona, California and Texas.
• Including acquisition-related costs and projected operating results at Eddie V’s and Wildfish, the transaction is expected to be neutral to Darden’s diluted net earnings per share for the company’s 2012 fiscal year.
• Both brands will reside within Darden’s Specialty Restaurant Group, which includes The Capital Grille, Bahama Breeze and Seasons 52.
• Eddie V’s talented team of leaders, who lead both brands, will join Darden and continue leading the day-to-day operation of the brands. Jim VanDercook, President and CEO of Eddie V’s, will become President of Eddie V’s and Wildfish, and report to Gene Lee, President of Darden’s Specialty Restaurant Group.
• Guy Villavaso and Larry Foles, Eddie V’s founders, have agreed to provide consulting services for two years.

Darden Restaurants, Inc., the world’s largest full-service restaurant company, owns and operates more than 1,900 restaurants that generate more than $7.5 billion in annual sales.

How much is it worth to bring an Olive Garden to your town?

In Decatur, Ala., the answer is almost half a million dollars. In Bristol, Va., it’s $350,000.

Expanding in a shaky economy, Orlando-based Darden Restaurants is pursuing tax incentives from cities and counties to build new Olive Gardens, Red Lobsters and LongHorn Steakhouses.

Not all places have agreed, and opponents have questioned why a company that will compete with established restaurants should get tax breaks. But desperate for jobs and economic growth, some communities are saying yes.

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Chef Cliff Pleau and Master Sommelier George Miliotes talk about Seasons 52 Fresh Grill as a culture.

“The point of Seasons 52 is as much about influencing the industry,” said Pleau, the senior director of culinary for the nationwide brand. “We have a higher purpose.”

“Still, despite our success, nobody else has jumped into the segment,” says Miliotes, director of beverage and hospitality for Seasons 52, with a bemused shrug.

Pleau and Miliotes were in town for a few days at the end of September to help set up the latest Seasons 52 restaurant near the Mercato and train staff about the brand’s specific “culture” in preparation for an official opening Oct. 10.

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In advance of the full release of the MICHELIN Guide New York City 2012, Michelin has announced that over 100 restaurants in New York City were listed in the Bib Gourmand category. This includes restaurants that offer at least two courses, with wine, for under $40. These restaurants are both affordable and top class establishments.

The Country’s Best Yogurt, or TCBY, has signed new expansion contracts that will bring it into South Carolina and North Carolina. The 10 year agreement will bring at least 23 new stores into the two states over the next three years. The company already has over 30 restaurants in both states combined.

Darden Restaurants, the parent company of brands like Olive Garden, is struggling to keep profits up as food costs rise. The chains reported a total fall in revenue of roughly five percent for the fiscal quarter. Guests are also in decline at restaurants like Olive Garden due to the lack of value menu items and tight budgets.

Great American Cookies is expanding their franchise program by adding new opportunities for veterans through their Great American Patriot Program. Qualifying veterans will receive a 40% discount on all franchise related fees. The chain knows that veterans have learned valuable discipline and management skills through their time in the armed forces.

Quiznos is expanding their co-branded retail stores with a new agreement with Meijer, a supercenter and grocery store chain based in Michigan. The Meijer stores in the state will soon have Quiznos locations opening in them. The chains decided to work together due to the popularity of the sandwich shop format for supercenters.

Famous Dave’s BBQ is breaking out of the United States on their first attempt at international expansion. Famous Ribs of Canada will bring the chain to the Great White North. The first restaurant is planned to open in July of next year in Winnipeg. The company that will handle the expansion has brought a number of other brands into Canada.

Old Homestead Steakhouse, located in the Meatpacking District of Manhattan, is now offering a new $22 lunch special. The “Burger Diamonds” features a Kobe beef burger, a sirloin steak burger and a filet mignon burger. The burger trio also comes with a Caesar salad and special tater tots, all for under $30.

October may be National Cookie Month, but Max & Erma’s decided to celebrate early. Customers can enjoy a free chocolate chip cookie each Wednesday until the chain decides to end the promotion. The plan is to give away at least one million cookies before the beginning of 2012.

Straw Hat Pizza has a new mascot, but he’s a familiar face to millions of Americans. The chain has licensed Garfield for their new marketing and promotional materials. The fat, orange cat was chosen for being recognizable to multiple generations and for his strong connection with food. Children’s meal products will also feature him.

Darden Restaurants Inc.’s fiscal first-quarter earnings fell 5.8% as the casual-dining company continues to face the same problems of fiscal 2011: higher commodity costs, declining guests at Olive Garden and increasingly cost-conscious consumers.

Darden, which also operates Red Lobster and LongHorn Steakhouse, has traditionally outperformed casual dining competitors, especially in dreary economic environments when it refuses to give in to the industry’s extensive discounts that rake in customers at the expense of margins. But lately, its peers are gaining ground.

“The fundamental strategic challenge we’ve faced in the near-term is how to address the growing need for affordability demanded by our guests, while also protecting our margins given significant commodity cost inflation,” said Chief Operating Officer Drew Madsen.

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As consumers increasingly ask for healthier fare, the company that operates Olive Garden and Red Lobster restaurants plans to cut salt and calories across its menus by 10 percent over the next five years and 20 percent over the next decade.

Darden Restaurants, an Orlando, Fla., company with 1,900 restaurants that include the LongHorn Steakhouse chain, pledged to reformulate recipes, trim portion sizes and introduce healthier items.

“Americans are increasingly conscious of making healthy choices for themselves and their families,” Darden chief executive Clarence Otis said last week.

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Orlando-based Darden Restaurants has major plans for growth, expecting to bring in as much as 50 percent more revenue within the next five years.

The company outlined those goals at its annual shareholder’s meeting Thursday in Orlando. Darden generated $7.5 billion in sales last year, and chief executive officer Clarence Otis said that number could grow between $3 and $4 billion by 2016.

Much of that could come from its existing restaurant chains, but Darden also is on the lookout for new ventures, “which we’ll either acquire or develop in collaboration with creative partners,” Otis said.

Otis acknowledged, though, that the economy “is likely to remain much weaker for the balance of our fiscal year than any of us would like it to be.”

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The recent recession has lowered the revenues of most restaurants, but the number of meals Americans eat out each year remains unusually high. Research by LivingSocial shows that Americans ate an average of 250 meals out of the home last year, or about 4.8 meals per week. This including carry out and dining inside restaurants.

Darden Restaurants has joined with the Partnership for a Healthier America to create a healthier menu. The chain, which is the country’s largest in the full service industry, owns brands like Olive Garden and Red Lobster. Changes are already planned that include adding milk as a drink choice and including more fruit and vegetables as side items.

Outback Steakhouse won the top spot in the Best Steak Category yet again for the third year in a row. The 2011 National Chain Restaurants Survey by Zagat polls over 6,000 diners on their choices and preferences among the country’s biggest chains. The chain restaurant also placed highly in the Best Value category.

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store is adding new menu items as the weather gets cooler and fall begins. These new additions include special $5.99 lunch options. Each weekday will feature a different lunch special, including the Country House Salad, Chicken Pot Pie, Meatloaf and Mashed Potatoes and Turkey N’ Dressing.

Topper’s Pizza chain is updating their logo and branding efforts to introduce more customers to their tasty pizza. An updated tagline of “Amazingly Delicious” to tell everyone the main focus of the family-owned company. The brand is over 25 years old and chose Greenbaum Marketing Communications to help with the rebranding.

Quiznos is focusing on new partnerships with other businesses to create co-branded locations in existing retail outlets. Their newest agreement will bring 40 new Quiznos locations into existing Champlain Farms’ convenience stores. 10 locations begin construction within the next month, while the rest will be built over the next 2 years.

Fazoli’s is continuing to create a new experience that will revolutionize the quick service industry. They’ve already improved and redeveloped their menu, and is working on a new interior design and improved service to match it. Guests will receive table side service usually found at a much more expensive restaurant.

The French cafe-inspired chain Mimi’s Cafe is committed to add new value items to their menu. The value offerings are part of a plan to entice customers effected by the recession to dine out more frequently. Guests can enjoy an $8 wine pour of three different wines, or get your lunch in under 15 minutes for less than $10.

Genghis Grill, America’s largest Mongolian grill restaurant chain, is bringing out a new protein option on the Khan’s Kitchen food bar. The Dr Pepper BBQ Chicken is marinated and covered in the chain’s signature BBQ sauce with the real flavor of Dr Pepper. Guests can combine this new chicken option with 70 other fresh ingredients.

Noodles & Company is continuing to expand in the state of Iowa with a new location opening in Ames later this week. The menu combines the best tastes from Asian, American and Mediterranean cuisines into fresh noodle dishes, salads and soups. This is the chain’s third location in Iowa, along with restaurants in Coralville and Davenport.

LongHorn Steakhouse today announced the opening of its new location in Roanoke, Va. The restaurant, best known for its atmosphere and flavor of the American West, is located at 4845 Valley View Blvd. NW in Roanoke. As part of its pre-opening training period, the restaurant recently hosted a Friends and Family night which helped raise more than $1,600 for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest Virginia.

The 6,200-square foot restaurant will employ more than 85 team members and seat more than 240 guests. Kris Layell, a restaurant industry veteran of 15 years, will serve as managing partner.

“LongHorn Steakhouse has been looking to bring its tradition of Western hospitality to Roanoke for some time and we are excited about the warm welcome we have received from the local community,” said Layell. “We look forward to helping our guests relax and unwind in an inviting atmosphere while savoring a great steakhouse meal served with genuine Western hospitality. We’re also pleased we could help support the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest Virginia and look forward to making more contributions to the local community for many years to come.”

LongHorn opened its first restaurant in Atlanta 30 years ago and has grown steadily – becoming known for its passion for grilling fresh, never frozen, steaks served in a relaxed, comfortable steakhouse atmosphere. LongHorn is known for more than its signature hand-seasoned Flo’s Filet and the bone-in Outlaw Ribeye. LongHorn chefs love to grill fresh fish and chicken in addition to steak. Items such as LongHorn Salmon, a fresh, hand-cut salmon fillet seasoned with a bourbon marinade; fall-off-the-bone tender Baby Back Ribs; and Parmesan Crusted Chicken, two juicy chicken breasts grilled and topped with a parmesan cheese and garlic crust, are just some of the other specialties guests will find on the menu.

The restaurant opens daily at 11 a.m. for lunch. It is open until 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and until 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

LongHorn Steakhouse today announced the opening of its new location in Tupelo, Miss. The restaurant, best known for its atmosphere and flavor of the American West, is located at 3574 N. Gloster St. in Tupelo. As part of its pre-opening training period, the restaurant recently hosted a Friends and Family night which helped raise more than $750 for the Tupelo Children’s Mansion.

The 6,200-square foot restaurant will employ 80 team members and seat more than 240 guests. Jennifer Hathcock, a restaurant industry veteran of 9 years, will serve as managing partner.

“LongHorn Steakhouse has been looking to bring its tradition of Western hospitality to Tupelo for some time and we are excited about the warm welcome we have received from the local community,” said Hathcock. “We look forward to helping our guests relax and unwind in an inviting atmosphere while savoring a great steakhouse meal served with genuine Western hospitality. We’re also pleased we could help support the Tupelo Children’s Mansion and look forward to making more contributions to the local community for many years to come.”

LongHorn opened its first restaurant in Atlanta 30 years ago and has grown steadily – becoming known for its passion for grilling fresh, never frozen, steaks served in a relaxed, comfortable steakhouse atmosphere. LongHorn is known for more than its signature hand-seasoned Flo’s Filet and the bone-in Outlaw Ribeye. LongHorn chefs love to grill fresh fish and chicken in addition to steak. Items such as LongHorn Salmon, a fresh, hand-cut salmon fillet seasoned with a bourbon marinade; fall-off-the-bone tender Baby Back Ribs; and Parmesan Crusted Chicken, two juicy chicken breasts grilled and topped with a parmesan cheese and garlic crust, are just some of the other specialties guests will find on the menu.

The restaurant opens daily at 11 a.m. for lunch. It is open until 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and until 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

The Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA), together with First Lady Michelle Obama, announced today that Darden Restaurants, Inc., the world’s largest full service restaurant company, has committed to improve the nutrition of its children’s and full menus, increasing healthy choices for millions of its guests.

Darden owns and operates approximately 1,900 restaurants in 49 states, serving more than 400 million meals per year. By July 2012, children’s menus at Olive Garden, Red Lobster, LongHorn Steakhouse and Bahama Breeze will offer one percent milk as the default beverage and guarantee a fruit or vegetable as the default side for every kids’ menu item at those restaurants offering a default side. All of Darden’s brands, including Capital Grille and Seasons 52, will reduce its sodium and calorie footprint by 10 percent over five years and 20 percent over 10 years.

“I’m here today because this is a breakthrough moment in the restaurant industry,” said First Lady Michelle Obama. “Darden is doing what no restaurant company has done before – they’re not just revamping their kids menus to give kids better food and parents more choices and more control, they’re committing to make changes across the entire menu at every single one of their restaurants. Darden is working to make the healthy choice the easy choice, and they’re making it the delicious and fun choice too.  I’m confident that if companies like Darden continue to be creative and innovative and have our kids’ best interests at heart then we will solve the challenge of childhood obesity and give all our kids the healthy futures they deserve.”

In the last decade, Americans have spent roughly half of their families’ total food budgets and consumed nearly a third of all calories away from home. Additionally, Americans have almost doubled the amount of money spent on food outside the home. In 2010, Americans spent $433 million on food away from home. In 2000, Americans spent about $280 million.

“The Partnership is focused on making the healthy choice the easy choice, whether by working with grocers to bring healthy, affordable food into areas that lack access or with day care centers to ensure that children are starting out their lives with the healthy options they need,” said PHA Board Chair James R. Gavin III, M.D., Ph.D.  ”Recent studies predict half of all Americans will be obese by 2030.  That’s every other person who walks into a restaurant, grocery store or corner bodega. And that’s why, with Darden’s massive reach combined with the leadership they are continuing to show in this area, we are more excited than ever about our chances of ending childhood obesity.”

“Today we are taking a new step forward by creating the most comprehensive health and wellness commitment in the restaurant industry, while preserving our promise to offer our guests the delicious food they have come to know and love from their favorite Darden restaurants,” said Drew Madsen, president and chief operating officer of Darden Restaurants.  ”The First Lady continues to lead the growing national efforts to make healthy food options more available and accessible, and we’re pleased to collaborate with her and the Partnership for a Healthier America on this important commitment.”

Specifically, Darden is making the following commitments:

Kids’ Menus – changes starting now and to be fully implemented by July 2012

• Guarantee a fruit or vegetable will be the default side for every kids’ menu item at those restaurants offering a default side on the children’s menu: Bahama Breeze, LongHorn Steakhouse and Red Lobster.
• One percent milk will be the default beverage, provided automatically if no alternate beverage is requested.  Milk will be prominently promoted on the menu and made available with free refills.
• Food illustrations on the menu will promote the healthy choices for meals and drinks.
• Healthier menu options will be more prominently displayed when possible.
• Carbonated beverages will not be displayed on children’s menus.
• Improve the nutritional content of one or more children’s menu items to provide equal or less than 600 calories, 30% of total calories from fat, 10% of total calories from saturated fat, and 600 mg of sodium.

Calories/Sodium Footprint Reduction – changes to be implemented by 2016 and 2021

• By 2016, reduce calories by 10% and over a ten-year period by 20%.
• By 2016, reduce sodium by 10% and over a ten-year period by 20%.

Every company that works with PHA is required to agree that PHA will monitor and report on progress toward their commitment.  Darden has agreed to provide annual reports outlining its progress in meeting calorie and sodium reductions on all menu items and its enhanced nutritional standards for children’s menus, as well as provide annual samples of children’s menus from each brand.  PHA will benchmark data in 2011 and contract with an independent verifier to monitor compliance beyond the Darden-submitted reports.

Darden Restaurants, owner of Olive Garden and Red Lobster, has found its next big thing in LongHorn Steakhouse.

After a couple of years of slow growth during the economic downturn and adjustment to a new corporate owner, the Western-themed chain is taking off, with annual sales expected to hit $1 billion for the first time this year.

Orlando-based Darden bought LongHorn and Capital Grille for $1.4 billion in 2007.

This year, Darden is accelerating the pace of expansion, with plans to dot the country with LongHorns, eventually reaching 600 to 800. With only 356 restaurants, including seven in the Chicago area, “LongHorn still has this long runway of growth available to it,” said Dave George, president of the chain.

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Howard Schultz, the founder and CEO of the Starbucks corporation, has started a boycott on campaign contributions. His lead has been followed by Whole Foods and J.C. Penny. The boycott aims to encourage politicians from both parties to work together to solve the growing deficit problem. He is also encouraging companies to spend the money on hiring instead of campaign funding.

Chipotle Mexican Grill has funded the production of a new short-film called “Back to the Start”. The stop-action animation illustrates one farmer’s path to sustainable agriculture, a pursuit the chain aims to support. Willie Nelson contributed a cover of Coldplay’s song “The Scientist” to the 2 minute film that will air in theaters around the country.

To support the charitable actions of the Habitat for Humanity foundation, Darden Restaurants donated over $1 million of furnishings from their stores. The fixtures were removed as part of on-going renovations to Olive Garden, Long Horn Steakhouse and other restaurants owned by the company. The ReStore locations sold out of the re-used furnishings quickly.

KFC restaurants in Southern California are bringing the excitement of the 2012 London Olympics to the area now. The KFC Olympics will involve five competitions pitting the best chicken cooks against each other. The winner of each regional contest will compete in the Finals at the beginning of October.

The National Aquarium has a new dining experience to offer visitors. The former main cafe was renovated to allow the new Harbor Market Kitchen room to grow. The restaurant uses local fresh ingredients in a variety of innovative dishes. The old cafe had nearly 1.5 million visitors before the renovations.

Rudy’s “Country Store” and Bar-B-Q has added another NASA store location in the Houston area. The restaurant and store opened on September 1^st. The first 100 guests in line when the store opened walked away with a $20 gift card for the chain. Other giveaways were also held throughout the grand opening celebration.

BJ’s Restaurants is proud to celebrate the opening of their newest location. The Jacksonville restaurant opened on August 29^th and seats nearly 300 guests. The location features the chain’s full menu of pizzas, salads, and a variety of beer options. The signature 103” plasma screen television is also in place.

Syosset, New York is home to the latest Hurricane Grill & Wings location. The chain is known for offering over 32 flavors of hot wings. The grand opening in Syosset brings the brand’s total number to 41 restaurants. The beach-style atmosphere brings a relaxed and family-friendly option to the dining scene.

Pizza fans in Arlington, Texas has another chain to choose from. Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers opened their new location on September 5^th. The menu features all of Mellow Mushroom’s classic pizza, salad and appetizer options. Gluten-free crusts and hoagies will also be available.

ORLANDO, Fla.  (RestaurantNews.com)  Items donated to Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore resale outlets from remodeled Darden restaurants have topped $1.2 million in value and have rapidly moved off the floors of Habitat ReStores across the nation. The gift-in-kind donations to Habitat began in 2010 when Darden began updating more than 300 of its Red Lobster, Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse locations.

To date, 150 Darden restaurants have been remodeled — contributing art, furnishings, hostess stands and even “western-themed” decor to Habitat ReStore resale outlets. The ReStores stock new and lightly used furnishings, building materials and more for sale to help local Habitat affiliates fund the construction, rehabilitation and repair of homes within their communities.

“Darden’s contribution is part of our company’s ongoing commitment to giving back to the communities we serve,” said Drew Madsen, president and chief operating officer for Darden. “This partnership with Habitat for Humanity helps our company live its values. By donating furnishings and other items to ReStores, we honor our commitment to sustainability and contribute to Habitat’s mission of building homes and strengthening communities around the country.”

The 700 Habitat ReStores across the nation operate through local Habitat for Humanity affiliates and thrive through contributions, volunteers and donations including items from product close-outs or remodels. The stores promote the concept of recycling and reuse, keeping quality items out of landfills and offering goods at a discount to the general public.

Habitat for Humanity Kansas City ReStore director Brian Alferman took in donations from seven LongHorn Steakhouse restaurants over a three-month period for an established and a new ReStore. Alferman called the items, “a tremendous boon to our ReStores. They were a great money-maker and helped to create a buzz around town about our new location.”

“This partnership is boosting sales at ReStores and providing funds for Habitat for Humanity to serve more families in need of decent, affordable housing,” said Larry Gluth, senior vice president of U.S. and Canada for Habitat for Humanity International. “Thanks to the commitment of donors, volunteers, communities and homeowner partners, and businesses such as Darden, we are seeing neighborhood revitalization happening across the country. We look forward to a continued relationship with Darden in the years ahead.”

About Darden

Darden Restaurants, Inc., (NYSE: DRI), the world’s largest full-service restaurant company, owns and operates more than 1,900 restaurants that generate more than $7.5 billion in annual sales. Headquartered in Orlando, and employing approximately 180,000 people, Darden is recognized for a culture that rewards caring for and responding to people. In 2011, Darden became the first full-service restaurant company ever to be named to the FORTUNE “100 Best Companies to Work For” list. Our restaurant brands — Red Lobster, Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, The Capital Grille, Bahama Breeze and Seasons 52 — reflect the rich diversity of those who dine with us. Our brands are built on deep insights into what our guests want. For more information, please visit www.darden.com.

About Habitat for Humanity International

Habitat for Humanity International is an ecumenical Christian ministry that welcomes to its work all people dedicated to the cause of eliminating poverty housing. Since its founding in 1976, Habitat has built, rehabilitated, repaired or improved more than 400,000 houses worldwide, providing simple, decent and affordable shelter for more than 2 million people. For more information, or to donate or volunteer, visit Habitat.org.

Orlando-based Darden Restaurants has found its next big thing in LongHorn Steakhouse.

After a couple of years of slow growth during the economic downturn and adjustment to a new corporate owner, the Western-themed chain is taking off, with annual sales expected to hit $1 billion for the first time this year.

Darden, which also owns Olive Garden and Red Lobster, bought LongHorn and Capital Grille for $1.4 billion in 2007.

Darden this year is accelerating the pace of expansion with plans to dot the country with LongHorns, eventually reaching 600 to 800. With just 356 restaurants so far, “LongHorn still has this long runway of growth available to it,” said Dave George, president of the chain.

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Casual diners in North Carolina are flocking to get hepatitis A vaccines after a server at an Olive Garden in Fayetteville told her bosses she tested positive for the virus.

Roughly 2,000 people who ate at the restaurant on one of the eight days in late July and early August when the server was on duty have reportedly already received a vaccine.

Although the odds that the exposed diners contracted hepatitis A at the restaurant are slim, infection is a very real possibility, says Arun K. Bhunia, PhD, a professor of food science at Purdue University, in West Lafayette, Ind.

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Darden Restaurants has entered into a formal area development agreement with CMR to develop and operate Darden’s Red Lobster, Olive Garden and The Capital Grille brands in Mexico. The agreement calls for CMR to initially develop a minimum of 37 restaurants in Mexico over the next five years.

“Last month we celebrated the opening of Red Lobster in Dubai, our first restaurant in the Middle East,” said Kim Lopdrup, senior vice president of Business Development for Darden. “Today, we’re excited to build upon that milestone with the announcement of our agreement with CMR, the leading full-service restaurant operator and franchisor in Mexico. With its growing middle class and strong affinity for American brands, Mexico is an attractive growth market for Darden.

“As we’ve stated previously, Darden remains committed to owning and operating its restaurants domestically.  However we believe the best way for us to expand the reach of our portfolio internationally is by selecting the right partners, like CMR, with outstanding operations experience, local market knowledge, and the commitment to delivering our brands’ experience with excellence.”

CMR is Mexico’s leading casual dining company, with more than 100 restaurants in 26 cities throughout the country.  For more than 40 years, the company has operated a variety of company-owned and franchised concepts within the casual dining and fine dining sectors, including: Fonda Mexicana, Destilería, Elago and Chili’s, among others.

“We are delighted to welcome Red Lobster, Olive Garden and The Capital Grille to our family,” said CMR Chairman of the Board Joaquín Vargas Guajardo. “The addition of these three highly regarded brands to our portfolio is a huge step towards our vision: ‘In casual dining, bring the best of the world to Mexico and share the best of Mexico with the world.’”

Red Lobster announced today the launch of a new national advertising campaign featuring the real people of Red Lobster – a first for the brand and the latest step in a multi-year brand refresh designed to broaden its appeal.

Developed by Grey New York, the new ads feature actual Red Lobster employees and others associated with the brand sharing real, genuine and unscripted stories that bring to life all that’s different about Red Lobster. These stories authentically articulate how the restaurant goes the extra mile to provide every guest with top-quality seafood and an experience reminiscent of dining at the seaside.

The ads also feature a powerful new tagline, “Sea Food Differently,” meant to not only distinguish Red Lobster as the casual dining seafood leader, but also to communicate the many changes the brand has made in recent years. These changes include Wood-Fire Grilling by Certified Grill Masters in every restaurant, a Today’s Fresh Fish Menu featuring five to eight fresh fish selections daily and a new Quick Catches Lunch Menu. Red Lobster is also remodeling its entire system of nearly 700 restaurants in a design inspired by the New England coast.

Designed to more clearly showcase the brand’s dedication to freshness and quality, the new ads also mark the official unveiling of Red Lobster’s new logo, featuring an updated lobster icon with the phrase “Fresh Fish, Live Lobster.” The logo will be featured at the end of each new ad, as well as on new and remodeled restaurant signs, menus, gift cards and the newly redesigned Red Lobster Facebook page and website at www.redlobster.com.

“At Red Lobster, we’ve made some exciting changes but have yet to communicate everything that’s new and different to our guests,” said Salli Setta, Red Lobster’s executive vice president of marketing. “Who better to tell this story than our own people, who bring to life the warmth, vitality and genuineness of our brand.”

The first 30-second ad started airing July 25 in both the U.S. and Canada in support of Red Lobster’s limited-time “Crabfest” promotion. The ad features Jon Forsythe, a crab fisherman who fishes for Red Lobster in Alaska, explaining how he sources the best crab from Alaskan waters that guests can now enjoy during “Crabfest.” He also showcases Red Lobster’s commitment to providing guests with top-quality seafood.

The second 30-second TV spot, “Grill Master,” debuted on July 25 in the U.S. and debuts on August 8 in Canada and features one of Red Lobster’s Certified Grill Masters, Charles Himple from the company’s restaurant in Bronx, NY. The ad shows how Himple, like every Red Lobster Grill Master, freshly prepares shrimp, fish, steak and lobster over the open flame of the oak-wood grill, which brings out the natural flavors of seafood.

“There are a lot of amazing changes going on at Red Lobster,” said Tor Myhren, Grey New York’s president and chief creative officer. “We want people to see how far they’ve actually come. The campaign brings the new Red Lobster dining experience – all these surprising, fresh changes, from the décor to the menu to the service – to life.”

The advertising campaign will also extend into the digital space, including activities to further engage guests on the brand’s Facebook page, You Tube channel and website.

Red Lobster is the world’s largest casual dining seafood restaurant with nearly 700 locations and 60,000 employees delivering delicious, high-quality seafood to guests across North America. Red Lobster is a division of Darden Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE: DRI), the world’s largest full-service restaurant operating company. In 2011, Darden became the first full-service restaurant company ever to be named to the FORTUNE “100 Best Companies to Work For” list.

Students across the country put in much more than their two cents this year to raise money for Olive Garden’s Pasta for Pennies program benefiting The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS).  In fact, more than three million students at 6,520 elementary, middle and high schools collectively raised a record-breaking $8.4 million to support cancer research.  Thanks to their successful efforts, the funds raised for LLS through Olive Garden’s Pasta for Pennies program over the past 17 years now total more than $61 million.

Students in first through 12th grade participated in this year’s program by filling collection jars and boxes in their classrooms with spare change over a three-week period during the school year.  The top fundraising class at each participating school received a pasta party from their local Olive Garden restaurant.

Every penny, nickel, dime and quarter raised helps fund blood cancer research and provides much needed services and support to leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma patients and their loved ones.

“This year’s Olive Garden Pasta for Pennies success is proof that anyone, no matter their age, can become involved and make a difference in the lives of others,” said John Caron, president of Olive Garden.  ”All of us at Olive Garden commend the many students, parents, teachers and administrators who came together for this program and turned pocket change into millions of dollars for cancer research.”

Leading the nation as the top Pasta for Pennies fundraising school for the second consecutive year, collecting $42,216.97, was Warren High School in Downey, Calif.

Other top fundraising schools include:

• William Mason High School in Mason, Ohio, which raised $27,936.54;
• Princeton High School in Cincinnati, which raised $21,040.04; and
• Orange High School in Orange, Calif., which raised $18,833.

The top fundraising LLS Chapter in the country was the South Central Texas Chapter, where 460 schools collected more than $860,000, the most ever raised by a single LLS Chapter in the history of Pasta for Pennies.

“We are grateful for the outpouring of generosity that made this year’s Olive Garden Pasta for Pennies campaign a record-breaking success,” said John Walter, LLS president and CEO.  ”It’s through the hard work of our student participants and partners like Olive Garden that we can collect the funds we need to work toward a cure to end blood cancers.”

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society® (LLS) is the world’s largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer.  The LLS mission is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life for patients and their families. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world and provides free information and support services.  Founded in 1949 and headquartered in White Plains, NY, LLS has chapters throughout the United States and Canada.  To learn more, visit www.LLS.org or contact the Information Resource Center at (800) 955-4572, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET.

Olive Garden is the leading restaurant in the Italian dining segment with more than 750 restaurants, more than 88,000 employees and $3.3 billion in annual sales.  Olive Garden is a member of the Darden family of restaurants (NYSE: DRI), the world’s largest company-owned and operated full-service restaurant company.  For more information, visit Olive Garden’s website at www.olivegarden.com.

A new opening of a Five Guys Burgers and Fries causes visitors to line up for hours just for a taste. Other “better fast food” chains like Panera Bread and Chipotle Mexican Grill are stealing more traffic from casual restaurants like Applebee’s than from fast food giants. Customers are enjoying the combination of low prices, fast service and fresh ingredients.

Americans may be used to picking up nothing but a burger and fries at their favorite fast food joints, but beer and wine may soon be available too. Burger King locations in large towns like Las Vegas and Miami are now testing a “Whopper Bar” concept. Two South Florida Sonic restaurants will be adding alcohol to their menu as well.

Darden Restaurants, the parent company behind Olive Garden, is increasing the value priced menu offerings of the popular Italian food chain. Recent research demonstrated that the chain could capture more of the households with an annual income of under $60,000 by offering lower priced meals. They’re planning to maintain the same profit margins even with new menu items.

The founder of the Phillips Seafood Restaurants chain, Brice R. Phillips, has passed away at age 90. With the help of his wife Shirley he was able to open Phillips Crab House in 1956. The small restaurant grew into a chain of 19 locations and a line of retail seafood products. Their flagship store also constantly ranked highly in the top 100 highest grossing independently owned restaurants.

Two restaurants from Muskegon, Michigan have been featured on the Food Network’s new show “Outrageous Food”. Bernie O’s Pizza and Papa Bear’s Restaurant have both enjoyed increased business from the positive publicity. Customers traveled from neighboring states to try the incredibly hot Firebird pizza or the massive stuffed hash browns known as the Grizzly.

The Cheesecake Factory has announced that July is now National Cheesecake History Month. The restaurant’s Facebook page will share interesting stories and facts about the development of the famous dessert. The end of the month culminates with the National Cheesecake Day Celebration and the new Hershey’s Chocolate Bar Cheesecake.

Dairy Queen’s newest ad campaign features a commercial with Olympic gymnast Mary Lou Retton in a pinata. The commercial is part of the new “So Good It’s RIDQulous” concept. A DQ manager hits the pinata and Mary Lou Retton comes tumbling out of it. Retton was chosen for her iconic status and for being a Gen-X mother of four.

Benihana, America’s largest and most popular Japanese steakhouse chain, has announced the monthly Chef’s Special for July. Hibachi Shrimp & Chicken for Two will be available at the discounted price of $36. The meal includes five courses and drinks. Classic Benihana sides like onion soup, Benihana salad and hot green tea is all included.

The Wienerschnitzel chain turns 50 this summer just in time for National Hot Dog Month. The company is starting a “Chili Dog Days of Summer” promotion by sending the Wiener Wagon out to give away 5,000 free chili dogs. The truck will make 20 stops across Southern California in areas like Los Angeles and San Diego.

Pizza Inn is expanding in the Midwest again. The newest location for the chain opened in Springdale, Arkansas in a larger travel center. The location cooks full sized pizzas from scratch despite being part of the convenience store. The chain is now in three states including Arkansas, Tennessee and Alabama.