A regional grocery store recently went viral after unveiling an unusual — and intriguing — treat: butter-dipped ice cream cones. Stew Leonard’s, a Connecticut-based chain with additional locations in New York and New Jersey, posted an Instagram video of the dessert on Nov. 20. The video shows an employee dipping a vanilla soft-serve cone in a bowl … Read more
A hot new NYC “premier wellness and lifestyle brand” that bills itself as a “beacon of health-conscious living,” is giving fit foodies a serious case of indigestion after the revelation of “astronomical” salt and fat content on its menu items. The wildly popular Pura Vida Miami has taken NYC by storm with six new locations … Read more
Steakhouse chain Sizzler is making a comeback with a new, refreshed look, even as the quick-service restaurant sector continues to face a challenging environment that has prompted countless closures. Creative agency Tavern, tasked with helping the brand reinvent itself, said the steakhouse had been a pop culture icon in the 1980s and 1990s on the West … Read more
This hotel isn’t scoring points with customers. A top US hotel brand is allegedly bribing its guests by rewarding them for a positive review. Aloft Miami – Brickell, a Marriott International property, has blasted Marriott Bonvoy rewards members with emails offering 3,000 points for completing a post-stay survey — but only to those who award … Read more
“Hooters makes you happy” was a lyric to a jingle from a series of 1990s television commercials about the Florida-founded restaurant chain. It’s one of the memorable catchphrases shared by once-loyal Hooters patrons during an era when the brand was appealing to single men and families alike. Now, amid bankruptcy proceedings, the founding group — along … Read more
Move over Dunkin’ — America runs on Taco Bell. Or at least a certain subset of iron-gutted ultra-runners does. On Saturday, Oct. 5, about 1,200 registrants are expected to toe the line at the eighth annual International Taco Bell 50K Ultramarathon, a queasy urban adventure that challenges the quads and the colon in equal measure. … Read more
An American food chain is set to embark on its goal of Australian domination as it reveals the location of its next store. Wendy’s, known for its square burger patties, opened its first Australian restaurant in Surfers Paradise in January. The opening was met with huge queues as people were eager to try the staple of American … Read more
Those globetrotting muscles won’t tone themselves. For some, vacation’s a time to plop down on a beach lounger and not get up again until they’re tan and drunk. But for those gym rats who’d never compromise their gains by skipping a workout — or miss out on the endorphin rush from getting their heart rate … Read more
An iced coffee can cost a latte these days, which can hurt the wallets of java junkies. Cups from cute coffee shops are usually the more expensive option, though coffee from fast-food and fast-casual chains can quickly add up. Coffee from fast-food and fast-casual chains can still add up. ahirao – stock.adobe.com With coffee prices … Read more
Wegmans is looking to the future. The popular grocery store chain is testing AI-powered smart shopping carts in four of its upstate New York locations in a bid to offer consumers a “smarter, more seamless way to shop in-store.” Wegmans announced the launch of Caper Carts, Instacart’s AI-powered smart carts, at its Dewitt location in Syracuse, … Read more
Roy Rogers Restaurants is reviving its brand on the East Coast. The company – named after the legendary actor, singer and “King of the Cowboys” – opened a location in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, last week, marking the chain’s return to the southern New Jersey and Philadelphia markets since the 1990s. “We are excited to make … Read more
Kroger is being called out by shoppers for its “disrespectful” Juneteenth cake designs. A Kroger location in Atlanta, Georgia, is going viral after a video posted to TikTok showed the cakes that “lack creativity” for the holiday in the bakery section of the supermarket. “This is some bulls—,” TikTok user @blaq.monalisa said in the video, … Read more
Starbucks’ top executive has agreed to further align its menu with the Trump administration’s health goals under its “Make America Healthy Again” initiative, according to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Kennedy, who has been examining the nation’s food system to address the root causes of childhood chronic disease, said in a … Read more
La Grenouille, widely acknowledged as the city’s prettiest restaurant for more than a half-century, closed last fall. But its gorgeous ghost is back at 3 E. 52nd Street, where frogs’ legs have given way to Beijing-style duck. The former home of classic French cuisine has surprisingly been reborn as a location of iDen & Quanjude Beijing … Read more
They made mincemeat out of the competition. In honor of National Hamburger Day on May 28, Yelp has ranked the top 25 fast-food burger chains in the US — with In-N-Out snagging the top spot. They reportedly based this meat-centric Mount Rushmore on Yelp reviews for companies with over 100 branches spanning multiple states, primarily … Read more
It’s not your average Joe. The eclectic grocery store chain Trader Joe’s is top banana — ranking No. 1 in brand reputation in a recent Axios Harris Poll. The California-based grocer, which launched in 1967 and now boasts close to 600 locations in the US, including 35 in New York alone, beat out 99 other big … Read more
TGI Fridays’ footprint in the U.S. has been significantly diminished. The chain’s website listed 85 restaurants across the country, less than a third of the number that operated in the U.S. at the start of 2024, when there were some 270, CNN reported Tuesday. In November, as TGI Fridays Inc. entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings, … Read more
Kesha knows where the beef is. The “Praying” singer, 38, seemingly shaded Katy Perry on Monday by tweeting a picture of herself sipping out of a Wendy’s cup, after the fast-food chain mocked Perry’s trip to space. In the photo, Kesha, 38, gleefully smiled at the camera while biting on the straw. Kesha wore a … Read more
Texas Roadhouse has replaced Olive Garden as America’s top casual dining chain. The two chains were followed by Chili’s, Applebee’s and Buffalo Wild Wings. Olive Garden had held the title since 2018, but a resurgence in Texas Roadhouse’s popularity has pushed the casual steakhouse ahead. Last year, Texas Roadhouse reportedly saw a 14.7% increase in sales, … Read more
A popular fast-food chain in Japan will shut down for several days following reports of rat-infested miso soup. Sukiya, the country’s biggest beef bowl chain, said it would cease operations Monday at roughly 2,000 locations nationwide for four days starting in a statement posted on their website Saturday. The company, which is owned by dining … Read more