I recently had the pleasure of trying some of the new “Wood-Fired” items at my local Applebee’s. My wife and I were overwhelmed by how amazing their new cuts of meat are and the direction that the restaurant chain has taken.
Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill has made the decision to take back America’s neighborhoods – the roots of its rise as the country’s largest casual dining restaurant chain – by unveiling new American-made, wood-fired grills as the centerpiece of nearly 2,000 of its U.S. restaurants and introducing certified USDA Choice steaks hand-cut in-house as the marquee item of a revamped and streamlined menu that elevates quality, flavor and freshness.
Inviting guests to follow the enticing aroma of American Oak smoke into their neighborhood Applebee’s, the brand has kicked off the largest and most comprehensive marketing and advertising campaign in the company’s history. In a new series of ads, Applebee’s will increase the reach and frequency of its message to historic levels through penetration of traditional broadcast and cable TV channels, prominent online platforms and movie theaters. The campaign’s intent is to tell consumers the new “Hand-Cut, Wood-Fire†platform is the first chapter in the reinvention of the company.
The first menu items to hit the grills are certified USDA Choice Top Sirloin Steaks and Bone-In Pork Chops. Both items are hand-cut in Applebee’s restaurants by trained meat cutters to ensure optimal thickness before they hit the grill with sizzle and smoke. Guests will immediately recognize something is new at their local Applebee’s as wood corrals stacked with split oak logs greet them at the entrance along with the mouth-watering aroma of oak wood grilling.
The new featured items on the Applebee’s menu will include:
- 8 oz. and 6 oz. Hand-cut USDA Choice Top Sirloin Steaks
- Hand-cut Bone-in Pork Chop
- Cedar-grilled Salmon
Here is a video of my visit to Applebee’s and all of the amazing “Hand-Cut, Wood-Fired” menu items I got to try for the first time.
Additionally, meats and vegetables prepared on the new wood-fired grills will be featured in many other guest favorites – from appetizers to salads – adding the right amount of mild smokiness to each bite. Purchase and installation of the grills, along with a combined 60,000 hours of training for meat cutters, represents an investment of more than $40 million by Applebee’s franchisees.
Because I love the new menu SO MUCH!!! I’m going to be giving away twenty $25 gift cards and a grand prize $100 gift card. The only thing I ask in return is post a picture to social media of your favorite new item using the hashtags #WoodFired and #ROTRKS.