Dave & Buster's, Bonefish Grill and Carrabba's expand into new menu territory

Casual-dining chains are accelerating menu innovation, introducing new brunch and dinner items to compete in a challenging sector. These sit-down restaurants are also adding specials for Cinco de Mayo and Mother’s Day, the next celebratory occasions now that Earth Day and 4/20 are in the rearview mirror. And bacon is booming on burgers, sandwiches and more. Take a look at what’s happening on menus right now.

The latest menu refresh at Dave & Busters includes 20 new or upgraded food and drink items. Among the highlights are shareables such as Loaded Barbacoa Fries and a Game Day Grub Sampler Board with pretzel dogs, sliders and wings. For those who prefer their own entrée, there’s a Stacked Steak Bowl and Cajun Shrimp Pasta. And Cereal Cake topped with marshmallow cream icing, cotton candy and Froot Loops cereal makes for a sweet ending.

New brunch offerings lead the lineup at Bonefish Grill, where the items are available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Guests have a choice of Bang Bang Shrimp Eggs Benedict, a spin on the chain’s signature shrimp dish, as well as Shrimp & Grits, Crème Brûlée French Toast and a Crab and Fontina Cheese Frittata. On the drinks side, there’s an Espresso Martini, Bloody Mary and Mimosa.

Families can celebrate Italian style with the Mother’s Day lineup at Carrabba’s Italian Grill. New this year are three trios for moms who prefer a sampling. The Johnny Trio includes Sirloin Marsala, Chicken Bryan & Mezzaluna, while the Chicken Trio offers Chicken Bryan, Pollo Rosa Maria & Chicken Marsala, and Carrabba’s Italian Classics Trio has Chicken Parmesan, Lasagna and Fettuccine Alfredo. A special cocktail called the Carrabbellini is a twist on the Bellini, featuring citron vodka, raspberry and blood orange, topped with Prosecco.  

Hooters is tapping into the popular sweet-heat trend with its new Mango Habanero Sauce for wings. The sports bar chain is also adding a Chicken Bacon Ranch Sandwich, featuring tenders tossed in Daytona Beach Style sauce on Texas toast. Loaded Hamburger Waffle Fries look like a deconstructed burger, topped with ground beef, lettuce, chopped tomatoes, pickle chips and cheese and covered with remoulade sauce. And for dessert, there's Whipped Cream Dream Funnel Fries.

Spicy Lemonade Refreshers debuted at Starbucks in three variations: Spicy Dragonfruit, Spicy Pineapple and Spicy Strawberry. Starbucks uses its new Spicy Chili Powder Blend combined with tangy lemonade to create the drinks. All capitalize on the “swicy” trend, combining heat and sweet in one icy beverage.

Cinco de Mayo is coming up soon, and On The Border is getting a head start. From May 1-5, the casual-dining chain is offering Five Days of Cinco de Mayo, with its margarita, draft beer and signature queso all going for $5. Throughout May, On The Border will offer have two new margaritas featuring Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson’s Teremana Tequila: the Blue Duck Oasis Rita and Duck Island Breeze Rita. All go well with the brand's fajitas, chips and dips.

Ninety Nine Restaurants brought back Lobster Lovers Weekend, a bonus for dine-in guests ordering a Colossal Lobster Roll or Hot Buttered Colossal Lobster Roll. Not only is there a $5 discount on each item ($26.99 and $28.99 respectively with the deal), but diners receive a free upgrade with their order, which includes a cup of Broccoli & Cheddar Soup, Seafood Chowder or House Salad, plus a Petite Treat Dessert.

Bacon is in the spotlight at Black Bear Diner in its Double Bacon Stack. The breakfast sandwich is layered with homemade brown sugar-maple bacon jam, melted American cheese, two eggs, crispy thick bacon slices, avocado and onion straws on a garlic Parmesan buttered brioche bun. Three other Stacks join the LTO selection: the Tri-Tip Cheddar Stack, Hand-Breaded Crispy Chicken Stack and Crispy Cod Stack. And blueberries sweeten two beverages, sweet cream pancakes and cheesecake.

Wayback Burgers also turns to bacon, this time, in a new Maple Bacon Shake. The LTO is on a “secret menu” exclusive to rewards members; it’s the first in a series of LTOs to offer loyalty club participants a little something extra.

Guy Fieri and Robert Earl, partners in Chicken Guy, are bringing two new items to the chicken chain this season. The  Berry Bomb Shake is a blend of vanilla soft serve and mixed berry puree, topped with whipped cream and cinnamon toast crumble. The Bacon Jalapeno Popper Sandwich features buttermilk ranch, jalapeno cream cheese, bacon, jalapenos and pepper jack cheese. 

Creamsicle-flavored beverages are a thing this spring, and Wetzel’s Pretzels launched its version. The Orange Dream is a creamy combo of orange and vanilla that evokes nostalgia for a quintessential frozen summer treat.

Four performance-boosting drinks are on the menu at Robeks. The smoothies include the Blue Gorilla, a mix of blueberries, bananas, yogurt, peanut butter and whey protein, and the BraveHeart, combining strawberries, bananas, frozen yogurt, dried cranberries, apple juice and whey protein. Rounding out the selection are the Power Surge, a post-workout pick-me-up, and the Cookie Monster, a mix of cacao nibs, chocolate, frozen yogurt, vanilla almond milk and recovery-boosting whey protein.