One of America’s most nostalgic restaurant chains is getting a facelift.
TGI Fridays announced a menu overhaul on Tuesday as part of what they’re calling “TGI Fridays’ ongoing comeback story.”
The plan for bankruptcy bounce-back involves changes to a whopping 85% of its menu, with multiple new items launching nationwide Wednesday, May 14.
When making the adjustments, the brand “took a hard look” at the previous menu to remove some items, upgrade ingredients and make cooking techniques more efficient for faster service and consistency, Today.com reported.
The spruced-up menu comes after the fast-casual restaurant filed for bankruptcy in November 2024, which led to a significant decrease in locations across the U.S.
According to a spokesperson, the chain now has 89 remaining locations — compared to the start of 2024 when there were triple that, around 270.
Ray Blanchette, who took the helm as the company’s CEO in April, told Today.com that the menu overhaul is “just the beginning” of changes to come to TGI Fridays.
“Fridays has a legacy worth celebrating, and we’re leaning into that,” Blanchette said.
“We leveled up the flavor on our Mozzarella Sticks, along with nearly the entire menu. Longtime fans will see familiar favorites made better, and first-time guests will get a fresh take on what makes Fridays special.”
TGI Fridays helped popularize mozzarella sticks in the 1980s, and now the chain is modernizing the beloved appetizer with three different sauces — one of which is only available at the restaurant.
Here are the new menu items that patrons will find at TGI Fridays:
- TGI Sauce: The chain is launching a new all-purpose signature sauce, which they describe as “creamy & tangy with a sweet-smoky kick.”
- Mozzarella Sticks: The beloved item can now come sauced in three different flavors: RedHot Buffalo, Garlic Parmesan and the Fridays-only Whiskey Glaze. Of course, customers can still opt for the original with all three sauces on the side.
- Big Queso Energy Burger: A messy burger that comes with lettuce, pico de gallo, roasted jalapeños, cheddar cheese, poblano queso and a side of even more queso.
- Loaded Tots: The revamped app now comes fully loaded with bacon, cheese, green onions and the new TGI Sauce.
TGI Fridays is also introducing “sips that slap” — or, for those who don’t care for slang, seven new signature drinks.
- The eL.I.T.e: A mega-sized Long Island iced tea and Lemonade hybrid featuring Smirnoff vodka, New Amsterdam gin, Captain Morgan Spiced rum, Grand Marnier, lemonade and a splash of Coca-Cola.
- Jack’s New Fashioned: Jack Daniel’s whiskey, torched sugar, Angostura bitters and black cherry, topped with a cherry.
- Fri-Yay Rita: A “sweet, sour and a little bit salty” drink with Patrón Silver tequila, Fridays’ own agave sour, a splash of Grand Marnier, a half-salt rim and a lime squeeze.
- Turbo Toro: Patrón Silver tequila, blue curaçao, lime juice, passion fruit, with a full can of Red Bull Tropical.
- Tito’s Thunderbolt: Described as the “jolt you didn’t know you needed,” Tito’s Handmade Vodka, lemonade and Owen’s Transfusion Mix, over ice and topped with lemon.
- The Late Checkout: Bacardi Gold rum, Chambord, passion fruit, lemonade and a splash of grenadine, all over ice.
- Strawberry Henny: Hennessy V.S, Grand Marnier and fresh strawberry purée, topped with a sliced strawberry.
