DALLAS In a continued effort to revamp its menu, Romano’s Macaroni Grill will roll out another batch of new dishes and reformulated recipes on Nov. 23.
Center-cut Lamb Spiedini and Italian Sausage Spiedini will be two of the new dishes debuting next week, company officials said. The lamb dish will be a grilled loin served on skewers with fresh rosemary, garlic olive oil and vegetables. An “artisan Southern Italian” style sausage will be served with fresh Italian herbs. The new Lamb Spiedini has 505 calories and will sell for $15.99 in most markets. The Italian Sausage Spiedini contains 775 calories and will be priced at $8.99, Macaroni Grill said.
In September, the 226-unit chain changed 14 dishes and introduced seven others in an overhaul led by the chief executive Brad Blum, who was hired in December by the chain’s owner Golden Gate Capital. Blum has said the new menu is designed to be more healthful and emphasize Italian-Mediterranean flavors. He also noted that many of the new items cost less to make.
New recipes that will be introduced next week include a reformulation of the lobster-stuffed ravioli that used a tarragon pasta dough and asparagus garnish. The new ravioli, which has 520 calories and is priced at $16.99, will be seasoned with oregano and served with a cream sauce instead of the current lemon-butter sauce.
The baked crab-stuffed mushrooms also are getting a makeover. The new version, which has 310 calories and a price tag of $8.99, will have an addition of shrimp in the stuffing, Macaroni Grill said.
The final and “completely transformed” menu is expected by May 2010. By then, every dish on the menu either will have been reworked or will be brand new, according to company officials.
Golden Gate, a private-equity firm, purchased Macaroni Grill last year from Brinker International Inc. Brinker, the parent of Chili's and other casual-dining chain, retains a 19.9-percent stake in the chain.
Contact Pamela Parseghian at [email protected].