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Nation's Restaurant News
From Wiz Khalifa’s favorite chicken to cauliflower pizza: 5 virtual brands we’re dying to get delivered
Holly Petre Sep 08, 2020

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Name: The Burger Experience

Location: Chicago, New York, Miami

Operated by: Smokey Bones

Facility: Existing Smokey Bones kitchens and Kitchen United facilities in Chicago

Delivery: Uber Eats

Concept(s): Built around the increased demand for burgers during the pandemic, Smokey Bones created a burger-only virtual brand. The brand has items from the Smokey Bones menu as well as additional items never seen by dine-in customers.

Menu: Bacon Cheeseburger, Dr. Praeger’s Veggie Burger and The Big Kahuna, a burger topped with Hawaiian BBQ pork, pepper jack cheese, grilled pineapple and BBQ sauce. Sides range from fries to a baked potato.

Price: Burgers range from $9.99 to $16.99

Other virtual concepts: Smokey Bones also operates The Wing Experience

Name: HotBox by Wiz

Location: Pittsburgh, Los Angeles, San Diego, Chicago, Denver, D.C, Indianapolis, Houston and New York City. Launching in October.

Operated by: Nextbite

Facility: Existing local partner kitchens in each city

Delivery: All major players

Concept(s): A chicken concept from rapper Wiz Khalifa, HotBox by Wiz focuses on the rapper’s favorite foods coined “munchie items.” Some menu items include plays on Wiz Khalifa’s famous song, Black & Yellow in the form of Mac & Yellow (mac & cheese).

Menu: Some of Wiz Khalifa’s “favorite menu items” including Blazed Ends (crispy burnt brisket ends smothered in a smoky sweet BBQ sauce); Taylor Gang Turkey Burger ( turkey patty topped with crisp lettuce, fresh tomato & onion, mayo and a side of house-made chips tossed in parmesan and lemon); Mac & Yellow (mac & cheese).

Other virtual concepts: CraveBurger, Firebelly Wings, Grilled Cheese Society, Monster Mac, Mother Clucker, Outlaw Burger, Red Wagon Grille, The Big Melt, The Wing Dynasty, TossItUp and Wild Wild Wings.

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Name: Meal Plan AF

Location: Chicago, New Jersey

Operated by: Muscle Maker Inc.

Facility: Muscle Maker Grill-operated ghost kitchens in Chicago; two additional facilities with ghost kitchen partner Reef Kitchens in New Jersey

Delivery: All major brands

Concept(s): The first of 10 ghost kitchens planned by Muscle Maker Grill. The kitchens will produce the menus of several brands, including Muscle Maker Grill, Healthy Joe’s and the new Meal Plan AF. The latter concept includes meal plans in packs of 5-20 to supply an entire week of meals at once.

Menu: Healthier-for-you meals

Hello Salted

Name: Cauliflower Pizza

Location: Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Columbus, Ohio (coming soon)

Operated by: Hello Salted

Facility: in-house ghost kitchen facilities

Delivery: All major players

Concept(s): Plant-based pizzas “without the guilt,” according to the brand. The signature cauliflower crust is 100% plant-based, gluten-free, soy-free and contains half the calories of a traditional crust.

Menu: 14” pizzas made with a gluten-free crust, many of which can be made vegan, and include The Impossible Pizza (reduced-fat mozzarella, made-from-scratch tomato sauce, Impossible “Beef,” peppers and onions); The Sweet Goat Pizza (reduced-fat mozzarella cheese, made-from-scratch tomato sauce, roasted sweet potatoes, goat cheese, caramelized onions, arugula); and The Hipster Butcher (reduced-fat mozzarella, tomato sauce, turkey pepperoni, turkey sausage, turkey bacon, fresh basil). Additionally appetizers include Cauliflower Wings (vegan buffalo wings) and salads.

Price: Appetizers start at $14 and pizzas range from $14-$28.

Other virtual concepts: Hello Salted also operates Moonbowls, ginger bowls, $5 Salad Company, F#ck Gluten and Thrive Kitchen

Flavorism

Name: Farmer’s Palette

Location: Connecticut

Operated by: Flavorism

Facility: Flavorism ghost kitchen

Delivery: All major players

Concept(s): An organic salad bar offering make-your-own salad, pre-made salads, vegetable soups, warm grain bowls and smoothies with fresh ingredients.

Menu: Sweet Potato and Goat Cheese Salad; Greek Salad; Farm House Salad with romaine, cabbage, diced apple, bacon, grape tomatoes, hard-boiled egg, blue cheese and toasted walnuts with maple walnut vinaigrette; as well as carrot-ginger and broccoli-cheddar soup.

Price: Small salads range from $8-$12.50 and large salads range from $12-$19.

Other virtual concepts: Burger Creations, Fahrenheit 760, Poke Sushi Dumpling, Puebla Grill and Cucina 18.

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