The menu at Fazoli's is changing after the first week of November to include new recipes for everything from Italian-style sandwiches to classic baked dishes that are sure to become new favorites.
"The new menu is going to be a test with the Fazoli's corporation," says Ken Szostek, key operator for the locations in East Brainerd, Cleveland, Tenn., and Fort Oglethorpe, Ga. "We're still going to have a lot of the regular recipes on there, but a couple of the samplers will drop off and we'll be testing some new ones. We're testing it so that it'll go nationwide in the spring."
As part of the changes, the current sandwiches will become larger, served on new 8 1/2-inch sub rolls instead of ciabatta ones. A new chicken club Italiano sandwich with house-roasted chicken tenders, bacon slices, Italian ham and provolone cheese will be added to the list. A roasted chicken basil sandwich piled high with provolone cheese, creamy basil sauce, whole chicken tenders, basil pesto and shredded Asiago and fontina cheeses will be added to the menu as well.
A new Italian fondue will also be introduced. The creamy Asiago and bacon mixture is perfect as a dipping sauce for breadsticks. All the fresh salads, including options from a classic chicken Caesar or Fazoli's Italian chicken salad to a cherry apple almond salad, will soon be made using 100-percent romaine lettuce.
For the fall, two new soups will be introduced: Italian wedding soup prepared with spinach, meatballs and bowtie pasta, and chicken bowtie soup which is a serving of broccoli, diced red peppers, diced chicken and bowtie pasta.
"We do a lot of testing and I think this is going to be a homerun," says Szostek. "Everything is well thought out. I think the people are going to like it a lot because there's something for everybody. If you aren't into the pasta, you have the sandwiches, soups and the salads."
The Fresh Value Favorite options will go from eight to 10 dishes, with recipes split in two categories: classic and specialties. The classic dishes include spaghetti with meat sauce, fettuccine Alfredo, ultimate meatball smasher submarinos, a classic sampler and twice-baked lasagna. The specialty entrées are chicken carbonara, chicken broccoli penne bake, chicken Parmigano, penne Romano and penne with creamy basil chicken.
A new Spice-It-Up option will soon allow guests to request that a special garlic-roasted hot sauce be added to their oven-baked or pickyour- pasta dishes to provide a spicy zing.
"We have delicious food and great service, but I think the biggest thing is that you can afford to eat at Fazoli's and bring the family," says Szostek. "We're going to give you the value for your dollar."
Guests who want to take Fazoli's home for family dinners or holiday gatherings will enjoy the new catering menu, he adds. The new menu allows guests to order online, placing the order in one easy visit, whether it is a pickup or full-service catered event. The catering options are conveniently streamlined with packages that include regular menu items and popular selections like the fettuccini, ziti and lasagna dishes.
LOCATIONS: 2332 Shallowford Village Drive in East Brainerd, 3016 Battlefi eld Parkway in Fort Oglethorpe, Ga., and 4550 N. Lee Highway in Cleveland, Tenn.
PHONE: East Brainerd at 499-5155, Fort Oglethorpe at 706-861-7989 and Cleveland at 339-2822.
HOURS: Sunday through Thursday from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.