TGI Fridays™ Launches New Menu Items that Make Lunch the First Happy Hour of the Day

CARROLLTON, Texas, March 12, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- It's not just lunch, it's the First Happy Hour of the Day, and Fridays^™ is making it official by inviting guests to lunch better with new sandwich selections and a variety of freshly chopped salads starting at $6.99, and new fresh fruit teas and smoothies. Whether it's a quick bite or a leisurely lunch, Fridays Mobile App allows guests to pay directly from their phone.

Focusing on fresh, craveable food at an affordable price, Fridays' new lunch menu starts with appetizing selections including Garlic and Basil Bruschetta, a salad or soup. For $6.99, guests can pair their choice with delicious lunch-sized entrees including Corned Beef & Swiss Sliders, a ½ BLT & Avocado sandwich and other hand-stacked sandwiches. For $7.99 and $8.99, pairings include a ½ Rotisserie Chicken Sandwich on multigrain bread, Fridays Shrimp, a ½ French Dip made with Prime Rib roast beef and a Chipotle Yucatan Salad. These new menu items join Fridays' fresh, handcrafted burgers and offer a tasty lineup that allows guests to lunch better.

Fridays' four new drinks will help wash away the first part of the day and include two flavors of handcrafted Fresh Fruit Tea (Strawberry Passion and Tropical Raspberry) and two Fresh Fruit Smoothies (Triple Berry and Mango Passion).

The Fridays Mobile App helps guests make every minute count by letting them close out their check when they're ready. Available now at the iTunes App Store or Google Play, the Fridays Mobile App lets guests open a tab and pay the bill right from their smart phone.

"By offering delicious new menu options at the right value, Fridays helps guests get more out of their lunch hour," said Brian Gies, Senior Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer. "Combined with the convenience of our mobile payment app, guests are able to lunch better at our restaurants."

To celebrate the launch of the new menu items, Fridays will use the #firsthappyhour Twitter hashtag to capture patrons making the crucial game time decision of where to spend their lunch hour.

Also in March, Fridays will offer appetizer and drink specials for Fat Tuesday, including $5 SoCo Hurricane and $5 Jack Daniels cocktails and appetizers every Tuesday of the month, and will be featuring Green Beer and Irish 'Ritas in celebration of St. Patrick's Day.

About TGI Fridays 

TGI Fridays restaurants have a mission: To help people go out better. Because people deserve to be rewarded with handcrafted quality food and drinks and genuine, personal service when they make time to go out with their friends.   

As the original casual dining bar and grill, TGI Fridays offers authentic American food and legendary drinks. To bring our menu to neighborhoods all over the world, TGI Fridays proudly serves guests with over 900 restaurants in more than 60 countries.  Making every day feel like a Friday wouldn't be possible without creating a place where friends feel free to hang out. That's why TGI Fridays takes pride in its nearly 8,000 skilled and knowledgeable bartenders, all of whom for the past twenty years have competed annually for the title of the "World's greatest TGI Fridays Bartender." 

The Fridays guest recognition program, Give Me More Stripes®, gives our closest friends exclusive insider rewards, events, and sneak peeks.

TGI Fridays believes in having a good time, but also in the importance of drinking responsibly.  Additionally, its Responsible Business Program is focused on positively impacting the communities and neighborhoods it serves.  For more information, visit www.fridays.com.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20060907/DATH025LOGO

SOURCE TGI Fridays