Nation’s Restaurant News Announces MenuMasters Winners for 2023

Nation’s Restaurant News, in collaboration with Ventura Foods, recently unveiled the winners of this year’s MenuMasters awards to honor “outstanding foodservice research and development.” NRN scoured the food service industry to find those brands and people who have made innovations or created game-changing menu items over the past year.

This year’s winners, who will be celebrated at a gala awards ceremony at The Drake Hotel in Chicago on May 20, include:

• Best New Menu Item - Wagyu Steakhouse Burger, Arby’s

• Best Line Extension - Flatbreads, Twin Peaks

• Best Limited Time Offer - Lambda Lambda Burger, Hopdoddy Burger Bar

• Healthful Innovations - Roasted Garlic Cauliflower, The Habit Burger Grill

• Best Menu Revamp - Friendly’s

• Digital Innovation - Virtual Dining Concepts

• Innovator of the Year - Erick Williams, the chef and owner of Virtue Restaurant & Bar in Chicago

• Hall of Fame Inductee - Lidia Bastianich, Emmy award-winning television host, best-selling cookbook author and restaurateur.

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, menu innovation has become a leading trend in the restaurant industry, not only because it allows brands to keep up with the ever-changing preferences of consumers, but also because it helps operators adapt to ongoing industry challenges, such as increased food costs, inflationary pressures, labor shortages, supply chain disruptions and more.