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[XiaNaphryz]

http://www.wusa9.com/story/money/bu...ning-restaurants-endless-appetizers/12211381/

There all-you-can eat buffets. No-limit salad bars. And even eat-'til-you-drop dessert bars.

But this may be a first for a national restaurant chain: endless appetizers.

TGI Fridays, whose signature item is arguably its appetizer line, today launches a high-profile but risky "Endless Appetizers" summer promotion that offers all-you-can-eat appetizers for $10 per person. Guests can choose one appetizer from a list of the the chain's most popular starters — including loaded potato skins, boneless buffalo wings and mozzarella sticks — and receive unlimited refills. And while sharing is discouraged, that rule will not be enforced by servers, says Brian Gies, chief marketing officer at Fridays.

"At the end of the day, our servers aren't policemen," says Gies of the promo, which runs through Aug. 24. "We're not going to slap someone's hand if they reach over and share someone else's mozzarella sticks."

The unusual move comes at a time that business at Fridays — and much of the casual-dining industry — has been challenged for years. Many Millennials have moved away from the big casual-dining chains in favor of more esoteric, often-local options or more budget-conscious fast-casual chains, such as Panera or Chipotle.

For 40-year-old Fridays, which was one of the first national singles-bar-with-burgers chains, it's been tough keeping up with the times. The 900-unit global chain was recently sold to the private investment firms Sentinel Capital Partners and TriArtisan Capital Partners for a reported $800 million, even as it tries to update its menu, its stores and its image.

To lure customer back during the tough summer season, Fridays will offer the all-you-can-eat promo of its most popular appetizer selections. One restaurant analyst doubts it will work. "Never ever discount a signature branded item," says Chris Muller, hospitality professor at Boston University. Instead of attracting new business, he says, that typically rewards the frequent guest who already is willing to pay full price, but will gladly take the bargain instead.

The other problem, Muller says, is the guests who will try to take unfair advantage of the promotion.

"The risk comes when a crowd of six, or more, decides to get together and pool their resources, all ordering one item and sharing," he says. "Then it is easy to predict that everyone will order at least six refills each, with plates being passed around."

But that rarely happened when the promo was tested earlier this year in Cincinnati, says Gies. A very small percentage of customers tried anything like that, he says, and traffic and food and drink sales at the restaurant jumped nearly double-digits during the promotion.

Even then, says Gies, Fridays will respect whatever tack customers take — even if it bends the rules of the promotion. "No one should be embarrassed for coming into Fridays and ordering whatever they want to order," he says. "They will not be bawled out. There will be no policing or hand-slapping."

 

[Delta Assault]

Welp.

Somebody post that nfl dude jpg.

 

[DMczaf]

So this is how it ends...

 

[Halo 2]

Who wants to go?

*drool*

 

[cartoon_soldier]

They didn't learn from Red Lobster huh?

 

[Sub_Level]

krispy kream, ihop, wendys bringing back pretzel burger

I am fucking legit crying right now. This is so good.

 

[Gouty]

But you only get one item?

 

[jwk94]

So IHOP, Krispy Kreme, and now TGI Fridays? We just need some drink place to offer a deal on drinks and we've got a whole day's meal!

 

[Mammoth Jones]

I'd do this if they didn't serve really watered-down drinks. Takes forever to get a buzz off their pre-measured drinks.

 

[mackattk]

But you only get one item?

Yeah kind of kills the deal for me. Only thing I would might think about getting is the boneless wings, everything else I would get sick of after the first serving.

 

[EightBitNate]

$10 for unlimited buffalo wings?

Shit.

 

[FTF]

Yeah kind of kills the deal for me. Only thing I would might think about getting is the boneless wings, everything else I would get sick of after the first serving.

Go with like 3 friends, each get something different, each get it 3 times, 4 different apps 3 times, share galore, each only $3.33. Only way this really pays off. (Plus get the variety)

$10 for unlimited buffalo wings?

Shit.

Damn, yeah $10 for unlimited Jack Daniel's chicken strips...welp yup I'm going to Fridays. (I haven't been there in years, they still have these right???)

 

[hawkshockey11]

just in time for training camp

 

[jackie jormp-jomp]

or more budget-conscious fast-casual chains, such as Panera or Chipotle.

HA

 

[TheMan]

They are going to regret this. And the poor servers will suffer the most.

 

[speculawyer]

Well that sounds like a bad idea for all involved.

 

[potam]

Fuuuuuuuuck. I don't even know how long it's been since I've set foot in a TGIF, but I'm gonna find one and make sure to binge.

 

[HUELEN10]

Welp, time to fast for 3 days to make room for 100 mozzarella sticks.

 

[jadedm17]

My friends have been sharing their collective moans on this over Facebook since they - as I used to for two years - are servers at Fridays. Now while endless anything means lowers checks and far more work this is always an unwelcome thing the real concern is how where they're located is full of ghetto trash that cut you off when you greet them, usually smell like they're made of marijuana and will order a meal they've had dozens of times then complain it taste gross to get it compeer so they can come back next week to eat free.

For reference do you remember that ranting racist from Cheektowaga, NY a few weeks ago? Her actions are out of line but working in that town will make the nicest person think those things.

This will truely be a nightmare.

Sidenotes: They have JD strips - that sauce is the sole reason they're still in business - but that stuff is hardly ever part of their promotions.
Also their drinks cant be watered down and premeasured, pick one. Its the latter btw and they're still plenty strong especially the long islands. Get to know the bartender's and you'll probably get better deals: Ive never known a chain restaurant bartender that wont take care of a regular who tips.

 

[XiaNaphryz]

Welp, time to fast for 3 days to make room for 100 mozzarella sticks.

Someone is going to come up with some insane eating challenge due to this promotion to post on Youtube.

 

[Fatal Futanari]

Oh lawd....looks like I will be going to TGIF for Happy Hour more often this summer

 

[The Adder]

For reference do you remember that ranting racist from Cheektowaga, NY a few weeks ago? Her actions are out of line but working in that town will make the nicest person think those things.

Don't type this shit.

 

[Crayons]

All of these nice restaurant deals but no one to eat with :c

 

[jwk94]

All of these nice restaurant deals but no one to eat with :c

I know that pain. =/

 

[CrankyJay]

My friends have been sharing their collective moans on this over Facebook since they - as I used to for two years - are servers at Fridays. Now while endless anything means lowers checks and far more work this is always an unwelcome thing the real concern is how where they're located is full of ghetto trash that cut you off when you greet them, usually smell like they're made of marijuana and will order a meal they've had dozens of times then complain it taste gross to get it compeer so they can come back next week to eat free.

For reference do you remember that ranting racist from Cheektowaga, NY a few weeks ago? Her actions are out of line but working in that town will make the nicest person think those things.

This will truely be a nightmare.

Sidenotes: They have JD strips - that sauce is the sole reason they're still in business - but that stuff is hardly ever part of their promotions.
Also their drinks cant be watered down and premeasured, pick one. Its the latter btw and they're still plenty strong especially the long islands. Get to know the bartender's and you'll probably get better deals: Ive never known a chain restaurant bartender that wont take care of a regular who tips.

Cool, which Fridays in Buffalo are in you and your friends in so I can fuck you over on unlimited orders and smack you upside your head for posting this shit?

The one on Walden Ave near the Galleria? Cya this summer!

 

[Alchemy]

Not being able to eat any of these because of allergies and being on a diet... but god damn does this make me hungry.

 

[LycanXIII]

Hitting up my friends and going tonight.

 

[SloaneRisette]

Man... mozzarella sticks sound pretty dang nice...

 

[johnny_park]

They should limit it to one per table.

 

[jadedm17]

Don't type this shit.

Its the truth and its hard not to think that when a lot of time you'd lose money taking care of some tables that all happened to share one common factor. Ive never let it effect how I treat an individual but I know this will be the root of a lot of new headaches for some of my friends.

Cool, which Fridays in Buffalo are in you and your friends in so I can fuck you over on unlimited orders and smack you upside your head for posting this shit?

The one on Walden Ave near the Galleria? Cya this summer!

I don't anymore and I promise you they deal with enough shit every single day they work there. Go in after 9PM and just observe. Factually speaking it made the nicest people racist even the other African American servers. Seriously, ask them.

 

[potam]

someone hook up a list of the appetizers? Their site is dead

 

[ItIsOkBro]

someone hook up a list of the appetizers? Their site is dead

Loaded Potato Skins
Pan-Seared Pot Stickers
Mozzarella Sticks
Garlic & Basil Bruschetta
Tuscan Spinach Dip
Boneless Buffalo Wings
Crispy Green Bean Fries

tl;dr list:
Loaded Potato Skins
Boneless Buffalo Wings

 

[The Adder]

Its the truth and its hard not to think that when a lot of time you'd lose money taking care of some tables that all happened to share one common factor. Ive never let it effect how I treat an individual but I know this will be the root of a lot of new headaches for some of my friends.



I don't anymore and I promise you they deal with enough shit every single day they work there. Go in after 9PM and just observe. Factually speaking it made the nicest people racist even the other African American servers. Seriously, ask them.

Don't type this shit.

 

[Gouty]

Hitting up my friends and going tonight.

But why? If you're going to rally the troops, why not just spend an extra $5 at a real restaurant and get a terrific meal together instead of a shameful, struggle pot luck comprised of frozen isle run offs.

 

[CrankyJay]

I don't anymore and I promise you they deal with enough shit every single day they work there. Go in after 9PM and just observe. Factually speaking it made the nicest people racist even the other African American servers. Seriously, ask them.

I'm fairly certain it's because that location is about a mile from the city limits where the socio-economic conditions are driving people to a restaurant that offers food at a price point they can sometimes afford, and not so much race.

 

[Konka]

But why? If you're going to rally the troops, why not just spend an extra $5 at a real restaurant and get a terrific meal together instead of a shameful, struggle pot luck comprised of frozen isle run offs.

Because getting a terrific meal and stuffing your face aren't even remotely the same concepts. And where are you getting a terrific sit down meal for $15?

 

[terrisus]

Spoiler

(Alright, they probably don't have a runway next to their stores... Ah well, car it is then)

 

[Vyrance]

$10 for unlimited buffalo wings?

Shit.

I'm with you here. Dayum.

 

[Gouty]

Because getting a terrific meal and stuffing your face aren't even remotely the same concepts. And where are you getting a terrific sit down meal for $15?

Anywhere?

Keep in mind that $15 doesn't include drinks or the tip but neither does the $10 all you can microwave sodium parade.

 

[Bel Marduk]

This is a terrible idea. I feel really sorry for the people who have to work at TGI Fridays and serve endless appetizers to gluttons during an obesity epidemic.

 

[Konka]

Anywhere?

Keep in mind that $15 doesn't include drinks or the tip but neither does the $10 all you can microwave sodium parade.

Anywhere? I think we have different ideas of what a terrific meal would be.

 

[CrankyJay]

This is a terrible idea. I feel really sorry for the people who have to work at TGI Fridays and serve endless appetizers to gluttons during an obesity epidemic.

Maybe they should actually concentrate making food people will want to come back for, even in the summer instead of make or break gimmicks.

Whoever came up with this idea is probably the same person who thought Guy Fieri could save them.
http://youtu.be/WuY3YgRF9Xc

 

[BladeoftheImmortal]

$10 for unlimited buffalo wings?

Shit.

Can take your sister out for a proper meal, now.

 

[terrisus]

But why? If you're going to rally the troops, why not just spend an extra $5 at a real restaurant and get a terrific meal together instead of a shameful, struggle pot luck comprised of frozen isle run offs.

Anywhere?

Keep in mind that $15 doesn't include drinks or the tip but neither does the $10 all you can microwave sodium parade.

If two people combined their resources, they could get a really good meal.

 

[SeanR1221]

Everyone afraid of panera and chipotle huh?

 

[Speevy]

How the hell did a thread about appetizers become about race

It's like how do you make that leap.

 

[The Adder]

How the hell did a thread about appetizers become about race

It's like how do you make that leap.

When you're just dying to point out "the problems with the African American community" you'll take any opportunity.

 

[BigJonsson]

Insane

 

[rocketskates]

If two people combined their resources, they could get a really good meal.

Dem's sum good eats yo.

A feast.

 

[Conor_Fool]

May have to go and get endless wings. But eh.... I could get 16 wings from Buffalo Wild Wings on 60cent wing days for cheaper than $10 so this actually doesn't seem like the greatest deal.