I've been waiting to sample the new breakfast menu at Wendy's
So there I was on Sunday, stoked to learn that my local Wendy's was finally on the new breakfast program. It didn't hurt that I was feeling pretty hungry at the time, too. However, the choices turned out to be pretty uninspiring.
"The key here," I wrote last year, "will be for Wendy's to find its flagship plate. McDonald's has its McMuffins and McGriddles. BK has its croissant sandwiches, and helped popularize French toast sticks. Wendy's can't just show up with hotcakes and scrambled eggs and expect to make a difference."
There are no hotcakes on the menu, but there is no exclusive pizzazz, either. You've got French toast sticks (like Burger King), hash-brown patties (like McDonald's), and chicken biscuits (like Chik-fil-A). OK, so it's draping its breakfast sandwiches in its tasty Frescata bread. It also offers a Southern temptation with sausage-gravy-soaked biscuits, but even that may be a hard sell for morning commuters who like to chow down as they drive.
Wendy's is still lacking that one signature dish. It's a pity. You would think that, after all its years in bed with Tim Hortons
Wendy's needs to stand out, because it's getting pretty crowded in the early-morning eatery space. It's not just the burger chains or other fast-food joints like Sonic
Don't get me wrong. I enjoyed everything I sampled yesterday at Wendy's. I just think that a little originality is necessary if the chain truly wants to ride the gravy train -- the sausage gravy train -- to a turnaround before it settles for a pittance of a buyout offer.
The morning menu is widening:
- Wendy's announced its breakfast plans in April of 2006.
- Starbucks is following suit.
- Jamba is also getting its morning granola game face on.