Newk’s Eatery is ramping up its signature, culinary-driven menu with summer salads that are all about the super fresh, the super flavorful, and the superfoods. Starting May 18, the fast-casual brand will be introducing a batch of new entrées, including the brand new, superfood-packed Red Quinoa and Kale Salad, as well as the return of the Red, White, and Blueberry Salad. Newk’s will also be extending the run of two salads from its premium seafood line through the summer with the Ahi Tuna Salad and the Shrimp and Avocado Salad.
“Our vibrant summer salad offerings capture the feel of the season and provide healthy meal options that still excite the taste buds,” says Chris Newcomb, founder and CEO of Newk’s Eatery. “Our salads’ finely selected ingredients, featuring a mix of nutrient-heavy superfoods, sushi-grade Ahi Tuna, and flavor-rich homemade dressings, boast bold flavor profiles rivaled only by their wellness benefits.”
Newk’s summer menu makes superfoods front and center with its limited time Red Quinoa and Kale Salad. The salad is enriched with three superfoods: julienned kale, red quinoa, and sweet dried cranberries, tossed with a mix of edamame and pecans and topped with a drizzle of Newk’s handmade apricot ginger vinaigrette. Newk’s peels and minces the ginger for the salad’s dressing in-house to ensure optimal freshness and spice, fusing the zesty ginger with apricot jam, diced red onion, rice wine vinegar, and extra virgin olive oil. Newk’s is expanding its superfood offerings further with the return of the Red, White, and Blueberry Salad, a guest favorite featuring two popular superfoods — spinach and blueberries — along with fresh-cut watermelon and ripe strawberries, dressed with feta cheese, pecans, and fat-free raspberry vinaigrette. Both super salads will be listed on Newk’s 600 Calorie Menu.
“Healthful food options are a primary concern for a majority of people today,” says Alan Wright, VP of marketing and franchise operations. “When people think of fast-casual eating, most no longer think of the type of high-calorie, processed food that once characterized the industry. Instead fresh, innovative dishes are what guests have come to expect and crave, and we are working to translate these cravings into delicious entrées that speak to guests’ wellness goals, relying heavily on superfoods, superfruits, and dark greens.”
Guests will also be able to enjoy both the Ahi Tuna Salad and Shrimp and Avocado Salad, along with the Ahi Tuna Sandwich, through the summer following the success of the premium seafood menu after its February debut. Earning 30 percent of Newk’s profits in the salad category, these fresh seafood salads have quickly become guest favorites. The Ahi Tuna Salad features flash-seared Ahi Tuna steak on top of a bed of spring mix greens, tossed with cucumbers, grape tomatoes, radishes, carrots, and Newk’s house-made ginger wasabi dressing. The Shrimp and Avocado Salad boasts a dozen whole broiled shrimp served with fresh arugula, grape tomatoes, green onions, diced avocado, and Feta cheese, tossed with handcrafted lemon basil vinaigrette dressing.
The Red Quinoa and Kale Salad will be priced at $9.99 and the Red, White, and Blueberry Salad for $8.99, while the Ahi Tuna Salad will be sold for $12.99 and the Shrimp and Avocado Salad for $10.99. Newk’s summer menu will also feature the Pesto Chicken Salad Sandwich for $7.99, Chicken Parmesan Sandwich for $7.69, and Thai Chicken Pizza for $8.99. The fast-casual restaurant is finishing out its summer menu by bringing on board a Southern favorite, offering freshly brewed iced peach tea for a refreshing, fruity pick-me-up on a hot summer’s day that pairs well with the restaurant’s sweet and spicy entrées.
The Jackson, Mississippi-based Newk’s Eatery has nearly 80 locations in 13 states. Newk’s is featured on Technomic’s list of top 50 fast casual chains nationwide.
