Sweetgreen, the fast-casual restaurant brand with locations on Long Island, is launching a line of “protein plates.”
This marks the first new entrée category for the company in three years.
The new entrees feature hearty cuts of protein roasted in olive oil, and served with nutritious grains. They include miso-glazed salmon, herb-roasted chicken and more.
Sweetgreens is offering the new items in response to a 2022 pilot study that found that 75% of those surveyed said that they felt strongly that menu offerings outside of salads and bowls would increase their frequency at dinner.
In addition, the Los Angeles-based company has announced that, for its cooking oil, it will use only extra virgin olive oil, in preparing all proteins, grains and vegetables. Sweetgreens is partnering with Bari Olive Oil Company. Founded in 1936 in California, Bari’s olives “are milled within 24 hours of harvest,” according to Nation’s Restaurant News. The switch to extra virgin olive oil is good news for diners who want to avoid seed oils for health reasons.
The restaurant’s new miso-glazed salmon dish is modeled after a deconstructed sushi roll, in which the salmon is served on a bed of nori-seasoned white rice complemented with pickled onions, cucumbers and half an avocado topped with crispy onions and the brand’s spicy cashew sauce.
The southwest chicken fajita dish features a new herb-roasted chicken, served with fajita veggies, shredded cabbage, a double portion of white rice with umami seasoning, and black beans for additional protein and topped with the brand’s lime cilantro jalapeño vinaigrette and a drizzle of crema.
The hot-honey chicken dish was first introduced in a menu pilot a few years back. It now features herb-roasted chicken, accompanied by a double serving of herbed quinoa, warm-roasted sweet potatoes and veggie slaw, topped with crispy onions and a side of hot honey mustard dressing.
On Long Island, the restaurant has locations in Garden City, Woodbury and Huntington Station. The restaurant also has locations in New York City, and in states across the country.
Adina Genn
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