Three new items recently debuted on menus at Arby’s, McDonald’s and Potbelly. We were happy to find three nice surprises. Here’s how each fared in a taste test.
Angus Three Cheese & Bacon
Where:
Arby’s
Ad copy:
“Wow! The one sandwich that makes everyone happy.”
Our take:
Arby’s new line of “Angus” roast beef is an upgrade from its usual blandly colored roast beef. In any case, it tastes terrific: moist slices of beef with hints of pink, meager offerings of pepper-crusted bacon and a gooey hybrid of Swiss, cheddar, parmesan cheeses and peppercorn ranch. The Italian submarine-style roll is crisp and flaky.
Nutritional facts:
660 calories, 33 g fat, 1,810 mg sodium
McGrade: A-
McCafe Mango Pineapple Real Fruit Smoothies
Where:
McDonald’s
Ad copy:
“It’s the ultimate cool-me-down — sweet mango and juicy pineapple blended with creamy low fat yogurt and ice.”
Our take: Smooth on the intake, cool, ideal balance of sweet and tart without either being cloying. Added bonus: I watched the smoothie maker blend my drink behind the counter, Jamba Juice-style. So it’s not some prefabricated juice mix. Tastes of summer.
Nutritional facts:
270 calories, 1.5 g fat, 60 g sugar in the 16-ounce “medium”
McGrade: A
Waldorf salad
Where:
Potbelly
Ad copy: “All salads are made to order with all-natural grilled chicken, served on fresh lettuce with your choice of dressing.”
Our take:
A base of lettuce that’s more romaine than iceberg, red grapes, diced apples, dried cranberries, diced red onions, then topped with a chicken salad that’s thankfully light on the mayo. The creamy white wine vinaigrette (there are four other dressing options) was tangy and serviceable. It’s just a salad.
Nutritional facts:
(with creamy vinaigrette) 952 calories, 68 g fat, 1,124 mg sodium
McGrade: B
Twitter @kevinthepang
