10 Discontinued Restaurant Dishes You Totally Forgot About
It's always a sad day when a chain restaurant decides to remove an item off the menu. Whether it's done secretly or you've had some time to squeeze in those last few orders before you had to say goodbye forever, it never really eases the blow of losing a beloved meal option. But over time, you then add new menu items to your list of favorites and soon enough, these discontinued restaurant dishes become distant memories.
Well, who doesn't love a little nostalgia? We took it upon ourselves to take a trip down memory lane and look back on discontinued restaurant and fast-food dishes you likely completely forgot about by now. Let's take a moment to reflect on these long-lost menu options. And for more, check out these 15 Old-Fashioned American Desserts That Deserve a Comeback.
Olive Garden's Chicken Alfredo Spaghetti Pie
Olive Garden went ahead and decided to introduce the world to its Chicken Alfredo Spaghetti Pie in 2016. This decadent dish was made up of spaghetti, seven cheeses, and bacon topped with grilled chicken and Alfredo sauce. Talk about an overload! It's safe to say this is one dish that's perhaps better left forgotten…
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Taco Bell's Waffle Taco
Taco Bell created the Waffle Taco in 2014, as the chain made its way into the fast-food breakfast game. This menu item is exactly what you expected it to be—a sausage patty or bacon, scrambled eggs, and cheese were all wrapped up into a warm waffle, alongside some syrup, too. Its stay was brief, as it only lasted for a year and was nixed in 2015, making room for the debut of the Biscuit Taco.
McDonald's Snack Wraps
Oh, the Snack Wraps. Back in 2007, these mini wraps made their way onto McDonald's menus. They were fairly simple: just a piece of crispy or grilled chicken, cheddar jack cheese, lettuce, and ranch or honey mustard wrapped in a soft flour tortilla. McDonald's wraps would then go on to take on different styles over the years but now, they're another casualty of Mickey D items you can't order anymore. These original Snack Wraps, though, are the menu items that started that trend.
IHOP's Stuffed French Toast
IHOP's menu is constantly being updated, as the pancake chain is known for its seasonal menu items. You'll be able to always find some classic items such as French toast, waffles, and of course, pancakes. This is why you might have forgotten the fact the stuffed French toast is no longer available.
Denny's Fried Cheese Melt
Denny's introduced the Fried Cheese Melt on its value menu back in 2010, and it did make quite an impression. This sandwich was packing more than 800 calories, as it was made up of four fried mozzarella sticks and melted American cheese that were grilled between two slices of sourdough bread. Not necessarily the best for you, nutritionally speaking! Denny's quietly got rid of this sandwich but is still offering up the Mega Philly Cheese Melt.
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UNO Pizzeria & Grill's Whole Hog Burger
The Whole Hog Burger at UNO made waves when it made its debut, and it's still sometimes whispered about, as if it's a piece of restaurant folklore. "Did that burger really exist?" Well, yes it did. The burger was made up of four types of meat—bacon, burger patty, pepperoni, prosciutto, and sausage—and four types of cheeses—American, cheddar, mozzarella, and Swiss—plus garlic mayonnaise, pickles, French fries, and onion rings. It's no wonder it seemed to leave as quickly as it arrived!
Applebee's Sriracha Shrimp
If you're not a frequent Applebee's diner, you might not have realized the chain restaurant axed the Sriracha Shrimp appetizer in 2018.
Chili's Flatbread
Chili's introduced flatbreads to its menu back in 2013. Diners were able to choose from the Margherita, Chipotle Chicken, and California Grilled Chicken Flatbreads, and who doesn't enjoy a thin and crispy take on a pizza? Well, this magic didn't last forever and Chili's removed these flatbreads, much to customers' surprise. Let us be sure to not forget them.
IHOP's Banana Nutella Crepes
IHOP strikes again. The chain went ahead and shrunk its menu in 2020, quietly removing the Banana Nutella Crepes.
Applebee's Grilled Chicken Wonton Tacos
This Applebee's menu item was yet another causality of the great menu shrinkage of 2020. Tons of chain restaurants minimized menus during the pandemic, so you might not have realized that the chicken wonton tacos are no longer available. Currently, it's unclear if the longtime menu staple dish will ever return. We shall remember it fondly.
