Taco Bell Taking Chances With New Menu Items

We get to Taco Bell occasionally. The home haul is almost always the same. Burritos make it in the bag as well as soft tacos and quesadilla. Taco Bell is taking chances with new menu items. See how these new potential choices grab you.

According to our source, The Charlotte Observer, Taco Bell has always been aware that they serve customers outside "traditional" meal hours. This is giving me flashbacks of those late night stops on the way home from the club.  Taco Bell knows this and apparently I am not the only one.  They have leaned into the notion that they are a fourth meal place. In other words a late night "bad" choice late at night when they have already had dinner.

Now the chain just may give Starbucks a run for their money. Would you try a frozen coffee beverage from Taco Bell. Well, I just might. Right now, Coffee Chillers are being tested at a few locations in California only. The chain is offering Coffee Chillers and Churro Chillers starting December 15th. Taco Bell is taking chances with new menu items.

Right now you can get coffee and iced coffees anywhere in the country. You may have noticed a partnership with Cinnabon so that you can get their distinct flavors in the coffee and iced coffee. Chew Boom reports in the Charlotte Observer,“The Coffee Chiller is served in a 16-oz cup that’s swirled with flavor on the inside, filled with blended iced coffee and topped with a layer of cold foam, available in Mexican Chocolate, Caramel Churro and Spiced Vanilla,”.

Will we see the Coffee Chiller and Churro chiller in the Charlotte, North Carolina area anytime soon? Taco Bell is taking chances with these proposed new menu items. That all depends on the testing that is about to start. If the idea takes off, Taco Bell will surely roll out the frozen coffee nationwide. To learn more get details here from The Charlotte Observer.

Do you have plans for Christmas Day this year? Well, tons of people are planning for their holiday dinner this year. Sometimes we want to be able to travel to a special family member's house or go out of town to visit those we don't see often. But, what about those who may not want to cook their own food? Some families don't have a lot of people to gather around a table and would rather have a small, quaint dinner. Then there are those larger families who just prefer not to cook at all.

Well, there are a few Charlotte restaurants that are allowing you to book your reservation for Christmas Day now. A few fine dining restaurants and some casual spots are allowing you to dine in on Christmas Day. You never know how busy times may get, so you may want to book your reservation early. Check out the full list below of some of the Charlotte restaurants open on Christmas Day. You can book your Christmas Day reservations NOW.

Starting off with a pretty popular local eatery in the Uptown area of Charlotte. Chima Steakhouse has a few Christmas Day reservations available for those not wanting to cook their own food for the holidays. Enjoy tons of food options such as seafood salad, a chima burger, lamb chops, chicken skewers, and more all on Christmas Day.

Here is another steakhouse that you may want to check out for Christmas Day. Dean's Italian Steakhouse is another elegant steakhouse that has reservations opened that day. Enjoy elegant and classic flavors such as prime steaks, homemade pastas, salads, and sweet Italian desserts. Sit dine and enjoy small talk over a plate of food you didn't have to sweat to make and enjoy the special holiday.

Up next is a spot pretty special to my heart, it's 204 North Kitchen & Cocktails in Uptown Charlotte. This is one of the first restaurants I tried when I first moved to Charlotte and the food is quite amazing. You have so many tasty small plate options, entrees, special cocktails, desserts, and a great ambiance to enjoy.

Head to McCormick & Schmick's that has multiple locations in the Charlotte area with reservations available. If you're looking for some great seafood to enjoy Christmas Day (like me) then this might be a perfect option for you. Enjoy beer battered fish & chips, buttermilk fried shrimp, crab cake sandwich, oysters, calamari, and more. 

Sounds like the steakhouses are where you need to be this Christmas, maybe? Now, we're talking about STK Steakhouse up next. Some may have already tried out this spot and others have been looking for the chance to give it a taste. Well, Christmas Day might be a good starter. Enjoy options like short rib, salmon, ribeye, lamb rack, and more.

More seafood, but an oyster bar is a great place to go. Caroline Oyster's Bar is bringing coastal seafood to Charlotte to enjoy on the patio or in the dining room. Reservations are open for Christmas Day so you can grab a great bite to eat. Enjoy BBQ shrimp, oyster Rockefeller, pimento fritters, wagyu burger, scallops, fish and chips, and more!

Ever had Japanese BBQ for Christmas dinner? Not I, but if you're looking for somewhere to go then you might have a spot to check out. Gyu-Kaku is serving up Japanese BBQ to help those who don't want to cook for Christmas Day. Enjoy options such as miso soup, dumplings, spicy tofu, and tons of BBQ meat options.