Introduction
Texas Roadhouse is famous for steak. Now it serves pasta too. The chain added Chicken Alfredo Pasta to more than 600 restaurants. Some fans love the new dish. Others are not happy at all. They say pasta does not belong at a steakhouse. That split is why people are talking about it. McDonald’s Sales Grow as more people eat out, too.
What Happened
The new dish is simple. It starts with penne pasta in a creamy Parmesan sauce. Penne is a short tube-shaped pasta. The dish is topped with grilled chicken and crispy bacon bits. It comes with a choice of one side. The chain tested the pasta in a small number of stores first. Guests and staff liked it. So the chain rolled it out to more than 600 locations. About 100 locations still do not have it. The chain plans to finish the rollout by spring 2027. Bosses shared the news on the company’s third-quarter earnings call on November 5.
Why People Are Talking About It
Fans online are split into two camps. One camp is happy to have a new choice. They like that the menu has something different. The other camp thinks a steakhouse should stick to steak. They joke about ordering pasta where the rolls and steaks are the stars. The company’s own bosses are calm about it. Michael Bailen is a vice president at the company. He said the pasta is probably not going to be a top 10 dish. But he said it rounds out the menu. The chain also tests new nonalcoholic drinks. They are called energizer drinks. They are tested across its three brands: Texas Roadhouse, Bubba’s 33 and Jaggers.
What Happens Next
More locations will add the pasta in the coming months. The full rollout should be done by spring 2027. The chain also plans to open about 35 new restaurants across its brands in 2026. It plans 35 more in 2027. Sales and visits got stronger each week in October. That trend carried into early November. The pasta is a small part of a bigger menu test. If guests keep ordering it, it stays. If not, it may fade away.
Final Thoughts
A steakhouse selling pasta sounds strange at first. But chains test new dishes all the time. Some work and some do not. This one has already reached 600 stores. That is a big test. Fans will decide with their orders. The debate online is half the fun.
Disclaimer: This article is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.
Sources: Nation’s Restaurant News; Motley Fool.