Wayback Burgers is best known for its cheeseburgers, hot dogs and chicken sandwiches. And while it already offers a veggie burger for customers, its plant-loving patrons now have another choice.
The Cheshire-headquartered company announced this week it is offering a new “Impossible Melt” for the Lenten season.
The new sandwich features a plant-based patty, spicy garlic aioli sauce, Swiss cheese and sautéed onions on a toasted and buttered bun.
Lent arrives with Ash Wednesday on Feb. 26 and culminates with Easter Sunday on April 12.
The company noted that approximately 25 percent of Americans observe Lent, including refraining from eating meat on Ash Wednesday and Fridays during the 40-day season.
Wayback Burgers is offering the Impossible Melt for a limited time, starting on Feb. 26 and until April 10, or while supplies last.
Company President Patrick Conlin said it could become a staple of the menu, based on feedback from guests.
“With the addition of this new product, Wayback Burgers is answering the call of guests who are increasingly adding plant-based alternatives to their diet, and there is no better time than Lent to try a new meatless option,” said Conlin in an announcement.
“While we are excited about the launch of the Impossible Melt, we will never waver from our commitment to our traditional cooked-to-order beef burgers that people still love,” he added.
The company is using patties made by Impossible Foods, a California company that makes meat and dairy-style products from plants.
According to Wayback, the demand for plant-based meat options has been surging, with a nearly 80-percent increase in plant-based burgers being eaten at restaurants, citing the NPD Group.
Several other chains have expanded their menus to appeal to customers who want a non-meat option. Dunkin’ Donuts recently launched its Beyond Sausage Sandwich, while Burger King has its Impossible Whopper, for example.
Wayback Burgers was originally founded in 1991 in Delaware, and has since grown to operate in 30 states and around the globe, with plans for continued expansion. In Connecticut it has 18 locations, including Cheshire, Derby, Hamden, Meriden, Old Saybrook, Orange, Stratford and Waterbury in the New Haven region.
Contact Michelle Tuccitto Sullo at [email protected]
