"arbys" news and stories

Arby's used to pride itself solely on its signature item -- the roast beef sandwich, and all its variations thereof -- but let's not forget that they also serve chicken, as well as salads and deli-style sandwiches. These days, their menu is quite diverse for a fast food chain -- much like their sibling restaurant chain Wendy's -- which they celebrate in song with their kitschy new jingle "Good Mood Food." However, there should be a disclaimer at the bottom of their ads which reads, "*Does not necessarily put you in a good mood," because sometimes their food just gets you full without really doing anything to your emotional state. Such is the case with the new Jr. Buffalo Chicken Sandwich. Here's how it rates:

The Claims: Arby's Jr. Buffalo Chicken Sandwich, a new addition to their Value Menu, is "value sized crispy tender all white-meat chicken," topped with shredded lettuce and Buffalo sauce on a toasted sesame seed bun. (Approx. 340 calories.)

The Price:$1.29. (Prices may vary at participating locations.)

Get our verdict after the jump.

It's Tax Day (well, ok, Tax Weekend, since you have until Monday the 18th to file). Restaurants around the country want you to know they feel your pain as you fill out your 1040. Tax Day and Tax Weekend deals on food, from Cinnabon (free Cinnabon Bites from 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday) to RA Sushi (extended "Magic Monday" happy hour), will keep you chewing on more than your fingernails as you cut that check to the IRS. Or give you more ways to spend your refund.

Arby's is declaring today Free FryDay (Curly Fries giveaway after printing a coupon from its Facebook page)

At Hooters, buy 10 wings and get 10 free.

Subway is offering an extended "tax break": buy one Footlong and get one free, through April 29.

Get the whole story at Nation's Restaurant News, where there's a full line-up of the giveaways and deals.

Arby's is known for their roast beef sandwiches, and now, like other chains before them, they are jumping on the Angus beef bandwagon -- that breed of cattle whose name has become associated with leaner, tastier, and higher-quality meat. This is good news for the carnivores out there, especially since the Angus beef is sliced and piled into a sandwich with bacon and three types of cheese. Here's how Arby's new Angus Three Cheese & Bacon sandwich rates:

The Claims: The Angus Three Cheese & Bacon sandwich contains USDA Choice Black Angus beef, slow-roasted with a rub of garlic and onions, sliced fresh in the store, and piled onto an Italian roll. The roast beef is draped with slices of Swiss cheese, and topped with shredded cheddar, a Parmesan peppercorn ranch sauce, and thick-cut, pepper-spiced bacon. (660 calories sans condiments)

The Price: $4.99.

Despite all the hullaballoo over carbon footprints and "green" building design, The DailyGreen recently pointed out that there are only 38 restaurants in the U.S. that have so far received LEED certification (an internationally recognized certification that stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). Thirty-eight in the whole country? That's a pretty paltry amount, given that, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are more than a half-million eating and drinking places in the country. Even more surprising is that 40 percent of those LEED-certified establishments are chain restaurants. Who made the list? Sandwich chain Subway currently has one LEED-certified restaurant in Chapel Hill, N.C; and burger-meister Arby's has a green building in Magnolia, Texas.

The raw food movement may be getting plenty of attention these days, but it's been practiced by people for millennia -- from the first caveman who bit into an uncooked, prehistoric McRib before fire was invented, to celebrity raw food diet-endorsing Demi Moore, who has been munching on raw vegetables since before Ashton Kutcher was invented.

Fast-food chains haven't really embraced raw foods (other than their salads) but that doesn't mean you can't pretend things are raw. For this mock recipe, we're making a faux beef carpaccio – and what classier place to get our freshly sliced beef than the fast-food home of roast beef sandwiches.