Summer Menu Hits Mendocino Farms Locations This Week

Mendocino Farms is rolling out a limited-time summer menu on June 2, featuring three new seasonal dishes developed by Executive Chef Jeremy Bringardner. The timing coincides with the chain's push toward opening its 100th location in Santa Barbara, California, later this month.

The "Adventure Tastes Like This" menu marks another chapter in the Los Angeles-based chain's expansion trajectory. The company operates 90+ locations across Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Texas, and Washington.

What's on the Menu

The three new offerings are:

Heirloom BLT — Heirloom tomatoes, applewood smoked bacon, habanero honey, mayo, arugula, and toasted sourdough.

Tuscan Pesto Salad — Chicken, sweet-hot peppers, vine-ripened cherry tomatoes, seasoned chickpeas, red onion, basil pesto, parmesan, herb krispies, romaine, kale, and basil-dijon vinaigrette.

Seasonal GOAT with Summer Peach — Chicken, house-seasoned marinated goat cheese, honey roasted almonds, peaches, shaved fennel, pickled red onions, fresh mint, romaine, kale mixed greens, farmhouse vinaigrette, and hot citrus honey. (Gluten-free.)

Chef's Rationale

Bringardner described the menu's strategic timing: "This menu was inspired by the kinds of flavors and moments people crave this time of year for picnic lunches, coastal getaways, or dining outdoors with friends. Fresh ingredients are at their peak, making summer the perfect season for bold flavors. From our peachy seasonal GOAT to a Tuscan-inspired pesto salad and the return of our heirloom BLT, these dishes are designed to feel unmistakably summer."

He added: "Whether guests are heading out on a road trip or stopping in after a beach day, these dishes capture the feeling of summer in a uniquely Mendo way."

Why It Matters

For restaurant operators, Mendocino Farms' seasonal menu strategy reflects broader industry trends: limited-time offerings drive traffic and test new flavor profiles without permanent SKU additions. The chain's rapid expansion to 100 locations demonstrates sustained demand for elevated fast-casual sandwiches and salads—a segment that continues to attract investment despite intense competition in QSR. Watching how this growth trajectory plays out through summer will signal whether the brand's positioning has legs beyond its California heartland.

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Written by FBM Publications Editors