TGI Fridays launch festive menu with two courses from £22 including 'Santa's Smash Burger'

The festive season is upon us and it's time to indulge in seasonal food and drink from pigs in blankets to eggnog, all the way through to the end of December. If you're looking to elevate your traditional Christmas fare, TGI Fridays has just unveiled its holiday menu.

As an American-style restaurant and cocktail bar, the limited-edition dishes have a unique US twist. There are numerous options for cheese enthusiasts, including Merry Cheesy Christmas (cheese-filled doughnuts seasoned with sweet and smoky spices, served with mozzarella dippers and cranberry and chilli jam), as well as Cajun Claus Mac and Cheese, which adds a twist to the classic dish with Cajun spices and more cranberry and chilli jam.

For main courses, Santa's Smashed Burger promises to fill you up - two beef patties with all the trimmings (lettuce, tomato, pickle and more), accompanied by a Cajun cheese sauce, mozzarella dippers and cheese doughnuts. For those who prefer plant-based options, the Very Merry Vegan burger, complete with a vegan patty and vegan cheese, should hit the spot. To round off the meal, TGI Fridays combines two classic festive flavours - chocolate and orange - in a chocolate brownie served with orange sorbet.

But the festive offerings aren't limited to food, with a variety of seasonal drinks also available to get you into the holiday spirit. Options include a Christmas-themed martini infused with Black Forest flavours and a 'Frostbite' cocktail - a blend of spiced rum, pineapple juice, lime and blue curacao, topped with a snowy foam, blue sugar rim and marshmallow garnish, reports the Liverpool Echo.

For younger guests, there's Dasher's Merry Shake - a vanilla and chocolate milkshake designed to resemble a reindeer, inspired by Richard Curtis' forthcoming animated film, That Christmas. A two-course set menu, consisting of an appetiser and main course, is priced at £21.95, while desserts are available separately for £5. In a charitable gesture, £1 from every set menu sold will be donated to the NSPCC.

For those aged 18 and over, there's also the opportunity to participate in an interactive digital game by scanning the TGI Fridays Christmas set menu, with the chance to win a variety of prizes, including free bottles of Coca-Cola or up to £50 off your next bill. While no one has yet posted about the Christmas-themed menu on social media - given that it has only recently been launched - you can gauge general opinions of TGI Fridays from review websites such as Reviews.io.

"TGI's in Stevenage was amazing. The food (Chicken Strips and Chips) were very enjoyable the service was first class too. Would recommend 100%," one satisfied customer remarked. Then another added their praise: "Amazing staff and overall great atmosphere at the TGI Fridays Newport Road Cardiff. Great service."

A third reviewer recalled their experience: "Went to the Resort World location in Birmingham last Thursday and the entire visit was awesome. Great service from start to finish. The meal was excellent, everything hot and fresh, just as it should be. I cannot rate them high enough."

However, experiences seem to differ across the various outlets. One diner explained that 'the food was also a bit slow in coming out', while another shared frustrations about the pace, mentioning: "Service was slow and staff were clearly under pressure."

Aside from TGI Friday's offerings, the festive season boasts numerous other treats. McDonald's has revealed its Christmas menu in the UK and Subway has launched its holiday selection, complete with a special brie toastie.