Dive Brief:
- Dave & Buster’s debuted a new menu with nearly 100 food and beverage items, the company said in an emailed press release.
- The new menu includes fan favorites like Lacy’s Chicken, Mountain O’Nachos, Bistro Steak & Shrimp Alfredo Linguine and Triple Layer Chocolate Cake, as well as new sharable plates, entrees and desserts.
- The new menu is one of the biggest moves being made under recently appointed CEO Tarun Lal, who joined the chain in July after a stint as KFC U.S. president.
Dive Insight:
Dave & Buster’s has been testing its new menu for some time and has seen decent check growth as a result, CFO Darin Harper said during a September earnings call. Harper added that the check growth isn’t because of price, but because guests are ordering entrees and other menu items.
This menu overhaul is much more significant than the chain’s last update in April 2024, when Dave & Buster’s revamped 20 premium food and drink items.
The new menu includes Dave & Buster’s Eat & Play Combo that starts at $19.99 for an entree and a $10 Power Card, which is part of the eatertainment’s strategy to boost its value offerings. That offer is also included on a kiosk for ordering games that is helping drive strong attachment rates with guests that originally intended to just do gaming, Harper said. The chain is offering an unlimited game play for $59.99, giving guests the opportunity to win up to 1,500 tickets.
Dave & Buster’s, which posted comparable sales declines of 3% during fiscal Q2 2025, has been working on a turnaround strategy that includes not just a back-to-basics menu but also simplified marketing and the return of television ads presenting a more simplified value message, Lal said. The chain is working to improve operations to provide a better guest experience and refresh its game offerings midway each year, he added. It is revamping its remodel program with a new prototype as well.
