T.G.I. Friday's Buzz... Nutritionals EXPOSED!

Healthier_Me

Oh, yikes! Thanks to the on-again, off-again NYC law, all the calorie counts are now listed on the menus at T.G.I. Friday's locations in Manhattan. We're in Los Angeles, but our pal swiped a menu for us (thanks, Jenny!). Here are some highlights...

Salad Shock! Sure there are crazy-high-cal salads on the menu (hello, 1,360-calorie Pecan-Crusted Chicken Salad), but the REAL shock comes from the dressing stats themselves. There's Low Fat Cilantro Lime (160 calories), Italian (280 calories), House Vinaigrette (330 calories), Honey Mustard (470 calories!), Ranch (480 calories!!), Bleu Cheese (490 calories!!!), and -- brace yourselves -- Balsamic Vinaigrette (590 calories!!!!).

Typo, T.G.I? One thing we're a little skeptical about is the stats on their Classic Sirloin. While the other 8-ounce and 12-ounce steaks have around 750 calories each, the 10-oz. Classic Sirloin is listed as having 290 calories. We know sirloin is lean, but unless there's a 5-oz. bone in it, there's no CHANCE that thing has 290 calories!

Top Shockers! All the stuff you'd expect to be HORRENDOUSLY over-caloried IS. But, here are some surprising stats that are pretty darn awful...

Cherry Limeade Slush - 510 calories!
Bowl of Broccoli Cheese Soup - 540 calories!
Side order of "loaded" Mashed Potatoes (with bacon and extra cheese) - 960 calories!
Jack Daniel's Ribs & Shrimp - 1,910 calories!

Best Bets! Stick with their "Lighter Side" selections (labeled "Low Fat" or "Low Carb"), and all will be okay. (Even when it comes to the "Right Portion, Right Price" menu, sticking with the stuff labeled "Low Fat" or "Low Carb" is the way to go.) There's Dragonfire Chicken and Southwestern Mahi Mahi (each has 510 calories), Zen Chicken Pot Stickers and Shrimp Key West (370 calories each), Sizzling Chicken & Vegetables (670 calories, although likely much less if you nix the cheese) and a 330-calorie Chocolate Angel Swirl Cake. And all the "Low Fat" items have approximately 10 grams of fat. Not TOO horrendous.

http://www.hungry-girl.com/news/newsdetails.php?isid=1422

Healthier_Me

Oh, yikes! Thanks to the on-again, off-again NYC law, all the calorie counts are now listed on the menus at T.G.I. Friday's locations in Manhattan. We're in Los Angeles, but our pal swiped a menu for us (thanks, Jenny!). Here are some highlights...

Salad Shock! Sure there are crazy-high-cal salads on the menu (hello, 1,360-calorie Pecan-Crusted Chicken Salad), but the REAL shock comes from the dressing stats themselves. There's Low Fat Cilantro Lime (160 calories), Italian (280 calories), House Vinaigrette (330 calories), Honey Mustard (470 calories!), Ranch (480 calories!!), Bleu Cheese (490 calories!!!), and -- brace yourselves -- Balsamic Vinaigrette (590 calories!!!!).

Typo, T.G.I? One thing we're a little skeptical about is the stats on their Classic Sirloin. While the other 8-ounce and 12-ounce steaks have around 750 calories each, the 10-oz. Classic Sirloin is listed as having 290 calories. We know sirloin is lean, but unless there's a 5-oz. bone in it, there's no CHANCE that thing has 290 calories!

Top Shockers! All the stuff you'd expect to be HORRENDOUSLY over-caloried IS. But, here are some surprising stats that are pretty darn awful...

Cherry Limeade Slush - 510 calories!
Bowl of Broccoli Cheese Soup - 540 calories!
Side order of "loaded" Mashed Potatoes (with bacon and extra cheese) - 960 calories!
Jack Daniel's Ribs & Shrimp - 1,910 calories!

Best Bets! Stick with their "Lighter Side" selections (labeled "Low Fat" or "Low Carb"), and all will be okay. (Even when it comes to the "Right Portion, Right Price" menu, sticking with the stuff labeled "Low Fat" or "Low Carb" is the way to go.) There's Dragonfire Chicken and Southwestern Mahi Mahi (each has 510 calories), Zen Chicken Pot Stickers and Shrimp Key West (370 calories each), Sizzling Chicken & Vegetables (670 calories, although likely much less if you nix the cheese) and a 330-calorie Chocolate Angel Swirl Cake. And all the "Low Fat" items have approximately 10 grams of fat. Not TOO horrendous.

http://www.hungry-girl.com/news/newsdetails.php?isid=1422

hmmmm

Thanks for printing I have been awaiting these stats on restaurants they have in nyc I figured they would start pouring out sooner or later. My family and I went out sat and had a hard time deciding between applebees and tgi fridays. I sure am glad we picked applebees. My meal was less than 500 calories and that included the french onion soup appetizer.
If you see anything about dave and busters that is the one that I have been on the lookout for ever since they announced the NYC thing. (This is fiances favorite place to eat and play at)

yoginimary

That means the vinaigrette is close to 5 TBSP of oil - that's more than 1/4 cup! Hard to believe it would be more than Ranch or Blue Cheese.

Healthier_Me

I will definitely post any other findings.
Here is a website that gives you a list of restaurants & nutrition info for some of their foods:
http://www.healthydiningfinder.com/site/

~Joanna:flowerforyou:

abbychelle07

Wow the side order of loaded potatoes. Bummer, because they are SOOOO good. :laugh:

cmriverside

I worked for TGIF for over ten years. Their portions are huge, too.

I haven't eaten at one for five years or so, but any restaurant food is inherently not as good as home cooked. Butter and sugar makes everything taste so much better. And the unfortunate thing is, that restaurants are so competitive, and the wages have gotten so high (in WA servers make 100% of minimum wage + tips: is that around $8 an hour now?) To make a profit, they need to make things as tasty and as large as possible. Ask for all dressings and butter or sour cream on the side. I recently decided plain-nonfat yogurt tastes the same as sour cream anyway!

No mention of the drinks (the alcoholic ones). Most of the profit is made on beverage purchases. Always order water, or unsweetened iced tea. A drink like a Mudslide, or a Margarita here in WA = $7.00-$12.00. Yikes.

msarro

I doubt the calorie count is wrong the the sirloine. They can get in major trouble for publishing the wrong information - like, punitive sanctions, and losing a license to run a food establishment. Possibly they use a leaner cut with no seasonings/butter etc?

As for the rest.. my god. I can't believe their salads are that bad. If I ever go I'm going to have to remember to just ask for vinegar and oil!

Helawat

This is the reason why I don't eat at T.G.I. Friday's.

Thanks for validating my beliefs about this chain