The menu differentiation between Red Robin Gourmet Burgers and its fast-casual spin off Red Robin’s Burger Works continues to blur. Added today as the latest item for Red Robin’s menu is a Red’s Tavern Double burger with two beef patties topped with American cheese, lettuce, tomato and “Red’s Secret Tavern Sauce” on a toasted sesame bun.
This burger is a jazzed-up version of the Tavern Double burger created by Exec Chef David Woolley for the Burger Works menu when the first of the down-sized units opened last November, as first reported here. The Tavern Double is $4.99 at Burger Works, but Red’s Tavern Double is introduced at $6.99, which includes the signature Bottomless Steak Fries. The full-service version also can be further embellished in one of three “styles” (akin to In-n-Out’s “Animal Style” secret order or The Habit Burger Grill’s “Santa Barbara Style”) for a $1 upcharge.
The options: order it “Cantina Jack Style” and you get green-chile aïoli , roasted green chiles and pepper-Jack cheese; a request for it “Pig Out Style” signals addition of bacon aïoli and, yes, bacon; say “Buzzalo Style” and you get Buffalo sauce, crumbled blue cheese, blue-cheese dressing and celery slices.
These three options are the inspiration for “The Tripps,” a three-headed, three-armed burger lover featured in a new TV spot airing today through May 24. Digital marketing includes radio site Pandora and ESPN.com. Periscope, Minneapolis, handles.
"The Tripps" promote the Red's Tavern Double.
The chain repurposes two of those aïolis with a new “Three-for-All” appetizer. It gathers Red Robin’s steak fries plus sweet potato fries and onion rings on one plate. Alongside are four dipping sauces: the smoked bacon aïoli and green-chile aïoli plus ranch sauce and sweet-and-spicy ketchup.
Finally, a new Salted Caramel Shake combines soft serve, milk, caramel sauce and Red Hawaiian sea salt.
The chain isn’t saying it, but the “Red’s Tavern” name used here sounds like something we’ll be hearing again with Red Robin or Burger Works. Even just as “Red’s,” the name’s punchy and catchy. After all, Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar got tired of using its full name, too.
Can't keep track of all the new menu additions? Check the 
The May Burger of the Month at R.J. Grunts in Chicago is the Chihuahua Burger. That's a ground chuck and sirloin patty topped with Chihuahua cheese, jalapeño cabbage slaw, pickled red onion, cilantro, and Cholula garlic aïoli. To see the full list of May's best Burgers of the Month around the country, click
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