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www.cheersonline.com 19 June 2016 • "Coffee is so hot right now, and coffee houses are such a great place to socialize," Durbin says. "We wanted to tap into that trend. Upgraded Wi-Fi is key to the concept. "Customers are constantly socializing with the people in front of them and also the people in their networks through their smartphones," Durbin says. "Beefing up our Wi-Fi is an opportunity to provide consumers better access to the networks and ways of socializing that they were already using," he adds. Digital upgrades go beyond the common area. Fridays is in the early stages of rolling out handheld tablets that servers will use to take orders. This will simplify the process, Durbin says, allowing food and drink to reach tables faster. HANGOVER BRUNCH The reimagined Fridays restaurants offer something for customers who perhaps partied a little too hard the evening before—or just anyone who enjoys a hearty brunch with a boozy twist. The new Hangover Brunch runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. It "fits into our social wheelhouse," Durbin explains. This program features stylized takes on the heavier brunch fare that groggier guests typically prefer after a big night out. For instance, Bourbon Steak & Eggs ($14.10) includes an 8-oz. flat iron steak, smoked over bourbon-infused wood plank, with eggs cooked to order, and sides. There's also the Bucket O'Bacon ($5), with eight slices of hickory-glazed bacon, served with chipotle maple syrup; and Bears N' Berries Waffle ($10), with freshly sliced strawberries, fresh blueberries and mini Teddy Graham crackers, drizzled with creamy cheesecake batter. The Hangover Stacked Burger ($12) is beer-braised sausage and onions, Asiago, Parmesan and cheddar cheeses between two fresh burgers topped with American cheese, hickory glazed bacon and an over-easy egg, with maple aioli, iceberg lettuce on a freshly baked bun. BLOODY GOOD The centerpiece of the Hangover Brunch is the Abso-Bloody- Lutely, made with Fridays' own Bloody Mary mix, Absolut vodka, smoked salt for the rim, and garnishes of celery, bleu- cheese-stuffed olive, grape tomato and fresh lime. The drink can come with one, two, or three meat skewers (priced at $10, $13, $15, respectively). The skewer options are buffalo wings, bacon-wrapped stuffed jalapeños, and "Jack" sliders, which comes with a small bag of fries. This Bloody Mary cocktail, along with other hard drinks, is sold in states where alcohol is legal at brunch. The colorful drink with multiple meat skewers has found its way into many Facebook or Instagram feeds. "It's been an item that is very Instagram share-worthy," Durbin says. "It gets a lot of heads turned towards it. The first thing that guests do when they get it is take a photo for their social networks." Although the Abso-Bloody-Lutely was not specifically designed with social media in mind, creating eye-catching products remains an emphasis at Fridays, Durbin says. That The centerpiece of the Hangover Brunch is the Abso-Bloody- Lutely, offered with one, two, or three meat skewers; options are buffalo wings, bacon-wrapped stuffed jalapeños, and "Jack" sliders—served with a small bag of fries. Fridays' new Hangover Brunch menu in- cludes the robust The Hangover Stacked Burger, topped with bacon and an egg. The Bucket O'Bacon: hickory-glazed bacon served with chipotle maple syrup.