Pasta Delivers More Than Value

Value is increasingly measured by more than the number at the bottom of the check. Guests want to feel that what they ordered was worth it—a satisfying portion, craveable flavor, quality ingredients and something they might not make for themselves at home.

Pasta is particularly well suited to delivering on those expectations. Its familiarity and comfort give operators room to introduce premium proteins, distinctive sauces, cheeses and thoughtful finishing touches without pushing the dish out of value territory. With Barilla pasta as the foundation, operators can balance consistency and familiarity with the touches that make a menu item feel special.

Logan’s Goes Big on Premium Shrimp

Credit: Logan’s Roadhouse

Luis Haro
Logan’s Roadhouse leans into pasta’s value proposition with its Shrimp Scampi Linguine LTO, pairing a generous portion of Barilla Al Bronzo Linguine with creamy scampi sauce, premium large shrimp and cheesy bread made from the chain’s signature yeast rolls.

At Logan’s Roadhouse, a casual dining American steakhouse, a new Shrimp Scampi Linguine LTO combines a generous portion, premium protein and a familiar pasta format. For Luis Haro, Senior Director of Culinary, Linguine was a natural vehicle for introducing a new premium large shrimp during the holiday season.

“We need a carrier that everyone enjoys, and pasta fits right in,” says Haro, noting Logan’s success with its existing pasta offerings. The team also wanted the new dish to feel distinct in both flavor and format, making Barilla Al Bronzo^® Linguine a natural choice. Crafted using traditional bronze dies, Al Bronzo features a rough surface texture that helps sauce cling to the pasta for even flavor distribution and enhanced mouthfeel, while its premium quality adds another layer of perceived value to the finished dish.

Value at Logan’s has always been closely tied to abundance, and the Shrimp Scampi Linguine delivers accordingly: a large portion of pasta tossed in creamy scampi sauce, topped with large shrimp and served with cheesy bread made from the chain’s signature yeast rolls.

“We deliver value through our big servings at Logan’s Roadhouse,” says Haro. “Our new Shrimp Scampi Linguine is an ideal choice.” For Haro, consistency matters just as much as generosity. He points to Al Bronzo Linguine as helping the team “deliver a great, consistent dish for our guests”—an important consideration when premium ingredients are being leveraged to strengthen the overall value proposition.

Piada Turns Familiar into an Experience

Credit: Piada Italian Street Food

Matt Harding
Piada’s Burrata Marinara, served with a choice of either Barilla Spaghetti or Rigatoni, delivers luxury and value for a winning combination.

At fast casual Piada Italian Street Food, the value equation takes a different form. Its recently introduced Burrata Marinara starts with one of pasta’s most recognizable combinations, then layers in elements designed to make it feel special. Guests can choose Barilla^® Spaghetti or Rigatoni as the base for the dish.

“We started with a dish everyone knows—pasta with marinara—and wanted to build a ‘won’t-make-this-at-home’ experience,” says Matt Harding, Chief Culinary Officer. Roasted Italian cherry tomatoes deepen the tomato flavor, while basil pesto adds freshness. The centerpiece is a whole ball of burrata, finished with freshly ground black pepper.

The luxurious burrata also creates an interactive moment: Guests break it open and mix it into the warm marinara, allowing its creamy center to soften the sauce’s acidity and create a richer, silkier texture. “It feels indulgent and restaurant worthy, while still being approachable,” says Harding. “That’s the appeal: a pasta classic guests already love, with a fresh experience they may not expect from fast casual.”

Harding sees that combination as central to pasta’s value proposition. “The opportunity is to make that value feel generous, not basic,” he says. “The guest should leave thinking, ‘That was worth it,’ not, ‘I had to settle.’”

Explore even more pasta inspiration from Barilla. Visit Barilla for Professionals’ Recipe Collection.