Providence One Of 2 Cities Chosen For Panera Bread Dinner Test

PROVIDENCE, RI — Rhode Island is one of just two areas selected to test out Panera Bread's new dinner menu. In September, Providence and Lexington, Kentucky will debut the test menus, which include a variety of dinner-focused options.

The menu includes 10 mew items that will be available from 4:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., including flatbreads, sandwiches, hearty bowls and sides.

Panera did not specify why Rhode Island and Kentucky were selected for the test menus.

Here's what Panera said you can expect from the new menu items:

Dinner Bowls

• Teriyaki Chicken & Broccoli Bowl: A warm bowl of tender, seared, roasted, teriyaki- glazed chicken served over a brown rice and quinoa blend and steamed broccoli. Topped with cilantro and toasted sesame seeds.
• Pesto Chicken Bowl: A warm bowl of tender, seared, roasted chicken served over a brown rice and quinoa blend, grape tomatoes, steamed fresh broccoli, fresh spinach, nut-free basil pesto and garlic cream sauce. Topped with grated parmesan and fresh lemon.

Artisan Flatbreads

• Steak and Blue Cheese Artisan Flatbread: Grass-fed steak, caramelized onions, blue cheese, shredded fontina and mozzarella cheeses and garlic cream sauce baked crisp to order on our artisan flatbread. Topped with balsamic glaze and fresh arugula.
• Chipotle Chicken & Bacon Artisan Flatbread: Smoked, pulled chicken, chopped bacon, grape tomatoes, shredded fontina and mozzarella cheeses with garlic- cream sauce baked crisp to order on artisan flatbread. Topped with chipotle aioli and fresh cilantro.
• Margherita Artisan Flatbread: Grape tomatoes, sliced fresh mozzarella and our fontina and mozzarella blend with tomato bell pepper sauce on artisan flatbread. Topped with fresh basil.

New Sides

• Parmesan Broccoli Side: Steamed fresh broccoli with garlic cream sauce, grated parmesan, salt and pepper
• Tomato Basil and Cucumber Salad Side: Sliced grape tomatoes and diced cucumber tossed in Greek dressing with fresh basil and sea salt.
• Sweet Potato Mash Side: Tender, mashed sweet potato topped with roasted pecan pieces and crunchy apple chips •

Hot Sandwiches:

• Toasted Pastrami Sandwich: Grass Fed Pastrami topped with melted emmental cheese and creamy mustard sauce & caramelized onions on Artisan Ciabatta
• Toasted Tuscan Grilled Chicken Sandwich: Citrus-pepper chicken alongside provolone, parmesan, arugula, smoky tomato confit and basil mayo, all toasted on an Artisan Ciabatta.