The Arby’s potato cakes are a core childhood food memory of mine. Those push spout dispensers, each tastefully identified with an engraved woodgrain plaque: Horsey Sauce, Arby’s Sauce & Ketchup. The little white paper cups were the ideal grade of paper, low enough to be already sagging by the time it got to the table. This saturation lets the most sauce get pinched out and spread with the flattened edge.
Then, the few seconds of intense horseradish sinus pain gives way to a little salt, a little pepper, tangy, spicy, sweet.
We ate at Arby’s for lunch today. Alas, as implied in the thread title, the signs say “For a limited time only”. What the hell!??! Do they think it’s like the McRib?
Here’s my educated guess, having had several big QSR brands as clients over the years: they’re doing it as a limited-time-only to gauge demand for it, after several years off the menu. If it sells well, they may put it back on the permanent menu; if it doesn’t, they won’t.
Which is the basis of @wolfman’s peremptory topic title. (Which, thankfully, wasn’t addressed to me, since I’m neither stupid, nor worthless, nor a fool. But I did get potato cakes with my last Arby’s order, because I’m completely over curly fries.)
They’re only listing Potato Cakes under a limited special menu.
Ordering a typical sandwich, side, and drink combo doesn’t offer the potato cakes. (This may be true on their order sign. The combos are fairly standard.)
I did make a point to order them with a double roast beef sandwich.
Some people will order their normal combo.
I haven’t ordered Arbys in a couple years. That will change while potato cakes are offered.
While we’re getting Arby’s to shape up and fly right, I am requesting the return of their chocolate turnovers. They are sinful and magnificent, and I would be willing to commit crimes for them. And when I say “crimes,” I mean white-collar stuff. Nothing yucky. I’m thinking, you know, patent infringement, or maybe fraudulent conveyance. I’d think I’d be up for some art forgery depending on the artist.