ATLANTA, Feb. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Arby's, the national sandwich brand devoted to Meatcraft™, has unveiled plans to extend an olive branch to vegetarians on Leap Day. On Feb. 29 only, Arby's will take a leap by offering the company's first ever vegetarian menu, highlighted by Arby's® signature sandwich lineup, minus the delicious meats that make them sandwiches. 
 
 Carnivores need not worry – Arby's regular protein-packed menu is available as usual, including the permanent return of the Loaded Italian Sandwich piled high with thinly-sliced ham, salami and pepperoni. 
 
 "At Arby's, we're proud of our meats, but we also understand that meat isn't for everyone," said Rob Lynch, Chief Marketing Officer and Brand President of Arby's Restaurant Group, Inc. "So we've decided to give vegetarians a reason to visit Arby's on Leap Day by offering a one-day menu designed specifically for them. If it goes well, we'll likely bring back the vegetarian menu on Feb. 29 each year." 
 
 The Arby's Leap Day vegetarian menu includes: 
 
 Loaded Italian Sandwich: Melted cheese, banana peppers, shredded lettuce, tomato and red onion, with red wine vinaigrette and garlic aioli on a toasted Italian style roll minus the thinly-sliced ham, succulent salami and delicious pepperoni that made this one of the most popular sandwich launches in Arby's history. 
 
 Melted cheese, banana peppers, shredded lettuce, tomato and red onion, with red wine vinaigrette and garlic aioli on a toasted Italian style roll minus the thinly-sliced ham, succulent salami and delicious pepperoni that made this one of the most popular sandwich launches in Arby's history. Reuben Sandwich: Marbled rye bread filled with melty Swiss cheese, tangy sauerkraut and creamy Thousand Island dressing. Remove the freshly sliced, perfectly brined, cooked and tender enough to flake with a fork corned beef. 
 
 Marbled rye bread filled with melty Swiss cheese, tangy sauerkraut and creamy Thousand Island dressing. Remove the freshly sliced, perfectly brined, cooked and tender enough to flake with a fork corned beef. Smokehouse Brisket Sandwich: Smoked Gouda cheese, crispy onions, mayonnaise and BBQ sauce on a star top bun minus the mouthwatering, tender brisket hickory-smoked at a family-owned smokehouse in Texas . 
 
 Smoked Gouda cheese, crispy onions, mayonnaise and BBQ sauce on a star top bun minus the mouthwatering, tender brisket hickory-smoked at a family-owned smokehouse in . Roast Beef Sandwich: A toasted sesame seed bun minus Arby's famous thinly sliced roast beef, marinated and roasted in Arby's restaurants every single day. Available in Classic, Mid or Max sizes. 
 
 A toasted sesame seed bun minus Arby's famous thinly sliced roast beef, marinated and roasted in Arby's restaurants every single day. Available in Classic, Mid or Max sizes. Crispy Fish Sandwich: Tartar sauce and shredded lettuce on a toasted sesame seed bun minus Arby's wild-caught Alaskan Pollock crispy-fried to golden-brown perfection. 
 
 Tartar sauce and shredded lettuce on a toasted sesame seed bun minus Arby's wild-caught Alaskan Pollock crispy-fried to golden-brown perfection. King's Hawaiian Fish Deluxe Sandwich: Sweet, fluffy buns from Hawaii topped with Cheddar cheese, shredded lettuce, tomatoes and tartar sauce minus Arby's crispy, sustainably-sourced and wild-caught Alaskan Pollock. 
 
 Sweet, fluffy buns from topped with Cheddar cheese, shredded lettuce, tomatoes and tartar sauce minus Arby's crispy, sustainably-sourced and wild-caught Alaskan Pollock. Crispy Fish Flatbread: Shredded lettuce and tartar sauce wrapped in a fluffy flatbread without Arby's wild-caught Alaskan Pollock, crispy-fried to golden-brown perfection. 
 
 Shredded lettuce and tartar sauce wrapped in a fluffy flatbread without Arby's wild-caught Alaskan Pollock, crispy-fried to golden-brown perfection. French Dip & Swiss Sandwich: Swiss cheese. Italian roll. French au jus. It's half the countries in the world on one sandwich, minus Arby's famous thinly sliced roast beef, marinated and roasted in Arby's restaurants every single day. 
 
 Swiss cheese. Italian roll. French au jus. It's half the countries in the world on one sandwich, minus Arby's famous thinly sliced roast beef, marinated and roasted in Arby's restaurants every single day. Beef 'n Cheddar Classic Sandwich: A toasted onion roll topped with Cheddar cheese sauce and zesty Red Ranch minus Arby's famous thinly sliced roast beef, marinated and roasted in Arby's restaurants every single day. 
 
 A toasted onion roll topped with Cheddar cheese sauce and zesty minus Arby's famous thinly sliced roast beef, marinated and roasted in Arby's restaurants every single day. Angus Philly Sandwich: Fire-roasted onions and peppers, melted Swiss cheese and mayo on a toasted Philly roll minus the mouthwatering USDA Choice top round Angus steak Arby's is known for. 
 
 Fire-roasted onions and peppers, melted Swiss cheese and mayo on a toasted Philly roll minus the mouthwatering USDA Choice top round Angus steak Arby's is known for. Angus Three Cheese & Bacon Sandwich: Swiss cheese, shredded Cheddar cheese and parmesan peppercorn ranch sauce without the succulent sliced Angus steak and thick cut pepper bacon. 
 
 Swiss cheese, shredded Cheddar cheese and parmesan peppercorn ranch sauce without the succulent sliced Angus steak and thick cut pepper bacon. Grand Turkey Club Sandwich: Melted Swiss cheese, crisp green lettuce, fresh red tomato and creamy mayo without Arby's marinated and roasted until it's tender and juicy turkey breast. 
 
 Melted Swiss cheese, crisp green lettuce, fresh red tomato and creamy mayo without Arby's marinated and roasted until it's tender and juicy turkey breast. Roast Turkey Ranch & Bacon Sandwich: Peppercorn ranch sauce and Cheddar cheese sandwiched between two slices of honey wheat bread with tomato, onion and leaf lettuce minus Arby's marinated and roasted until it's tender and juicy turkey breast and thick-cut pepper bacon. 
 
 Peppercorn ranch sauce and Cheddar cheese sandwiched between two slices of honey wheat bread with tomato, onion and leaf lettuce minus Arby's marinated and roasted until it's tender and juicy turkey breast and thick-cut pepper bacon. Roast Turkey Ranch & Bacon Wrap : Peppercorn ranch sauce and Cheddar cheese wrapped in a soft hearty grain wrap served without Arby's marinated and roasted until it's tender and juicy turkey breast and thick-cut pepper bacon. 
 
 : Peppercorn ranch sauce and Cheddar cheese wrapped in a soft hearty grain wrap served without Arby's marinated and roasted until it's tender and juicy turkey breast and thick-cut pepper bacon. Roast Turkey & Swiss Sandwich: Ripe tomatoes, lettuce, thinly sliced red onions, Swiss cheese, mayonnaise and spicy brown honey mustard minus Arby's marinated and roasted until it's tender and juicy turkey breast. 
 
 Ripe tomatoes, lettuce, thinly sliced red onions, Swiss cheese, mayonnaise and spicy brown honey mustard minus Arby's marinated and roasted until it's tender and juicy turkey breast. Roast Turkey & Swiss Wrap: Ripe tomatoes, lettuce, thinly sliced red onions, Swiss cheese, mayonnaise and spicy brown honey mustard on a grain wrap without Arby's marinated and roasted until it's tender and juicy turkey breast. 
 
 Ripe tomatoes, lettuce, thinly sliced red onions, Swiss cheese, mayonnaise and spicy brown honey mustard on a grain wrap without Arby's marinated and roasted until it's tender and juicy turkey breast. Crispy Chicken Sandwich: Lettuce, mayonnaise and tomato served on a star top bun without Arby's crispy, all-white-meat Prime-Cut™ chicken breast. 
 
 Lettuce, mayonnaise and tomato served on a star top bun without Arby's crispy, all-white-meat Prime-Cut™ chicken breast. Chicken Bacon Swiss Sandwich: Swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato and honey mustard. Served on a toasted star top bun without Arby's fried to perfection chicken breast topped with thick cut pepper bacon. 
 
 Swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato and honey mustard. Served on a toasted star top bun without Arby's fried to perfection chicken breast topped with thick cut pepper bacon. Chicken Cordon Bleu Sandwich: Swiss cheese and mayo on a star top bun minus Arby's crispy, tender, Prime-Cut delicious chicken cut from whole chicken breast, breaded, seasoned and fried daily and Arby's tasty and tender ham. 
 
 Swiss cheese and mayo on a star top bun minus Arby's crispy, tender, Prime-Cut delicious chicken cut from whole chicken breast, breaded, seasoned and fried daily and Arby's tasty and tender ham. Corned Beef 'n Cheese Slider: Melted cheese on a soft, slider roll to enjoy as a side or on its own without the freshly sliced, perfectly brined, cooked and tender enough to flake with a fork corned beef. 
 
 Melted cheese on a soft, slider roll to enjoy as a side or on its own without the freshly sliced, perfectly brined, cooked and tender enough to flake with a fork corned beef. Jalapeno Roast Beef Slider: Little sandwich, big kick. Diced fire-roasted jalapeños, topped with melted cheese on a slider-sized bun without Arby's famous thinly sliced roast beef, marinated and roasted in Arby's restaurants every single day. 
 
 Little sandwich, big kick. Diced fire-roasted jalapeños, topped with melted cheese on a slider-sized bun without Arby's famous thinly sliced roast beef, marinated and roasted in Arby's restaurants every single day. Roast Beef 'n Cheese Slider: Melted cheese you love on a slider-sized bun, for when you want a mini-me of the classic without Arby's famous thinly sliced roast beef, marinated and roasted in Arby's restaurants every single day. 
 
 Melted cheese you love on a slider-sized bun, for when you want a mini-me of the classic without Arby's famous thinly sliced roast beef, marinated and roasted in Arby's restaurants every single day. Chicken 'n Cheese Slider: Melted cheese on a bite-sized soft bun without Arby's fried to perfection chicken breast. 
 
 Melted cheese on a bite-sized soft bun without Arby's fried to perfection chicken breast. Ham 'n Cheese Slider: Melted cheese on a soft slider roll without Arby's tasty and tender smokehouse cooked ham. 
 
 Melted cheese on a soft slider roll without Arby's tasty and tender smokehouse cooked ham. Jr. Bacon Cheddar Melt: The Jr. Bacon Cheddar Melt has Arby's warm cheddar cheese sauce, on a slightly smaller sesame seed bun so as not to overwhelm you, all without Arby's signature roast beef topped with thick-cut pepper bacon. 
 
 The Jr. Bacon Cheddar Melt has Arby's warm cheddar cheese sauce, on a slightly smaller sesame seed bun so as not to overwhelm you, all without Arby's signature roast beef topped with thick-cut pepper bacon. Jr. Roast Beef Sandwich: A soft bun that's just a little bit smaller than the Roast Beef Classic served without the classic roast beef. 
 
 A soft bun that's just a little bit smaller than the Roast Beef Classic served without the classic roast beef. Jr. Ham & Cheddar Sandwich: Arby's sesame seed bun topped with warm cheddar cheese sauce minus Arby's tasty and tender oven-roasted ham piled on top. 
 
 Arby's sesame seed bun topped with warm cheddar cheese sauce minus Arby's tasty and tender oven-roasted ham piled on top. Crispy Chicken Farmhouse Salad: The usual salad stuff like chopped fresh lettuce, diced tomatoes and shredded cheddar cheese without the piled high crispy, tender, delicious, chicken and layer of mouth-watering diced pepper bacon. 
 
 The usual salad stuff like chopped fresh lettuce, diced tomatoes and shredded cheddar cheese without the piled high crispy, tender, delicious, chicken and layer of mouth-watering diced pepper bacon. Roast Turkey Farmhouse Salad: The usual salad stuff like chopped fresh lettuce, diced tomatoes and shredded cheddar cheese without the juicy roast turkey and mouth-watering diced pepper bacon. 
 
 The usual salad stuff like chopped fresh lettuce, diced tomatoes and shredded cheddar cheese without the juicy roast turkey and mouth-watering diced pepper bacon. Chopped Side Salad: Lettuce showered with diced tomatoes and cheddar cheese. 
 
 Lettuce showered with diced tomatoes and cheddar cheese. Loaded Curly Fries: Potatoes - the meats of the field. Sliced up curly and fried to perfection topped with cheddar sauce, shredded cheddar cheese, and ranch and served without the bacon. 
 
 Potatoes - the meats of the field. Sliced up curly and fried to perfection topped with cheddar sauce, shredded cheddar cheese, and ranch and served without the bacon. Curly Fries: Potatoes. The meats of the field. Sliced up curly and fried to perfection. 
 
 Potatoes. The meats of the field. Sliced up curly and fried to perfection. Mozzarella Sticks: Stretchy, cheesy, melty mozzarella that's battered and fried. Served with a marinara sauce for dipping. 
 
 Stretchy, cheesy, melty mozzarella that's battered and fried. Served with a marinara sauce for dipping. Jalapeno Bites®: Spicy jalapeno halves filled with melted cream cheese with a side of Bronco Berry Sauce®. 
 
 Spicy jalapeno halves filled with melted cream cheese with a side of Bronco Berry Sauce®. Steakhouse Onion Rings: Arby's Steakhouse Onion Rings are thick-cut, battered and fried until crispy. 
 
 Arby's Steakhouse Onion Rings are thick-cut, battered and fried until crispy. Potato Cakes: Shredded potato fried to a crispy golden brown. It's a cake of potato. 
 
 Shredded potato fried to a crispy golden brown. It's a cake of potato. Apple Turnover: A freshly baked pastry stuffed with apple filling. 
 
 A freshly baked pastry stuffed with apple filling. Cherry Turnover: A freshly baked pastry stuffed with sweet cherry filling. 
 
 A freshly baked pastry stuffed with sweet cherry filling. Chocolate Turnover: A freshly baked pastry filled with sweet, sweet chocolate. 
 
 A freshly baked pastry filled with sweet, sweet chocolate. Chocolate Shake: A creamy and indulgent chocolate-y treat. 
 
 A creamy and indulgent chocolate-y treat. Jamocha Shake: Arby's famous chocolate-y, coffee-y treat. 
 
 Arby's famous chocolate-y, coffee-y treat. Vanilla Shake: A simple and satisfying vanilla treat. 
 
 A simple and satisfying vanilla treat. Mint Chocolate Swirl Shake: A chocolate swirl shake with Andes® mint chocolate pieces. 
 
 About Arby's 
 
 Arby's, founded in 1964, is the first nationally franchised sandwich restaurant brand, with more than 3,300 restaurants worldwide. The Arby's brand purpose is "Inspiring Smiles Through Delicious Experiences™." Arby's® restaurants feature Fast Crafted™ service, a unique blend of quick-serve speed and value combined with the quality and made-for-you care of fast casual. Arby's Restaurant Group, Inc. is the parent company of the franchisor of the Arby's brand and is headquartered in Atlanta, Ga. Visit Arbys.com for more information. 
 
 With the current growth and momentum of the Brand, Arby's is actively seeking new franchisees. To learn more about available markets and requirements, visit DiscoverArbys.com. 
 
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 SOURCE Arby’s ||||| Hold onto your roast beef —vegetarians get their due on Feb. 29 when Arby's introduces a one-day-only vegetarian menu to each of its 3,400 outlets nationwide. 
 
 This comes from the restaurant behind the term "Meatcraft." 
 
 Crispy onions, cheese and nary a slice of beef in sight. Image: arby's 
 
 The menu, which is in honor of leap year, is comprised of items on the fast-food chain's standard menu, sans meat. The prices for the sandwiches will not change. And don't worry: Meat-filled sandwiches remain on the bill of fare. 
 
 "We’re proud of our meats and haven’t been shy about promoting them, so we wanted to show vegetarians that with a little creativity, Arby’s can fit into their diet as well," Arby's told Mashable. 
 
 Diners will be able to choose from options like the Reuben Sandwich, the Smokehouse Brisket Sandwich and the Beef 'n' Cheddar classic sandwich that are all lacking their eponymous ingredient. Vegetables, condiments and cheese reign supreme as the featured sandwich-stuffers. 
 
 The (vegetarian) Loaded Italian Sandwich Image: Arby's 
 
 In a press release, Chief Marketing Officer and Brand President Rob Lynch said, “If it goes well, we’ll likely bring back the vegetarian menu on Feb. 29 each year.” 
 
 We know you're thinking: Wait, I can get those sandwiches sans meat any time of year just by ordering them that way. 
 
 You can also drink eggnog any time of year. You can whip up a batch of matzo brei in the middle of the winter. You certainly don't have to wait for Oct. 31 to gorge yourself on your kids' candy stash while they sleep — you are an adult now, you can buy your own candy, remember? 
 
 But you probably don't do those things. You savor those foods on their specific holidays because the hubbub and excitement surrounding the day and food is part of the joy. 
 
 That's exactly why ordering a vegetarian sandwich from a roast beef emporium on a day that only comes around once every four years makes so much sense. 
 
 That and the fact that you can finally take your carnivorous spouse on a lunch date that won't involve crying about how tofu is the devil. 
 
 Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments. ||||| Arby’s and Leap Day go together like … roast beef and melted cheese? Not this year! 
 
 The fast food chain, which is known for its meat-heavy menu, is going to “take a leap” and offer a vegetarian menu for the first time on Monday. Arby’s isn’t offering a different menu, like a cheddar cheese-soaked tofurky sandwich, rather its selling regular sandwiches without any meat. 
 
 So, what’s on it? Ordering a “Beef ‘n Cheddar Classic Sandwich” will get you just cheese sauce on a presumably soggy roll and the “Crispy Fish Flatbread” is cringe-inducing flatbread slopped with shredded lettuce and tartar sauce. 
 
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 It’s not totally a gimmick. Arby’s is, after all, selling fulfilling items like its “Loaded Italian Sandwich,” which includes cheese, banana peppers, lettuce, tomato and onion, just without the meats. There’s also a crispy chicken salad without the crispy chicken. 
 
 Curly fries, jalapeño poppers and milkshakes also remain a year-round vegetarian option, too. Prices remain the same, despite the less-meaty ingredients. 
 
 “At Arby’s, we’re proud of our meats, but we also understand that meat isn’t for everyone,” Arby’s said in a release. “So we’ve decided to give vegetarians a reason to visit Arby’s on Leap Day by offering a one-day menu designed specifically for them.” 
 
 Arby’s also joked that it would bring the menu back every year on Feb. 29.
– It's difficult for a vegetarian to eat at Arby's—there's a lot of meat on the menu. So, in order "to give vegetarians a reason to visit Arby’s on Leap Day," an exec says in a press release, the fast food chain will offer a vegetarian menu on Feb. 29 this year. The Consumerist, Digiday, and Mashable insist the stunt is not a joke, though it is pretty hilarious that one of the items on Arby's official promotional photo is ... just a bun. Indeed, the descriptions of the items available on Leap Day are all pretty funny: "Roast Beef Sandwich: A toasted sesame seed bun minus Arby's famous thinly sliced roast beef, marinated and roasted in Arby's restaurants every single day. Available in Classic, Mid or Max sizes." "Crispy Fish Sandwich: Tartar sauce and shredded lettuce on a toasted sesame seed bun minus Arby's wild-caught Alaskan Pollock crispy-fried to golden-brown perfection." "Beef 'n Cheddar Classic Sandwich: A toasted onion roll topped with Cheddar cheese sauce and zesty Red Ranch minus Arby's famous thinly sliced roast beef, marinated and roasted in Arby's restaurants every single day." Meat-lovers, rest assured you can also still order the normal menu. As Mashable points out, of course, vegetarians could also order the vegetarian menu any time, simply by asking Arby's to hold the meat ... but "you can also drink eggnog any time of year ... but you probably don't." And Digiday points out that some of the items still sound pretty "fulfilling," like the Loaded Italian Sandwich with cheese, banana peppers, lettuce, tomato, onion, red wine vinaigrette, and garlic aioli on a toasted bun. Prices for vegetarian items are not discounted.