A national restaurant chain has chosen Lone Tree as a test market for its new menu.

T.G.I. Friday’s rolled out its 20 newest items a few weeks ago and is already keeping an eye on what is popular among customers. The Park Meadows location is one of six Denver T.G.I. Friday’s restaurants to offer the menu, which features foods you might not expect: Ahi tuna with avocado crisps, hummus mixed with fresh vegetables and berry shortcake sliders.

A revamped menu is in direct response to growing demand for specialty foods with a healthy kick, said Kris Worner, director of operations for the restaurant chain. More vegetarian dishes are being introduced, including the Victory Garden Pasta and Roccoli Broccoli Salad, to satisfy the hunger for lighter fare. Of course, not all dishes are following that trend.

Diners can indulge on soft, warm pretzel sticks dipped in a beer cheese sauce, an item that could easily become a staple of the T.G.I. Friday’s appetizer menu. Knowing their customers often come in groups and share off each other’s plates, the team behind the changes focused on making sure the new items were something that could give everyone at the table a taste.

The food menu is not the only beneficiary of fresh ideas: the drink menu has been expanded to include rich coffee blends, alcoholic beverages with fresh fruit and creamy, drinkable desserts like the rich Guinness Stout shake.

The culinary creations provide an option for those looking for new flavors, but don’t want to spend a lot at more upscale establishments that serve similar fare. T.G.I. Friday’s prides itself on being a neighborhood gathering spot or a place for co-workers to unwind after their shift. Some older dishes have been removed from the menu, but favorites have been retained, including the Jack Daniel’s Flatiron Steak and fried green beans.

Corporate leaders for Friday’s decided to test the new menu on a more sophisticated and diverse palate of Denver area residents, said Tera Haselden, an innovator for Philosophy Communication, a Denver public relations firm representing the company. Researchers found that Colorado residents tend to follow national trends, especially those with healthy intentions. Lone Tree, in particular, has a population with more refined tastes and larger budget for dining out.