A local friend posted this. I thought it would be interesting to post here and discuss.
Your choice needs to be a restaurant that is either regional or national but not local to your town - cause obviously most people wouldn’t know it. Ok for it to be a statewide one I guess.
Here ya go!
First one that pops in my mind is Panera.
In-N-Out Burger. There are so many better burgers around imho.
I don’t think many chains are good, some that I will eat at are maggianos, legal seafoods, bonefish grill, but I won’t seek them out.
Totally agree about In-N-Out. Their fries are awful and the burger is underwhelming. I just don’t get that one. Or Chick-fil-A.
Anything bloomin brands - outback. Carabbas. Bonefish.
I will say I do like Flemings tho
I’ve had Chick-fil-A once and that was enough. Ditto Waffle House.
So this just turns into a thread where everyone hates on well known chains, I guess?
Might be more fun to name restaurants in one’s region/city/state that people do recommend and aren’t a chain that everyone knows.
Legal Seafood
Now living in NYC, I truly don’t understand locals who go to chains like Red Lobster, Olive Garden, Chili’s, TGI Friday’s, etc
Applebees - I just don’t get it.
Chili’s - they were just ok a long time ago, then I found an actual baggie in my salad and was told by the manager it was ok, because the salads come in those bags. He felt it was ok because it wasn’t a “random” baggie. Um, no.
El Torito - that’s not Mexican food, just food.
Can’t even remember the last time I ate at a chain.
Funny & true story. First time my best friend & I went to NYC (almost 20 years ago) she saw Sbarro pizza - got super excited about eating pizza in NY! I l took her to get actual NY pizza. But yep.
I truly dislike Waffle House. We have had epic snubs from staff at WH (do we look like Yankees?), and it’s always sticky. Everyone we know loves WH, but I just don’t get it.
Red Lobster…Why is ours still open?
My one time at a Waffle House (recommended by a friend) - fake syrup and no real butter. And yes, sticky tables.
No, most of us are discussing chains that get praised.
All of the chain casual dining places are just bad. Bad.
Most chain fast food as bad or worse. Smash burger is ok. Trying to think of another……?
I’ve yet to have chick FIL A, Taco Bell, Golden Corral, Waffle House or Cracker Barrel.
U lucked out !!
Other than having cracker barrel on a road trip through GA, same. We don’t even have a ton of those places around here. I think we’re so fortunate in the tri-state area to just have lots of great, local choices.
Frank Pepe for me.
I spent 20 years selling to on premise establishments, and I’ve been in the coolers and kitchens of almost every major chain restaurant. You don’t want to know what they’re like.
Not this one, their crown jewel. When you come to Boston I’ll buy you some chowdah. 