I never understood the allure of the Olive Garden Breadsticks - they may have been better at one time, but for me they are tasteless! But I know many people love them.
It’s so funny how personal taste is. You cannot get my H into a Culvers, hates it. He does not like Panera either, personally I think everything tastes the same but will eat there because it can be healthy and I appreciate that. Not a fan of Jets Pizza either but lots of people like it.
I like PF Changs, but that’s only because our Chinese restaurants are gross and disgusting and at least PF Changs food is a step above and sometimes a girl needs Chinese food.
I’ve never eaten at a Culver’s though I know they are around (though not in our town) - that’s the famous Butter Berger, right?
Opps, posted too soon.
I’m not sure if anyone here will come to Nothern Michigan but it’s become somewhat of a foodie destination and I am lucky to have good locally owned restaurants here. They are best in the off season but if you have to come in the summer… 
Some of my favorites.
Pie, tie between Grand Traverse Pie Company (like a Panera but with tons of pie selections) and Cherry Republic (they just opened a cafe in downtown TC)
Casual, Harvest, started out as a food truck now they have a tiny restaurant in an alley behind the bookstore. Wow, I really like their food.
Places on the water because you have to have food on the water with a great view up here.
Apache Trout Grill
Boathouse (steakhouse)
Blu (not in TC but close in Sleeping Bear Dunes, my infamous rude couple restaurant, amazing fresh food, great views of the water)
Downtown TC restaurants I like
Red Ginger
Amical
Bistro Foo Foo (authentic pomme frites, worth it just for them Lol)
There are lots of other great places, some I’ve been to and some I haven’t but I hear are great. I only listed places I’ve been and like.
TC-traverse city
I’ve only eaten at PF Chang’s once and didn’t care for it. Thought it was overpriced for what it was. However, I will eat at Pei Wei (love their Hot and Sour soup). I also don’t care for Panera, although my D loves it so I will eat there with her. Quite frankly, I don’t like many sandwich places (Panera, Corner Bakery, Subway, Firehouse, Jimmy Johns, etc, because I just don’t care for sandwiches). Panera’s soup and salads are just OK, IMO. I remember when Corner Bakery was just a bakery at Union Station in Chicago. They had the best lemon poppyseed muffins!! But I digress.
The only restaurant that I’ve ever walked out of? Spaghetti Warehouse - twice! Worst service ever!
BB: I was just going to mention Roy’s in Hawaii. Wonderful meal.
HImom: One of the best meals I ever had in Hawaii was at a local Food truck!!! Have you been there? On Honolulu in the north near the surfers on the way for Azuki bean ice cream there is a family owned Shrimp truck that was so memorable, we went at the beginning of our vacation and I made my H go back again at the end of the trip!! Are you familiar with that one? Sooooo good! :x
I don’t remember the service, but I remember being disappointed in their tomato sauce. It seemed to be watered down and I know I’ve given them a few chances. No wonder they always have coupons.
My favorite restaurant in the country is Gjelina in Los Angeles / Venice Beach. More to follow.
@deb922, I would LOVE to spend a day/weekend/WEEK eating my way through your area! Pie sounds perfectly up my alley. 
My brother and his family from NYC who fully enjoy cooking/eating food spent a week in the Leelanau Peninsula (northern Michigan) last summer following the trail of Mario Batali’s favorite finds in that area - it’s his favorite summer get away!
Come up abasket, I’ll spring for lunch!
I admit I follow Mario Batali on Instagram just for his Michigan summer pictures.
Did your brother have a Chubby Mary from The Cove? Mario intragramed one, a $17 Chubby Mary, yikes!
^^Oops, HImom: I meant the north shore of Oahu, not Honolulu! 8->
I travel for work - now I need to organize this thread for future ideas! Next week is Albuquerque, NM, have another upcoming trip to Savannah, GA. I usually ask our clients for dining recommendations.
I think Panera’s food is tasteless - the bread is heavy and the salads are boring. The only chains around here that I’d go to are Legal Seafood, Wagamama and Chipotle…Chipotle because my kids like it and I can customize enough that the salad is okay. Nothing great, though. In and Out Burger and a few regional burger chains are good. We had a burger once while we were looking at Caltech in Pasadena - can’t remember the name of the place, but a famous hole in the wall. I can still remember how good that burger tasted! Here are a few of my locals that haven’t yet been mentioned:
Boston:
My kids love Abe and Louie’s - great service and consistent
Providence:
Al Forno
Gracies
Newport:
The Mooring (it’s been there forever and you really can’t go wrong for a casual dinner on the water. Very consistent and great chowda)
Kennebunkport:
Earth at Hidden Pond. Another meal that we still talk about
I haven’t found a restaurant in Boston or Cambridge that I absolutely love…some good restaurants, but nothing fantastic. Some good Italian food in the North End, but not spectacular. Was recently in Miami and the food was also just okay everywhere - nothing really great, although we had some excellent lunches right at our hotel. On the other hand, I’ve had fabulous meals in LA and in Santa Barbara/Montecito.
Regional chains that everyone loves but that I HATE:
Lemonade: pre-made salads that never taste quite fresh to me;
Mendocino Farms: supposedly gourmet sandwiches but everything has so much sugar in it that it makes me sick.
Unfortunately, these seem to be the default lunch choices by my office.
Expanding local/ regional chain that I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE:
Din Tai Fung: Shanghai soup dumplings to die for
H just pointed out that another favorite IS a chain: Din Tai Fung (DUMPLINGS!)
The one in South Coast Plaza is not as great, I’ve heard from my sister.
Ha, ha, cross -posted with MusicaMusica – corrected the spelling after seeing her post.
BOY—straight up 8:30 AM cross post. Must be the Saturday morning Shu Mai cravings kicking in!!! See you there!
Chain restaurant depends on location too.