Chain Restaurants that don't suck

[name not needed]

Lone Star Steakhouse - damned good ribs. Texas themed chain, but no Bush to be seen.

[HEyHEY]

1. White Spot

Come to Western Canada, and get yourself a double double....mmmmmm

[solinvictus]

2. Romano's Macaroni Grill

Good Italian food at a reasonable price. Not certain of their political leanings, but they handle customer service issues unlike any other chain I've ever seen.

[Catshrink]

37. Can't get past the name..

makes me think of fried macaroni and cheese. Blech!

[mark0rama]

57. Owned by parent company of Chili's and Big Bowl Asian Kitchen.

Don't know about their specific politics either, but remember that chain restaurant companies in general tend to be conservative because they have a vested interest in cheap labor.

I'm not saying don't eat there, but I humbly suggest you find some balance with locally-owned, independent restaurants.

[RebelOne]

3. Red Lobster is my favorite.

[dad]

6. .

Red Lobster is one of the advertiser's on Rush Limbaugh's show. I read that on takebackthemedia.com a while back - and haven't been back since.

[Webster Green]

17. The food sucks too!

Might be OK if you have never tasted well prepared seafood.

[JohnLocke]

7. Republican contributer.

[markses]

46. LOL!

You're kidding, right?

[Angelus]

4. Perkins.

Perkins has good food and it's a good place to sober up in the middle of the night.

[Guy Fawkes]

52. dam straight! (see link in post) (clean)

http://www.penny-arcade.com/view.php3?date=2000-02-21&res=l

[Fenris]

5. Fádo

Good Irish pub food for a chain restaurant.

[billbuckhead]

9. Hops

Great food and beer

[burythehatchet]

100. Did not know it was a chain

I always have a great time there

[curse10]

8. Chipotle

man, I still get cravings. Chipotle! Come to Boston!!!!!!!!!

[cjbuchanan]

Oh god no

I don't need McDonald's to get good Tex-Mex. Maybe I'm spoiled being from Texas and all, but Chipotle is one of the worst chains I've ever eaten at.

[curse10]

27. It's not Tex-Mex

maybe that's the confusion. It's just a burrito. And a darn tasty one at that. You want to talk bad tex-mex? That's Taco Bell.

And McDonalds didn't always own them. I ate at the first one in Denver way back in 1994. The quality hasn't changed, and the original owner still has a great deal of say as to what goes on. Example: they use free range pork, and will be implementing free range beef and chicken

[cjbuchanan]

30. McDonald's owns them now

Any whatever they want to call it (the one about 300 yards from my house has Tex-Mex on the outside of the building), I don't like it.

Just so you know, I tried them before I even knew they were a chain, much less owned by McDonald's and I did not like it. Only later did I learn more.

I must agree with you on Taco-Bell, they suck as well.

Still, if you dig it, good for you.

Edited to add last two lines.

[sbj405]

48. Pot belly

Tasty, toasted sandwiches. And the ice cream-cookie thing is yummy, too. They hire local guys to play guitar during lunch time too.

Repub supporters, too. :-(

[mark0rama]

56. I like Chipotle too.

Most chain restaurant food (especially fast) just tastes like chemicals to me. Chipotle tastes like real food to me.

I've seen them make the guacamole, right from the avocados, while I waited in line. That gives me some confidence. To hear people complain about them here, you'd think that the stuff came in caulking-gun cartridges like it does at Taco Bell.

If the criticism is that it's owned by McDonald's, well, I hear you. I go out of my way to eat at independent restaurants. But I'm also content to spend some money at Chipotle to show McDonald's that I'm willing to buy real food from them.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

10. Subway

is the chain I go to if I have to go to a chain. The food is actually sort of nutritiuos.

[curse10]

12. good one! although I've run into a few that have stale bread

that always stinks.

[dawg]

16. Is that you, Jared?

Seriously, I've never been much impressed with Subway.

[ironflange]

31. You have to find a good location

Subways vary greatly in quality, all the way from 'nearly inedible' to 'to die for.' They must not watch their franchises very carefully.

[Nikia]

54. I like other sub places better

I like Quiznos, Jimmy John's, Erbert& Gerbert's. I think that their subs are superior to Subway as far as overall taste and superior ingredients. I am not sure if these places are everywhere though. Subway is cheaper too and closer to where I live. We have to travel for the others.

[St. Jarvitude]

78. Jimmy John's surpasses Subway on my list

I was an avid Subway aficionado my entire life until earlier this year, when I discovered Jimmy John's.

Ohh, delectable. The bread is delicious, the meats are delicious, the cheese is delicious, the veggies are delicious... love their chips, their cookies, everything!!

Not to mention their pricse are dirt cheap. The local franchise offers discounts for high school students during lunch hours, and that combined with the normal "combo" discount makes the total cost of a slim (8 inch sandwich w/ no veggies or sauce), chips, and a drink $3.10. A normal sandwich with the same deal is $4.10.

At Subway, a similar deal costs anywhere from $7 to $10, for only 4 more inches of sandwich.

[terrya]

11. Bennigan's

Nice place. Their Monte Cristo sandwich is yummy. :-)

Terry

[dawg]

18. Now you're talkin'

Dip it in that berry sauce and chomp it down.

Come back to Athens, Bennigans!

[baldguy]

13. Tim Horton's

Great coffee. Better doughnuts than KK. And sandwiches too!

[terrya]

14. Tim Horton's coffee is great. Agree about the donuts. KK is WAY overrrated

[ironflange]

32. You're right

KK is overrated, donuts are too soft. I seldom drink coffee, but when I do, it's usually Tim's, black. Gives me a real good buzz!

[PartyPooper]

15. "In 'N' Out" Burgers!

:9

[VolcanoJen]

24. I am eternally jealous of those within driving distance to an In-n-Out!!!

Best damn burgers in the world. Unfortunately, it's a west-coast thing, and I'm in Ohio. :-(

I never miss a double-double when in Cali!!

[MontecitoDem]

85. Definitely! In-n-Out

Plus they always give stickers to the kids.
Our family favorite after a long driving trip

[Kathy in Cambridge]

19. Margarita's

they actually have yummy guac, and some of their dishes are spicy, unlike Taco Hell.

[lnmike]

20. A New York strip with Terlingua hot sauce

I'm also partial to Fazoli's. Won't win any authenticity points, but their spaghetti makes a great, convenient "breakfast" (I'm an evening shift worker). Their sandwiches aren't really a bargain, though.

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

21. Don't hate me for this

We LOVE Ryan's Steakhouse. Their steaks are terrific for the price, and their bread and desserts are good, too. I also love Fazoli's and Black-Eyed Pea.

[Whitacre D_WI]

22. White Castle

Yum!

[markses]

47. White Castle is good because it sucks

;-)

[VolcanoJen]

23. Carrabba's

The only decent chain-Italian in the country. Pollo Graetella... yummy!!!!

[JM]

25. We like Buca

di Beppo. Family Style Italian Cuisine.

Cabo is good for Mexican as well, even if it isn't true Mexican.

JM

[MrsMatt]

43. I really like Buca

and we live 5 minutes from the original! Got to love the "Pope" table.

[NightTrain]

26. I've had pretty good luck at the Ground Round.

n/t

[daa]

28. Outback nt

[PartyPooper]

29. I must include Costco's Snack Bar!

I know it isn't a "chain restaurant" per se. But, they have hot dogs that I like which are real inexpensive! They have pizza and other things, too.

Besides, they're a big contributor to the Democrats!

:D

[Catshrink]

40. Oh yeah... had a Costco dog yesterday.

with a coke and a triple berry sundae to finish off my meal. Yum!!! All for $3. Can't beat it.

[Lisa0825]

33. All the Papas Family chains are good

Papasito's, Papadeaux's, Papas Seafood, and they have a steakhouse I haven't been to, but I hear it's great too.

I used to work at Papas, and I saw how everything was prepared. All fresh, all prepared to order. I also used to work at Red Lobster. That place sucks! Most of their food is frozen or dehydrated (soups, sauces, etc). about the only thing you can count on the be fresh is what's on the Fresh Fish Board.

[DemoTex]

34. "Good Eats"

"Good Eats" was another Gene Street creation. It is along the line of "Black-Eyed Pea," which I think Street started also. However, "Good Eats" operates only in Dallas, Denton, Plano, and Houston.

[Beaverhausen]

35. Baja Fresh

Really great fast mexican food.

Yum!!!

Anyone have any thoughts about Maggianos?

[eyesroll]

55. Not a fan of Maggianos

I think it's OK for lunch -- their soup/salad combos are pretty good, and reasonable.
Everything else is pretty well excess -- too much salt, too much of that pretty-but-what-the-hell-is-it seasoning on top of everything, way too much food.

[JPJones]

60. I loved Baja Fresh

when I lived in CA.

[ironflange]

36. Chico's Tecate Grill

Very good stuff. I especially like the salsa bar. I haven't been there in a long time, they are waaaaay up at the other end of town, so I only get there occasionally. That's good though, because I'll never get sick of the place.

[lpbk2713]

38. Ryan's

It's hard not to overdo it at this AYCE buffet place.

[Mojambo]

39. Taco Del Mar n/t.

[He loved Big Brother]

41. Cracker Barrel

Yum yum.

[Bertha Venation]

65. I was extremely unimpressed with Cracker Barrel.

We ate there because, as Mrs. V. put it, they have "a lot of good food cheap." Her chicken fried steak was great. I got their "sampler" -- small portions of ham, meatloaf, and chicken & dumplings. I've had better chicken & dumplings out of a can, they brought me country ham instead of the sugar-cured I ordered (country ham is great if you like eating salt by the spoonful), and my meatloaf was bland and stone cold.

I wouldn't go out of my way for a meal at Cracker Barrel. (But if Mrs. V. wanted to go there, I would.)

[Catshrink]

42. Carl's Jr, Rubio's, In & Out Burger, 5 & Diner, Schlotzky's

Yum yum. Oh, and did someone say Fazoli's? Double yum on their bread sticks!

[DontBlameMe]

70. Mmmmm, Schlotzky's!!!

The pastrami and swiss, oh my god!

[Beware the Beast Man]

44. Don Pablo's

Yes, I know there is more authentic Tex-Mex out there, and frankly I don't give a damn. I love that place, especially their salsa. Beats the hell out of Chi-Chi's

[Dropkick]

62. mmmmmm...

...Everytime I eat there and see the "el Presidente" I can't help but say it in my head with Vyvyan's voice (from the Young Ones, episode title "Oil").

[laruemtt]

45. applebee's!

wherever we go we can be sure of getting good mesquite grilled salmon with veggies.

[stanwyck]

59. they also now have

some WeightWatcher's entrees which I have not yet tried. I'm close to my goal weight so I have to be very careful. I'm going to try their new menu.

[StaggerLee]

49. I absolutely LOVE food threads

Thanks everyone!
:loveya:

[WindRavenX]

50. Vinny T's of Boston

I don't know if this qualifies as a chain because I think they only are in Boston, but I always drag my SO to Vinny's because the food is great, the portions are huge (which is great for this poor ass college student) so I can live off of leftovers for literally DAYS. :9

[SmileyBoy]

51. Boston Market

:9

[name not needed]

63. their meat loaf kicks ass

[Nikia]

53. Friday's

I like a lot of the food: Jack Daniel's barbequed stuff, steak on a stick, a couple of their chicken dishes, their appetizers, and ice cream drinks.

[playahata1]

58. Applebee's.

I absolutely LOVE the Riblets and the blackened chicken salad.

I used to like Ruby Tuesday's. But the last few times I'd ordered ribs there, they didn't taste right -- like they weren't cooked through as much as I'd liked.

[dae]

61. Pancho's, I know you Tex-Mex and Mexican food lovers are probably

groaning but my wife and I have been eating there since college. That was in '72 and Pancho's Buffet was $.99 all you can eat and it fit our newlywed budget, what can I say?

[TheMightyFavog]

64. Erbert & Gerbert's

Best. Drunk food. Ever.

With sandiwches called Bornk, Geeter, Narmur, and Boney Billy, how can you not like the place.

[Nikia]

67. I love Erbert&Gerbert's

For some reason, I can eat there even when I am sick and not feeling like eating. I usually order the Tappy. I think that it much better quality than Subway.

[SmileyBoy]

68. We have one of those downtown!!!

Sweet!! I gotta go there sometime...

[doc03]

66. Cracker Barrel and Bob Evans

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

69. Cheesecake Factory. California Pizza Kitchen.

[MissMillie]

71. Bertucci's

wood fire pizzas

[shanti]

72. dos coyotes

their navajo nachos are the best!! also, i like panda express.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

73. TGI Fridays, On the Border, Chili's...

THose are the three we frequent the most. And they're great. Fazoli's is pretty good too. Good Italian, without the fuss and muss of rude waiters and tipping.

Duckie

[nini]

74. Claim Jumper, Black Angus, CheeseCake Factory.

YUMMM

[GOPisEvil]

82. Mmmmmm...Claim Jumper...

I have two destinations when I am in California: Claim Jumper and In 'N' Out! :9

[nini]

86. stick with me and we'll both gain 20 lbs!!

there's lots of good places to eat!


you moving tomorrow? I got an answer from that co. I told you about. I'll email the dirt tomorrow.. the lakeshow is on ya know :-)

:hug:

[GOPisEvil]

87. Signing everything tomorrow (I hope).

Moving later in the week.

Ooooooh..dirt. :-)

I can't watch - no TV here. Radio! :think:

[nini]

90. where are you??? no TV???

poor baby!!

slow game.. it's making me crazy!!!

[GOPisEvil]

92. Staying with flush_bush.

A DUer to the rescue for my homeless self. He has cable internet but not cable TV. It's OK though; I won't watch any of the Reagan crap by accident. }(

[nini]

93. the game is on ABC... does he have TV at all?

nice of him to let you stay there.. what a pain this has been for you.. But it WILL be worth it :-)

[GOPisEvil]

94. I might be able to rig something up to watch.

But the game will probably be over by then. :eyes: Doesn't sound like I'm missing much anyway.

[nini]

95. not really.. why do you think I'm posting :-)

I guess after halftime I'll pay more attention.

Shaq just hit 2 free throws!! wooo hoooooo ;-)

[GOPisEvil]

96. I'm probably going to bed early tonight, anyway.

I got about 4 1/2 hours sleep last night. *yawn*

[nini]

98. party boy?

:-)

I'll catch up with you when I get to work tomorrow. I want to send you this document that company sent me.. you'll have to check out some of the benefits.. After 1 cruise.. a guest can come onboard for FREE.



good night... sleep well!

G

[GOPisEvil]

99. Kinda...was out late, but no drinking.

Sounds like a good deal.

'night! :hi:

[AngryAmish]

75. Portillos

Chicago area (mostly suburbs) fast food joint. Very good beef. You can get a beer there also.

Others: I have a weakness for Chile's, at least their fajitas.
Texas Star Fajita bar.
Culver's hamburgers.

[St. Jarvitude]

79. Damn fucking straight!

Best burgers, Italian Beef, and ribs around (I wouldn't know about the beer :)).

Their chocolate shakes are to die for, unless of course they're badly mixed and you hit a 'syrup deposit' :puke:

[mvd]

76. Wendy's

Arby's
KFC
Eat'n Park (their super burger seemed to spawn the Big Mac, but the Eat'n Park burger is much better.)
Applebee's
Max And Erma's

Personally, I think Perkins and Subway are among the worst. Perkins used to be good, but I've gotten bad eggs there recently among other things like annoying seasonings. Subway's oil never tasted right to me.

[ronnykmarshall]

77. In and Out Burger

[Eye and Monkey]

80. Ruth's Chris Steak House.

[sleepyhead]

81. Popeye's

Love their spicy chicken!

[2bfree]

83. P.F. Chang's............

I would kill for those lettuce wraps! I wish we had one here.......

[nini]

88. I was disappointed in PF Changs

I'd heard so much about it I may have expected too much. There are alot of good little Chinese places around I like better and are MUCH cheaper

[carpetbagger]

84. Taco John's

My opinion is that it's the only chain of Mexican fast food with enough guts to admit that chains of Mexican fast food are never going to be authentic.

Flame away.

[Poor Richard]

89. Houston's Restaurant - best chain ever

and the only chain to get a 4 star review from Washpo. The food and service absolutely rock.

Also Bonefish grill - owned by Outback - does a great job

[KG]

91. einstien bro's bagels.

their carribean crab chowder is awesome.

[ashling]

97. Black Eyed Pea

Cornbread, roll, chicken fried steak, potroast all fantstic!