Foodies: which chain restaurants are okay in your opinion?

[slj0101]

I dig Abuelo's.

http://www.abuelos.com/

Is it authentic? Hell no. It's too gourmet to be authentic. Is it good? Hell yes. I especially like their rellenos. And the side of papas con chile is tres bomb.

[Shakespeare]

1. The restaurants in the House of Blues clubs.

Very, very good food every time I've eaten there.

[LostinVA]

Agreed

[Shakespeare]

78. What I like is that not only is it consistently GOOD, it's also...

...very nicely done high-end southern and creole/cajun cuisine. It's always a pleasure eating there.

[LynneSin]

2. Arby's

The Horsey Sauce alone makes them worthy. I put them on my roast beef sandwich AND my curly fries

[Dragonbreathp9d]

90. gross

[GreenPartyVoter]

92. Nah, it's the arby's sauce that makes them

[La Lioness Priyanka]

3. better burger (nyc chain), hale and hearty (nyc chain), pita grill (nyc chain)

however even though red lobster is kinda bland and fatty for seafood i enjoy my red lobster experiences.

i LOVE fudruckers (havent been in years though)

[nosillies]

4. Stonewood is wonderful -- but unfortunately, not very widespread

http://www.stonewoodgrill.com/

And I love some dishes at Buca di Beppo.

[AngryAmish]

5. Culver's

I also have a weak spot for Chili's in airports. It is kinda hard to screw up fajitas.

[AllegroRondo]

7. I have to agree, their custard is very good

have you seen their contest to design new flavors?
its on the web site.

[Connonym]

26. I'd have to ditto the Culvers

they haven't totally mass produced the flavor out of all of their food. And damnit butter makes everything better.

[KitchenWitch]

62. Culvers!

:9

[Left Is Write]

73. Culvers - best fast food burgers ever.

[AllegroRondo]

6. Panera Bread

known here as St Louis Bread Company.

Their soups and sandwiches are actually quite good. The coffee is average, but its not trying to be Starbucks anyway.

[pagerbear]

11. Tasty sandwiches.

There's one near one of the places I work.

[fudge stripe cookays]

8. OK, that's freaky.

I saw the title of your thread, and said, "I'm going to reply Abuelo's."

We just stopped in there last weekend on our way back from McKinney. :9

I love the ceiling. Very cool.

[slj0101]

52. The one by me just opened up about a year ago.

Considering my local Mexi joint took a nosedive as of late, it's my new favorite.

Did I mention that I love the papas con chile? :)

[Rabrrrrrr]

9. None. But, in terms of "in an emergency", Culver's, Panera, Applebees, Olive Garden

that's pretty much it.

Culver's and Panera are actually quite good food, everything is home made (though I imagine Culver's buys their buns), and served well. AND Panera has wireless.

[pagerbear]

21. Applebee's? Dude, I'm disappointed in you.

Or are the Applebee's where you live a lot better than here? My experience with local Applebee's is that the food is usually OK but the service leaves a dreadful taste in my mouth.

[Rabrrrrrr]

34. Only for their salads. I wouldn't eat anything else.

And in a lot of areas, one cannot find a Panera or a Culver's (they don't seem to be national yet), but can probably find an Applebee's.

But in a pinch, they serve some glorious salads - I especially like their garlic shrimp salad, though it's probably been two years since I've been to one.

[windy252]

79. You too, huh?

Every time I've gone to Applebee's with my best friend lately, the service has been absolutely terrible.

[racaulk]

10. In-N-Out Burger is pretty good, for anyone who is in the Amerian southwest.

http://www.in-n-out.com/

[bullwinkle428]

43. In-N-Out is just awesome! I was visiting NorCal last summer,

and not one hour after my plane had landed, I pulled into an In-N-Out and was shoveling a Double-Double into my piehole!

[EstimatedProphet]

60. Hell yeah!

Good burgers there!

[Tektonik]

64. In-n-out's the best burger chain in the country hands down

mmmmmmmm animal style 4 x 4's :9

[Dragonbreathp9d]

12. Jimmy Johns, In-N-Out, Genghis Grill

[Javaman]

55. Oh man, In-and-Out!!! I soooooo miss them. got me thinking about them now.

thanks. lol

[malta blue]

13. I would probably eat there....

I usually don't do the chain but my kid likes Panera....

[HughBeaumont]

14. Buca Di Beppo.

Family style Italian, great sauce and Marsala. I go there at least a few times a year.

http://www.bucadibeppo.com/

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

16. Gag me.

They're only a slight notch above Olive Garden and Macaroni Grill. :puke:

[HughBeaumont]

18. Is there EVER a time where you're NOT ripping on other people's choices that vary from your tastes?

I understand that people are different, but does it require insults?

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

20. Sorry - I wasn't ripping on you. Or at least I didn't mean to.

I was ripping on the restaurant. My apologies.

[HughBeaumont]

22. Which is why I changed the title at the last minute.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

31. I certainly don't intend to be taken too seriously in these types of threads.

It's just light discussion. Obviously, someone likes these restaurants if they're all in business and spreading like wildfire. And especially given the tone of the thread, I would expect some back-and-forth to be a bit of a given.

[LostinVA]

33. Whatever -- Chili's sucks

hehehehehehhehehe

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

35. I know it does!

So does Chipotle! But I love it anyway!! :cry: :hide: :spank:

[LostinVA]

36. hehehehehehhehe

How's your Bridezilla?

We sent out the invites yesterday.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

40. Getting more and 'zilla-ish each day.

I feel like an asshole, but I've been having to remind her more and more that our wedding budget sucks and we can't do all the things she wants. I REFUSE to get a loan or max out credit cards for a one-day event.

Wow, if you've sent invites, you're pretty far along. You got a lot left to plan?

[LostinVA]

41. As Oprah says, "The marriage is more important than the wedding"

Just a bunch of little things -- minutiae is drowning us!

[TommyO]

58. The only thing that sucks about Chipotle

is that the one in Bridgewater, NJ doesn't serve margaritas! That's what I liked about the one that I've eaten at in San Diego (several times).

[HughBeaumont]

37. You live in the same city as my sister?

What do you think of Ella's Wood Fired pizza, not speaking of chains?

That's one I often go to when I visit.

Do you know of any good Italian, not Galileo-priced restaurants in DC?

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

39. Ella's is pretty good. Pricing is slightly high for what it is.

Inside the city, good non-Galileo priced Italian can be somewhat hard to come by, but there are a few great ones just outside the city limits. One is Sergio's in Silver Spring. It's a hole in the wall inside of a hotel, but it's got a sophistication that rivals that of the Galileo's of the world. You're not quite going to get the ambiance of going to Galileo, but the food is definitely on par. For even cheaper, but good Italian/pizza, there's Faccia Luna in Arlington. They used to be in Glover Park (DC), but moved out to Clarendon. Fantastic pizza, good entrees, not too expensive.

That said, you're not going to do all that much better than Galileo, i Ricci, or Teatro Goldoni anywhere. And honestly, unless you're serious about shelling out for wine, the prices aren't THAT much higher that you'd get at an Ella's.

[HughBeaumont]

54. I don't drink, so right there, that knocks some of the price off.

Thank you for the recs. I'll be hitting at least one of those places the next time I visit (mid-August). I've been wanting to try i Ricci. When I go, as in any bigger city, I make it a rule of thumb not to hit chains. That is, unless the stepson is with me; then I have to break that rule. :( Except he likes Ella's.

Last time I went, I ate at Ben's Chili Bowl. I felt that the rest of the evening, and it was worth it.

[LostinVA]

15. Several:

Maggiano's (tres good)
Macaroni Grill (okay)
Panera (decent place for a fast lunch)
Five Guys (yummo burgers and yummoier fries)

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

19. Maggiano's is good. I didn't realize they were that widespread. (nt)

[LostinVA]

24. There's one in Richmond

Midlo loves their Chardonnay, and Haruka their mojitos and lobster ravioli.

[HughBeaumont]

27. They just opened a Five Guys here.

I may need to investigate. Almost went to the one near Metro Center.

[LostinVA]

32. VERY good

Just a caveat: the small burger is small. It's usually enough for me. However, the small fries are HUGE!

The beef is very fresh and high quality, and the fries are some of the best ever -- they cut them fresh and cook them per the starch content of that particular batch of potatoes. And, they have malt vinegar available!

Grilled cheese and veggie burgers for the vegheads in your life.

[northzax]

28. mmm...five guys...mmm

must...go...to...five guys...droool.

[seemunkee]

29. Oh yeah

damn good burgers.

[Midlodemocrat]

51. Definitely Maggiano's and Five Guys.

Also PF Chang's is delicious. Bonefish Grille is great as well.

[Tektonik]

66. Ugh PF Changs is terrible

I've been to a couple of locations here in socal, and all the food was pedestrian for the price, and not to mention all their mixed drinks were terrible except for the green tea vodka thing

[Tektonik]

67. self-delete

[Midlodemocrat]

87. Really? The one here is fabulous.

I love the lettuce wraps and the ahi tuna.

As for drinks, the only thing I've had there is the passion fruit iced tea. Again, delicious.

[Left Is Write]

97. I have never had PF Chang's, but Mr. LIW loves the one downtown here.

[Dastard Stepchild]

75. Macaroni Grill does have a few really nice dishes...

I am not really a fan of Maggiano's, but have gone there in a pinch. Thumbs up to the quick Panera lunch as well.

[Ekirh]

102. I'm all for the Five Guys here . ..

Before I dropped out of V.C.U.. the one on West Broad was a nightmare for me... cause it was near my parking space so I always stopped in for lunch . . . but damn it was good every time...

but yes.. the fries hooked me more than the burgers did.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

17. I loves me some Chipotle.

That's about the only chain I (sadly) like. I can tolerate Chili's.

[pagerbear]

23. I'm with you there!

[LostinVA]

25. Ah! I didn't think of them

[bullwinkle428]

42. Never been to Chipotle, but I think Panchero's sets the bar

for "Mexican fast food" as far as places I've been to...

http://www.pancheros.com/index.php

Tortillas pressed fresh on the griddle when you place your order, and all of their ingredients taste fresh as far as I can tell.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

44. Never even heard of it. Where are they located?

[bullwinkle428]

100. Mostly in the upper Midwest for now, but they're definitely

expanding, seemingly with the intention of eventually going nationwide. Here's a link to their locations, and a list of coming franchises is located on the home page. The founder opened up the first two locations in '92, in Iowa City (University of Iowa campus) and East Lansing, Michigan (Michigan State University campus).


http://www.pancheros.com/locations.php

[grace0418]

47. Chipotle rocks. I love their guacamole, and I'm a guacamole snob.

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...

[Mutley]

49. Oh yeah.

Now I might have to stop there on my way to work. :9

[Dastard Stepchild]

72. Definite yes to Chipotle...

And I will do the black bean burger at Chili's. It is actually pretty tasty.

[stuntcat]

101. oooooo Chipotle

my pick too!! :headbang: :headbang:

[Burma Jones]

30. Five Guys Burgers, Panera Bread, IHOP, Bonefish Grill, Ledo's Pizza

Five Guys and Ledo's are Mid-Atlantic Chains

[begin_within]

38. Togo's and Souplantation

Togo's has a great Cobb salad, and several good soups including a Mushroom & Brie soup and a Broccoli Cheddar soup.
Souplantaion has a great selection and is all you can eat - but that's the drawback, I always eat too much there.

[Tektonik]

69. I'll agree w/ Souplantation

EXCEPT that their chicken noodle soup is one of the worst I've ever had. Pasty pasty pasty thick wide noodles + bland ginormous chicken chunks in broth =/= chicken noodle soup :puke:

[Tektonik]

70. Round Table Pizza + Numero Uno Pizza

For a chain, Round Table is pretty good

Numero Uno has a scrumptious cheese Pizza

[begin_within]

84. Yes, it's ironic that their soups are hit-and-miss

but their salad bar is terrific and always clean and nothing is ever empty. And their strawberry lemonade is tasty... and sometimes they have someone walk around with a plate of warm chocolate chip cookies and hand them out to whoever wants one. It's a good thing they always have 5 or 6 soups because usually only one appeals to me... kind of ironic since "soup" is in the name of the place.

[bertha katzenengel]

45. Carrabba's

Kinda Italian (pasta), kinda a grill... very good food.

[China_cat]

71. Must vary by location.

The one here in Charleston is horrible. And overpriced.

[HughBeaumont]

88. Like their chicken.

They've done better with their pasta in recent years. Before, they overcooked it to whiteness. :puke:

[av8rdave]

46. Rock Bottom Brewery. I have no idea if their food is any good at all.

[grace0418]

48. Ya know, for lunch, Ruby Tuesday's actually has a decent salad bar. Real mixed greens and

everything! Fresh broccoli, soy beans, tomato/fresh mozzarella salad. I was quite impressed.

[Midlodemocrat]

50. Cracker Barrel

:hide:

Hey, it's chicken pot pie day. :bounce:

[slj0101]

53. No joke- their breaded catfish is fantastic.

:9

[Arugula Latte]

56. Burgerville -- a Northwest fresh, local, sustainable ingredients chain

:9

It has the look of a regular burger joint from the 60s or something, but they have top-notch food and enlightened employment and food policies. I don't eat beef, but I LOVES me their garden burger with local Tillamook cheddar. They feature things like hormone-free meat, local in-season foods in their menu (Walla Walla sweet onion rings in spring, fresh strawberrry milkshakes and then blackberry milkshakes in summer, etc.) Their kids meals don't have plastic merchandising crap tied into promotions; instead they give out stuff that is fun and educational (bug finders, etc.)

[terrya]

57. Ruby Tuesday's

A pretty good chain restaurant. Decent food at reasonable prices.
My .02

[AllegroRondo]

59. I used to like them, not any more

we went last Friday, and the menu has changed. Prices are UP, and the portion sizes are down.

We used to order the asian dumplings as an appetizer, 6 of them for $4.99. Now you get 5 for $5.99. And the 'petite sirloin' my daughter used to get for $9.99 has been replaced with a smaller 7oz 'top sirloin' for $11.99. Whats worse, they no longer carry A-1 steak sauce (I dont like A-1, but my daughter must have it)

Nope, they lost a regular customer with that move.

[RebelOne]

85. I'll second that. I ate at a Ruby Tuesday's

in Gatlinburg this past weekend. Hate a tilapia (fish) dish that was out of this world.

[EstimatedProphet]

61. Red Robin, Max&Erma's, Tumbleweeds

Especially Max&Erma's - where else can you get fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies for dessert?

[Omphaloskepsis]

63. All of them are fine with me..

Food snobs are just as annoying as audiophiles.

Look at the "What is for dinner?" threads. I call bullshit on half of them. Tater tots and fish sticks are most likely on the menu.

"Roasted Baby Potatoes with Rosemary; Green Beans and Portobello Mushroom Saute; Beef Tenderloin Steaks with Gorgonzola; Creamsicle Liqueur Dessert" And by that they mean tater tots and fish sticks. wanks

[RandomKoolzip]

65. I used to LOOOOVVE Arthur Treacher's.

Too bad they barely exist anymore. Their batter-dipped chicken and hush puppies were the stuff of dreams.

[Tektonik]

68. Todai's

It's a great all you can eat seafood buffet with awesome desserts :9

[Dastard Stepchild]

74. I'll do California Pizza Kitchen's Tomato Basil Spaghettini...

As well as Chili's Black Bean Burger. I'll do Cracker Barrel pancakes (with the yum cinnamon apple topping) and most of the veggie salad options from places like Panera and the like. Oh, the hummus sandwich at Cosi is pretty tasty.

In a true pinch, when traveling interstate with limited food options, I've been known to scarf down more than one bean burrito from Taco Bell.

[leftofthedial]

76. Pappadeaux

decent southern coastal food

[Taverner]

83. Sadly, we don't have any Pappas restaraunts here in CA

Pappadeaux, Pappas BBQ..etc/.//

[musette_sf]

103. yes, Pappadeaux did satisfy some basic needs

a little heavy on the cheesy/creamy/greasy, but it'll do in a pinch for that NOLA craving.

the Pappas restaurants were all pretty good IMHO. i've been out of the area for years, but over the past few years when i've been trapped in Dallas for business, i always finagle at least one meal at a Pappas restaurant.

on edit: the short-lived Pappamia's was also pretty good.

[judaspriestess]

77. Zaba's

their veggie burrito is yummy!!

[GCP]

80. Are Papa-Razzi a chain?

They have several restaurants around New England and DC. Excellent italian food.

[Taverner]

81. Subway, Chipotle, Baja Fresh, In-N-Out, Starbucks

Yeah I know Subway treats franchisees like crap, but the food is healthy - a rarity in the food industry.

Chipotle and Baja Fresh also have healthy fare

In-N-Out is artery hardening good, but they are a bit more ethical and they don't use antibiotics or hormones in the meat

Starbucks, say what you will, fights unionization by offering better benefits and pay. That is the only humane way to union-bash in my opinion.

[bearfan454]

82. Whataburger and Taco Cabana are my favorites. nt

[Fox Mulder]

86. Olive Garden.

No joke.

[LNM]

89. White Castle.

Only about every other month though. Flame away, I love sliders.

[Dragonbreathp9d]

91. Mack and Manko

best. pizza. ever.

[NMDemDist2]

93. I've always liked Black Angus as a chain n/t

[Adsos Letter]

96. one of our favorites...

I luvz me some shrimp cocktail, prime rib, and garlic mashed taters...plus the desserts!

:9

[NMDemDist2]

99. and they are very consistant, from night to night and from town to town

even state to state

never had a bad meal there over 4 states and 25 years :hi:

[Adsos Letter]

94. Il Fornaio

great Italian...

:D

[spinbaby]

95. Mad Mex

Love 'em. Don't think they've spread beyond PA, though.

[WindRavenX]

98. Panda Express

There. I said it.

The orange chicken is amazing stoned.

:hide: