Chain Restuarants
 

We all know that the very best restaurants are the high-end local restaurants with a unique menu and a top-notch head chef. And that the Europeans like to make fun of the US for our chain-restaurant mentality. Nevertheless, chain restaurants are here to stay. And if you are in a small town in the rural west our southern US, the chain restaurants are often much better than the local ones. At least you know what you are getting into.

Having said that, what are choices for the best and worst chains? (fast food does not count) Here are mine:

Best

1) P.F. Chang's

Excellent overall menu. Seldom disappoints. Try the new menu item called Walnut shrimp with honeydew melon. Very tasty.

2) Bucca Di Beppo

I like the family style approach and I think the food quality is quite good. I have heard a few people trash this place. Not sure I understand why. Light years beyond the Olive Garden.

Worst

1) Hall of shame: Waffle House, Shoney's, Denny's. (no explanation needed)

2) Outback Steak House

Blech. I hope I never have to go back to one of these again. Boring, over-hyped food.

3) Olive Garden

I don't even like the salads. Don't get me started on the microwaved main dishes.

I love Johnny Carinos because they make great sangrias and bellinis.

I came in to mention P.F. Chang's. I like it. My wife likes it even more than me. Its little brother Pei Wei is also good, and very reasonable in price.

Other ones I like:

Fuddruckers is solid, if basic.
Maggiano's is good for someone like me who isn't an expert on Italian food.
Does Ruth's Chris count as a chain? There are actually several very good steak house chain, but that's easy to do since you don't need a great chef.

And on the negative side:

Rainforest Cafe Has anyone ever had a good experience there?
Red Lobster has had bad food and dirty restaurants whenever I have been.

Is Tepanyaki a chain, or is it just a couple of Utah restaurants?

Anyway, I went there Saturday and liked it. The steak was great.


Outback sucks, except for the Bloomin Onion.
Lone Star Steakhouse is decent.

Nice post Jeff. Great topic.

Chain restaurants are everywhere here in the midwest. It's not uncommon to see an hour wait at Olive Garden on a weeknight. My in-laws love the chains so I have a little experience at all the restaurants you listed.

Best:
Red Robin- It's not too hard to make hamburgers.
Chipotle- Big burritos.
PF Changs- Great chocolate cake.

Worst:
Ruby Tuesday- Making hamburgers is too hard for this chain.
Applebees- Just bad.
Joe's Crab Shack- Worst seafood place in the entire world.
Sizzler- My old school dad still thinks a trip to The Sizz is puttin' on the fancy.

Salvagable:
Chili's- Good chips and salsa and "Chili's is the new golf course. It's where business happens" - Small Businessman Magazine.
Fridays- There are some good items on the menu.
Macaroni Grill- Their salmon is surprisingly good. I like the Pasta Milano as well.

I know nobody ever agrees with me, but Sizzler is OK by me. The Sizzler steak is a decent, cheap steak. Just remember, if you like your steak medium rare, you have to ask for it rare served on a cold plate. If you want it rare, forget about it, not happenin.

I don't know if its a chain but I liked Saltgrass in Dallas. I know there are at least a few near where I always stay DFW Marriott north, but I don't know if it's a national chain.

I agree with you, not that it'll give you any more credibility. :)

Sizzler steak isn't high quality, but it tastes pretty good. They must inject it with flavoring or something.

I like Bucca di Beppo. For a chain, the food it pretty good and you're right, it blows away Olive Garden.

The best part of Bucca di Beppo is that it looks like the inside of just about any home in Italy, especially Sicily. It brings back great memories for me.

It's a Texas chain. My favorite chain Steakhouse by far.