The goal here is not to identify establishments that serve really bad food, but instead to cite examples of restaurants that simply don't deliver a satisfying dining experience.

Some examples might be:


Simply overpriced - lack of value for money spent
Shabby treatment of non-celebrities or non-VIPs
Famous for a "what's the big deal" menu item


My nomination is for Joe's Stone Crabs in Miami Beach, Florida. Besides the fact that I find stone crabs OK but nothing special (and therefore ridiculously expensive), this is a place that is constantly given lavish praise by expense-account types (such as out-of-town sports broadcasters) who receive specal treatment, to the detriment of the average Joe or Jane who just wants to see what all the fuss is about.

Mama's Fish House, Maui. Nice ambiance, lousy service, ok food, WAY overpriced.

Durgin Park, Boston. What's the big thrill with unpleasant waitstaff? I can get bad service anywhere if I try. Food was so-so. Ambiance was rustic and authentic, but hardly impressive.

Dreamland, Tuscaloosa. I've had better barbeque in a dozen places. If it wasn't for the university, no one would have heard of this place. Instead, as in the OP's example, sports broadcasters get special treatment as well as atmosphere and food that would be difficult to duplicate back in NYC, think it's special and broadcast it to the world.

I second Joe's Stone Crabs. Actually, that reputation is so bad that friends and I have decided to never give it a try.

I'm can smell the flames coming after I post this, as so many people seem to rave about this place, but:

Who are they kidding? It's like the Chillis or TGIFridays of pseudo-Asian food. Bland corporate decor, bland vacuous servers (by and large,) and bland, tastless mush with corporate-speak-asian-sounding names. I instantly discount the culinary taste of anyone who recommends or even eats at one of these places.

flame away!

hurlimann

Amen on PF Chang's...they're all so predictable and boring with very mediocre food. I think people like it because they give you lots of food; so there is extra to take home. But I just can't stand the forced 'friendliness' and the wait staff who walk around with ear pieces. Let's face it, most mid-level chains are very mediocre but that's what Americans want.

The worst, in my opinion, is the Cheesecake Factory. People sit around 2-3 hours some nights for the 'privilege' of eating there. I say, get a life.

Hard Rock Cafe, anywhere.

Don Shula's Steakhouse in Little Rock, AK. I was expecting a treat and did not like the steak, service or ambience.

Steve

Amen on PF Chang's...they're all so predictable and boring with very mediocre food. I think people like it because they give you lots of food; so there is extra to take home. But I just can't stand the forced 'friendliness' and the wait staff who walk around with ear pieces. Let's face it, most mid-level chains are very mediocre but that's what Americans want.

The worst, in my opinion, is the Cheesecake Factory. People sit around 2-3 hours some nights for the 'privilege' of eating there. I say, get a life.

Forgot about Cheesecake Factory- absolutely absurd that people will wait in line to pay too much for average food served in obesity-inducing portions

hurlimann

Hard Rock Cafe, anywhere.
Beats the h--l out of Planet Hollywood, but that's not saying much good about either one.

That concept should have died years ago and now they are turning it into a Vegas resort. Can't wait for the jokes at that place's expense.

Forgot about Cheesecake Factory- absolutely absurd that people will wait in line to pay too much for average food served in obesity-inducing portions

hurlimann

My finance & I will share an entree. She likes the one in Newport Beach. We get one entree & end up taking some food home. I only go to Cheesecake factory when she wants to go & at FT events. Otherwise, I don't go out of the way to go there.

I've gone to TGI Friday's & it took forever to get mediocre food. The last time, I had a coupon so the financial bite wasn't too bad.

Smith & Wollensky in New York. Served me a fatty and overcooked filet mignon. I could have done much better on my own gas grill with a cut from my local grocery store. Service was underwhelming. And prices were fairly inflated too.

Forgot about Cheesecake Factory- absolutely absurd that people will wait in line to pay too much for average food served in obesity-inducing portions

hurlimannThe portions are truly obscene, no doubt!

My vote goes to the Rotating Restaurant on the Space Needle in Seattle. Besides the good view, it was a very disappointing dining experience, with teenage staff, no wild salmon (that I could have better at), and completely overpriced. I suppose it's all for the experience, but...

Spago's in LA also.

My nomination is for Joe's Stone Crabs in Miami Beach, Florida. Besides the fact that I find stone crabs OK but nothing special (and therefore ridiculously expensive), this is a place that is constantly given lavish praise by expense-account types (such as out-of-town sports broadcasters) who receive specal treatment, to the detriment of the average Joe or Jane who just wants to see what all the fuss is about.

I can't speak to the one in Miami, however the Joe's Stone Crab in Chicago is consistently one of the best resturants in town. The King Crab Legs prepared table side are the best and their steaks beat most other Chicago establishments. Joe's rocks!

Union Square Cafe, NYC.

Server won't come by for almost 45 minutes after we sat down. Ran out of beef and shrimp by 8:30pm. Also ran out of 2 red wine, and finally, was told they ran out of hot chocolate too. No kidding. Guess they can't just run over to Whole food and get a can of hot coco....
Food was OK, but totally not at Gramercy Tavern level. Maybe I just have a bad day?

I am going to give another vote to Durgin Park, Boston. Neither the beef nor the seafood have been especially impressive when I have gone there. And the side dishes are plain and bland.

My nomination is for Joe's Stone Crabs in Miami Beach, Florida. Besides the fact that I find stone crabs OK but nothing special (and therefore ridiculously expensive), this is a place that is constantly given lavish praise by expense-account types (such as out-of-town sports broadcasters) who receive specal treatment, to the detriment of the average Joe or Jane who just wants to see what all the fuss is about.

I personally really like it. If you go at lunch or early evening, there are no lines. I found the food very good and the service curteous, genuine, and efficient. They were quite friendly.

Any of the chain restaurants - PF Changs, Cheesecake Factory, Kanki, etc are all overhyped.

Also for the poster who didn't like Union Sq. Café, unless they have recently gone way downhill, I think you just got it on an off day.

Agree that Joe's Stone Crab is one of the best restaurants in Chicago! (The one in Vegas, not so hot, and in the middle of a shopping mall to boot).

Smith and Wollensky in New York good; Smith and Wollensky in Chicago bad.

Agree with all the anti-P.F.Changs remarks as well. Cheesecake Factory--yuk!

And, back to Joe's Stone Crab in Miami--the food and South Beach atmosphere is excellent. The problem is surly servers and payola to the Maitre' d to get a table.

Ruths Chris: Overcooked, overrated, and overpriced.

Court of Two Sisters: Tourists overpaying for what they think is authentic New Orleans food.

Legal Seafoods (c.a. 1985): Long waits for average seafood along with being asked to pay upfront when ordering. Fortunately, things have been fixed since this one sorry episode.

Steak & Shake: Expatriate Midwesterners think of this as a destination venue worth a special trip. I think of it as average, greasy, moderately overpriced standard fast food, with indifferent service at best. Hard to understand why this is so popular.

Landry's Seafood: Rude and overpriced corporate cousin of Joe's Crab Shack.
My "signature experience" here was in Biloxi, MS in the mid-90s. I decided to have a beer at the bar and check out the menu. After seeing something to my liking, I asked if I could just stay at the bar and eat. "No", came the reply, "You'll have to eat in the dining room". Okay, so I go to the hostess stand...where I'm told, "The wait will be 20 minutes". Okay fine...except the dining room is at least 90% empty! This was at 6:30pm on a weeknight...and yes, I was appropriately attired (biz casual), etc.

I left immediately.

My "honorable mention" rude experience at Landry's was a year or two later in New Orleans, where I was told rather emphatically upon entering that restrooms were for customers only. This time was also on a weeknight when the place was about half full. At this, I felt it was pointless to explain that I wasn't there to use the restroom, that I was looking for a place to have dinner.

Once again, I left immediately....and I haven't been back to a Landry's since!

Ruths Chris: Overcooked, overrated, and overpriced.

Couldn't disagree more. I love Ruth's Chris. Consistently good food from start to finish. Prices are in line with what a good steakhouse should and can charge.

Now, Morton's and The Palm are thoroughly deserving of those criticisms (except perhaps the "overcooked" part).

Don Shula's Steakhouse in Little Rock, AK. I was expecting a treat and did not like the steak, service or ambience.

Steve


Another vote for Shula's! Both the LIT and the MCO stores are way overpriced and way under-delivering.

Agree with Joe Stone's Crab in Miami...waste of time.
Cheesecake Factory at Forum Shops in Vegas...never waited in line, great cake!
Smith & Wollensky's in NY...pass...agree food was subpar.
My own comments - Toque in Montreal (my hometown)...way overpriced, food is too precious, staff is snotty beyond belief, even to celebs!
Any of Vongerichten's restos around the world...the only thing more inflated than the prices on the menus is his ego..."a legend in his own mind" - (thanks Clint).

Mama's Fish House, Maui. Nice ambiance, lousy service, ok food, WAY overpriced.

Totally agree--I even went there a 2nd time because I thought maybe I was missing something by being disappointed the 1st. Food outrageously overpriced, even for Hawaii. Service was terrible.

Another vote, or non-vote, for the Cheesecake Factory. Crap food, ridiculously huge portions, big tab. It's like an Applebee's on steroids.

One mark of a real cow town is when they open a Cheesecake Factory there, maybe to anchor some new urban mall, and there are immediate lines out the door, and the buzz around town is all about how cool the Cheesecake Factory is. Bunch of rubes.

P.F. Chang's at least has the ambience down. I think the spaces are well-designed and inviting (I've been in three or four of them, always dragged in by clients). So you think something nice is going to happen. Then the food comes and it's just bland, crap Chinese takeout arranged on a fu-fu plate and marked up 300%. Those stupid lettuce wraps look and taste like dog food.

Ruth's Chris, though, I've never had a bad night in... and at least one excellent one, in Toronto.

My vote's for hometown "favorite" Landry's....I cannot stand Joe's Crab Shack and their restaurants on the Kemah Boardwalk remind me of casino food (it's all the same).

I will except Pesce on Kirby. I had a fantastic meal there one night and the service was impeccable.

The Palm. In Dallas, folks went for years because of the service... but once the GM left and opened his own place, there was no reason to return because the food sucked. I've dined in several other Palms and think the whole "chain" is over-rated.

Mortons. I've had more bad steaks here than anywhere else. I think the appetizers are the only redeeming menu items here and thus all I ever order now.

Ruths Chris. Again, never understood the draw. The steaks are better than the Palm or Mortons - but (at least here in 'steakhouse city') there is something a bit low-rent about the place compared to the money you'll spend.

One mark of a real cow town is when they open a Cheesecake Factory there, maybe to anchor some new urban mall, and there are immediate lines out the door, and the buzz around town is all about how cool the Cheesecake Factory is. Bunch of rubes.

The same thing happened in Reno when our PF Chang's opened. Couldn't get in there for a month or three without waiting hours for a table. (As if I'd want to, anyway. I've eaten at one precisely once - in downtown Salt Lake City, in December of 2001 - and have had no desire of going back.)

(Of course, BearX220 did say "cow town," and that defines Reno pretty damn well.) ;)

I also think that Outback Steakhouse is overrated to the point of nasty (save for the Bloomin' Onion), but that's just MHO as well.

Mike

Tavern on the Green in NYC- blah ambience, blah food, blah.

The Olive Garden. In my hometown you still have to wait an hour to get in there.

More locally, the Baranof Hotel. All the guidebooks recommend it, but you'd be better off at the state office building snackbar!

Spago's in LA also.
Disagree completely. Been there 5-6 times. Food's always very good, service is excellent. A fun experience as well. No attitude.

I'd say the Ivy and Mr. Chow have been my greatest disappointments in LA (although my wife disagrees in both cases). Maybe I'm missing something, but I just don't understand Mr. Chow. It's admittedly good Chinese food; but 10x the price of regular Chinese food?

Mama's Fish House, Maui. Nice ambiance, lousy service, ok food, WAY overpriced.

Have to disagree. My experience was Great food, Great ambience, good service - but yes, expensive.

Mrs. OC & I will always go whenever we get back to OGG. It's our "splurge" item for Maui trips.

Even though we had reservations, had told them it was a special occassion and were dressed for an evening on the town, we were treated quite shabbily at a french restaurant in San Jose Although it's actual name was "Rue de Paris" we took to calling it Rude Paris :D - They are no longer in business!

Then there was the time we were in Cupertino at a chain restaurant where, as we were eating, I looked at the wall beside our table to see cockroaches!! We never went back (I won't name them, but let's just say Thank God I Found out) - It still gives me the creeps

Overpriced and overcooked fish. Went back at FIL's request for family function (and on his $) and got more of the same....

Buca di Beppo and Spaghetti Factory.

Ugh to both.

Mortons......zero for three attempts. It's been five years, but reading this thread indicates nothing has changed.

PF Changs in RNO last Sunday. What is with playing rap for backround music? And the food?? $2 gratuity on a $35 check. Once is enough.

Cheesecake Factory near Palm Springs last year. No line as I walked by and was curious what all the fuss is about.
Still wondering what all the fuss is about.

Walked into a Joe's Crab Shack twice in my life. Used rest room, looked at menu....then split. Hardly counts as a bad experience, but alway leave shaking my head in disbelief that people actually pay to eat here.

And I would like to say something nice about chain operations. There are several local chains operating in the PDX area. The service and food consistently way above the common national names.

Buca di Beppo and Spaghetti Factory.

Ugh to both.

Interesting! A chacun son gout...I'm not familiar with Buca di Beppo but have found the Old Spaghetti Factory to be a cheap "reasonable-value" place with not-horrible food suitable to take children. The few we've eaten in (British Columbia and Washington State) include a cup of soup or a small green salad and spumoni ice cream with every entree. Many years ago now pre-retirement we took a field trip of 80 high school students to one and it was a hit.

An evening of fine dining? No, but I probably spent half as much money there a few months ago as I would have at, say, Olive Garden (just to keep with the theme of this thread) and the young grandkids undoubtedly enjoyed it more, especially since they got to sit in the streetcar. :)

http://www.osf.com/

Now, to add a little positive to all of this shared negativity, here's a restaurant that four of us had one of the best meals and dining experiences of our lives in Lucca Italy last Fall:

http://www.orpi.it/ristoranti/toscana/buca_di_sant_antonio.htm

Buon Appetito,
Fredd

The Palm. Went to the one in Las Vegas when I lived there. The tables are so close together that when I asked my girlfriend if she knew where the restrooms were, the couple at the next table answered! I had a coupon, but still found it overpriced, especially given the ambience. Several places in Las Vegas have better steak for less money, and have good ambience as well. Needless to say, I've never set foot in that branch again, or any other location of The Palm.

[QUOTE=clarence5ybr]The Palm. The tables are so close together

I amend my earlier post to include anyplace that pulls this little stunt. IMHO nothing ruins what otherwise would be a good/great dining experience than seeing how many patrons can be stuffed into a dining room. Of course, I give a pass on this point to those small, independent establishments where space truly is limited.

But when big chain operations do this, it shows nothing but greed, arrogance, and contempt for customers. Here in the Chicago area, Maggiano's is one of the worst offenders. Once, at a family gathering they actually went so far as to give our party of nine a table that couldn't even accomdodate eight CHAIRS! Their own servers couldn't even walk past when they attempted to seat us. We had made reservations weeks in advance for an otherwise not-overly-busy Sunday! (We raised hell, and they moved us.)

Much has been made of "rubes" lining up foir so-so food at Cheesecake factory. I considered putting them on my "disappointing" list, myself. But at least, you can take a large group there and find something for everyone in your party. My definition of a "rube" when it comes to restaurant patrons are people who keep coming back to wait in line to eat ho-hum food in overcrowded, noisy, and basically unpleasant surroundings!

I'm not sure if I'd go quite as far as to put Maggiano's in the "ho-hum food" category. The food's pretty good. Basic, to be sure, but what's wrong with that. As for the huge portions....hey! its a meal or two later in the week!

Anything with Kinkead or English in the name or as executive chef,
whatever that means.

I... have found the Old Spaghetti Factory to be a cheap "reasonable-value" place with not-horrible food suitable to take children. That's exactly what it is, and that's all it is. OSF was our son's first waiter-and-cutlery restaurant, and as such it was a great training ground for him. The food is bland and uncomplicated, the salads and desserts are cafeteria-generic, and the whole experience is built so they can turn tables very rapidly and not tax kids' patience; you usually get out in less than one hour. OK for families with small or fussy kids, but when you see young men take their dates there, you feel like sending the gal a sympathy card.

The Beach House, Poipu,
Duke's, Nawiliwili harbour

Red Lobster
Olive Garden

OK for families with small or fussy kids, but when you see young men take their dates there, you feel like sending the gal a sympathy card.

Agreed! The food and ambience do beat Denny's for roughly the same price range, but Mrs. Fredd would not be impressed if I picked either establishment for our anniversary dinner. :D

I am going to give another vote to Durgin Park, Boston. Neither the beef nor the seafood have been especially impressive when I have gone there. And the side dishes are plain and bland.
I also have to agree. Nothing special, just very historical. Try The Union Oyster House for better food and history.

Now for the dirt (literally). An ex-roomate worked in that building in another food establishment. He stated because of the historical nature and age of the building, all the restaurants are given special treatment from the board of health as far as sanitaion goes. Apparently the basements in that building is disturbingly rat and roach infested and there's nothing that can be done about it short of demolising the building and starting over. Remember, that building was the original cattle stockyard in Boston. Though I really do like the Faneuil Hall marketplace and everything that goes on there - it really is fun - I refuse to eat there.

Also for the poster who didn't like Union Sq. Café, unless they have recently gone way downhill, I think you just got it on an off day.

Or an off server, more like it. Try not to write it off. @:-)

I also have to agree. Nothing special, just very historical. Try The Union Oyster House for better food and history.

Now for the dirt (literally). An ex-roomate worked in that building in another food establishment. He stated because of the historical nature and age of the building, all the restaurants are given special treatment from the board of health as far as sanitaion goes. Apparently the basements in that building is disturbingly rat and roach infested and there's nothing that can be done about it short of demolising the building and starting over. Remember, that building was the original cattle stockyard in Boston. Though I really do like the Faneuil Hall marketplace and everything that goes on there - it really is fun - I refuse to eat there.

The food at the Union Oyster House is no better than Durgin park. They are both the same level of tourist trap fare. However, as for calling them over rated, I am not sure if anyone said the food was good to begin with (with the possible expection of some sub par concierges). As far as being great family owned Boston landmarks with appeal to visitors to the city, they both do a good job in my opinion.

I hate to break the news to you, but most restaurants in Boston (and other cities I'd imagine) have rodents at some point. I live in the Back Bay and regularly see rats in the open kitchen doors into the alley between Newbury and Commonwealth which is home to Capital Grill and L'Espalier among others that are the best in Boston. I am not sure I buy that Faneuil Hall is any worse than any other area in the city.

Try The Union Oyster House for better food and history.... Apparently the basements in (Quincy Market/Faneuil Hall) is disturbingly rat and roach infested.. I refuse to eat there. The Union Oyster House is only a block away from Quincy Market. You think the rats observe property lines?

Cafe Portofino --Kauai

Rude service-small portions for a large price

I couldn't have been more disappointed with Legal Sea Foods in Paramus, NJ. The tuna I had was positively mediocre and plated/served all too much like a TGI Fridays. I love tuna and left about a third of my meal on the plate. Terrible. To top it all off, the server was more intent on talking to another employee while giving me my plate rather than making me feel comfortable or welcomed. I wish I would have said something to her. I did end up saying something to the hostess as I left.

Mortons. I've had more bad steaks here than anywhere else. I think the appetizers are the only redeeming menu items here and thus all I ever order now.


I've always been a fan of the Grand Marnier Souffle.... But it seems odd to walk into Morton's and just order desert.

I was very disappointed in Picasso at the Bellagio, Las Vegas. Food was beautifully presented and the ambiance was lovely. Service was also very nice. However, the food was uninteresting, rather bland, and the portions were very small. I fully expected to be dazzled by Picasso. Instead, I was disappointed that it did not live up to the hype.

Lotus of Siam in Las Vegas. What a friggin' dump! :td:

I was very disappointed in Picasso at the Bellagio

Right. And now you mention it, I didn't care for Prime next door, either,
although the view was great.

I was very disappointed in Picasso at the Bellagio, Las Vegas. Food was beautifully presented and the ambiance was lovely. Service was also very nice. However, the food was uninteresting, rather bland, and the portions were very small. I fully expected to be dazzled by Picasso. Instead, I was disappointed that it did not live up to the hype.
Same thing with Charlie Trotter's in Chicago.....these are supposed to be among the best restaurants in the US and have chefs with huge reputations. The service and ambience were just fine but for $600 for two, I don't just want really fine ingredients arranged beautifully on the plates, I want to experience some actual COOKING that knocks my socks off.

The food at the Union Oyster House is no better than Durgin park. They are both the same level of tourist trap fare. However, as for calling them over rated, I am not sure if anyone said the food was good to begin with (with the possible expection of some sub par concierges). As far as being great family owned Boston landmarks with appeal to visitors to the city, they both do a good job in my opinion.

I hate to break the news to you, but most restaurants in Boston (and other cities I'd imagine) have rodents at some point. I live in the Back Bay and regularly see rats in the open kitchen doors into the alley between Newbury and Commonwealth which is home to Capital Grill and L'Espalier among others that are the best in Boston. I am not sure I buy that Faneuil Hall is any worse than any other area in the city.


Howdy neighbor!

Mass Ave & Beacon ;)

I am not a fan of Union Oyster House, never have been to Durgin Park. I do like Cheesecake Factory but have been to P.F. Chang's once (and will only go once) and was incredibly disappointed. For all the hype given it was a sad letdown. TGI Friday's and Applebees are pretty awful as well, and Chili's is a tad better.

OTOH Johnny's Luncheonette in Newton Centre (formerly had a location on Mass Ave. in Cambridge) is by far the best breakfast I've ever had. Dali in Somerville is tops for Spanish, and Giacomo's on Hanover Street (look for the shell and the long line) in the North End is fantastic.

The service and ambience were just fine but for $600 for two, I don't just want really fine ingredients arranged beautifully on the plates, I want to experience some actual COOKING that knocks my socks off.

But part of the point is that the finest ingredients are ridiculously expensive. That's like making an argument about spending 200USD/person on sushi in Japan. It costs a fortune to get the fish, but there is not a lot of "cooking" in the kitchen (to be precise, there is none :D ). This is the art of the Japanese cuisine. Same for French. Use the best ingredients and put together interesting combinations of taste/texture. Michel Bras in France is a good example of this.

I'm not defending Charlie Trotter's per se. I'm just defending the syle you describe.

I second the horrors of Olive Garden, to which infamy I would add Hard Rock: the idea of people lining up TO BUY AN EXPENSIVE T-SHIRT let alone eat is too absurd: what message are the parents sending their kids letting them do so in cities such as New York and London where real culture is everywhere around them (and a far cheaper and better meal available, in NYC anyway, off almost any cart !) ?

Now it seems to me there is a sub-category hounds are ignoring: restaurants not worth the wait. Into that category imho would be the much-maligned Cheesecake Factory, where I often go with my second family in Atlanta. It's a scene, but the food isn't bad for what it is - however, no way would I wait more than 5-10 minutes for a table, ditto Houston's in the same city.

Actually, there might be gradations of waitworthiness. Atlanta's best steakhouse, Hal's, is worth a wait - hey they comped the entire food bill the last time when a promised 15 min wait turned to closer than an hour ! That sort of attitude builds loyalty. The Palm in Manhattan I might wait 10 mins for, but in Vegas, where there is a plethora of choice, I wouldn't wait- simply go elsewhere. Ditto Fix at Bellagio, while Prime or Circo (Le Cirque's vastly superior cousin) I would wait comfortably for half an hour at the bar.

Last time in LA we waited 15 mins at Trader Vic's - well, for one of the few remaining Tiki establishments, not bad. And I've stood in line for 15-30 mins with assorted Angelenos to enjoy the home-cooking of the Original Pantry Café - but would I do so for Morton's with their snotty attitude and ridiculous prices ? Never ! Feel conflicted about Sparks in Manhattan - have waited longer than I should there, but 10-15 mins in Montreal to enjoy the genuine bistro food and superb bourgeois wine list of L'Express - hey, no problem.

As for the Spaghetti Factory, I would wait for pizza to be delivered at home before going near the place - now that would be a constructive wait !

So, my thesis is that disappointment is linked inextricably to wait time. Other views ?

I second the horrors of Olive Garden...

Whoa! I forgot about that chain. Very bad. Been years since the last visit, and we don't plan on ever returning.

M8

Gordon Ramsay Royal Hospital Road, London

Despite the hype, the 3 Michelin stars, I was terribly disappointed by this place. Some of our food was WAY too salty, or just like fancy hotel dining room food -- in other words, no culinary epiphanies. Service was spotty towards the end of the meal.

Le Cirque.

I dined at the NYC location, which is now closed. I didn't think the food or service warranted the high price tag. The decor was quite interesting, and it was good for people-watching.

I'm not usually one to select trendy high-priced restaurants, but my client picked it. I called my boss to let him know there was going to be one whopper of an expense report for my trip - he told me not to worry and to enjoy the experience. I didn't really know what to expect, but it wasn't the experience I assumed it would be.

Le Cirque.
I dined at the NYC location, which is now closed. I didn't think the food or service warranted the high price tag. The decor was quite interesting, and it was good for people-watching.

I'm not usually one to select trendy high-priced restaurants, but my client picked it. I called my boss to let him know there was going to be one whopper of an expense report for my trip - he told me not to worry and to enjoy the experience. I didn't really know what to expect, but it wasn't the experience I assumed it would be.

I was taken to Le Cirque 2000 for my birthday quite a few years ago and distinctly remember not being blown away by the food. At that time, Sotha Kuhn, was the Executive Chef. The desserts, however, were a different story and being able to meet Jacques Torres was a highlight. The service was shoddy.....

All this reminds me of an amusing story about my retarded sister, Christine.

My mother took Chris to a restaurant in the Boston area that had just opened. You know the kind of trouble new restaurants have where the cooks haven't worked out all the details so the food is mediocre and the service people knock themselves out trying to be nice. But the end result is lousy food and jittery service.

Well the server came up to the table at the end of the meal and asked how everything was. Christine looked up and said calmly, "I ate it anyway."

One of these days I'll use it myself.

Rita

Mama's Fish House, Maui. Nice ambiance, lousy service, ok food, WAY overpriced.This was almost our experience ~~ except there were also lots of kids and loud guests :td: My husband was so disappointed that he was practically sullen thru dinner :( Sad ending to a perfect trip -- we had dinner before our evening flight home.

Others...

Cite -- New York: Had REALLY looked forward to the wine dinner. Huge huge disappointment. Very mediocre dinner, average service, and something we were served caused my husband to spend the whole night up sick :eek:

Cheesecake Factory: They have great/huge salads. We get them for take out often, it is easily dinner for two ;) We almost never dine in and deal with the ridiculous wait. Salad to go and you have dinner for two for about $13 ^

Joe's Crab Shack -- San Diego: Recently had a terrible lunch there. Poor food, really long wait, and horrible service!

Mortons: Sorry to hear such negative feedback...I had planned to try the one in Costa Mesa -- guess we'll give Flemings another try, it was pretty good the first visit.

Cheesecake Factory: They have great/huge salads. We get them for take out often, it is easily dinner for two ;) We almost never dine in and deal with the ridiculous wait. Salad to go and you have dinner for two for about $13 ^

Mortons: Sorry to hear such negative feedback...I had planned to try the one in Costa Mesa -- guess we'll give Flemings another try, it was pretty good the first visit.

I have found Cheesecake Factory to be excellent, particularly the one near LAX. I find Morton's to be consistently good, everywhere.

M8

I have found Cheesecake Factory to be excellent, particularly the one near LAX. I find Morton's to be consistently good, everywhere.

M8

me too. Living in Canada, one of the things I most look foward to in the US is eating at the Cheesecake Factory :) My whole family (of 5) generally shares just 1 dish ;)

Cheers

TGIFridays in NYC.
I have never been to a TGIF in NY. I was with my son and we wanted to go try something that we would both like. We looked at the menu. They charge $15.75 for a burger, $12.95 for wings. You imagine the rest. I could eat at the Palm in NY on 50th Street where I go for lunch every week for the price of that crappy lunch at TGIF.

Trotters in Chicago and Trio (before it changed names and menus) - both overrated and disappointing. Gave Trio a 3rd chance and went to IHOP after for a decent meal.

PF Changs... Anywhere...The most lousy bland wanna be chinese food ever wokked.

TGIFridays....Anytown USA

Chilis...Boring, overpriced, been there done that kinda stuff.
Chevys....ditto

Olive Garden...But then I hate italian anyway...lol

Trader Vics...Was WAYYYY overpriced for what you got. Tried it, hated it, aint goin' back. They obviously thought quite highly of what little dabs of meat they gave us..lol

I also have to agree. Nothing special, just very historical. Try The Union Oyster House for better food and history.

Now for the dirt (literally). An ex-roomate worked in that building in another food establishment. He stated because of the historical nature and age of the building, all the restaurants are given special treatment from the board of health as far as sanitaion goes. Apparently the basements in that building is disturbingly rat and roach infested and there's nothing that can be done about it short of demolising the building and starting over. Remember, that building was the original cattle stockyard in Boston. Though I really do like the Faneuil Hall marketplace and everything that goes on there - it really is fun - I refuse to eat there.

I haven't been in a few years, but I loved the Union Oyster house the couple of times I went there.

Sona, N La Cienega, LA.

Some great cooking but in the most absurdly pretentious environment. Anally-retentive and ludicrously self-important staff, over-written menu, pretentious wine list. The knives on every table were laid at 45 degrees to the rest of the cutlery. Why? "That's what we do here, it's our signature." Sure enough, every time I moved the knife a flunkey appeared and moved it back into the fixed position until the appropriate course arrived.

This is the kind of place that makes nice people behave badly, just because.

I live in NYC and grew up in Bklyn. I love my steak and pizza. Peter Luger's is run away the most overrated steak. People love it for the ambiance, which is unique, and the Creamed Spinach is really good and the strips of Canadian Bacon are HANDS DOWN the best piece of pork I have ever eaten in my life. Just don't eat the steak. Very average.
Rays pizza, original or not, is an abomination as far as pizza is concerned. Fact is, with few exceptions, the neapolitan pizza in Manhattan is subpar. You need to hit the boroughs to get the good stuff.

Another vote, or non-vote, for the Cheesecake Factory. Crap food, ridiculously huge portions, big tab. It's like an Applebee's on steroids.

One mark of a real cow town is when they open a Cheesecake Factory there, maybe to anchor some new urban mall, and there are immediate lines out the door, and the buzz around town is all about how cool the Cheesecake Factory is. Bunch of rubes.

P.F. Chang's at least has the ambience down. I think the spaces are well-designed and inviting (I've been in three or four of them, always dragged in by clients). So you think something nice is going to happen. Then the food comes and it's just bland, crap Chinese takeout arranged on a fu-fu plate and marked up 300%. Those stupid lettuce wraps look and taste like dog food.

Ruth's Chris, though, I've never had a bad night in... and at least one excellent one, in Toronto.

Particularly annoying is the people milling about in front of the Cheesecake Factory in Honolulu. With the construction at the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center, there is a bottleneck on the sidewalk! :D

Never been to P.F. Changs, but with Red Light and Ben Pao in Chicago, don't see a need.

I was at the Ruth's Chris in San Francisco a couple of weeks ago and the filet was nothing less than outstanding. The prices are outrageous, however.

As to places like Charlie Trotter, one who doesn't have eclectic tastes is going to be disappointed. I mean, if sea otter and venison are being served and you can't stomach them, and you're not going to get enough of something you really like, you're not going to like CT or any similar place with a degustation menu.

La Mer - Honolulu

We had reservations at 8:30, stared at our set table until 9, got seated. Our waiter didn't take our order until 9:45, and then had the guts to tell us that we couldn't order souffle because it was too late!! I told him that if he hadn't screwed around for 45 minutes after we got sat 30 minutes late that it wouldn't be an issue. Food was so-so, but way too much $ for the service we received. But it is an absolutely beautiful restaurant.

How much tip did the lousy waiter end up getting?

Trotters in Chicago and Trio (before it changed names and menus) - both overrated and disappointing. Gave Trio a 3rd chance and went to IHOP after for a decent meal.

I have only been to Trotters once, but it was one of the best meals of my life. We did chefs table and hit the wine list hard. Worth every penny.

How much tip did the lousy waiter end up getting?

A new waiter eventually took over our table - I think that we had a newbie. :mad: Having worked my way through college waiting tables and bartending, I am not one to stiff, much to my husband's disagreement...He(they) got the standard 15%, which was a pretty good amount, but I normally leave 20 - 25%. It was just disappointing because we were very excited about going there after the reviews that I had read on various sites. The next night we went to our favorite place in Honolulu, Michel's, and La Mer was but a memory... :D

Two Chicagoland votes for Big Bowl (any location, but especially downtown) and (sorry Rush St. regulars) Gibson's on Rush. The fare at Big Bowl makes anything at PF Chang look edible, and the filet at Gibson's is as overpriced and gristly (sides are OK, but that's too little too late). And don't get me started on Uno's/Due...

I live in NYC and grew up in Bklyn. I love my steak and pizza. Peter Luger's is run away the most overrated steak.

Hey, Keithrez, you're starting off with some controversial opinions!
Some of which I agree with, by the way:

The food at the Union Oyster House is no better than
Durgin park. They are both the same level of tourist trap fare.
I loved the Union Oyster house the couple of times I went there.

When someone new (Flyertalker or other) comes to Boston I often
take them to one or both of these places! It's an ambience thing -
this really was the way we used to eat out 30 years ago, and I
presume this was the way my grandfather used to eat out 80 years
ago (when I went away to university, he told me that I HAD to eat
at Durgin-Park, which is where he used to eat when he went away
to university). And if you order properly, you will get a quite nice
meal. Union Oyster House is kind of overpriced, but eating oysters
in the same place where Daniel Webster used to eat? Priceless.

You don't like Peter Luger? That's sacrilege! You Commie! ;)

Actually, I love Peter Luger and consider it to be one hell of a piece of cow. Creamed spinach is phenomenal too.

I've tried all of the chain restuarants, and they're mostly nasty. However, I'll second the Cheesecake Factory salads. They are actually great and worth the takeout.

I'll also put down 99% of the restaurants at Walt Disney World. Nothing special and geared toward bland taste buds.

I try not to remember bland or bad meals at restaurants so I can't think of anything else at the moment.

Any good recommendations for Palm Beach? ;)

Overrated
Noodles & Company: Okay I get that I can get noodles but I have to add more money to get meat added to my plate? This place barely makes the cut.
TGI Fridays: The only thing pleasant about this chain is the decorations. Everything else just oozes by.


Disappointing
Mortons: I asked for a steak to be medium well. It was bloody red. I told the waiter that I had asked medium well and he was adamant about me saying rare. My wife backed me up on this. I asked for his manager and was like if you don't do something I'll write this whole store up (not that I could do that, I was just furious at our waiter). Comped meal, new steak, free dessert. Plus no bang for the buck, I'd rather go to Ruth's Chris. I routinely tell friends and co-workers to avoid this place like a bad cold.
Macaroni Grill: Always sloppy when I'm there. They have overwhelmingly friendly service but their food is just not... totally there. I've also had an upset stomach on a few occasions here.
Cheesecake Factory: Last time I was there, there was a line... TO GET IN LINE. As people have mentioned before, huge portions of mediocre food.

ALWAYS on par
Chilis: I love this place. Great people, great atmosphere, great food. Slightly pricey but I can deal. And they aren't kidding about their baby back ribs
Carabbas: Olive Garden on crack... and in a good way. They have some of the best Chicken Marsala in the buisness. I also love the fact that I can see some of the chefs at work, great atmosphere.
Ruth's Chris: Best seasoned and prepared steaks in the buisness period.

Dishonorable Mentions: Olive Garden, PF Changs, CRAPplebees, Ruby Tuesdays

This thread has become about chains (and how anyone really expect anything but adequate to good for the price from a chain). I was hoping to read about Lutece, etc.; all those places you hear about but never get to--anyone have anything to say about non-chain restaurants? (Really, does anyone expect great things from Olive Garden or Cheesecake Factory?) Have you blown a wad of $$ and made reservations weeks in advance only to be disappointed?

This thread has become about chains (and how anyone really expect anything but adequate to good for the price from a chain). I was hoping to read about Lutece, etc.; all those places you hear about but never get to--anyone have anything to say about non-chain restaurants? (Really, does anyone expect great things from Olive Garden or Cheesecake Factory?) Have you blown a wad of $$ and made reservations weeks in advance only to be disappointed?

Great points you make sylvia hennesy. I have no idea why the chains are mentioned in this thread. I wrote (earlier in the thread) of my disappointing experience at Picasso at the Bellagio Hotel. The points of view re: Peter Luger, Mortons, Charley Trotters, The Palm are more in line with my expectations of this thread.

I wrote about Gordon Ramsay's Royal Hospital Road earlier and commented on Le Cirque 2000 earlier in the thread.

I was also VERY disappointed with Pierre Orsi in Lyon, and to think I gave up Leon de Lyon to go P.O. instead..... lacklustre food which I thought even I could have made and careless service.

I find Vong in NYC to be a tad disappointing. Vong London was a far superior experience -- too bad it is now closed too.....

For those who may visit Vancouver, I found Elixir, in the Opus Hotel, while highly rated locally, to be a disappointment. It was sad that at a french bistro the waitress told me that the Chef cannot make a side of bearnaise sauce for the onglet I had (though she asked the Chef and he said yes!!) and told me when my dish came out that the demi-glace on the steak itself was their version of bearnaise. Overcooked steak, greasy and salty fries, and forgettable service. Save your money!!! Go to Feenie's, casual sister restaurant to Lumiere, instead.

I had dinner two Saturday evenings ago at Quattro at the new FS hotel on the Peninsula.

First impression: Very cool and hip environment. This could be the dining room at a W Hotel. Was given a black cloth napkin as I was wearing black pants, as one would expect at other FS hotels. Place was almost full.

At the table: Took well over 5 minutes before being welcomed by the server and for water to be brought to the table. Service had a perfunctory smile on all night, so disingenuous it seemed like she had to take some medication to be able to smile. Food was fine, but was not spectacular Italian for the prices charged. Portions were small, even for SF Bay Area standards. Asked for refill of iced tea; request was forgotten and had to resubmit request.

Conclusion: Disappointing experience, espeically since this is FS and I've had fairly reliable experiences at FS properties.

Actually, Seasons at FS SF is a bit disappointing also in terms of service.

Off topic: Any one can recommend some restaurants on the Peninsula with good service? How's Left Bank?

Boy this is EASY!
Red Lobster = A McDonalds of seafood with an Outback Steakhouse price.
Now the list continues
PF Changs
Cheesecake Factory
Planet Hollywood
Hard Rock Cafe
Lone Star
Outback Steakhouse
....

I find Vong in NYC to be a tad disappointing. Vong London was a far superior experience -- too bad it is now closed too.....


I guess you aren't the only one, b/c it closed fairly recently.

[QUOTE=skleinlerer]You don't like Peter Luger? That's sacrilege! You Commie! ;)

Actually, I love Peter Luger and consider it to be one hell of a piece of cow. Creamed spinach is phenomenal


I figured I would get some hate mail on the Luger's bashing. Don't hate the playa, hate the steak. :) Sparks and Strip house, 2 best steaks in Manhattan.

Hey, Keithrez, you're starting off with some controversial opinions!
Some of which I agree with, by the way:




When someone new (Flyertalker or other) comes to Boston I often
take them to one or both of these places! It's an ambience thing -
this really was the way we used to eat out 30 years ago, and I
presume this was the way my grandfather used to eat out 80 years
ago (when I went away to university, he told me that I HAD to eat
at Durgin-Park, which is where he used to eat when he went away
to university). And if you order properly, you will get a quite nice
meal. Union Oyster House is kind of overpriced, but eating oysters
in the same place where Daniel Webster used to eat? Priceless.

I wonder if the mice are descendants of the ones that dined with Daniel Webster? :p

[QUOTE=skleinlerer]You don't like Peter Luger? That's sacrilege! You Commie! ;)

Actually, I love Peter Luger and consider it to be one hell of a piece of cow. Creamed spinach is phenomenal


I figured I would get some hate mail on the Luger's bashing. Don't hate the playa, hate the steak. :) Sparks and Strip house, 2 best steaks in Manhattan.


what about the Canadian Bacon?

I find Vong in NYC to be a tad disappointing. Vong London was a far superior experience -- too bad it is now closed too.....


I guess you aren't the only one, b/c it closed fairly recently.

I found Vong's in Chicago to be disappointing. However, they closed and reopened in the same location as the more casual (and, IMHO, much better) Vong's Thai Kitchen.

Overrated: Charlie Trotter's, Chicago, at least the last time I was there; Mix, in the Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas; McCormick & Schmick's (know it's a chain but I REALLY don't like it); Renoir in Vegas (now closed).

I was quite disappointed in Le Grand Vefour. This Parisian restaurant is absolutely gorgeous. So, no quarrel with the setting or ambiance. The service was less than I expected; using Taillevent as my benchmark. The big disappointment was the meal. I found all of the dishes to be oversalted; way oversalted.

I think the Union Oyster House is actually quite good. In fact, it's one of my favorites right after Acme Oyster House in New Orleans. This leads me to my two most overrated restaurants. To my surprise, no one has mentioned the House of Blues, from the mind that brought the Hard Rock Cafe to life. Another place that makes the same kind of food, almost as badly, is Heaven on Seven. I don't understand how people can say that two restaurants that don't know Cajun from Creole can be so frequently recommended by critics.

I think the Union Oyster House is actually quite good. In fact, it's one of my favorites right after Acme Oyster House in New Orleans. This leads me to my two most overrated restaurants. To my surprise, no one has mentioned the House of Blues, from the mind that brought the Hard Rock Cafe to life. Another place that makes the same kind of food, almost as badly, is Heaven on Seven. I don't understand how people can say that two restaurants that don't know Cajun from Creole can be so frequently recommended by critics.

Wow, I have never heard anybody suggest House of Blues was anything other than mediocre. And, I'm not sure what not knowing the difference between "Cajun" and "Creole" has to do with whether the food at a restaurant is good or overrated. I will say that there is a pretty well known disparity between the original Heaven on Seven and the subsequent locations.

I was quite disappointed in Le Grand Vefour. This Parisian restaurant is absolutely gorgeous. So, no quarrel with the setting or ambiance. The service was less than I expected; using Taillevent as my benchmark. The big disappointment was the meal. I found all of the dishes to be oversalted; way oversalted.

French food tends to be kind of salty anyway. Maybe it's a result of the
multiple reductions of sauces, but where did I read that Jean-Louis Palladin
(admittedly not quite in the same class as the late Raymond Oliver, but
certainly in the same vein) wrote "I cook at the outer limits of saltiness"?
So it's kind of deliberate in a lot of cases.

French food tends to be kind of salty anyway. Maybe it's a result of the
multiple reductions of sauces, but where did I read that Jean-Louis Palladin
(admittedly not quite in the same class as the late Raymond Oliver, but
certainly in the same vein) wrote "I cook at the outer limits of saltiness"?
So it's kind of deliberate in a lot of cases.
I agree that French food is often a bit too salty for my palate. That being said, one of the things I love about Taillevent is that their sauces are wonderful without being salty. Each flavor is beautifully defined. Sheer perfection every time.

I agree that French food is often a bit too salty for my palate. That being said, one of the things I love about Taillevent is that their sauces are wonderful without being salty. Each flavor is beautifully defined. Sheer perfection every time.

I used to find French food salty until I lived in London for 3 years!! When I returned to Paris last summer I found some dishes to be a little bland!! Gordon Ramsay's flagship Royal Hospital Road location was WAAAY to liberal with the NaCl!!

As for sauces, I found Jamin's sauces to be the best (no surprise there, Guichard is a master saucier) with Taillevent and Le Cinq (Soliveres, and Legendre, respectively, have a light and delicate hand making remarkable sauces) tied for 2nd only a nano-point behind.....

Downtown Disney.....Planet Hollywood

Or should I say any restaurant in a THEME park.

The food at the House of Blues is bad, not mediocre. If the chef at a restaurant does not know certain basic features of a cuisine, then that chef won't be able to cook that cuisine well. The original Heaven on Seven in the Garland Building at Wabash and Michigan is just as bad as the one near Ontario and Michigan. I hope this clarifies things.

Wow, I have never heard anybody suggest House of Blues was anything other than mediocre. And, I'm not sure what not knowing the difference between "Cajun" and "Creole" has to do with whether the food at a restaurant is good or overrated. I will say that there is a pretty well known disparity between the original Heaven on Seven and the subsequent locations.

Or should I say any restaurant in a THEME park.
Or should you say...any Planet Hollywood??? :td:

The Palm. In Dallas, folks went for years because of the service... but once the GM left and opened his own place, there was no reason to return because the food sucked. I've dined in several other Palms and think the whole "chain" is over-rated.

Mortons. I've had more bad steaks here than anywhere else. I think the appetizers are the only redeeming menu items here and thus all I ever order now.

Ruths Chris. Again, never understood the draw. The steaks are better than the Palm or Mortons - but (at least here in 'steakhouse city') there is something a bit low-rent about the place compared to the money you'll spend.

YES!!!!

I do not like the food at any of these places, with the exception of Veal Parmesan at the Palm.

What I particularly dislike is the attitude most of the other diners have (often even those in my own party) who behave as if the whole undertaking were a true fine dining experience rather than an incinerated (or practically raw) piece of beef on a plate with a vegetable on steroids on the side.

Service can sometimes be good, atmosphere is on the plush side, and these places do have wine lists. But none of this justifies the increasingly high prices...for the money, I want a multicourse tasting menu, not a piece of beef.

db Bistro Moderne in NYC (Daniel Boulud's third NYC rstaurant with the infamous DB Burger). The last time I was there was for a friend's bday. We had a party of 7 with like a 9:00 dinner res. We were rushed the entire time and I found the food to be only moderate. I was very diasppointed with the quality in comparison to Chef Boulud's other restaurants. Additionally, after we had finished desert, we were chatting for a few minutes and were asked to leave so that they could make room! I mean, it is NY, but in a French restaurant (with a French maitre d') they should know better - and I told them so (I was pissed). I will not return to db but still recommend Cafe Boulud and Daniel.

With regard to others who have complained about Picasso, I have to say that I had a great meal on my last visit. The only thing that was lacking was the desert, quite a pitiful selection. At the time, they had listed that their desert chef had won a prestigious French national award and the menu did not reflect that in any way whatsoever. I told them, they didn't know what I was talking about and they brought over a French staffer who immediately knew and apologized profusely - he understood my disappointment! The manager did come over to chat and I made sure he knew my position on their deserts.

Tavern on the Green in NYC- blah ambience, blah food, blah.

The Olive Garden. In my hometown you still have to wait an hour to get in there.

More locally, the Baranof Hotel. All the guidebooks recommend it, but you'd be better off at the state office building snackbar!

I think the bar at the Baranof is pretty nice if you want to just have a chat (compare to the Imperial...)
I liked the food at the restaurant, but not at those prices...

Carabbas: Olive Garden on crack... and in a good way. They have some of the best Chicken Marsala in the buisness. I also love the fact that I can see some of the chefs at work, great atmosphere.


IMO they're the best 'chain' Italian that exists. The Chicken Marsala is a hands-down favorite of mine. I haven't had it in forever!! I also love their caesar dressing... back when we had one locally I loved to put it in the fridge so that it was chilled and somewhat firm, and dip bread in it. I also Loooove their Carrabaritas. MmMmmm. GOOD stuff. I call them the anti-Olive Garden.

For me :

NOLA in New Orleans - We were advised that we HAD to try this restaurant, it was amazing etc etc etc. Uhm, no. I expected the 1h30 wait, the crowded tables, etc. I didn't expect the twin cockroaches crawling across the ceiling (although, it's Jax Square, I kinda understand). I didn't expect my food to be dried out as though held in a convection oven. The fact that the plate was burning hot spoke to this as well. After all that the food was just... eh. We all tried each other's entrees and none of us were terribly impressed. I've had much better meals at the Fish House in Vegas.

Brennan's - I will note that the service is excellent but the food is way overpriced and I think just decent. For those prices, I expect culinary bliss.

Nobu Las Vegas - I do realize a LOT of folks think Nobu as a whole is overrated but I love their New York and London locations and think they do an amazing job. The Las Vegas store is good, it's just not up to the amazing standards of the others. I order the Omakase and especially in London the preparation is exquisite, I'm always surprised by the inventive flavor subtleties, combinations and subtexts and only once have I been disappointed by the service. LV is great on service, the presentation is fine, it's the food that's not all that it should be. I expect Nobu to be a delight and a new experience every time. In LV it's always good, it just never quite hits that transcendental level.

I'll echo everyone's sentiments on The Palm, Mortons and Ruth's Chris. Gimme Del Frisco's ANY day of the week.

Trader Vic's in London. I had been there several times as a child and thought it was great. Went there again a couple of years ago and was excited to see that the atmosphere was virtually unchanged - a real trip back in time. I would ALMOST go back for the atmosphere alone, but the food was so bad, and expensive, that I haven't really considered it. Maybe OK for drinks and appetizers. Wish they would shake things up in the kitchen.

I second the horrors of Olive Garden, to which infamy I would add Hard Rock: the idea of people lining up TO BUY AN EXPENSIVE T-SHIRT let alone eat is too absurd: what message are the parents sending their kids letting them do so in cities such as New York and London where real culture is everywhere around them (and a far cheaper and better meal available, in NYC anyway, off almost any cart !) ?

Embarrassed to admit that was me as a teenager begging to go to the HardRock in San Juan and St. Thomas, but in my defense the T's were all the rage in my middle school and we always ate American food in the Carribean anyway.

Fun thread!

I do, however, feel compelled to "defend" Ruth's Chris. <g>

I lived in NO for close to 30 years before leaving 3 years ago (thank heavens!) and ate at the original Ruth's Chris fairly often and the food was absolutely wonderful, as was the service. Now, the service staff were all older, sassy local ladies of a certain age, with attitude, and they all called everyone "Hon" or 'Darlin". But as I was used to this, it didn't bother me. <g> I confess I've never eaten in any other Ruth's Chris because I knew that ambiance could NOT be replicated nor, it seems, can the food.

In NO, I agree that Court of Two Sisters is highly overrated! Emeril's was too. Don't get me wrong, the food at Emeril's was great, there just wasn't enough of it and it was overpriced. Brennan's is very inconsistant - the highly advertized Sunday Brunch is overbooked and overpriced, but I was taken to dinner there once (after vowing never to go back) and the meal/service/ambiance was quite good.

My favorite restaurant in NO was always Commander's Palace (owned & operated by a different branch of the Brennan family). The service was excellant (even for a nobody!) and the food was too. I dearly miss it as I now live in the land of chain restaurants (NC) and everyone talks about how good they are. Yeeeech! I was very spoiled by my life in NO.

PF Changs in RNO last Sunday. What is with playing rap for backround music? And the food?? $2 gratuity on a $35 check. Once is enough.

You stiffed the waiter because of bad food quality? Or was the service just as poor? :confused:

Jai Yun in San Francisco Chinatown is the most overrated overpriced Chinese food I have ever eaten, the sea urchin was the only good dish of the 8 or so we got that night. One might expect the waitress there to speak Chinese, unfortunately she expected her patrons to also speak it.

The Sun Dial spinning restaurant atop the Westin Peachtree in Atlanta offers only great views.

The Green Room at the Hotel DuPont in Wilmington DE has pretty decor, nearly perfect service, but merely OK food for very high prices.

Mama Dip's in Chapel Hill NC serves terrible food. She's a great lady, but the food in her restaurant is not.

Or should I say any restaurant in a THEME park.

Or any restaurant that IS a theme park... (Planet Hollywood, Hard Rock Cafe, Jeckyl & Hyde, Mars 2112, Bubba Gump Shrimp House, Benihana, etc.)

Wow, I've eaten at some poor restaurants in my time, but have to strongly disagree with some of the comments here. First, Joe's Stone Crab in Miami Beach is one of my all time favorites. I love the atmosphere, the stone crab, the accompaniments, and the key lime pie. In my opinion, I think it is ludicrous to complain about a restaurant that specializes in a particular food when one doesn't particularly care for that class of food in the first place (as one poster did in respect to stone crab). As to the Palm, in my opinion its various locations that I've visited have provided consistently excellent steak, fish, and Italian specialties in an atmosphere more informal and far less pretentious than some of its competitors. I also disagree as to the negative comments about Peter Luger; a great and unique steakhouse.

As to Joe's Stone Crab and Peter Luger's, these are both more than just great restaurants, they are unique experiences. At Peter Luger's, remember to take lots of cash; last time I was there they accepted no credit cards.

Wow, I've eaten at some poor restaurants in my time, but have to strongly disagree with some of the comments here. First, Joe's Stone Crab in Miami Beach is one of my all time favorites. I love the atmosphere, the stone crab, the accompaniments, and the key lime pie. In my opinion, I think it is ludicrous to complain about a restaurant that specializes in a particular food when one doesn't particularly care for that class of food in the first place (as one poster did in respect to stone crab). As to the Palm, in my opinion its various locations that I've visited have provided consistently excellent steak, fish, and Italian specialties in an atmosphere more informal and far less pretentious than some of its competitors. I also disagree as to the negative comments about Peter Luger; a great and unique steakhouse.

As to Joe's Stone Crab and Peter Luger's, there are both more than just great restaurants, they are unique experiences. At Peter Luger's, remember to take lots of cash; last time I was there they accepted no credit cards.

Chicago Magazine did a story recently on the top steakhouses in New York and Chicago. The reviewer visited three (I believe) in each city and felt Peter Luger's was far and away the best.

I don't actually eat steak, but have a pretty good idea of what good steak looks like, and have several friends who are fanatics and drag me along to pick at a piece of fish at some of the big steakhouses (the fish is usually pretty good, btw).

From what I understand and have seen, places like Ruth's Chris, Luger's and Wolfgang's (a Luger's spin/rip-off that is in Manhattan and takes credit cards, as opposed to cash-only Brooklyn-based Luger's) are preferred by people who like their steak buttered (or in many cases swimming in butter). If that's how you like it, that's where you should go.

Other places are known for seasoning their steaks particularly well. I forget which joints those are, though.

Morton's and Sparks are known for simply serving superior meat cooked right--but without the butter or hefty seasoning. If you like buttered steak or lots of seasoning, you won't like those places. If you just want good meat, these are the places to go.

Mama Dip's in Chapel Hill NC serves terrible food. She's a great lady, but the food in her restaurant is not.

I'm from Raleigh. We used to eat there, but have stopped as of late. Reminds me of a story: we go with guests. At the end of the meal, we say to the waiter that the food has gotten better than the last time we were there. We ask why. The waiter's response was: "Mama Dip stopped cooking!"

No kidding on that story. It was about 8-10 yrs ago.

Another vote for the Cheesecake Factory. Portions = huge and mediocre. I've only eaten there twice, and both times I've only finished half of the entree, with no room to order cheesecake - which is why I went there to start!

NOBU New York, always crowded, not that good of service, portions that are not even suitable for ants, but it really is not that expensive.

Hated the Space Needle Restaurant in Seattle. Food is cooked on electric stoves (less of a fire hazard), too crowded, poor service, got a little dizzy from the revolving since they turned the speed up, overpriced.