Even the Omni mods ought to take this to Dining Buzz....

Although visually more appealing, the food (and I've admittedly not been recently, and only with any frequency during a business trip in which for 3 days it was the only alternative beyond fast food) reminds me of the Wardroom of the aircraft carrier I lived aboard for 3 years back in the early 60s. Applebees's will not put drama in your dining, and ranks only a cut above "institutional food" (in good institutions).

Chili's, Bennigan's, Cheddar's, Friday's, Ruby Tuesday's, Applebee's and others among the mid-range dining chains (excluding large chain "ethnics such as the "Darden's", Oliver Garden - consistent & Led Bobster - pretty frightening and the smaller ethnic chains) strike me as the Hampton Inns of dining. Most these days are offering Recession fare, the 2 adult meals for $20, not to be sneezed at during Dies Irae. Each works at some level of individualism to separate the brand from the crowd. I react in different fashion to each of them, with variable thresholds of resistance, highest at Bennigan's, I suppose, and avoiding Friday's with the exception of the occasional airport's "any port in a storm" limited alternative. The bottom line: When there's little else available, Chili's can provide me with a decent hamburger and a cold beer. Cheddar's and Ruby Tuesday's fit into that category, while for some reason, I don't "ID" Applebee's with a burger.

Just as the occasional Hampton Inn impresses me more than a upscale Hilton, I honestly find "Pei Wei" far more appealing than its bigger, more expensive brother, "P. F. Chang's".

Names may provide some indication of quality, but surrounded by far cheaper "family' Mexican restaurants (even "name" chains such as "Bon the Odor"), "Chipotle" charges more for its basic slightly varied product, yet provides a "Form Follows Function" environment, a sort of "How to make fast food more expensive, but cuter, and still sell a lot of it!"