Originally Posted by new2japan

Agreed. I think they are some sort of remnant of a young country with lots of money, but with a population that wasn't nearly as cultured as that of Europe. Plain lump of steak. They charge you so much for it, but are afraid to actually charge what the meal would really be so sides have to go a la carte. It's like eating at a diner of some kind.

I'll have a plain lump of steak, no sauce because it is American cooking and nobody really knows how to make a full dish, two of the same generic side dishes that every other steakhouse in the country serves and while you're at it, nickel and dime me along the way and charge the more than is needed for everything. Of course my appetizer selection includes a shrimp cocktail, crab cakes, bacon wrapped scallops and lobster bisque and a chocolate lava cake is an option for dessert.

The kinds of people who eat these places normally eat at Applebee's so I guess it is sort of what they expect. I imagine 99% of people on this site wouldn't go to chain restaurants in the first place.