Originally Posted by
Daawgon
The truth is that most Americans have been duped into thinking that chains serve good food, and in many parts of our country there is no choice (big business has driven out the little mom and pop cafes). I do agree that some very small chains do serve acceptable food, but the bigger the chain, and the more advertising a chain does, the food declines in quality. The one chain that seems to be able to maintain a consistent level of mediocrity is McDonalds, IMHO.
You beat me to the point. I feel for some parts of the country (Maine, for example) where the town center is Walmart, Tim Horton's, Applebees, and Burger King. Applebee's of course is "fine dining."
Outback: I was dragged there by a petulant cousin who threw a tantrum. The meal was mediocre. I also suffered from a massive stomach ache soon after.
Friendly's: It's basically a sit-down snack bar with ice cream. Not bad.
Olive Garden: The most overrated crap I have laid eyes upon. I live 20 minutes from JFK. You can get damned good Italian food from any hole-in-the-wall pizzeria (most serve pasta, calzones, calamari etc etc) for $5-12. At a propr restaurant, you can have the gelatto, wine, and veal. Olive Garden is pointless.
Applebees: Too much "antique store" junk on the walls...the sort of garbage that appeals to rubes in flyover country. The one redeeming point: 2 for one draft pints between 3 and 6 pm.
Chili's: Overrated. Appeals to bored, underage college kids. I do not know why. Food is boring.
P.F. Chang's: Again, no reason to frequent this. My area has many mom-and-pop takeout shops and a few proper restaurants. P.F. Chang's commands a higher price per plate than the proper restaurants. However, their food is basically "La Choy" with waiter service. I can get better food from the mom-and-pop take out. Oh, and I get a free egg roll or soup with that $5.95 dinner.
Rainforest Cafe: Cute, but the chicken tasted like it was 40% filler.
Panda Express/Mall/Airport Terminal Chinese: Not bad, really. I will be getting a plate of this in JFK before I board my Virgin Atlantic flight. It delivers what it promises: fast, remotely quasi-Chinese food.
McDonald's seems to be the one chain which lives up to the expectations.