Originally Posted by
BamaVol
However, Mrs BamaVol and I were dining with friends at the original in Knoxville years back when they drunkenly revealed that their youngest daughter was conceived in the mens room there. So, I guess it's good for something.
So you're telling me that the meat in that restaurant isn't anywhere near as fresh as it used to be?
Originally Posted by
jimcfsus
We used to eat at Applebee's all the time. I can't remember the last time we ate there, as the service and food quality have gone way downhill. We have a new Chili's in the last year, we haven't gone anywhere near it, either.
I can't remember the last time I ate at Applebee's. I know I ate there sometime in 1998 (a date in high school), but I can't think if there's been a time since haha. I think the decline in quality is their over-expansion. They made a decision years ago to go into the smaller markets first, markets which could only probably support one chain restaurant. It's this action that has led them to be the world's largest casual-dining chain with close to 2,000 restaurants. In comparison, Chili's has a little over 1,000 restaurants and TGI Friday's, about 500. I'm not saying Chili's and TGI Friday's are THAT much better quality over Applebee's, but I think Applebee's has over-expanded to the point that quality has declined lower than the other chains.
To be honest though...right now, I'd *kill* to have any of those three (or any other American casual-dining chain) in the city I'm currently in. Where I'm at, if you want anything close to a decent meal, you really have to pay an expensive price for it. There's no mid-level options (other than Red Lobster, but you can only do seafood so often). Either there's the lower-priced Canadian chains (which serve horrible food) or there's the more upscale independent or upscale chain restaurants which are more expensive than Chili's or the like would ever be.
Anyone have a million dollars that they want to use to open a Chili's franchise in Saskatoon? I can almost guarantee it'd be a success!
