N965VJ

The issues that Jack in the Box and Chi-Chi’s had would seem to prove otherwise. But there’s been some filthy mom and pop restaurants where I’ve had great meals.

kevincrumbs

Just because a certain chain restaurant doesn't exist in your area doesn't mean that it's magically not a chain restaurant still.

However, I can understand going to a chain that doesn't exist in your area as opposed to something that's right around the corner from where you live. I mean, doesn't everyone here rave about In-N-Out Burger?

turpwa

As an owner/operator of chain restauraunts, not only is consistency key, there are economy of scales, better pricing, buying, advertising. If you have a change you can build the brand, for example McDonalds is the leader, they have a standard that is recognized by everyone. Put one up internatioally, and there is instant recognition. I would agree that QVSC is higher in chains, than independents. Sometimes, the independents do have better food, as they are owner-operated and have specialties.

DebBrown

Interesting thread. I've also wondered why Olive Garden seems to be backed most nights. We ate there recently because I had a gift certificate. The food wasn't horrible tasting but it was packed with preservatives or food additives (who knows what?!) and gave me a horrible tummy ache. I've had the same problem with Outback, Applebees and other chains in the past.

I guess I wouldn't mind chains if I thought they were serving healthy food.

Deb

CousinNick

Boy, are you right about this.

I'm not a huge fan of chain restaurants, either, but the condescending tone and arrogance on this thread is breathtaking.

psychoidiot

Oh man >.< This reminds of the time I lived off mcdonalds in Hong Kong because the canteen food sucked(well okay I ate every single thing and got tired) and I didn't want to risk any local restaurants because, one I couldn't read the menu and didn't want to end up with something I couldn't eat on my limited budget. The one time I looked up a local Indian restaurant, I way overspent and I wasn't that happy with it. The only way I like to try new restaurants is if someone brings me there, and then I'm happy to foot the bill(regardless of cost.. haha okay the language barrier is A HUGE issue)

In japan, we just wanted to go into any restaurant we could find that fit into our price range/ just find a place to eat. There are lots of chain restaurants there as well(MOS Burger! rice burgers yum! I had in HK again the shame) but we found all the hole in the wall places(except for MOS Burger cause man, getting lost in Kyoto and walking for 2 hours past where I wanted to go, this is was the only cheap thing on the main shopping strip)

I'm still trying to figure out the good restaurants in Chicago(in our price budget which is actually pretty hard for $15 and below per person), and I've lived here for 15 years(okay I'm 22, but still).

As for pizzahut, it's cheap and easy. The local pizza place sometimes is more expensive and tastes about the same. However, I do think Unos and Girdanos are chains, and people accept those chains? It's always packed(Unos more so). These are sit down restaurants, albeit more in the Midwest, Uno was in Baltimore.

nkedel

...and some major areas have local steakhouses that put the two I've tried (Ruth's Chris and Morton's) to shame: Keens in NYC (I've not tried Peter Luger, although I'd like to) and Harris' in San Francisco, to name two.

pinworm

A 20/20 report about 4 years ago actually listed the chains as the most unsanitary type of restraunt, with Chilis and Applebees at the top of the list for violations. Claim Jumper's was also pretty horrible.

The cleanest were some of the fast food chains...Mcdonalds in particular. The food is utter garbage, but the assembly line-like production methods and robotic procedures made it very clean.

Mom'n pop is a crapshoot..but they have more at stake as well. Chilis can afford to temporarily shut down 3 of it's 15,000 locations, Mom and pop cannot afford to close down their one location.

Your best bet is to eat from the supermarket.

BamaVol

By that, do you mean buy your food there and cook it yourself at home? I have lived in several places where the local Food Lion or Winn Dixie consistently gets low health department grades - their deli, bakery and salad bars being the prime offenders.

pinworm

Not sure when you have last been in the supermarket....but there are prepared foods. Frozen foods. Cooked foods. Dry goods. Most manufactured foods there are not prepped in the supermarket but in factories, slightly less biologically hazardous than cooklines in chain restraunts.

Not to mention microwaves in hotels. Sometimes kitchenettes

BamaVol

Well, I usually send the help ....

janitor53

I don't understand peoples problem with chain restaurants. You hear this all the time but the quality is usually decent, they are generally locally owned and employ a lot of people, and the prices are reasonable.

Money card

or it could be that some people had to run errands, didn't want to eat at home so they went to a chain. or maybe familys were there they didn't want to spend more money on a fancy restaurant, when you have kids restaurants can be very expensive so they ate at applebees makes perfect sense to me.

Money card

the reason why you haven't been to cheese cake factory is becuse there located in malls. have you been to your local mall or to any mall even if your on a business trip? I have only been to the cheese cake factory once it was at the westchester mall.

Money card

I will give you Fridays but not applebees or outback . the biggest chains are
Houilhans, Fridays , chillis. well they are your basic neighborhood restaurant on the weekends, business during the week but there not sports bars.
Hooters and Buffalo wild wings are your local sports bars.