I should clarify....

I confess Ryan's is a guilty pleasure...my comfort food fix! I can count on the fingers of one hand the times I get there in a typical year. I also admit I'm a sucker for their bannana pudding/vanilla wafers. And I do agree they can be gross...at least some of the older ones. The newer ones usually aren't bad, however. I've found them as far north as Des Moines, Cedar Rapids and Rockford, IL (and yes, I've been to the one in Springfield, IL).

I also wouldn't say I like Ryan's "better" than Outback....its an apples and oranges comparison. Its just that I've had more than a few bad steaks at Outback, and I find them a tad overpriced.

That said, I admit Outback is a nice place to unwind after a day on the road. I've also discovered that I can go away satisfied if I "build my own burger" there, which they're usually glad to do. I'm not much of a burger guy....but one of those built to my own specs with an ice cold "big bloke" and a good game on the tube can make for a pleasant way to end a long day on the road.

True story.... My first trip to London several years ago and my wife insisted on me taking her to Sunday tea at the Ritz. As I suspected upfront, this is an excersize strictly for tourists. I think 100% of the customers were tourists. And if we want to talk about "overpriced".....

Anyway, the Lady at the table next to me was from Boston. She leaned over to me and said, "I don't know about you, but I'd rather be at an Outback Steakhouse".

Okay, I hereby revise my list to replace "Outback" with "Lone Star", which tends to offer pedestrian fare with indifferent, if not surly, service.

There.

I agree that Logan's is one of the better chains out there. I attend a meeting at our local Logan's once a month, and we reserve the back room. We get the good food and service, without the "peanuts on the floor" atmosphere of the regular dining room.

Now the not-so good. I attempted to go to Logan's the other night, but the wait was an hour, and we were hungry, so we decided to try Smokey Bones' BBQ. While the food was about what I expcected for a chain BBQ place (expectations aren't that high, being from the South, where real BBQ is readily available), I found the pricing to be enough of a turnoff that I won't return. It's not that the food was expensive, but the "substite this for that costs extra" routine really made the meal become unenjoyable. It took three tries to get the bill correct. Perhaps this restaurant's location is just a bad-luck spot. One of the previous tenants was Joe's Crab shack. It didn't last long, and I would agree with the previous comments on it in this thread.

Thinking about the previous tenants of this restaurant's location has reminded me of a question I've been meaining to ask here on FT. Several people have mentioned an airport restaurant called Cheers. We used to have a chain by that name in the Smokey Bones/Joes Crab shack building. This Cheers had a red and white logo and served really good burgers/fries/shakes type food. Both of its local locations closed about 10 years ago, but I still miss it. Is this the same chain people make reference to in airports here on FT?

Great thread.

I would say Oya! in DC (http://www.oyadc.com) is the worst restaurant experience I have had in years. Maybe it's perfect for people who like sugar in everything.

When the wine guy arrived (normally I would say sommelier, but here it's a wine guy), he shows me the bottle, then proceeds to break the cork. In a restaurant concerned with establishing a reputation, this would be a sign to get another bottle (especially since this was not a wine that is expensive in retail outlets). No, he visits his boss and they uncork the rest of it. He pours me a taste, no cork in it. Ok fine, they got lucky. Then he pours everyone else some wine, when he comes back to fill my glass he pours a good chunk of it on the table. :eek:

My soup arrives, and they did say this was how it was served, not cold, but room temperature. Some horribly sweet, tepid squash soup thing with lobster. Not good, but I was trying something new. Previously, I had asked the waitress if the duck was a breast or if it was boney...she told me with bones so I ordered something else. Indeed, when my friends received their duck, no bones. Instead, I got the beef ribs, which were INCREDIBLY SWEET served on a bed of garlic-infused mashed something...OMG YUK! I cannot imagine a worse combination than sweet and garlicky. I had to conclude that this chef had no palate. Get Gordon Ramsay to visit and see what happens :D .

The whole time the service was incredibly intrusive, they would always ask you before doing the expected. "Would you like some more wine?" "Would you like a spoon for your soup?" "Would you like some more water?"

This is by far the worst restaurant I have been to in years. I can only imagine it will be frequented by twenty-somethings trying to impress their dates with sweet drinks, fancy decor, obsequious service and funny-tasting menu items that they can pretend to be impressed with.

Sugar in anything except dessert is a sign of a chef who isn't. But if they put a fancy name on it, as you indicate, why, then, that makes it ALL RIGHT!
:rolleyes:

Not even sure it just works for the desserts. "Sugar," the restaurant in Chicago closed. They only did drinks and desserts. :)

Was that the place on Belmont?

No, sugar, it was on Kinzie. ;)

Gosh. I didn't know you cared. ;)

Stay Away from Red Lion Diner in NJ at all costs!!!
 

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We went to eat at this Red Lion Diner and as we sat down my chair broke from underneath me and I fell backwards hit my head and hurt my back.So as I was getting up after this totally embarassing fall the hostess said to me maybe you would prefer a booth!!!!!!!!! What???? Do you really think I want to stay and eat here. No Thanks, The manager and the owner did nothing to see if I was injured or to even offer an appology.So when we got home I informed my daughter of what happened and so she called the Diner and spoke with the owner (Larry) My Daughter explained what happened and (Larry) said "Yeah and what do you want from me?" :confused: How about an appology for you crappy chair breaking under me. :mad: So my daughter hung up in shock and told me what he said and so we notified the BBB and we want everyone to know that RED LION DINER DOES NOT CARE OF THERE PATRONS SAFETY WHILE IN THERE PLACE OF BUSINESS!!!!!!!!! The only way this Diner stay's in business is because of us the consumer. Am I right we are the ones who are spending our money for good food and good service!!!!!! :( :( :(

What would you do???

Tavern on the Green.

If you're a tourist visiting NY, stay away from this tacky, overpriced & disgusting place.

Torch the place.

Carl's Jr. I unfortunately stumbled upon my first one last year in Solvang, CA, and have to say that they serve the worst food I've ever tasted from a commercial establishment. The Mexican "Green Burrito" items were particularly atrocious, and I recall thinking at the time that I could've used the refried beans to fix the stucco on my house. I simply cannot understand why this chain is so popular with the public. :td:

Ah - I disagree - Chez Paul on Maui -- is a great French Restaurant

Chez Paul Maui

We visit this place on every visit and have never been disappointed.

Interesting. That place has been there since the beginning of time.

I've been there twice and don't particularly care for it -- there are much better French places in Chicago and San Fran -- but to each their own.

I miss this place.