Chain restaurants that are actually good
Oct 30, 2010 | 10:05 pm
#451
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: 1A
Programs: UA GS, NH Diamond, Hyatt Lifetime Globalist (formerly Courtesy Card sadly), Amanjunkie, CLEAR
Posts: 3,717
Nobu... their miso black cod has been copied by many higher end Japanese/Asian fusion joints around but is still one of my favorite entrees around.
I like the Grand Lux Cafe owned by The Cheesecake Factory.
In Texas, Mi Cocina and Pappadeaux are two I enjoy (and a Pappadeaux just opened in DFW at Terminal A... I now know where I'm spending my flight delays!)
Yogurtland has become my new dessert stop of choice in towns that have one.
I like the Grand Lux Cafe owned by The Cheesecake Factory.
In Texas, Mi Cocina and Pappadeaux are two I enjoy (and a Pappadeaux just opened in DFW at Terminal A... I now know where I'm spending my flight delays!)
Yogurtland has become my new dessert stop of choice in towns that have one.
Oct 30, 2010 | 10:31 pm
#452
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: PHX
Programs: UA *Alliance
Posts: 5,817
After not eating at one for a couple of years, over the past couple of months I've eaten twice at Islands. The burgers are just as good as ever (no charge either if you want turkey or veggie) and now having endless fries is nice. Love that salt, pepper, garlic combo shaker! The Kona pie dessert is always great also.
Oct 31, 2010 | 7:16 am
#453
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Bridport, Dorset
Programs: Mucci, BA Blue, Hilton Gold, Virgin Red
Posts: 2,361
Please, no offense meant, but I tried the Giraffe near the London Eye in central London and found it horrific - even the burgers. But I thought maybe it was just that day/location so I tried it again about a year later in Heathrow. Even worse. I'm not blaming the Giraffe. Kind of think of it, I've rarely found good food in the UK IMHO. Although one of the best meals I can recall WAS in London, it was the rare occasion and it was at L'Atalier de Joel Robuchon in Covent Garden. Fantastic lunch. On par with the same restaurant in Paris and Tokyo in fact. Now, if one considers that place a "chain", it is one amazing "chain" restaurant!
Still, there's always Pret-a-Manger. ;-) They now do toasties!
Oct 31, 2010 | 11:30 am
#454
Join Date: Jan 2008
Programs: US Dividend Miles
Posts: 333
I'm really surprised that nobody's mentioned March yet... the Swiss chain, not one of the US restaurants I saw when I Googled the name. It's healthy, nutritious, tasty, yet fast - you find them at airports, train stations, even a few Autobahn rest stops. I sure miss the one at Zrich Hauptbahnhof!
Oct 31, 2010 | 1:38 pm
#455
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Cuenca, Ecuador
Programs: UA, AA, DL, SPG, Hyatt
Posts: 844
I'm not anti-chain but I don't seek them out. I only go to the ones that are near where I live or near where I'm staying. To me, a good chain is never expected to have a visionary chef or pursue culinary excellence. The chain restaurant experience is very different, so my expectations are different. Good food that you can depend on for consistency. I hit a chain rarely though, so some of these get only a single annual visit from me. My favorites:
Expensive food & wine:
Morton's
Capital Grille
Ruth's Cris (closest steakhouse to my driveway, too)
Ethnic: (I guess)
Maggioan's
Macaroni Grill
PF Chang's
Burgers/Fast:
Five Guys
Fudruckers
Chipotle
Breakfast:
IHOP, baby
Silver Diner
One day I really must try:
In & Out Burger
Expensive food & wine:
Morton's
Capital Grille
Ruth's Cris (closest steakhouse to my driveway, too)
Ethnic: (I guess)
Maggioan's
Macaroni Grill
PF Chang's
Burgers/Fast:
Five Guys
Fudruckers
Chipotle
Breakfast:
IHOP, baby
Silver Diner
One day I really must try:
In & Out Burger
Oct 31, 2010 | 2:44 pm
#456
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: 1A
Programs: UA GS, NH Diamond, Hyatt Lifetime Globalist (formerly Courtesy Card sadly), Amanjunkie, CLEAR
Posts: 3,717
I'm really surprised that nobody's mentioned March yet... the Swiss chain, not one of the US restaurants I saw when I Googled the name. It's healthy, nutritious, tasty, yet fast - you find them at airports, train stations, even a few Autobahn rest stops. I sure miss the one at Zrich Hauptbahnhof!
Amici's East Coast Pizzeria and ZPizza are two other chains I enjoy in California.
Oct 31, 2010 | 4:58 pm
#457
Join Date: Jan 2008
Programs: US Dividend Miles
Posts: 333
Speaking of international chains, Bon-Ga (also called Bong-Ga, Born-Ga etc) has a bunch of restaurants in Korea and a bunch more in China - plus one in Diamond Bar. Enjoyed it both times I was there, it's not very easy to find but I thought it worth the hassle. ^
Oct 31, 2010 | 5:19 pm
#458
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,857
I'm not anti-chain but I don't seek them out. I only go to the ones that are near where I live or near where I'm staying. To me, a good chain is never expected to have a visionary chef or pursue culinary excellence. The chain restaurant experience is very different, so my expectations are different. Good food that you can depend on for consistency. I hit a chain rarely though, so some of these get only a single annual visit from me. My favorites:
Expensive food & wine:
Morton's
Capital Grille
Ruth's Cris (closest steakhouse to my driveway, too)
Ethnic: (I guess)
Maggioan's
Macaroni Grill
PF Chang's
Burgers/Fast:
Five Guys
Fudruckers
Chipotle
Breakfast:
IHOP, baby
Silver Diner
One day I really must try:
In & Out Burger
Expensive food & wine:
Morton's
Capital Grille
Ruth's Cris (closest steakhouse to my driveway, too)
Ethnic: (I guess)
Maggioan's
Macaroni Grill
PF Chang's
Burgers/Fast:
Five Guys
Fudruckers
Chipotle
Breakfast:
IHOP, baby
Silver Diner
One day I really must try:
In & Out Burger
Johnny Rockets
Cheesecake Factory
Popeyes
If you like Five Guys you will like In-n-Out.
Nov 2, 2010 | 8:01 pm
#459
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Cuenca, Ecuador
Programs: UA, AA, DL, SPG, Hyatt
Posts: 844
Nov 3, 2010 | 8:31 am
#460
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,857
http://www.badmouth.net/graphics/inout/Secret_Menu.pdf
Nov 3, 2010 | 8:48 am
#461
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Formerly HPN, but then DCA and IAD for a while, and now back to HPN!
Programs: Honestly, I've been out of the travel game so long that I'm not even sure. Maybe Marriott Gold?
Posts: 10,677
Tried Capital Grille a few weeks ago and was pleasantly surprised. I thought the prices were a little steep, but the food quality and service was solid. I still like Ted's Montana Grill better (I think the food's a better value), but certainly Capital Grille tries to be a little more upscale.
Nov 4, 2010 | 8:08 am
#462
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Cuenca, Ecuador
Programs: UA, AA, DL, SPG, Hyatt
Posts: 844
Also you will need the secret menu if you want anything other than a meat, cheese, lettuce, tomato and bun.
http://www.badmouth.net/graphics/inout/Secret_Menu.pdf
http://www.badmouth.net/graphics/inout/Secret_Menu.pdf
Tried Capital Grille a few weeks ago and was pleasantly surprised. I thought the prices were a little steep, but the food quality and service was solid. I still like Ted's Montana Grill better (I think the food's a better value), but certainly Capital Grille tries to be a little more upscale.
Nov 6, 2010 | 8:27 pm
#465
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,856
After not eating at one for a couple of years, over the past couple of months I've eaten twice at Islands. The burgers are just as good as ever (no charge either if you want turkey or veggie) and now having endless fries is nice. Love that salt, pepper, garlic combo shaker! The Kona pie dessert is always great also.