FlyerTalk Forums - Chain restaurants that are actually good

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Quote:

Originally Posted by missydarlin (Post 17340130)

I've eaten there once. My S/O likes their bbq turkey tips.

As for me:

Panera Bread - LOVE their tomato soup and cuban chicken sandwiches, and if there is one within sight of a starbucks, I'll go to Panera for my iced tea instead, since its cheaper and bigger.

Cheesecake Factory - Yes, I know its not PC to admit, but I enjoy their French Market Salad, the soft brown bread, and giant beverages. And they've occasionally satisfied a late night pasta craving. Never had the cheesecake.

Old Spaghetti Factory - I'm not sure if its because it brings back fun high school memories, but I lurves me their browned butter and mizithra spaghetti. And the hot bread.

Boston Market - We don't have them here in WA, but if I spot one while I'm traveling, I start craving creamed spinach :)

Can't say I really like any of these. All personal preference I guess.

Quote:

Originally Posted by shaggy_mutt (Post 15047466)

I'm really surprised that nobody's mentioned Marché 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 Zürich Hauptbahnhof!

Marche & Movenpick are decent choices when in Europe, however the Canadian ones (and the Hong Kong ones) have been bought by a Chinese company and rebranded under the name of RichTree. The decor and menu are mostly the same and some of their locations are too, but the recent movement to Mega-market food courts and shopping mall food courts :td: leaves a lot to be desired :(

I remember the original Movenpick in Yorkville (Toronto) had 4 restaurants under one roof and one of them had that wonderful steak tartare. There was of course their famous ice creams and fresh wafflecones. :D Sadly this high-rent but centrally-located outlet was the first to go after the transfer.

I did stay at a few Movenpick hotels in Germany and enjoyed their full breakfast buffets immensely. :D

I find Cheesecake Factory to be a solid choice when I'm in a less adventurous state of mind on a business trip and want either a 4pm meal before a flight home or a late night dinner after a long day. I don't look out of place sitting at the bar in a suit, and they do have some marginally healthy options. I also end up there with my parents about 4x/year when we all have wildly divergent ideas about what type of cuisine we want for dinner.

I have stretches of liking Panera followed by stretches of really staying away. Part of the problem is that I think that their bread is awful. I pretty much eat either their french toast bagel with the honey walnut cream cheese, or some soup. But really, I go to Panera to work on things when it's too quiet at home, and I pay for some food as a tax.

I really like Amy's Ice Cream, although I guess that's not technically a restaurant.