Yeah, same problem in most European hotels. :td: (However, I wasn't making a comparison to Europe. I was just pointing out how surprisingly unsophisticated some Americans on this board are, especially considering that we're supposedly frequent travelers. I got the impression that the o.j. person was not well traveled within the US, for instance.)

But I think we're drifting off topic here.... Sorry about that. :o

From dictionary.com
 

So, if they are not restaurants, what are they? :rolleyes: ;)


"res·tau·rant ( P ) Pronunciation Key (rstr-nt, -t-ränt)
n.
A place where meals are served to the public.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[French, restorative soup, restaurant, from present participle of restaurer, to restore, from Old French restorer. See restore.]

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Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.


restaurant

n : a building where people go to eat [syn: eating house, eating place]"

I was the one who brought up the fresh squeezed OJ. What restaurant have you been to that does that? In house? The chain I was talking about is a local chain to PHL. Check out http://www.marathonrestaurants.com and see how eclectic the menu is. I am very well traveled. I know my food, and I don't eat at national chains, unless it is for a snack or something light or healthy (Subway). I brought up the OJ, because this restaurant chain knows how to do weekend brunch or breakfast, bar none. Take a look at their breakfast menu (pdf file) and tell me what you think.

We enjoy the happy hour at http://www.thaifoon.com/locations.html
We go to the one in Newport Beach, CA. The appetizers are more or less half-priced from 4-7 p.m. on weekdays [and maybe weekends as well]. We've had chicken satay sticks, lettece wraps, pork dumplings and ahi, all delicious. The $4 glass of wine is of a high quality. Haven't tried lunch or dinner yet.

http://www.brinker.com/

(Gasp) The same people own Maggiano's and Macaroni Grille?! Maggiano's is miles better. I also do not understand the hoopla around the Cheesecake Factory (especially in DC on Sunday). I eat there but certainly not on days a one and a half hour wait is required!

Stuck in No Va., a restaurant backwater
 

I've been transplanted from SoCal to Northern Va., which is almost completely bereft of eateries except for Wendy's, Pho, and Chinese Buffets. Also there is nothing open late except for IHOP and Denny's, and the restaurants here allow SMOKING! Yecch!

I would die for any of the following:

Carl's Jr.
Claim Jumper
Elephant Bar
El Pollo Loco
Jack In The Box
In & Out Burger
Mimi's Cafe (owned by Bob Evans, would you please tear down all the Bob Evanses and put up Mimi's Cafes?)
Sonic
Waffle House

Coming from Australia I wouldnt be caught dead in an Outback Steakhouse it is totally Un-Australian.
Have always been disappointed with Italian food in the states-if it is any good it is overpriced but we do enjoy Johnny Carinos.
If we have the grandkids then it has to be a rainforest cafe.
In Michigan we loved the atmosphere of Logans Roadhouse-havent laughed as much in years.
We usually enjoy most of the rib and BBQ chains as it is a style we dont have at home.
Whether chain or not our vote goes to Philly as the best eating value in the states.

WoHos in So Cal? Really?

From my experience in the South, WoHos tend to avoid or leave areas which have or enact smoking limitations. AFAIK, VA, like several other Southern states, still produces a fair amount of tobacco, so that the political guts to ban smoking in restaurants, etc. are often lacking.

Not like Atlanta, but there seem to be a number in Virginia (from its website):

Virginia Interstate Locations
I-64: Exit 55, 61, 81, 120, 255, 255B, 258B, 268B, 280B, 286B
I-81: Exit 37, 98, 222, 307, 313
I-85: Exit 61, 63A
I-95: Exit 64, 82, 92, 104, 126, 130, 133
I-295: Exit 9B, 37
I-665: Exit 9

Plus neighborhood locations in...
Charlottesville, Colonial Heights, Dumfries, Hampton, Harrisonburg, Lynchburg, Midlothian, Richmond, Roanoke, Suffolk, Troutville, Virginia Beach, Wytheville

Those towns are in the part of Virginia where folks drive trucks with gun racks and stickers with the #3 on the back (whatever that means). I don't live there.

HAHAHAHAHA. So true! I spent last summer living in Arlington and driving down to Quantico to work, and wow, talk about driving from one universe to another.

Don't know if In & Out Burgers are mentioned yet, thats always one of my favourites when I go to the States.

milestones is owned by CARA corp which does kelseys, montanas, outback, etc...http://www.cara.com/divisions.html



mac grill is owned by brinker, which does not own milestones....

I am a huge chain whore, but some definates are....

U.S.
any brinker specialty brand (non chili/mac grill)
don pablos
chevys
I go to a lot of small towns, so ruby tuesdays

canada
I love the canadian chains so much more (dont ask why(
I love kelseys, montana's, earls, keg, jack astor, canyon creek.

how many times have you made your work/travel/hotel plans around which restraunt to go to. I have picked hotels based on this, hoping they are just far enogh away to enjoy anice after dinner cigar....

I've only eaten in two of them, but I liked Bonefish grill. Not bad for a chain.

I'm interested to note the votes for Leon de Bruxelles. I've eaten in the original in Brussels and while it's not gourmet food, it does good moules and pepper steaks. We're visiting Paris with the kids in a couple of weeks and I was looking for somewhere child-friendly. That might just fit the bill.

In and Out burger
Chili's (once in a while)
Pasta Pomodoro (once a week)
Panda Express
Macaroni Grill

Chin Chin Love it or hate it--They deliver and I love the spicy Sunday Night Chop Suey ^

Those are endangered, you jerk!

You just joined that list buddy !!! :)

The DC area has a chain of places that I love. There I think 2 that are called "Sweetwater", a "Carslye Grand", a "Mike's" and an "Artie's". They are sister places and pretty much have the same menu. ^ ^

Both L'entrecote and Leon de Bruxelles can be found within a few steps of the Meridien Porte Maillot Hotel. We really liked L'entrecote, nothing real fancy but a good restaurant value (!).

Maggiano's is one of Brinker's better Italian spots.. similar food to mac grill but definitely better!

I stopped eating at Don Pablos when I noticed servers handling food with bare hands that had also picked up things off the floor or scratched body parts... lost my appetite.

I've been to a Keg and a Jack Astor in Dallas. I wasn't very impressed with Keg, especially in comparison to a place like Lawry's or Del Friscos. Jack Astor was a pleasant experience, I'd go again.

As far as Canadian chains, Marchee gets my vote, along with Whistling Oyster. Both are in Toronto and are very much worth a visit. My husband is tired of hearing me talk about both, so we're going this summer just so that he can see what the fuss is all about! :cool:

I can't praise this company enough. I was shocked to find it ws a chain. I'm half Italian and I think that the food their is fantastic. It's simple and very tasty!

Del Frisco's is definitely one of the best, along with Three Forks (two locations), Cool River (three locations), and Lawry's.

There are also a few Salerno Steakhouses in Texas... the best of which in my experience has been Grotto. The food, atmosphere and service are all great and well worth the extra expense.

I'm getting hungry...

I really have no problem with T.G.I.Chili-bees as a whole. Each place has a dish or two that I like.

My other favorites:

Hard Rock Cafe

Actual conversation last night with Mrs. Redbeard regarding where to have our Valentine's dinner:

"Do you want to go to Outback, or try something new?"
"What do you think?"
"Outback it is."

I also like Red, Hot and Blue for BBQ.

I give thumbs up for Cracker Barrel, but thumbs down for Waffle House. I don't like having the waitresses cigarette ashes falling on my eggs. Barf-o.

Another FTer recommend this to me when I was on a business trip alone. I'm only an occasional fish eater but was in the mood for it, and was very pleased. It's not quite at the level of a good east coast place (even Legals), but for Middle America it was fine. The atmosphere was very nice and calming, which is something I needed that day.

Liked the name so well...they named it twice?
 

How about Cucina Cucina! We had a decent meal there not too long ago in Kirkland, Washington. I know it is a chain because we have them down here in Portland. The food was nothing special but the name is very silly.

If you are ever in Paris, there's a chain of restaurants called Bistro Romain - great value & excellent food :)

Ruth Chris Steakhouse
The Palm Restaurant
Flemming's
Butcher Block
The Crab House
J. Alexanders

If you can't tell, I enjoy steak.

Ribeye, extra rare. I always judge a restaurant for the first time by whether that have a ribeye on the menu. I will order that and if I'm satisfied I will be back, if not I won't.

All the kopi-tiams in Singapore. Gaudy decor, all good :)



Rain

love that place !!! all you can eat carpaccio !!! yummy... :)

They have a couple of stores in the Bay area (San jose and Foster City).. worked for them for a couple of months.. lousy company to work for.. :eek:

I've eaten at the "Palm Beach Tavern" in Palm Beach, Fl. which is associated with Houstons ~ check their website ~ I thought it was very good without that chain feeling

Boteco Belmonte. 3 in Rio. Also Porcao Churrascarias in Rio.

If you're in North Georgia or South Carolina, I highly recommend Zaxby's. A chicken joint, that's famous for thier Zax's Sauce... It's a zesty ranch/barbecue combo... sounds bad, but it's great.

What-a-burger is Texas and Taco Cabana can not be topped for late night or early, early morning food!

I like the Macaroni Grill the best. Mr Theologian loved Applebee's but recently had a bad experience regarding quality and raised prices.

Your taste is far superior to his. I think Macaroni Grill is very good. I would have to be paid to go to Applebee's - among the worst restaurant food I've ever had.

Unfortunately, it is due to restaurants like Cracker Barrel that America is a country of obese people. There's not a healthy thing on the menu.

and, oh by the way, would you like gravy with that? lol

What, the chicken fried steak with gravy, mashed potatoes with gravy, fried okra, biscuits and fried apples are not considered a healthy meal :confused:

:D

Big portions. That reminds me of Jerry's Famous Deli which is a popular chain in the LA area, and maybe other places. Each portion is enormous, especially the carrot cake which should take me a week to eat, but somehow it manages to go down much quicker.

Jerry's is pretty good deli for LA, but not quite in the same class as a true NYC deli.

Wow, never would have guessed Bonefish Grill is a chain. Ate in one in Florida when visiting my Dad. Pretty good though they did have some trouble serving everything hot. I'd still try them again.

Also like Macaroni Grill. Definitely has a chain feel; however, it is reasonable food, including healthy choices, that always fits into my expense account.


--Jon

BBQ anyone?
 

Famous Daves is the place to go for BBQ