Maybe I wasn't clear. I know I wasn't specific enough. I'll clarify and repeat.

I meant to include only "casual dining" chains. I did not mean to include "quick service (fast food)". No sane person goes to Burger King and complains that there's no french onion soup on the menu.

I know some people don't like the food at various chain restaurants and getting 100% agreement here on which one makes for the worst dining experience is impossible. We've covered this ground before. Many times.

I think Ruby Tuesdays has the most limited menu of all the common casual dining chains. It has been pared down, from a selection comparable to its competitors, to a dozen burgers and chicken sandwiches. Assuming I'm willing to eat the quality food represented by this market segment, why would I go to one that offers such limited variety?

I have to agree on Ruby Tuesday's. Yet I keep going back for one little thing. The pumpernickel croutons. Those little nuggets of grease soaked bread are my "casual dining" Achiles heel. So basically for me Ruby Tuesday's is a salad bar chain. I have noticed that the menu is more limited than in the past.

I'd definitely agree with you on Zizi and Wagamama, never been to Ask or Strada. Pizza Express? I'd rate these as good....but not exceptional. On the negative side, I'd also agree on Aberdeen Angus. These places always seem busy, and I can never understand why!

As for Canada and Tim Horton's, I agree that the menu can be pretty boring....but hey, its a donut shop. And their donuts are pretty good.

Finally, closer to home for me, yes, we have Steak & Shake. Some people think this place "is to die for". I've always thought of it as unremarkable in any way. Dry, bland, burgers, greasy nondescript skinny fries, slow service etc. But they do serve a decent milkshake.

- Bennigans
- Chili's
- TGI Fridays
- Applebees
- Ruby Tuesdays
- Outback
- O'Charleys

To me these places offer decent bar food at decent prices. Of the group I would take Ruby Tuesdays due to the salad bar. Number one choice is to find a local bar and grill. Same type food (usually better), better service, no kids and no waiting.

Perkins and Cracker Barrel good only for Breakfast.

I dislike Chili's menu selection, but many of my friends love the place so I generally go with them but get something basic that I know is going to be decent.

Other than that, nothing else really comes to mind. I generally don't have very high expectations for most chain restaurants in terms of selection and I certainly don't complain when my steak at Red Lobster isn't very good. Red lobster is good for cheap seafood, Outback for a cheap steak, and so on...@:-)

I agree with everyone who put Cracker Barrel on their list.

Based on the replies I have seen, can I assume everyone is cool with Coco's
and Mimi's?

The airport version of Chili's (I think they are called "Chili's Too") have an especially limited menu, concentrating on the high fat/high calorie items.

Sounds like the airport version of Outback. I've only seen one, in MCO, but the menu was much smaller than a regular Outback and concentrated on the deep fried for most things aside from steaks.

I think you are correct. They seem to have kept the high calorie stuff exclusively. I try to do the baby back ribs as I like their taste and they not excessively laden with fatty flesh.

MisterNice

I definitely agree that the "airport versions" of Chili's, Outback, Friday's etc...are usually a joke. And an overpriced joke at that.

I think powerplantop also nailed it with many of these chains...."decent bar food". With "extra credit" for the Ruby Tuesday salad bar. Since I've already discussed a couple of Canada chains, I'll put Casey's, Kelsey's, and perhaps, The Keg in the same category. I'd also include Bostons...but they get "extra credit" for having fairly good Pizza (and lots of big screen sports).

Where I'll take issue is Cracker Barrel. I'm no fan, and I don't particularly like them for lunch or dinner, but I do think they serve a pretty good breakfast.

You are not kidding. Some people enjoy the elicit drugs that come in from our southern neighbors, me I absolutely adore the legal drug from the north.




To answer the OP:
* Applebee's
* Chili's
* TGIF
* Red Robin

I must defend Ruby Tuesday because I really like their "Gardenburger" and salad bar. I don't know what actual brand it is, I just use "Gardenburger" in the generic sense like calling tissue "Kleenex".

I really like the salad bar and the Trible Prime Beef Burger - to me this makes for a pretty fresh meal of good quality (at that price, of course).
However I agree on their menu in total being a disappointment regarding variety of choice. It doesn't offer enough choices in what kind of food you actually would like - yes, they offer 15 burgers, but they differ only marginally.
I honestly would need a spreadsheet or matrix like display for their seafood and chicken dishes to differentiate between them.

Yesterday I visted a Fuddrucker's for the first time ever. Their menu itself isn't bad - once you have actually figured it out. I was seriously dumbfounded when entering the place. Don't know where to start, what to do, where do I start reading the menu, what are the choices, are there any combos? I ended up just talking to the guy at the order station, disregarding prices and ordering what I wanted to have, definitely not having taken in account all possibilites.
The food was good, but the experience of standing there, having to crane my neck too see the menu up on the wall - sometimes I just wish for an Amazon-like terminal in every shop and restaurant. :D

I'd have to agree on Ruby Tuesday's, or maybe Olive Garden. I can't stand eating there. I think the food is of subpar quality, the wine is undrinkable, and the only saving grace is the unlimited breadsticks. Even those aren't that great.

On the plus side you can't beat a good Dennys or Shoneys for breakfast when you've got a long journey ahead.
Lard on a plate with a side order of grease washed down with the sump oil coffee.
Top banana !

I have to stand up for Bennigan's in this thread. Their steaks, shrimp, desserts and milkshakes are all pretty good.

I refuse to eat at Ruby Tuesday's... Their food is very rough around the edges. The locations are often old, located in old malls (especially in the midwest). Their only saving grace is their salad bar (and I'm generous there).

Bennigan's/Hooligan's (;)) are not far behind the lameness of RT. Cracker Barrel really depends on your definition of Southern Food and wherther you like it or not...

Uno's, Chili's, crapplebee's, TGIF, etc are acceptable and generally in decent locations.

I've gotten to like California Pizza Kitchen, PF Chang's, Rock Bottom brewpubs, etc. I love Cheesecake Factory [Don't mind the calories...]

JP

Add another vote for Crapplebee's here. Several folks have mentioned Cracker Barrel - I can eat there and be happy if there's nothing else handy, but only certain items on the menu, any given item is either consistently good or consistently awful.

I'm voting for Cinnabon... everything is a variation on the one main thing, and the one main thing has 11 million calories in it, or something like that. They do taste yummy though... :p

Applebees (Yech... out of all such places they're the worst IMO)
Chevy's (Mexican is more than a corn flat round thing and some sour cream!)
Golden Corral (Like an OCB but you can order stuff. All BAD stuff)
Waffle House (Ok, so after a hangover they rock but YIPES! Scattered, smothered and covered... sounds like my arteries after a meal)
J. Alexanders (Small regional/national chain... the entire menu seems cribbed from multiple other restaurants)
Garfunkels (yes, I've been dragged to eat there, don't ask. Overpriced crap on a plate)
The Melting Pot : I actually don't mind the place but it's VERY limited.

I'll chime in in support of Cracker Barrel. If you can get past the "folksy charm" they have a good breakfast. Their sandwiches are pretty good, too. The rest... er, not so much.

There's still a functioning HoJo near the Bangor, Maine airport. I stop by every time I'm in town for their fried clams. They're still the best I've ever had anywhere.

Back on topic for the worst chain menu, it's a tie between KFC and Chili's.
Nearly everything is cooked in cheap, rancid grease.

Fast food really doesn't count though... IMO it's basically a one shot deal as far as the menu/concept goes and you select the chain based upon what you want.

I've had breakfast once at Cracker Barrel, lunch once at same, and twice stopped in to buy some candy bars. Lunch--well, if you don't know Southern food, you might think it's a fair facsimile. But no, it's not. Breakfast--everything was just a little off, except for the sawmill gravy, which was way off. It should have been called sawdust gravy.

One thing in favor of Cracker Barrel: old-fashioned candy bars, especially Valomilk. Anybody remember Valomilk?

I don't usually even think about candy, but I'll make an exception for Valomilk once every few years. Actually, it's been only twice in recent years that I bought it, but even knowing it's out there and available if I really crave it. . . .

I also don't like Red Lobster, KFC, Steak n Shake, or Olive Garden. I can't even stand the breadsticks at Olive Garden. But then, these places seem to be doing well enough without my patronage. :)


Back to Cracker Barrel: Any restaurant that puts sugar in the cornbread. . . . :rolleyes:

I said this much earlier in the thread, the worst meal I have had anywhere (ever) was at Perkins...am I the only one thats ever eaten there?

I dont believe for a second that all the other chains mentioned are worse...are they?

Coco's...not so much. For me it ranks down there with Perkins--bland and unmemorable.

Now, Mimi's Cafe is another issue, I think they actually have a pretty good menu. I mean, you can get decent liver and onions there (be sure to have an adequate supply of Altoids on hand afterward)!

For those in So Cal (or more specifically OC/South Bay)...thoughts on Hof's Hut? For a coffee shop I think they're a notch above Denny's, Coco's, etc.

ummmm.... yeah. I live down the road from that horrible Perkins you mentioned. I had never been to one before and after a night of frolicking, we decided to partake on this restaurant at 2 am. Now we just go to the Waffle House on New Circle and Harrodsburg Road. WH is a gormet restaurant compared to Perkins. Most of the Waffle Houses around town generally are nasty but this specific one is SO good that they are packed at all times.

I love it here in Lex but good restaurants are hard to come by. My favorite place called "Famous Dave's" BBQ was in the same parking lot as that Perkins Restaurant but they only made it for 2 years and recently closed.

I have been to that WH for bfast. I was very pleasantly surprised!

Steve

I at least expect foie gras at BK, after all its run by a king.

Thank you!! Thank you!!

I've eaten at Cracker Barrel a few times and always have come out disappointed, not to mention parched because of all the sodium in their food. It tastes...like a chain trying to do southern food. I don't expect a spread like at my grandparents' house but I just don't get it. Even their tomatoes taste like they've been marinated in brine.

I go way out of my way to avoid IHOP and Waffle House.

[QUOTE=cyberdad;8210419]... I'll put Casey's, Kelsey's, and perhaps, The Keg in the same category...QUOTE]

There is no way that The Keg should be in the same category as the other two. There is no better price to quality ratio at a steakhouse (at least a chain steakhouse) anywhere in the world...

I haven't been to a Hof's Hut since I left CA 20 years ago but I used to love it. Mimi's is good too. I spend a lot of time there when I visit mom and dad.

Where I live now we have Chili's, Applebees, Olive Garden, Outback and Red Robin. That is it for chains. I really dislike Applebees menu and have never enjoyed my meals there. I really love hamburgers so enjoy both Chili's and Red Robin.

Depends if you are talking about lunch or dinner. For lunch, I'll agree. Extremely good value. For dinner, it feels like the price really increases for a very similar dish.

I'll throw in Red Robin as a pretty poor chain. Will only go if absolutely required. A burger, chicken fingers places. Poor quality.

Applebees
Ruby Tuesdays
Ponderosa
Olive Garden
Crackerbarrel


There is still an operating Hojo's in Lake George, New York. My husband and I stopped and ate there a few months ago. Ordered burgers, fries & onion rings. It was all actually good. There also may still be an Hojo's in Lake Placid, New York, but I'm not sure as I haven't been up that way in about 3 years.

[QUOTE=senor_jefe;8277502]I respectfully stand by my original comment. "Decent Bar Food" Kelsey's and Casey's and perhapsThe Keg.

When I say "perhaps", my meaning is I'll go so far as to say the Keg is a notch better than the other two. But I've had more average meals there than good ones.

I liked the place a lot better before they took out the salad bars.

Nowadays, indeed, if there's one close to where I'm staying, I'll go for something in the lounge off the bar menu, and usually end up reasonably satisfied. Service is good and often there's a lively, friendly, fun atmosphere.

As for the price value relationship. Yeah, the prices aren't too bad, and the food's usually decent. But its still not exactly cheap and the food's still not exactly great.

Are you kidding?The best?You are in Maine after all. If you want something better, make a left at the Ramada Inn on I-295. Get off on Main Street Bangor heading towards Hampden. McLaughlin's Seafood is about a 1/4 mile on left just before the railroad bridge. This is a 5 minute drive from the HoJo. You might also ask directions to the Muddy Rudder in Brewer for their "whole belly" clams.Yum.Only 10 minutes away.
By the way, Tim Horton's are located all over Maine and can't compete with the venerable Dunkin Donuts. We have both of them in our town and the TH is always empty.

-Long John Silvers-most disgusting meal I've ever tried to consume. Didn't make it through the grease before I gave up & walked out

I agree that the following are mediocre on a good day & they seldom have a good day...

- Bennigans
- TGI Fridays
- Applebees
- Ruby Tuesdays

IHOP and Waffle house are old standby's for breakfast. All of the others mentioned in this entire thread are basically inedible, and I'll only stop in if there's nothing else anywhere near. The worst of the bunch is definately Long John Silvers. I walked into one over 30 years ago, slid on the floor from the grease, and walked back out-never set foot in one again.

The one exception is Tim Horton's for a cup of coffee. It's really quite good. We have both Tim Hortons and Dunkin Donuts where I live. We buy the DD coffee beans and grind them at home. For the life of me, I can't figure out why Horton's wont sell their beans. I know how much volume is going on in coffee beans sales at DD's, and TH is missing out on a whole market.

Well put ^ I do enjoy the contemporary Italian-esque Ask type places and for a cheap lunch of not half bad quality they beat anything I've had on my limited visits to US chain restaurants into a cocked hat. Proper food, tasteful settings and superb prices ^

If there is anything the US exceeds at it is the god awful chain restaurant and I loathe the places with a passion. Whether it be the over-rated Cheesecake Factory, that faux-tastic Italian 'food' of Olive Garden or any of the other multitude of places they ALWAYS seem to be busy. For not much more, and even less in some cases, I can eat my favourite place in town. Exquisite food, even better service, great setting...sure it is easy to go overboard with the wine but other than that you are looking at chain restaurant prices for a 10000% better experience. In an unfamiliar town a quick browse on the internet will give you some great pointers as to where somewhere good to eat is. The fact is though, many Americans are lazy and unadventurous people, I'm sorry but it is true. They won't travel outside the fifty states, they won't eat anything but burgers or grits and they won't go outside their comfort zone and try find somewhere to eat that can't be found in McTown America.

[/rant]