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.