JIMCFSUS:
Is the Italian place the one we went to ? If so you should write it up in another thread as it was great.

I'm not the biggest fan of these american chain restaurants, but I went to ruby's for the first time in several years. The menu went upscale and the prices stayed about the same. I had a triple prime burger and found it very good. I was quite impressed. They have a new cocktail menu with "cool" martinis and new appetizers. The spinach-artichoke dip was also very well. I would go back again.

Yes it was, Coach. Hard to believe there was actually an even better place in our town when I first moved here.

I think Ruby Tuesdays is horrible. Applebee's is a no also. As far as chain restaurants go, I actually like our Famous Dave's and find that they are everything I want in a bbq, considering we live in MN. Red Lobster does a fairly good job for a chain as well and considering our location again.

All these chains are generally rather mediocre. I happen to think Ruby Tuesdays is slightly better than the rest, but that's probably because they just got done spending lots of $ revamping their menu and restaurant. After six months of wear the place will look like all the others. They have improved their salad bar, though. I tend to avoid chains whenever possible, but sometimes go with a colleague for lunch.

Recent posts indicate that perhaps they've spiffed these places up a bit. "Originally", I used to basically like them, but then had too many years of bad experiences, so, eventually I gave up...save for one menu exception. They do have a pretty good salad bar. If all I want is a nice salad, I'll go there.

I dont think highly of the chains. Ate at Ruby's several years ago and was not impressed by the salad bar and food was dismal, but may have to give another chance when in a pinch in a smaller town based on some of the reviews

So you're telling me that the meat in that restaurant isn't anywhere near as fresh as it used to be?

I can't remember the last time I ate at Applebee's. I know I ate there sometime in 1998 (a date in high school), but I can't think if there's been a time since haha. I think the decline in quality is their over-expansion. They made a decision years ago to go into the smaller markets first, markets which could only probably support one chain restaurant. It's this action that has led them to be the world's largest casual-dining chain with close to 2,000 restaurants. In comparison, Chili's has a little over 1,000 restaurants and TGI Friday's, about 500. I'm not saying Chili's and TGI Friday's are THAT much better quality over Applebee's, but I think Applebee's has over-expanded to the point that quality has declined lower than the other chains.

To be honest though...right now, I'd *kill* to have any of those three (or any other American casual-dining chain) in the city I'm currently in. Where I'm at, if you want anything close to a decent meal, you really have to pay an expensive price for it. There's no mid-level options (other than Red Lobster, but you can only do seafood so often). Either there's the lower-priced Canadian chains (which serve horrible food) or there's the more upscale independent or upscale chain restaurants which are more expensive than Chili's or the like would ever be.

Anyone have a million dollars that they want to use to open a Chili's franchise in Saskatoon? I can almost guarantee it'd be a success!

<fanning self> Sounds like a hot chain resto to me!

On the road though, Ruby Tuesday's is usually adequate for a small steak and low-carb sides. I don't do the salad bar usually so I can't comment about that. Hadn't heard about the loss of Sam at the tap, but some RT outlets in the Mid-Atlantic/Upper South have Yuengling which is totally good.

FYI US Sen Lamar Alexander (R-TN) was associated with the chain in its early days and earlier in his history. And sadly, in BNA the local Green Hills RT sits on the site of a long-gone childhood favorite...it was Yanni's (one of the first [if not the first] Greek eateries in BNA).

I'm not a fan of chains...In fact, I avoid them like the plague.

I had to eat at Ruby Tuesdays a few weeks ago...The crab cakes were as close to anything that I have found in BWI...very very good!

Like I kinda said when I started this thread, for that I can't wait to go back,

No Keg, Earl's, or East Side Mario's? Not that they're exceptional, but I'd take any one of these over Applebee's. (Or for that matter, Ruby Tuesday).

Speaking of Applebee's, there's at least one in Winnipeg (on Pembina Highway), so perhaps they're "moving in your direction". As for Chili's, I think there may be a few in Canada. I know there's at least one in the UK.

Tilapia turns out to be a good choice on most american chain restaurant menus. It's so naturally bland, they're forced to spice it up.

I liked the crabburger the first time I tried it. The next time, different location, it did not taste fresh - a little too fishy, which seemed fishy.

One was built close to where I went to college and I hated it. They limited alcoholic beverage consumption to 2 drinks per legal customer. Awful policy.

Let me gues: Ruby?