I prefer Ruby Tuesdays over Applebees for ribs.

And I don't automatically discount a "chain" because it's a "chain." Virtually every chain started as a single restaurant. Even Wolfgang Puck has a chain.

I also don't assume the food at a one-off is superior just because it's a single unit. I've had some truly egregious food at some supposedly elitist restaurants.

Well writ, sirrah!

Recalling the days when necessity took me the the one and only, Thank God no chain, Fadal's, "Grub 6 bits a plate, Tums free!", not all, no not even many "free standers are to rave over. The difference between elitist "BS" and that from actual bulls, is that the bulls are more attractive, able to tup any freshened cow in site, while most of the elitists are rarely able to get laid at all, and then rarely by a female desirous of carrying their offspring.

How well do I recall that now mediocre but once crowd pleasing Steak & Ale chain which revolutionized road warrior dining in America in the late 60s/early 70s. Some of the deadliest encounters with food I've ever had have taken place in "free standing" US Oriental restaurants, a couple more damaging that a Saigon cyclist throwing hand grenades.

I've been only once. I hated it. Mass-franchise food, screaming kids, horrible atmosphere.

No thanks.

Once. Hated it. The chicken did not taste like chicken.

I'm a little embarrassed to admit it, but hey...this is a travel board, so here goes...


For a while, I did not know that Wolfgang Puck was an actual chef. :o I thought it was just a name of a bunch of crappy restaurants where you can get a tiny flavorless pizza for $11 near your departure gate. :D


To me, all of the Applebee's / Chili's / Ruby Tuesday / Friday's / Bennigan's / etc. are interchangeable. I occasionally will dine at one...usually at ORD, DFW, or TPA. Although if I have time at ORD, I'll walk over to that sportsbar-ish place near the AA terminal instead: better burgers.

The other place I'm apt to eat food like this is DEN, but there I hit the Mexican place upstairs in the UA terminal. The regular bartender there knows what I like and if I have three beers I usually only pay for one or two. :)

Folks, although this subject is fine in OMNI, we're going to switch it to DiningBuzz! where it's perhaps more apropos.

Please follow at it's new home.

Thanks.



____________________

Cholula
OMNI Co-Moderator

I think of all the chains of this kind, Applebee’s is probably the best. It’s not a white tablecloth restaurant, but a lot of times there’s one within walking distance of my hotel. The ones I’ve been in are decorated with local memorabilia like high school sports team stuff, so they have a “local” feel about them.

You could do worse with chains, like Grizzlebee’s. I had the Onion Wings with honey-maple-ranch dipping sauce one time. What *was* I thinking?

I agree. Their menu has lots of variety so its easy to go with several people and keep everyone pretty happy. It's not upscale dining but pretty good for a chain, and really the only chain I will agree to go to. I recommend their Spinach and Shrimp salad. The dressing is great and I actually look forward to eating it!

We hasn't ate at Applebees for a long time. So this is my last time since we ate at dinners the night right after graduation ceremony in St. Augustine. I remember where my old houseparent, staffs & I and my mom took us to dinners at Applebees near Flagler Hospital.

Applebees is in my opinion, the worst of the worst.

I think that's a pretty poor assessment: to attack someone for a restaurant choice which may be the only viable option under a given set of circumstances.

I like Carino's as a chain most are good food, not excellent, but quality good. They aren't the same flavor genre as the above mentioned however.

This is one of my least favorite, of these type of restaurants.

Ditto Gadgetfreak
"Applebees is in my opinion, the worst of the worst."

Ick

I love the strong opinions...best of the chains to worst of the worst. Totally for lazy people is a good one, too. ;)

My take is: how can you really have a strong opinion about these places? How is Applebee's really different from Chili's? Now that I think of it, I believe it's actually Chili's that I'm most likely to eat at - not Applebee's. But I actually had to think about it...they are so interchangeable. I'm pretty sure it's Chili's at ORD and DFW.

Am I lazy? The other option I recall at DFW is that place with all the Cowboys memorabilia everywhere, but it's just way too nauseating to walk into that place. :p So Chili's (I think) it is...