What is your favorite/least favorite chain restaurant?
Dec 1, 2005, 11:15 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Land of the Free
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What is your favorite/least favorite chain restaurant?
I'm usually searching out local non-chain restaurants when traveling because I like to try different things. Chain restaurants are usually my choice of last resort -- when the local offerings just aren't appealing or convenient. So I'm curious to know what chains people really like or dislike, in case I'm faced with only unfamiliar chain offerings in a particular town.
Please list your ONE favorite and ONE least favorite chain restaurant, and why. For the purposes of this thread, let's define "chain" as restaurants with the same name and with at least 10 locations. If in doubt, check their website -- every chain has one.
My favorite: Tony Roma's
Why: The BBQ sauce is as tasty as any I've found (I like tangy/spicy & sweet), and the ribs are always meaty and fall-off-the-bone tender.
My least favorite: Wendy's
Why: Those square hamburger patties creep me out.
Please list your ONE favorite and ONE least favorite chain restaurant, and why. For the purposes of this thread, let's define "chain" as restaurants with the same name and with at least 10 locations. If in doubt, check their website -- every chain has one.
My favorite: Tony Roma's
Why: The BBQ sauce is as tasty as any I've found (I like tangy/spicy & sweet), and the ribs are always meaty and fall-off-the-bone tender.
My least favorite: Wendy's
Why: Those square hamburger patties creep me out.
Dec 2, 2005, 6:24 am
#2
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: STL
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Favorite: If I had to pick, Cheddar's, because I like their chicken tenders.
Least favorite: All of the above. I hate that road in every town that has Olive Garden/Red Lobster/Chilis/etc.
Least favorite: All of the above. I hate that road in every town that has Olive Garden/Red Lobster/Chilis/etc.
Dec 2, 2005, 7:53 am
#3
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Asia/Europe
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I'm leaving my nick out of this. 
Favorite: Nolboo ( http://www.nolboo.co.kr/consumer/index.asp ) Great Korean pork & kimchi combo platter chain. Nice interiors, laid-back atmosphere and great food and full drinks sortiment
Least favorite: Dunkin Donuts I can't stand donuts and especially not the sugar coated ones. Worst is when people bring them to the office and everyone has to try out of politeness, yuck.
Favorite: Nolboo ( http://www.nolboo.co.kr/consumer/index.asp ) Great Korean pork & kimchi combo platter chain. Nice interiors, laid-back atmosphere and great food and full drinks sortiment
Least favorite: Dunkin Donuts I can't stand donuts and especially not the sugar coated ones. Worst is when people bring them to the office and everyone has to try out of politeness, yuck.
Dec 2, 2005, 9:08 am
#4
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Least Favorite: Hardees. I don't have a problem with the food. It's the lack of cleanliness in every Hardees I've ever walked into. Funny thing is, their other chain, Carl's Jr., is one of my favorites, as the food is similar but even the older ones I've been in look fresh and clean.
Favorite: Couldn't pick one. There are a number of OK chain places, but none that I could get excited about.
Favorite: Couldn't pick one. There are a number of OK chain places, but none that I could get excited about.
Dec 2, 2005, 9:34 am
#5
Join Date: Oct 2005
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Favorite: Pappadeux. They only have locations in 7 states and they are the only chain I will actually go out of my way to get to! The quality and consistency between locations is almost spooky.
Least favorite: Burger King. Although they have decent salads, the service is always bad (slow, wrong items, etc.) no matter what state you happen to be in.
Least favorite: Burger King. Although they have decent salads, the service is always bad (slow, wrong items, etc.) no matter what state you happen to be in.
Dec 2, 2005, 9:36 am
#6
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,673
Originally Posted by mosburger
I'm leaving my nick out of this.
)Pizza Hut, while not that bad per se, always makes me conclude, 'I'm never coming back here', after feeling slightly indisposed having fallen for the family special, complete with that gallon of Pepsi, with another hungry friend.
Dec 2, 2005, 1:45 pm
#7
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Los Angeles, CA USA; Kerry Ireland
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Give me steak and Potatoes!
Might as well go...upscale chain if no restictions...and I'll take a chain steakhouse...any of 'em from Palm to Morton's to Ruth's Chris.
Fast food? In 'n Out or Baja Fresh.
For sit down fast food I'll take CPK.
Least favorite? Taco Bell disgusts me. And TGI Friday's is also gross.
Fast food? In 'n Out or Baja Fresh.
For sit down fast food I'll take CPK.
Least favorite? Taco Bell disgusts me. And TGI Friday's is also gross.
Last edited by tdo-ca; Dec 2, 2005 at 1:47 pm
Dec 2, 2005, 6:06 pm
#10
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: SAT
Programs: NWA/DL
Posts: 158
Favorite - Fairly new Italian chain...Johnny Carino's - great food, and as a low-carber, it is a very well worth it splurge!
Least Favorite - Any fast food restaurants!!! (Although for Mexican, Chipotle is great but not one around where I live now)
Least Favorite - Any fast food restaurants!!! (Although for Mexican, Chipotle is great but not one around where I live now)
Dec 2, 2005, 6:25 pm
#12
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: San Diego
Programs: UA 1K, AA Gold, Starwood Gold, Hilton Silver
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Favorite: PF Changs
I crave their lettuce wraps, crispy honey shrimp, and orange peel shrimp. YUM!
Least: Burger King
They ALWAYS get my order wrong and are usually rude when I ask them to fix it.
I crave their lettuce wraps, crispy honey shrimp, and orange peel shrimp. YUM!
Least: Burger King
They ALWAYS get my order wrong and are usually rude when I ask them to fix it.
Dec 2, 2005, 7:21 pm
#13
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Favorite chain (fine dining): Capital Grille or Palomino
Favorite chain (casual dining): All Bar One
Favorite chain (fast food): Chipotle or Baja Fresh
Most overrated chain (fine dining): Mortons
Most overrated chain (casual dining): Romano's Macaroni Grill
Favorite chain (casual dining): All Bar One
Favorite chain (fast food): Chipotle or Baja Fresh
Most overrated chain (fine dining): Mortons
Most overrated chain (casual dining): Romano's Macaroni Grill