If I can I will either go to a mom and pop restaurant (which is decimated currently - thx .goobers) or cook at home.

The big chain restaurants don’t even serve real food. They are also the same ones that got Covid relief funds, while sole proprietorships were destroyed en masse.

quote:

Originally posted by Jimbo54:
We've pretty much given up on any chain restaurants altogether. There are just too many family owned places to go to that we enjoy.

Jim

100%. The only chains we have been to in the last 5 years is Starbucks and a few times to Chipotle. Other than that it’s locally owned or more likely our kitchen.


We used to go out to eat 3-4 times a week but the costs have gotten out of control and the service is typically lacking. Once a month is more likely now and our bank account and waistline reflect it.

Back in the mid 2000s I got hired as a bartender at an Applebees that was new construction.

New everything. New kitchen, glassware, beer taps, etc.

I quit before the grand opening because I saw how they made the food. ~$25 (so close to $40 today with inflation) for a blue cheese steak that came in individually wrapped plastic packaging, only to be popped opened and microwaved. I was embarrassed to serve that and I spent my "training" apologizing to friends and family members of the staff who were invited to the soft openings because the food was so horrible. I even had one guy give me a "tip" and that was to leave Applebees and work someplace else the food was so bad. IMO the only edible food were the fried appetizers and frozen (before reheated in a microwave) desserts.

I felt bad for the corporate trainers who were flown in. They comped so much food because there were so many complaints. Then again, they were probably used to it and blamed the "cooks" for not microwaving it for the right amount of time.

I never understood how Applebees were able to stay open as long as they have. There are so many better chain restaurants that actually cook food and use fresh ingredients.

quote:

Originally posted by Warhorse:
I am under the impression that most of their entree's are shipped to each location frozen, much like TV dinners.

Correct. The same w/ Olive Garden. Frozen and microwaved.

I am sorry to hear that the experience was less then satisfactory. I hope it did not impact your son's birthday?

Where I live we only have a few surviving chain restaurants but we also have a thriving local scene with plenty of family owned or small corporation owned restaurants.

One of the few chain restaurants in our community that is always busy is a placed called Chuy's, their Mexi-Cobb Salad is delicious.

quote:

Originally posted by Hildur:
I never understood how Applebees were able to stay open as long as they have. There are so many better chain restaurants that actually cook food and use fresh ingredients.

There's a lot of people out there, with very low standards.

Texas Road House.

At least the one in Wichita Falls TX was excellent, ate there twice recently.

The food was very good and service was perfect. No complaint at all.

I don’t know how regional to nationwide they are.
.

quote:

Originally posted by Jimbo Jones:
Crapplebees...

My experience too.
Never went back.

quote:

Originally posted by Warhorse:
I am under the impression that most of their entree's are shipped to each location frozen, much like TV dinners.

Yes! Just like Olive Garden as mentioned above and also Red Lobster

Texas Road Houses can be hit or miss - must depend on the ownership. We've been to an awesome one and to a horrible one...

I like our local Applebees. The service is good from one specific waitress that I ask for now. And one time the food was so good I told the manager. He was grateful and said there was only one guy working the kitchen. I had the waitress make the cook come out so I could compliment him and give him an acknowledgment of his good work.

I think it's all in who the people are.

I've not been to Denny's in 20 years, not even for the free Veterans day meal. It was always too oily anywhere I went. Some friends invited us for breakfast in our new city. But it was to Denny's. I figure I'll survive. I was surprised that the food was actually decent so much so, it' i8ncluded in our regular breakfast places.

I rarely go out to eat as common sense is gone, so is common courtesy, and service, as a whole, has vanished also. I did have to go out to eat a while back. The person who arranged it wanted to go to some Mexican place, independent type place, and no menus. They were all “your phone” and I stated “my phone is locked up in my truck where it belongs, I’m at dinner”. And the people who I was with were all “you can use mine” and I said no. I looked at the waiter and said if you cannot produce a got damn menu I’m out and got up. Suddenly, by some miracles the big ass menu was suddenly found, all laminated and what not. Give me a break. That ever happens again I’m leaving. If hungry, I’ll hit the local grocery store or whatever, grab some chicken and head home. This shit is crazy.

Applebees, no real surprise there.

quote:

Originally posted by Dzozer:

quote:

Originally posted by Warhorse:
I am under the impression that most of their entree's are shipped to each location frozen, much like TV dinners.

Yes! Just like Olive Garden as mentioned above and also Red Lobster

Texas Road Houses can be hit or miss - must depend on the ownership. We've been to an awesome one and to a horrible one...

Why do you say this about Red Lobster?

I always assumed the same until we got a contract with them. The ones I worked at got fresh fish in daily and were the cleanest kitchens I've ever seen in a restaurant.

I always made fun of them until I saw the fresh deliveries, the prep they did in house, and the standards they had in their kitchen. The one I serviced most was also in the most undesirable towns in the area.

They are levels above highly regarded restaurants. Was completely shocked.

I eat out almost entirely (but have done a lot of drive-thru during COBID). I confess that Applebee's is not one of my usual venues. I would like to do Chili's but the ones anywhere nearby have all closed over the years and I'd have to drive a half hour to get to one (even in Dallas). I do Golden Corral, Dickie's, and Golden Chicken (used to do Popeye's, but they quit serving green beans). I go to Waffle House about once a week. There are several local places I also like, particularly for their catfish filets.

I'm sorry your experience out with your family was unsatisfactory, and I hope your son still enjoyed his birthday. (I enjoyed mine yesterday.)

flashguy

Haven't been to an Applebee's or an Olive Garden in over 10 years.

quote:

Originally posted by Jimbo54:
We've pretty much given up on any chain restaurants altogether. There are just too many family owned places to go to that we enjoy.

Jim

Meh.

I posted a rant here while back about an absolute horrible experience at a family joint. Waitress seemed to care more about updating her facespace than actually interacting with customers. Our food took forever, and this was after we kept noticing tables that came in after us getting their food.

Won’t go back it was so bad.

I have long been puzzled by the apparently large number of people who believe Applebee's, Chili's, etc, etc actually serve good food.

It's edible usually. That's about all you can say.

And it certainly isn't worth waiting on for 45 minutes to an hour on a Friday or Saturday nite!

quote:

Originally posted by benny6:

My go-to restaurants are Thirsty Lion…

One of my customers! Woo hoo!

A couple years ago my wife and I were in Hawaii. We went to Chilis. That evening we decided that we would no longer visit most national chain restaurants.
Chilis
Applebees
TGI Friday’s
Olive Garden
Red Robin
Plenty more that I didn’t list.

Basically the restaurants that are all stationed on the ring roads around the malls, or those in the malls, we steer clear of. Every time we dine at one, we leave feeling like we threw away good money.

Agreed...family joints are usually better but not guaranteed to be good. We had a really poor experience Tuesday night at a mom and pop Italian wed been to happily several times.

We made reservations for our anniversary and got very bad service: "your tables over there in the corner" was the beginning, then no into bread basket at all (everyone else got one) and our appetizer took 20 minutes and was cold (fried calamari comes out of the fryer at 350 degrees) so it had been sitting 5-10 mins before we got it.

We abruptly requested our bill w/o ordering entrees and the server was either too dim to notice or too apathetic to care. Paid, left a note on the receipt and left no tip.

We went to a more downscale pizza place and had a great time. Instead of osso buco, veal and pinot grigio it was pizza and beer.

Turns out this is one of two restaurants owned by the same guy and he spends all his time at the other one.

quote:

Originally posted by jljones:

quote:

Originally posted by Jimbo54:
We've pretty much given up on any chain restaurants altogether. There are just too many family owned places to go to that we enjoy.

Jim

Meh.

I posted a rant here while back about an absolute horrible experience at a family joint. Waitress seemed to care more about updating her facespace than actually interacting with customers. Our food took forever, and this was after we kept noticing tables that came in after us getting their food.

Won’t go back it was so bad.

quote:

Originally posted by lastmanstanding:
I have not eaten at a commercialized type restaurant in a long time. We have several small local cafe's and diners that serve mostly home made food. All very good. A very good friend of ours has transformed his sports bar/restaurant to more of a supper club. He's offering pasta dishes, high end steak and sea food dinners and other unique dishes along with the standard pub style food. We eat there almost exclusively when we do go out.

We do have a Applebees, Olive Garden and a Green Mill pizza none of which I have been to for the reasons you stated.

we do the same, re the local places,

luckily, we are in a very foodie type area, lots of good choices that give good service and excellent food,


we do have a couple exceptions,

Lonestar steakhouse,, the local one does very good service, and decent food,
a good meal when you don't have time to do the work

and Bonefish Grill,

the same, good food, (some of the specials are so so, but still hot), freshly prepared (yes prepacked /frozen on some items), and good service, .

granted, we do takeout mostly

I think Applebees got sold to the company that owns IHOP back around 2007.