Depends on the location. Back in college Applebee’s was our “nice restaurant” that we could afford and we went probably once a month and gad good experiences. Things went downhill though and the last time we went there I got a steak and some steamed vegetables and there was a huge block of ice in the middle of the vegetables LOL. Service was crappy also. Haven’t been back and that was probably 15 years ago.

There’s one chilis that has good service and food near here, and one that doesn’t. I think it must depend mostly on the owner/manager of each location or whatever.

Pretty sure Olive garden does bring food to the locations but from a central kitchen.

Believe that Olive Garden takes its excess food and donates it to local schools for the kids programs to feed those that need it, so that does bring them up a notch in my book.

Restaurants now are struggling to find good workers, and We do try and find local joints we like, get to know the people and give them business.

We had an Applebee's in my town once, it never was very good and I seldom went there. It's long gone now, no body misses them.

Our last experience at Applebee’s was pretty good. My wife likes their Asian salad. Like most anywhere these days service and quality may vary dramatically.

I have no complaints about the local Applebee’s. Consistent food and service, all I can ask together with non surly waitstaff.

We have always tried to patronize independent restaurants but since the pandemic this has gotten harder. Two family owned places, both Chinese cuisine have kept the quantity and quality of their food to what it was previously. One bar/restaurant we regularly went to, well their hours are spotty. One local restaurant together with a carry out location in town has gone downhill in the last six months. Screwed up orders, poorly prepared food makes me hesitant to give them another chance.

One restaurant was known for their breakfast and lunch menus, they closed mid afternoon. Before the plague hit they bought out a larger restaurant and expanded their hours. They never seemed to hit their stride, after three or four tries we gave up on them. This year they changed their concept from a basic menu to a more upscale menu. A full interior remodel over the winter, they closed closed the doors in September.

We do have a family owned upscale restaurant group in town. Been there once never to return.

Hit and miss is a good point. Some are not too bad. Others not so much. Our local one went out of business several years ago because of poor service and even worse food. The next closest one is OK and we go their occasionally if we are close by and want a quick dinner.

For this type of restaurant, my wife prefers Sizzler.

Haven't been there in a long time, just way to underwhelming for the price.

They can go away, and PLEASE take that stupid hiphop/county BS song with them...

When a Chili's finally opened here, we waited about 6 weeks before going. Our local newspaper pundit on development said he gives a new restaurant two years. He's avoided a lot of places that closed before then. It's a very tough market.

OP pretty much describe the service we got: Cold food after waiting 40 minutes, no service, had to flag them down for the ticket, etc. At least they had a kiosk on the table to pay, which passively avoids the lack of tip they earned.

And yet as described it's still crowded. But our Appleby's is closer to the highway and hotels, they aren't lacking either.

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

Same here and most of the time I cook myself.
There are 2 places that I go to but not very often. Know both the owners and their families.

I have pretty much given up on chain restaurants for this reason. We stopped at a Chili for the first time a few months ago in eons. It was meh. Short staffing and okay food didn't impress. I rather hit the local mom and pop type places.

Yelp is your friends. Your kids will learn to love a new place. I get it though..my 19 year old son wanted us to got to Rainforest Cafe the other day..even though, in his work, the food sucks.

This rant seems 20ys past due.

I work to avoid all such places, Fridays, Applebees, Pottery Barn, Olive Garden...