# Best/Worst chain restaurant **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 18, 2002, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-chain-restaurant/132827 "2002-10-18T14:18:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![fizgig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f04885/32.png) [@fizgig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fizgig)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2002, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-chain-restaurant/132827/61 "2002-10-23T02:07:51Z")
Hmm, I don’t know how widespread they are, but I love **Macaroni Grill** though they’re not cheap. I also like **Friday’s** for the Jack Daniel’s ribs and yummy drinks. The **Roadhouses** are good, too. I have to concur and say I’ve never had a good **Applebee’s** experience. One I’m surprised hasn’t been mentioned yet is **IHOP**. Never had an enjoyable experience there. Blech. ---
**Author:** ![drm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e57/32.png) [@drm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drm)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2002, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-chain-restaurant/132827/62 "2002-10-23T03:15:25Z")
Best: **Movenpick** and **Marche**. Food is awesome at both of these places (they are owned by the same company). The crepes rock out especially. Worst: **Swiss Chalet** and **Hard Rock Cafe**. I just don’t like the food at either of these places. ---
**Author:** ![Flowerchild](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/858c86/32.png) [@Flowerchild](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flowerchild)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2002, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-chain-restaurant/132827/63 "2002-10-23T04:14:57Z")
No Mr Moto , Sorry to say i’m not. I lived in Orange park , Fl. ( Hi fairychatmom) for a few months and I worked at a village inn a few miles away from there. That place may look okay from the booths but you dont want to look behind the scenes. Trust Me ---
**Author:** ![screech-owl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@screech-owl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/screech-owl)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2002, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-chain-restaurant/132827/64 "2002-10-23T11:24:16Z")
Ooh, forgot about **Macaroni Grill**! Yummy stuff! Add the **International House of Carbohydrates** aka **IHOP** to my bad list - overpriced for the low quality food and bad service you get. Ick. ---
**Author:** ![Winnie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e480ec/32.png) [@Winnie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winnie)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2002, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-chain-restaurant/132827/65 "2002-10-23T14:30:16Z")
**Best:** Cracker Barrel breakfasts are the best, Macaroni Grill, Red Robin’s hamburgers (and bottomless fries… mmmm!), Chili’s on occasion, Fuddruckers burgers are always great except they’re getting expensive ($6.50 for a burger and NO fries!), Maggiano’s, and Cooker. **Worst:** I’ve never had a remotely good experience at TGIFridays. Every time I’m there they’re out of whatever I want. I asked for some kind of chicken entree – “We’re out of chicken”. Went there for dessert with some girlfriends after a movie. “We’re out of vanilla ice cream and whipped cream”. Always a disaster and ALWAYS super-slow service. Applebee’s completely sucks. Ruby Tuesday’s is boring and predictable (I actually saw prom couples there back in the spring having dinner before the prom…), Lone Star once was okay but now everything you get seems just thrown together and low quality. ---
**Author:** ![knarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@knarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/knarf)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2002, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-chain-restaurant/132827/66 "2002-10-23T16:28:13Z")
Favorite: Logan’s. I’ve been going there 2 or 3 times a month for the last couple years, and I’ve only had 2 cases of the service being even a little slow. Our meals were free both times, without having to complain or even comment on the time it was taking. Love the steak & fried chicken salads. Worst: Olive Garden. The food is usually okay, but the service keeps getting worse and worse. If the food was better I might put up with it, but I doubt I’ll go back. ---
**Author:** ![Shah\_Jehan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90ced4/32.png) [@Shah\_Jehan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shah_Jehan)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2002, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-chain-restaurant/132827/67 "2002-10-23T17:14:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Melandry \* > **The chain restaurant I like the most is Naked Fish, but I don’t think they’re national.** Oh God, yes. I’m also pretty certain that they’re not national. Hell, they’re not even in Western Mass. I’m a big fan of The Outback, I don’t know why but I’m somehow ashamed of that fact. I absolutly love their heart-attack-on-a-plate, the Bloomin’ Onion. I don’t think the similar onions at other places even come close. Worst? I’ll have to be different and say…Applebee’s.😉 I don’t mean this as a highjack, but… I’ve noticed alot of restaurants appearing on both best and worst lists. I don’t think this is necessarily the result of personal taste or solitary experiences. It seems to me that certain national chains are very different regionally. The best example I can think of is Dunkin Donuts, which is generally pretty good in the northeast, but terrible in the midwest. I’ve heard similar things about Red Lobster, But I’ve never been to a good one. ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2002, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-chain-restaurant/132827/68 "2002-10-24T19:20:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Shah Jehan \* > \*\* > I’ve noticed alot of restaurants appearing on both best and worst lists. I don’t think this is necessarily the result of personal taste or solitary experiences. It seems to me that certain national chains are very different regionally. The best example I can think of is Dunkin Donuts, which is generally pretty good in the northeast, but terrible in the midwest. I’ve heard similar things about Red Lobster, But I’ve never been to a good one. \*\* I’ve discovered that I do not like **Dunkin Donuts** coffee if it’s been made south of CT or west of NY. It tastes different. Maybe the workers get different sugar-n-cream training or something. Haven’t tried **Naked Fish** yet, but there is one I pass when I go shopping. ---
**Author:** ![Flowerchild](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/858c86/32.png) [@Flowerchild](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flowerchild)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2002, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-chain-restaurant/132827/69 "2002-10-24T20:58:31Z")
I hate cracker barrel. Mostly because the first time I was there , i found a rubberband in my eggs ---
**Author:** ![Phouchg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/41988e/32.png) [@Phouchg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phouchg)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2002, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-chain-restaurant/132827/70 "2002-10-25T03:48:19Z")
Best: **Fuddrucker’s!** Man, I love this place…great burgers, excellent chili cheese fries…mmmmmmmm **In-N-Out Burger** If you either live in or have friends in Southern California, I need say no more. **Bertucci’s** Regional italian chain in the NE. Excellent pre-dinner rolls and delicious wood-fired pizza and calzone. **Morton’s Of Chicago** Yeah it’s a pricey steak house, and I’ve only been here twice on expense-account dinners, but it was the best steak I ever had. Ever. **Boston Market** For some reason, I just love the chicken pot pie here…really hits the spot (and reasonable for about $5). **Sonic** Everybody loves Sonic. Frito pies, tater tots, and those ice flavor slush things, among other fine foods. **Rubio’s** My work’s favorite nearby restaurant. Yummy fish and lobster tacos and stuffed quesadillas. **Pier 49 San Francisco Sourdough Pizza** Chain in Salt Lake City area that uses sourdough instead of regular dough. Best is the pepperoni with alfredo sauce. The tastiest heart attack you will ever have. Worst: **Applebee’s** Aside from the lousy food quality, I once had the absolute worst restaurant service in history there. **Friendly’s** I do like the Reese’s Pieces sundae, but the food and the service is sub-par at best, terrible at worst. **Outback** Overpriced. Bad service. Fatty steaks. Put THIS on the Barbie, Bruce! **Po Folks** If I ever become Po, I still won’t eat at this crap-a-teria. A step below Cracker Barrel, if that is possible. **Waffle House** Covered, chunked, smothered my ass! Phouchg Lovable Rogue ---
**Author:** ![goonhead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ebca7d/32.png) [@goonhead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/goonhead)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2002, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-chain-restaurant/132827/71 "2002-10-25T08:04:22Z")
The best: Tucci’s – pretty decent italian food, lots of different dishes, good atmosphere, paper table coverings and crayons provided so you can entertain yourself while waiting. Plenty of different wines, too. Red Lobster – I live in an area where there aren’t many seafood places, and Red Lobster consistently seems to have good food and good service. Popeye’s Chicken and Biscuits – The best fried chicken take out place I know of. Bojangles – The second best fried chicken chain, also they have great side items, love their green beans. La Salsa – great takeout baja-style cuisine at a good price Tony Roma’s – the best barbecue chain I know of, the ribs are consistently good Old Spaghetti Factory – a very reasonably priced deal for a sit-down restaurant, and a good place to bring kids. Good service. Quizno’s – the best sub sandwich chain around, I love their hot pepper bar. * * * Worst: Perkins – bland family restaurant fare Shoney’s – same as above Olive Garden – I had a really bad meal here once, and I’ve never gone back. Perhaps I ought to give them another chance. McDonald’s – I’m sick of their food after all these years, but I keep going back for some reason. I think they’re putting some addictive chemical in the Big Macs 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2002, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-chain-restaurant/132827/72 "2002-10-28T03:45:33Z")
I am absolutely stunned by the OP, which has my wife and I both shaking our heads. Here in Knoxville if you want to be reminded of your grammar school lunches you go to TGIF’s, and if you want a pretty-decent bar 'n grill experience you go to Applebee’s. I swear, I had my best “chain” steak at Applebee’s and their mashed potato’s are excellent. But the tables are scrunched together though… I’m going to try to mention a couple that I haven’t seen on this thread… Worst chain: Friendly’s. I have NEVER been to a Friendly’s that hasn’t done anything but suck, suck, suck. The one here in Knoxville was so bad, it closed in 5 months. 😃 The ones up north were just as bad, but they remain open for unknowable reasons. 😕 Also rans: Hooters (I’d like their medium wings if they weren’t so DAMNED greasy!), Chuck E Cheese (OMG, do they suck! The only reason they don’t top the list is that it is really just a place for the kiddies), and any pizza place that sells an all-you-can-eat buffet for $2.99. Best: Rafferty’s. The menu is too limited, but the place smells so damned good (all that burning wood) and the food is better than pretty good. Also rans: Texas Roadhouse (probably regional), Macaroni Grill, and yes, the much maligned Olive Garden. Chili’s has awesome chicken fingers. And, here in Knoxville, we have a two chain restaurant called Kalamata Kitchen which serves some pretty good Greek food. Oh, and Steak 'n Shake is pretty good and they have a cheap but filling breakfast. ---
**Author:** ![Grelby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a5b964/32.png) [@Grelby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grelby)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2002, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-chain-restaurant/132827/73 "2002-10-28T04:25:45Z")
Best: **Bertucci’s** is way up on my list. Basically a gourmet pizza and calzone place. A tad pricey, yes, but sooooo good! Nice atmosphere and service too, ah. Are they only in the Northeast? Maybe I shouldn’t move away, hahaha… **Pizzeria Uno** is also very tasty. Good deep dish pizza, good other stuff too. My most recent favorite is their chicken spinoccoli, whatever that means. Yuuum. Service has generally been good, too. Worst: Hmmm. I dunno… **Friendly’s** does pretty much suck. Been there maybe twice, and they took forever when all we were doing was ordering a few frappes, to go. Pathetic. ---
**Author:** ![light\_strand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a6a055/32.png) [@light\_strand](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/light_strand)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2002, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-chain-restaurant/132827/74 "2002-10-28T15:10:26Z")
Best: Saltgrass Steakhouse -service is iffy, but the food is good Hofbrau House -I think this is only in the DFW area, but it’s great steak at a good price Tia Maria’s- Best queso, bar none. I’ve started to judge Mexican restaurants by their queso quality. Worst: Black-Eyed Pea- Crappy food, crappy service, and crappy atmosphere (a crap triple play!) Lone Star Steakhouse- _Way_ overpriced for mediocre service and mediocre food. On the Border- Bad service, bad food, cold queso. Ick! ---
**Author:** ![JayElle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/4bbf92/32.png) [@JayElle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JayElle)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2002, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-chain-restaurant/132827/75 "2002-10-28T19:49:59Z")
**light strand** , there’s a Hofbrau just outside of Houston and they do serve some yummy steaks. My favorite places might just be local or Texas chains, like **Chuy’s** , **Cafe Express** , **Nit Noi**. I loved **Taco Cabana** , but I haven’t noticed one in a while. Did they go out of business? Some of the worst places are: **Bennigan’s** , **McDonald’s** , and **Shoney’s**. **Pancho’s Mexican Buffet** , anyone? Just raise the flag for more greasy, orange-glop filled, cardboard tortillas. Nasty! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-chain-restaurant/132827.md?page=3)