# Chain restaurants that are actually excellent **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 18, 2015, 8:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-excellent/722834 "2015-06-18T08:54:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2015, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-excellent/722834/81 "2015-06-19T06:07:03Z")
> [@Balthisar](#): > > But this is an issue that’s similar to every Cracker Barrel I’ve ever been to, too: they force me to wait five to 20 minutes in their stupid little store while they find a table for me. On all but one occasion there was plenty of room by time they agreed to show us to our table. Ah. yes, I hate that. On our only time, we were near WDW and the place was kinda empty and they said it’d be a couple minutes. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2015, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-excellent/722834/82 "2015-06-19T06:17:01Z")
> [@Deeg](#): > > The only restaurant chain that I like is Unos Chicago B&G (nee Unos Pizzaria). Where? I’ve been to the original one, and we used to have some near here which were good. But a few months ago I went to on in Ft. Worth, and it was dreadful. Perhaps the worst pizza ever, certainly the worst deep dish pizza ever. They seem to have fallen on hard times. ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2015, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-excellent/722834/83 "2015-06-19T06:22:57Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > I’m also a fan of Cracker Barrel, mostly because they’re the only restaurant in American that serves moderate-sized portions (which is one reason their prices are relatively low). Enough for a good meal without being stuffed. I have the opposite experience. I guess maybe the entrees aren’t too big, but I find that everything comes with at least 3 sides (that are pretty dense- for example hash brown “caserole” instead of just hash browns) and loads of bread. They don’t really have anything on the menu in a configuration of what I would typically have for a meal. ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2015, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-excellent/722834/84 "2015-06-19T06:25:01Z")
> [@Aeschines](#): > > **Five Guys.** They have in my opinion some of the best fries in existence. I typically don’t even put ketchup on them. They remind of a french fries stand where I grew up (and I think they may have admitted to copying them) that does not offer ketchup. I would never think of it, and I like that Five Guys has the vinegar. ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2015, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-excellent/722834/85 "2015-06-19T06:27:13Z")
> [@Teach-me-not](#): > > No love for **Chipotle**? I love their burrito bowl. It’s my go-to food, especially when I am not familiar with good vegetarian options in an area. Or when I am not in the mood for experimentation. I’ve never tried eating there because the place gives me a lot of anxiety for some reason. I would probably like it. ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2015, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-excellent/722834/86 "2015-06-19T06:31:14Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > Love the 4X4 too…so cheesy so delicious. And what other chain would give you a 4 patty 4 cheese burger? They are a great once a month treat. You can get a 7x7 at Steak n Shake, but I’m not saying it’s any good. ---
**Author:** ![Waterman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b2d939/32.png) [@Waterman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waterman)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2015, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-excellent/722834/87 "2015-06-19T07:05:42Z")
I live in the desert in eastern Washington so we are not blessed with all of the chains discussed above, and, in general, my experiences with chain restaurants have been mostly bad but individual rankings are (1 is god awful worst food ever and 10 is the absolute nirvana of dining experiences): [ul] [li]5 Guys - 1.5 (just barely above McD’s - went once and could not figure out what all the excitement was about. Asked for medium rare and got medium to well done)[/li][li]Red Robin - 2 (used to be much higher until they stopped fixing burgers medium rare)[/li][li]Cracker Barrel - 1.5 (let’s see how much we can put on your plate and BTW everything is going to taste the same. They are not here so my experience is from the Midwest and they made us wander through the store for 10 minutes before seating us and the damn place was empty)[/li]Houlihan’s (none here but used to go to the Naperville/Wheaton one frequently) 6.0 (good consistent food with [li]Olive Garden -1.5 (tasteless food for the masses)[/li][li]Bob’s Burger’s (regional chain?) - 6.0 (they will fix your burgers however you want it cooked and they have a pretty good selection of craft beers)[/li][li]Anthony’s (another NW chain) - 8.0 (impeccable seafood and excellent/knowledgeable wine steward)[/li][li]P.F. Chang’s - 3 (way overpriced and tends toward tasteless)[/li][li]Dave’s Famous BBQ - 2.5 (I can fix better BBQ on my home grill any day of the week)[/li][/ul] Here’s my thing about burger places - I want my burger cooked medium rare. Now if the place tells me they won’t do it then I have a choice to make and I will either compromise or order something else. But what really frosts my butt, is when the server tells me that they will fix to order and they bring a medium to well-done burger to you. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2015, 8:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-excellent/722834/88 "2015-06-19T08:39:16Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > In the West, Black Bear Diner is very good. Really excellent breakfasts, but have never had a bad meal there. We used to go a ways to one, then they opened one in walking distance from our house. > > My 5 Guys has excellent fries, and good burgers. In N Out fries are a crime against humanity. Either way. > Cracker Barrel is fine, but none near here. While Olive Garden breadsticks are good, their entrees are always lacking something. Macaroni Grill is far better. > Cheesecake Factory has been fine the few times I’ve eaten there, but it is so crowded that no one goes any more. You just dont like fries. In N Out employees take a real potato and crank them into raw fries and straight into the oil. There is nothing frozen or artificial here. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2015, 8:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-excellent/722834/89 "2015-06-19T08:42:40Z")
> [@JohnGalt](#): > > One reason I don’t like **Cracker Barrel** is everything we’ve ever ordered there ends up being brown on the plate, which seems unhealthy. > > In the upper Midwest **Culver’s** is probably the best of the fast-food chain restaurants because of their butter burgers At least they arent brown. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2015, 10:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-excellent/722834/90 "2015-06-19T10:13:40Z")
> [@Cartoonacy](#): > > I don’t think anyone’s mentioned Chili’s or Houlihan’s yet. I can always get a good meal at either of these. Depends on what you mean by “get” a good meal. There’s a Chili’s in Carlsbad NM that I had okay service at once, but the next time I went I waited over 5 minutes without anyone acknowledging me, the only person in line. No one came closer than from behind the bar, in an empty restaurant, so I ended up walking out, figuring that if I had to walk all the way to the bar to ask to be seated when there were hardly any other patrons, that the rest of the customer service experience would be bad as well. On the other hand, there’s a Chili’s in Georgia, not sure where but I recognize the Interstate exit, that I stop at because they have good service for a Chili’s and like you said their food is never bad. ---
**Author:** ![HowSoonIsThen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e56c9b/32.png) [@HowSoonIsThen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HowSoonIsThen)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2015, 10:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-excellent/722834/91 "2015-06-19T10:27:29Z")
I second Nando’s. Also Oporto. I don’t know if it exists outside of Australia, but it’s probably my favourite fast food chain. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2015, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-excellent/722834/92 "2015-06-19T10:34:53Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > I watched \*Dead Like Me \*for years and always though Waffle House was a made up place. :o There are none out here, afaik, we have IHoP instead. The gang in _Dead Like Me_ met at “Der Waffle Housen”, not Waffle House. German atmosphere, not Southern. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2015, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-excellent/722834/93 "2015-06-19T11:38:25Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > The real problem with chains is they fail at their objective, most every time! That really hasn’t been my experience. If I went into a Bennigan’s in Plano, Texarkana, and then Little Rock my dining experience was pretty much the same. Sure, on occasion I could find a franchise restaurant that was of particularly low quality. There’s a Wendy’s in Little Rock I won’t eat at because I’ve gotten too many bad meals out of them whereas I generally think of Wendy’s as one of my favorite fast food places. I’d say most franchises are really good at delivering the same experience at all their locations. > [@](#): > > You don’t really know that it’s a great chain, you only can attest that the one near you is quite lovely, it seems to me. Witness so many in this thread qualifying their remarks because of this self evident truth! I don’t particularly care for Cracker Barrel because it reminds me of old people food. i.e. Bland and mushy. This is true for every Cracker Barrel location I’ve been to because they’re all pretty much the same. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2015, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-excellent/722834/94 "2015-06-19T12:26:18Z")
It appears that Oporto opened one place in the U.S. but has since closed it. Can anyone else recommend any chain restaurant that’s headquartered outside the U.S.? I think it would let us know something new, instead of endlessly rehashing the same set of American-owned restaurants. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2015, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-excellent/722834/95 "2015-06-19T12:41:53Z")
> [@Wendell\_Wagner](#): > > Can anyone else recommend any chain restaurant that’s headquartered outside the U.S.? More of a street food outlet than a restaurant but [this is the best hot dog in town](http://www.bbp.is/information-in-english), if your town happens to be Reykjavik. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2015, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-excellent/722834/96 "2015-06-19T12:44:56Z")
I’m not a fan of most that have been mentioned. I do like Baja Fresh, though. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2015, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-excellent/722834/97 "2015-06-19T13:07:46Z")
> [@Wendell\_Wagner](#): > > Nando’s: > > [Nando's - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nando's) At least in Ireland, Nando’s is shite. Overpriced, stupid service system, and perfunctory meals. Immensely, inexplicably popular with teenagers. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2015, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-excellent/722834/98 "2015-06-19T13:10:06Z")
Thanks, Telemark, but can anyone suggest some chain restaurants headquartered outside the U.S.? ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Krupe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ebca7d/32.png) [@Leo\_Krupe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Krupe)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2015, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-excellent/722834/99 "2015-06-19T13:46:31Z")
Another chain I really like is [Which Wich](http://www.whichwich.com/#!/). Much better than Subway, and they have healthy choices as well as not so healthy, but still delicious sandwiches. Their gimmick is you grab a brown paper bag, and a Sharpie, and the menu’s on the bag. Choose what you want, hand it to the cashier, pay, and then get your sandwich. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2015, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-excellent/722834/100 "2015-06-19T14:18:35Z")
> [@Wendell\_Wagner](#): > > Thanks, Telemark, but can anyone suggest some chain restaurants headquartered outside the U.S.? Nando’s is from Johannesburg, South Africa. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-excellent/722834.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-excellent/722834.md?page=6)