# 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:** 7
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-excellent/722834/121 "2015-06-20T05:36:28Z")
> [@Deeg](#): > > I go to the ones in the Boston area. Like any restaurant I will occasionally get sub-par food but it’s generally quite good. I love the deep-dish pizza. > I can get rare burgers at Shake Shack (NYC-based chain) and Tasty Burger (Boston-based small chain) which are both thin-patty. I generally refuse to get burgers unless I can get them at most medium-rare. Five Guys has a smaller patty, at 3.3 oz vs In N Outs 2 oz patties and Shake Shack’s 4 oz patties. I find it’s difficult-to-impossible to hit medium rare on anything smaller than a 4 oz patty and still get that crispy, deeply browned exterior which is (to me) at least half the joy of eating a hamburger. My 1/3 and 1/2 pound burgers I order rare or medium rare. My thin 6-to-1 pound or 8-to-1 burgers, well, I’m resigned to them being pretty much well done. I don’t want them to pull the burger before it develops the crust. ---
**Author:** ![russian\_heel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f05b48/32.png) [@russian\_heel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/russian_heel)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-excellent/722834/122 "2015-06-20T07:06:27Z")
I have to tell you, the ribeye with broccoli and mashed potatoes at **TGI Fridays** where I live is not only compatible to the pricier **Outback** but just as good as about any steak I can get in town. **On the Border** where I live is actually better than the so-called “authentic” Mexican joint we have in town. I’m a pretty big **Chilis** fan as well, but they are harder to find when I travel and some close shop too early. ---
**Author:** ![russian\_heel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f05b48/32.png) [@russian\_heel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/russian_heel)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-excellent/722834/123 "2015-06-20T07:20:46Z")
Saw **Ruby Tuesday** mentioned----salad bar second to none. But when I arrive in town often late at nite, they are usually closed. **Panera Bread** super reliable lunchtime catering. Hate list::mad::mad::mad: **Applebees** —Ill eat there if Im in town and theres no alternative, and the service is usually spectacular, and the beer nice and cold but the food is microwaved pre-prepped shit. **Carrabas** —Used to be great; but recent experiences with dry food and snarky hostesses have convinced me they are going the way of: **Olive Garden** ----Used to be great, but quit on them 5 years ago when they cut portions and convinced me they are going the way of Chi Chis. I can’t believe they are still in business, as a matter of fact. **Five Guys** —Ate there once. The burger I had sucked, and the greaseless dried out fries are worse than McDonalds. HIGHLY overrated and overhyped. **Buffalo Wild Wings** ----The wings actually suck, the waitresses are ugly and their service is bad, and the rest of the menu is crap. That said, a great place if your goal is to drink beer and catch a game. ---
**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 20, 2015, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-excellent/722834/124 "2015-06-20T11:49:05Z")
russian heel writes: \> . . . the waitresses are ugly . . . And this is your criterion for choosing a restaurant to eat at? What do the waitresses there think of your looks? ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-excellent/722834/125 "2015-06-20T12:39:46Z")
> [@russian\_heel](#): > > **Buffalo Wild Wings** ----The wings actually suck, the waitresses are ugly and their service is bad, and the rest of the menu is crap. That said, a great place if your goal is to drink beer and catch a game. Depends on the BW3s. When I go to my “home” location, I love it, and the Wild or Blazing wings are my absolute favorites. The burgers are pretty good, too. Other locations are always hit or miss – I expect my burger juicy, and not overcooked. I expect my wings juicy, not dried out from sitting in a stager or under a heat lamp. I haven’t seen Tim Hortons mentioned. The coffee is excellent, and the donuts aren’t bad even if parcooked (much tastier than that sugary crap from Crispy Creme). The breakfast sandwiches absolutely blow anything from the other fast food chains away. I’ve never tried their soups and seldom have lunch there, but on the few times I’ve had their sandwiches are pretty darned good. Considering I’m talking about fast food and not a nice sit-down place, Tim’s is very easy to recommend. ---
**Author:** ![LurkerInNJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ed655f/32.png) [@LurkerInNJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkerInNJ)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-excellent/722834/126 "2015-06-20T18:46:17Z")
> [@carlb](#): > > I’ll agree with **Carrabba’s** , and add their sister restaurant **Bonefish Grill**. I especially like that all of their nutritional data is available online, and they don’t serve stupidly large portions. It’s pretty easy to get something tasty at each of these places, and not feel like I’ve undone all of my workouts for the week. I second **Bonefish Grill**. Easy to get a small portion instead of a large portion, nutritional data is online and the calorie count if you avoid the sides and skip the bread is reasonable, plus the food is delicious. ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-excellent/722834/127 "2015-06-20T22:29:47Z")
> [@russian\_heel](#): > > **Five Guys** —Ate there once. The burger I had sucked, and the greaseless dried out fries are worse than McDonalds. HIGHLY overrated and overhyped. Interesting. They never start making the fries until after you order (or check-in in person for an online order), and they almost always soak through the bag. ---
**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 20, 2015, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-excellent/722834/128 "2015-06-20T22:45:37Z")
Get the spicy fries at 5 Guys…awesome. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-excellent/722834/129 "2015-06-20T22:51:29Z")
It’s a very small chain (5 in Oregon, 2 in Washington), but [Killer Burger](http://killerburger.biz/) is terrific. I worry that they will either over expand and quality will suffer, or price themselves out of competition, however. Burgers are all they do, and they’re great at it. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-excellent/722834/130 "2015-06-21T00:52:57Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > At least in Ireland, Nando’s is shite. Overpriced, stupid service system, and perfunctory meals. Immensely, inexplicably popular with teenagers. I tried going to a Nando’s in London and the appeal escaped me. My favourite chain is probably **The Keg** (a steakhouse with mostly Canadian locations). ---
**Author:** ![Cabin\_Fever\_1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cabin_fever_1/32/2908_2.png) [@Cabin\_Fever\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cabin_Fever_1)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-excellent/722834/131 "2015-06-21T02:02:43Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > Yeah, Cracker Barrel is fine with me too. We see a couple on regular trips we make and will often set that as the meeting place for everyone. > > Houstons - Don’t know how widespread it is but always excellent ribs, fish, steaks, burgers, etc. > > I like the whole Pappas chain, Pappas for steaks, Pappadeaux Cajun, Pappasitos Mexican, etc. > > I recently was in the jury for a trial where one of Tilman Fettita’s restaurants (includes Landry’s, Mortons, McCormick & Schmick, etc) was being sued and got to listen to the care and quality that goes in to all his chains, of which there are very many. I must say I’ve always had a quality experience in every one I’ve been to so I’ll often search those out when we’re travelling, don’t know the area and one of them is an option. Not to hijack, but I will Never Ever, spent another dime in one of Tilman’s establishments. No matter how good the food is or for the entertainment factor. It is political. He is a weasel. ---
**Author:** ![Cabin\_Fever\_1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cabin_fever_1/32/2908_2.png) [@Cabin\_Fever\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cabin_Fever_1)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-excellent/722834/132 "2015-06-21T02:13:10Z")
When I was on our road trip, Crackel Barrel (our nominature) was always a stop. Sysco food prepared and served quickly, filled you belly, and you could be on your way. They are many just off the Interstate highways in the USA. Better than McDonalds, BK, Arbys, or Wendys any day. ---
**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 21, 2015, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-excellent/722834/133 "2015-06-21T02:23:16Z")
To update a previous post of mine, there are 21 Nando’s in the Washington/Baltimore area and 2 in the Chicago area as of Wednesday the 24th. Several more are opening soon, including one in College Park that will at that point be the closest to me. I’m not going to argue with anyone here about how good any particular chain is. I think people have different tastes and that sort of arguing would go on forever. I’m not going to add any other restaurants to my list of excellent ones either. I think the word “excellent” should really be restricted to ones that I truly think are more than pretty good. If I were to mention ten pretty good chains that would devaluate my use of the term “excellent.” I won’t add Wagamama, for instance, to mention another foreign-owned chain that is only slowly expanding into the U.S. It’s a British chain that has just four American outlets, all in the Boston area. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-excellent/722834/134 "2015-06-21T02:40:04Z")
I have seen both Longhorn and Outback mentioned here. My own experience is that I’ve never had a bad steak at **Longhorn** , whereas at **Outback** , _sometimes_ the steak is good, sometimes it is tough and gristly. Speaking of steaks, I get a surprisingly good steak at **Ruby Tuesday** , and their other menu items are pretty good too, so I’ll give them a vote. I’ll concur that **Cracker Barrel** is good. If you are looking for fried chicken, no fancy restaurant will ever beat **Popeye’s**. Their chicken is amazing. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-excellent/722834/135 "2015-06-21T03:21:04Z")
There is one (1) Outback in Thailand, and I have to say the steaks there are consistently better than even the fancier, pricier steakhouses. (The shopping mall it’s in, Siam Discovery, is now closed for renovations and won’t reopen until early next year. I wonder if Outback’s set up someplace else in the meantime. Will have to check on that.) ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-excellent/722834/136 "2015-06-21T05:26:04Z")
> [@hogarth](#): > > My favourite chain is probably **The Keg** (a steakhouse with mostly Canadian locations). I always forget about the Canadian places as I don’t live there anymore. The Keg was always a favorite of mine, too, and the service (one of the most important reasons to go to a restaurant!) was always superb. They had a habit of not trusting me when I said “rare,” but they were always excellently behaved when I sent them back. This isn’t a back-handed complaint about The Keg at all; I would go again and again if I still lived in the GTA. ---
**Author:** ![Hershele\_Ostropoler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e47c2d/32.png) [@Hershele\_Ostropoler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hershele_Ostropoler)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-excellent/722834/137 "2015-06-21T06:03:53Z")
The one thing I don’t like about Five Guys is that they put the fries in a paper bag, which they then fold over. That’s a good idea if you want your fries steamed. Which you should not want, especially at that thickness. ---
**Author:** ![russian\_heel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f05b48/32.png) [@russian\_heel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/russian_heel)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-excellent/722834/138 "2015-06-21T07:32:46Z")
> [@Wendell\_Wagner](#): > > russian heel writes: > > \> . . . the waitresses are ugly . . . > > And this is your criterion for choosing a restaurant to eat at? No. But if the food sucks and there service sucks, at the very LEAST you could give me eye candy to look at. You don’t even get that there. > [@](#): > > What do the waitresses there think of your looks? I never had a chance to survey them, but surely they agree with me that I am very handsome.🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Waterman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b2d939/32.png) [@Waterman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waterman)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 8:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-excellent/722834/139 "2015-06-21T08:31:11Z")
Based on the OP, I believe a distinction needs to be made regarding the term “restaurant” (which I failed to consider in my previous post). To me a restaurant is an eating place that has table service that has a server take your order, bring it to your table and take care of drinks and other needs (salad bar excluded). With this definition, _5 Guys_ is not a restaurant, it is a fast food eatery. I know nothing about _In & Out_ but clearly McD’s, BK, Wendy’s, etc do not belong in this discussion. Are there others already discussed that fail to meet this definition? ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-excellent/722834/140 "2015-06-21T16:45:46Z")
> [@Waterman](#): > > Are there others already discussed that fail to meet this definition? I mentioned Popeye’s, which is fast food, but no sit-down restaurant tops their fried chicken. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-excellent/722834.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-excellent/722834.md?page=8)