# Chain restaurants that are actually rather good? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 17, 2010, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-rather-good/543519 "2010-06-17T05:22:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MTCicero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@MTCicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MTCicero)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-rather-good/543519/1 "2010-06-17T05:22:51Z")
So, as a flip side to [the other poll I just posted](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=567478), what chain restaurants actually provide a decent dining experience? Again, after much consideration, I must go with my cherished White Castle (the nation’s first fast food chain, as I recall). ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-rather-good/543519/2 "2010-06-17T05:30:21Z")
Why did you make it an exclusive poll instead of multiple choice? Personally, I have to go with Carrabba’s. I really enjoyed their food last time I was there, and the cannolis for dessert were amazing. Unfortunately, I don’t get to go very often, because I can’t resist telling people about the time I found a rather large bug in my soup. For some reason that makes them less than eager to try it. I can’t imagine why. ---
**Author:** ![iftheresaway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ecae2f/32.png) [@iftheresaway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iftheresaway)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-rather-good/543519/3 "2010-06-17T05:31:22Z")
Literally, the only food I have ever had from any restaurant on that list is a single biscuit from Popeye’s. Conversely, there were a couple on your other poll that I kinda like. ---
**Author:** ![Acantha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@Acantha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acantha)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-rather-good/543519/4 "2010-06-17T05:37:12Z")
I’m not sure it qualifies as ‘good’ food, but I love Popeyes. Anything to avoid going to KFC. ---
**Author:** ![Wolverine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ba9def/32.png) [@Wolverine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolverine)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-rather-good/543519/5 "2010-06-17T05:38:32Z")
I love me some burgers at Red Robin. ---
**Author:** ![Erdosain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/erdosain/32/7284_2.png) [@Erdosain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erdosain)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-rather-good/543519/6 "2010-06-17T05:41:44Z")
Chipotle. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-rather-good/543519/7 "2010-06-17T05:51:27Z")
> [@Erdosain](#): > > Chipotle. What he said. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-rather-good/543519/8 "2010-06-17T05:54:37Z")
I fucking love Popeye’s. Also: Contrary to what many people seem to think, In-And-Out sucks. ---
**Author:** ![Acantha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@Acantha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acantha)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-rather-good/543519/9 "2010-06-17T06:07:22Z")
> [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > I fucking love Popeye’s. > > Also: Contrary to what many people seem to think, In-And-Out sucks. I agree. So disappointing, I really wanted to like them. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-rather-good/543519/10 "2010-06-17T07:47:34Z")
I didn’t know J Alexander was a chain… ☹ (Now I know I don’t want to investigate that red jacket and white beard in Daddy’s bottom bureau drawer.) I really like their food, although they have gotten rid of and cut back on some things I used to like more. They had a smoked salmon appetizer that was wonderful. I also like the decor of the place. Dark and library-esque. Good for serious conversation. Gee… it’s 2:50 a.m., and I could really go for some smoked salmon right about now… One time there was a very young waitress at J Alexander who was lovely and charming, but who (like Ming) went way overboard on calling me and my party “you guys.” Finally right before I left I told her that that’s why we invented “y’all,” so we didn’t have to fall back on “you guys” like people from other parts of the country. She said she was born here (Texas) but had lived in California and they made fun of her out there for saying “y’all.” So I said they just didn’t know any better, but you’re home now, so “y’all” is a much better choice. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-rather-good/543519/11 "2010-06-17T08:07:50Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > What he said. What they said. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-rather-good/543519/12 "2010-06-17T08:27:42Z")
I like In-n-Out. The trick is that you have to get the fries extra crispy. The fries are flaccid little things on their own. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGrenze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dbc845/32.png) [@KarlGrenze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGrenze)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 9:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-rather-good/543519/13 "2010-06-17T09:50:01Z")
Regional ones, like Cane’s, Mellow Mushroom, and Willy’s Mexican Grill. ---
**Author:** ![Tanaqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3bc359/32.png) [@Tanaqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tanaqui)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 10:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-rather-good/543519/14 "2010-06-17T10:06:21Z")
I voted other, because, for one thing, I’ve never been to most of those restaurants. My snooty European parents mostly took us to various assorted local “ethnic” restaurants… sometimes I kinda want to visit some of these places (although I’m pretty sure a lot of them were never available in my part of the country.) One chain I do like a lot: Baja Fresh (might be a west coast chain?) ---
**Author:** ![MegaBee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f0a364/32.png) [@MegaBee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MegaBee)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 10:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-rather-good/543519/15 "2010-06-17T10:47:59Z")
> [@Wolverine](#): > > I love me some burgers at Red Robin. Yep yep. Boca substitution for the win! ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-rather-good/543519/16 "2010-06-17T10:53:50Z")
When I saw this thread, I thought the choices would be something like Applebee’s, Chili’s, OCharley’s, Buffalo Wild Wings, … I was going to mention that I ate a good meal at Applebee’s last night. ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-rather-good/543519/17 "2010-06-17T11:00:42Z")
Ruth’s Chris is a different level of chain. I like their steaks very much, but that’s a special occasion place for us. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-rather-good/543519/18 "2010-06-17T11:04:56Z")
Morton’s is a very, very good steakhouse but very, very pricey. Another good chain place I didn’t see on the list was the Chart House. ---
**Author:** ![ColdPhoenix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@ColdPhoenix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ColdPhoenix)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-rather-good/543519/19 "2010-06-17T11:13:13Z")
Carluccio’s!!! > **[Carluccio's | Local Italian Restaurants, Deli & Online Store](https://www.carluccios.com/)** > > Carluccio's restaurants are inspired by the cooking of Antonio Carluccio, with relaxed all-day dining and serving authentic Italian cuisine. ---
**Author:** ![flodnak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/838e76/32.png) [@flodnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flodnak)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-rather-good/543519/20 "2010-06-17T11:44:03Z")
Wot, no Sonic? Actually, let’s face it - give me an ice-cold cherry limeade and I’ll happily eat whatever crap you put in front of me 😃 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-rather-good/543519.md?page=2)