I like Red Robin - possibly because the first time I went to one it was right after I got to a remote part of San Diego late on a Sunday night, and finding someplace good open was a treat.
I’ve eaten in a few P.F. Changs, but the last time we went it was particularly good, I think because we were a bit more daring. I’ve eatin in Chinatowns in NY and San Francisco under the supervision of a Hong Kong native, and in plenty of family places, and Changs has to be taken as a bit more out there than either of these.
I first went to Legal Seafood when it was a single restaurant in Inman Square. The chain ones are good, but not as good as the original. Ditto for Uno’s.
Ruth’s Chris is wonderful, so long as someone else is paying.
PF Changs for sure, and Chick Fil A is just about perfect in my book.
Of course, even places like Morton’s and Capitol Grill are becoming ‘chains’. Think Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, too. They are always good, but even though these big places are chains, your expectations will run high, so they might not surprise you.
I ate at Carrabba’s this past weekend and it was yet again pretty damned good. Especially since my SIL picked up the bill. Five Guys is my favorite fast food burger place, while Baja Fresh is my favorite fast food Mexican.
Chipotle is, hands down, my number one choice for out-of-the-house fare. I can’t get enough of the deliciousness that is this restaurant.
I’m alright with Panera, and the Applebee’s around here have always done me right.*
I love me some Cheesecake Factory (though, by the time I’m done, I rarely have any room left for dessert!), but it’s a bit too pricey for me to consider frequently.
If we have to go the fast food route, I’ll take Wendy’s, please. I don’t know what they do to make their chicken nuggets so delicious, but I’m hooked.
*I know the general tendency is to hate Friday’s-Applebee’s-Ruby Tuesday’s… and outside of my hometown, I do. It really is quite a difference to leave the ones here and try them elsewhere. I’ve never been to one that I enjoyed outside of the city where I live – except the Friday’s in Orlando, near the airport. That one rocks.
McDonald’s newer premium salads are pretty good, for mass-produced items.
Olive Garden seems to be making sincere attempts to make their Italian cooking more authentic. More power to them, but it won’t happen until they cut out the American chain restaurant habit of putting melted cheese on top of every dish.
Sweet. Yeah, that place - hell, that whole section of I-10 - turns into a freaking lagoon whenever it rains hard. I should know; I live three miles away.
Waffle House–I prefer hash browns with my burgers, rather than fries. And the sirlioin plate is a surprisingly good deal.
Cracker Barrel–I’m no fan of veggies, but I’ll wolf down their veggie plate any day.
PF Chang’s… no thanks. My friends raved about the place, dragged me there, and I thought it was mediocre at best. I liked the atmosphere, but the food wasn’t good at all. Disclaimer: I live in the SF Bay area, and I can go to a dozen authentic Chinese restaurants within a short drive from my house-- hundreds if I consider a 20 mile radius. We had about 6 dishes at PF, and I thought one of them was good. The rest were just dumbed down Chinese food.
I really like the burritos at Una Mas, which is a Mexican chain around here, but I don’t know if you can find it in other parts of the state or country.
Coworkers used to rave about PF Changs and would drag me there on occasion. Sadly, I appeal is lost on me. The atmosphere and service were always good, I just didn’t care for the food. Maybe I should try ordering something different, but I love Kung Pao Chicken and have enjoyed it at more places than I can even start to count, except Changs.
When I was in college, we used to go to the (one and only) Steve’s Ice Cream in Sommerville (I think it was close to the Cambridge border). Man, that was the best ice cream you ever had. People used to drive up from NYC just to have it, and the line would extend around the block in the summertime. When I moved back to the area several years later, he had sold the franchise, and there were Steve’s Ice Cream joints all over the East Coast. But, damn, if it wasn’t just as good!
We have Cold Stone out here in the Bay Area, but it’s not the same. Good, but not even close. Especially that chocolate sauce they used on their sundaes. Steve’s Ice Cream-- I’ve never had anything like it.
