I pretty much agree with auntie em and BiblioCat. Thinking of chain food as comparable to local food is generally a mistake. Going to RL for a “special treat” seems quite misguided, especially when traveling. The whole point of travelling is to be somewhere else, somewhere different. (Well, that and visiting people)
I find it odd, on this little island I’m on, that people go to KFC (the only fast food on the island) when on weekends there are plenty of little barbecues set up on the streets making some of the best chicken ever. It’s a curious behavior.
The Olive Garden seems to be the whipping boy of the chain restaurants, which has always puzzled me as it’s one of the chains that I like the most. There are a few specific menu items that I really enjoy, and I don’t think I’ve ever had anything there that I’d call “bad.” Their commercials are really stupid, but I’m not embarassed to say that I actually like the place.
I think Dr_Paprika’s comments above have a lot of truth in them.
By nature, I am not a particularly adventurous eater. I’m much more likely to select what I am familiar with than something new and different. Chains (especially when I’m travelling) suit this desire perfectly. I’m not opposed to local restaurants (by any means), but will admit that unless I’m feeling particularly motivated I am less likely to select one.
If it makes someone happy to characterize me as “wilfully ignorant,” then so be it. You do what works for you, and I’ll do what works (very well) for me - neither of us needs to understand the other.
Chang’s isn’t really Chinese food. It’s what I call “Chinese-inspired”, which is part of another trend I call “Californiazation” when ethnic foods are reformulated and re-presented in a prefab “Americanized” manner.
I like veggie burgers too, but I get sick of them being my only choice (which seems to be the case at places like TGI Fridays and Applebee’s). Applebee’s also seems to put meat in every one of their salads! Chile’s makes a pretty good veggie burger though…with lots of different extras that make it yummy. Overall, I’d prefer pasta and a salad any day though.
It’s not ignorant to go to and even enjoy chain restaurants. It’s ignorant to think that they serve excellent food.
A long time ago, a guy who really liked me asked me out on a date. He said, “do you like Italian food?” I said yes. He said “I’m going to take you someplace really special.” I was rather excited, thinking he was going to take me to some undiscovered gem of a place. There are Italian places on every corner around here. This is Jersey–Sopranos-Land! Well, I’m sure you can guess where this is going. He tried to take me to the Olive Garden. Ew. Yuk. Yak. His idea of a special Italian place in the middle of Jersey was the Olive Garden. :rolleyes:
WHOA… this was NOT my rant about chains in General… I love places like Applebees, El Chico, Bennigans, etc.
My complaint was about places like Red Lobster in a place where the food they emulate is at its best… much like Domino’s Pizza in NYC, El Chico in San Antonio, Applebees “Cajun Menu” in Louisianna, Smokey Bones in the deep south, etc.
CHains offer the chance to try derivations of foods that are unavailabe in the local cultural base. I just get irritated at people IN Florida that think Red Lobster is king, and so forth.
When I went through AF Basic in San Antonio, I got one day to see the town and get the !@#$ away from lackland. I wanted to get some mexican food. Where did we go?
EL CHICO!!!
I thought "Even in Florida this isn’t real Mexican food (so many better places) but DAMN! Why are we eating this in San Antonio.
Also, about “Americanization,” it can lead to some really interesting new foods… General Tso’s chicken, Chop Suey, and fortune cookies were all a product of this… It’s just a matter of culinary ideas spreading a mixing, and I see no problem with that.
It’s nice here in CA to be able to find at least some form of BBQ in the chains, and I’ve even been to a few local BBQ places that offer a Mexican inspired alternative, but people who live in the source region of the said food and think the chain approximation is great drive me up the wall.
Sorry, didn’t see this one till after I posted the above.
Next time ask them if they are open to suggestions. Ray’s Boathouse would be an excellent choice. I love their cedar plank salmon. Hiram’s at the Locks has excellent fish and chips. Salty’s is always good. If you want to spend a little more, go to either Anthony’s Homeport or Dukes. And of course there is the ubiquitous Ivar’s. Keep Clam.
(Knowing the OP is not a rant against chains in general, I feel compelled to respond to certain charges levelled at people who frequent certain chains…)
I like certain dishes at Olive Garden, so occasionally I will suggest that as a dining venue. There are plenty of other fabulous Italian restaurants in town, and we go to those as well. But whether it’s Italian or not, some of OG’s dishes are quite tasty (my favorite is the Stuffed Chicken Parmigian (sp?)).
I will say that just how authentic OG is was driven quite forcibly home one evening when, after ordering the Toasted Ravioli as an appetizer, I was informed they were out of ravioli. Um, “out of ravioli?” OUT OF RAVIOLI?!? For cryin’ out loud, you’re an Italian restaurant! Even I know how to make ravioli (make dough out of flour and egg, crimp two layers together around meat filling, and cook), and I don’t own/run an Italian restaurant.
Le sigh.
It’s not great food. It’s not even particularly Italian. But due to certain dishes they are on my list of places to eat out at.
Certain chains, others I hate. Where I live now, there are many many restaurants, both local and chain ones.
There is a local Italian place here I don’t like it. I prefer the Olive Garden or Macaroni Grill over it, because I know there is something at those places I like. This place has bad servers, and over-priced food. It tastes alright, not great. So just because it’s a local place does not mean it’s good in any way. Seeing as this is not an isolated incident, sometimes I will goto a chain place because I know I will enjoy it. True, some local places are great. SOme nights I feel like throwing chance to the wind, other times I don’t.
Though I will say that Outback and Red Lobster suck, but that’s becasue I hate seafood, and I took an oath never to eat at an Outback (one of the membership requirements of the Clean Plate Club, to which I am a member (our steakhouse is Bugaboo Creek, the Black Magic steak is divine.))
A few years ago when my parents were doing the RV snowbird thing down south, they spent a few days near New Orleans. My dad chose to stay in the RV park and fiddle with his ham radios (big surprise), but my little old mom actually got brave, bought herself a map, and took a bus tour of the French Quarter. Where did she eat?
Taco Bell and Subway. :smack: :smack: :smack:
How’s THAT for ignorant? The FRENCH QUARTER!!! OK, so she’s “scared” of anything exotic. So stop in at a coffeeshop or deli and have a pastry, a sandwich, SOMETHING that didn’t get pooped out of the same kind of machines we have back home! I would KILL to have a meal in New Orleans!!
I read a quote in “US” magazine recently about a conversation recently on “The Bachelor” which went like this:
Bachelorette: What kind of restaurant chains do you like? Do you like Olive Garden?
Bachelor: No.
Bachelorette: Why not? Don’t you like Italian food?
I think people go to chains because they provide consistent quality food. The quality is debatable, but it is consistent. They’re hesitant to go to an independent restaurant because maybe it’ll be good or maybe it won’t. This mentality seems to be pervasive even if there’s a large number of excellent independent restaurants. Like going to Red Lobster in seafood town or Chi Chi’s in San Antonio.
What kills me is when I’m in another city on a business trip or whatever and I’ll ask the locals where a good place to eat is. They’ll rattle off a list of chain restaurants like Red Lobster, Olive Garden, Macaroni Grill, etc. What’s the fun in that? I want to try a place which isn’t exactly like what I can get at home.