# Reasons not to try a restaurant. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 28, 2006, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reasons-not-to-try-a-restaurant/385833 "2006-12-28T03:14:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2006, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reasons-not-to-try-a-restaurant/385833/61 "2006-12-28T23:08:19Z")
[QUOTE=MacTech] Living in southeastern coastal Maine, i’ve always found it amusing (to say the least) that _anyone_ would eat at the chain seafood resturants (Red Lobster, i’m looking at you…), or the chain “Italian” resturants (Olive Garden and the like), when minutes down the road are legitimate, family run resturants that serve _actual_ seafood or Italian food for example, in Portsmouth, NH, there’s an Olive Garden and Red Lobster just outside the Fox Run Mall, no less than a 3 minute drive away, right off the Portsmouth traffic circle sits Momma D’s Casa Di Pasta, an _AUTHENTIC_ Italian resturant, still serving Momma’s original hand-crafted recipies, handmade pasta sauces, and a massive bowl of salad with a homemade dressing so good i could drink it as a beverage in an of itself, heck, the salad _alone_ is a meal in and of itself hmm, assembly-line pasta, or home-made pasta made with love?.. coastal Maine and Portsmouth NH also have no shortage of _real_ seafood resturants, so it baffles me _why_ anyone would eat at Red Lobster, when they could take a 10 minute drive down to Kittery, Maine and eat at Bob’s Clam Hut, the Weathervane, or Roberts, or a little further down route 1 to Bosn’s Landing (home of the overstuffed, dislocate-your-jaw-to-eat-it lobster roll) all real, family owned resturants serving seafood fresh off the boats… hmm, lobster that’s been caught off the Maine Coast, shipped to the Red Lobster warehouse, then sent _back_ to the local RL, _OR_ lobster purchased at the local fishermans wharf, and driven a short drive back to Kittery/York, never even leaving York County… [/QUOTE] Also, the local independent Italian and seafood restaurants are often cheaper than chains like Red Lobster and (especially) Olive Garden. The meals at these places are pricey when you consider its just bland franchise-cuisine food that’s trucked in semi-prepared from some plant in Southern California or Jersey. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2006, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reasons-not-to-try-a-restaurant/385833/62 "2006-12-28T23:24:46Z")
Except in cases where there’s no practical alternative, I will not go to a chain that calls its branches “stores”. A store is a place where you buy things. A restaurant is where you go to eat food prepared by someone else; it’s a service. Even a restaurant on the level of IHOP should at least pretend they pay heed to that principle. ---
**Author:** ![LH75](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lh75/32/4438_2.png) [@LH75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LH75)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2006, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reasons-not-to-try-a-restaurant/385833/63 "2006-12-28T23:44:35Z")
I work for a fire equipment company. We sell, install and service Ansul fire suppression systems and have a pretty large share of the local market. I have been in most of the restaurant kitchens in town at one time or another. It is amazing how nasty some of them are. If the restroom available to customers is dirty and has no handsoap or paper towells, imagine the condition of the staff restroom… There are almost no non-hispanic cooks in Chinese restaurants here. This is becoming more prevelant in other restaurants as well. I would rather eat a PBJ at home than anything at a Hooters. I stay away from anyplace advertising itself as a “sports bar” Sunflower and I love to try new restaurants, but we wlll not return to anyplace we have had bad food or service. ---
**Author:** ![UntouchedTakeaway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d78d45/32.png) [@UntouchedTakeaway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UntouchedTakeaway)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2006, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reasons-not-to-try-a-restaurant/385833/64 "2006-12-29T00:06:34Z")
I was once on a group trip to New Orleans ((in)arguably one of the world’s greatest food cities). One of our group pitched a conniption when we vetoed her whine to eat at TGIFridays. :rolleyes: VCNJ~ ---
**Author:** ![parsnip](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parsnip/32/4564_2.png) [@parsnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/parsnip)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2006, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reasons-not-to-try-a-restaurant/385833/65 "2006-12-29T00:08:17Z")
Our house rules are: 1. No 24 hour joints. When do they ever have time to pretend to clean? 2. No three word names where the middle is " 'N". “Steak 'N Eggs” is automatically disqualified. 3. “Server wanted” signs, as previously stated, mean you are taking your chances. 4. We don’t keep kosher, but any deli which can’t stay on one side of the fence (milk or meat) is probably no good. 5. Buffets. In all circumstances. I thought I was going to the Ritz-Carlton one Mothers Day. Buffet only–we left. ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2006, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reasons-not-to-try-a-restaurant/385833/66 "2006-12-29T00:11:04Z")
You guys, buffets can be really awesome. Seriously. Even all-you-can-eat ones. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2006, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reasons-not-to-try-a-restaurant/385833/67 "2006-12-29T00:35:08Z")
If I knew that a restaurant or restaurant chain had done something jerkish and didn’t seem to have sufficiently changed their ways and apologized, I’d stay away from eating there. Cracker Barrel’s policy on gays would qualify, as would the sort of behavior toward competitors that **MacTech** described. If I knew a restaurant had a pattern of keeping employees part-time to avoid paying for health insurance or other benefits, or some other similarly evil behavior, I’d stay away from that place. I stay away from buffets and sushi-boat restaurants that don’t label the food. Obviously, I want to know if a dish has meat or shellfish before I take it, and I can’t know that if they don’t label stuff. That wouldn’t be a problem at a vegetarian buffet, but I just generally don’t like not knowing what I’m eating. [QUOTE=MacTech] Living in southeastern coastal Maine, i’ve always found it amusing (to say the least) that _anyone_ would eat at the chain seafood resturants (Red Lobster, i’m looking at you…), or the chain “Italian” resturants (Olive Garden and the like), when minutes down the road are legitimate, family run resturants that serve _actual_ seafood or Italian food [/QUOTE] I’ll explain this. You probably won’t believe the explanation, but hey, I tried. Some people like _predictability_ more than quality in their experience at a restaurant. For people who like predictability, food at the Olive Garden in Maine is, in all probability, going to taste about like the same food they get at the Olive Garden elsewhere, and the menu’s going to have the same selections- they like knowing what to expect ahead of time. Some people don’t like surprises when they eat. My grandfather used to literally get upset if he didn’t know, before leaving home to go to a restaurant, what he was going to order there. I keep kosher, am a picky eater, and am too shy to try to order something that’s not on the menu, so I can kind of sympathize- before I sit down at a restaurant, I’m going to make sure they have something on the menu that I can eat and would like. I’d really rather not go to a restaurant and have a green salad be the only thing I can eat, either. A related issue is that the chain restaurant is likely to have more dishes to choose from than the small local restaurant. That’s important if you’re a picky eater and/or have a limited diet- more dishes to choose from means more likelihood that there will be something you can eat and will like. ---
**Author:** ![Queen\_Bruin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Queen\_Bruin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Bruin)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2006, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reasons-not-to-try-a-restaurant/385833/68 "2006-12-29T00:47:31Z")
[QUOTE=The Swan] \*Less \* than a B rating? You may need to think about raising your standards a little. In my experience, restaurants with less than a 90 rating are absolutely filthy. [/QUOTE] I’ll go to a B because most places (around LA county anyways) don’t stay that way for long - they get busted on tagging shellfish or something like my sushi bar did (the records are public and online), fix the problem, and within a few days are back at an A. There are only a handful of restaurants in my area with a “B” and none lower. Also a packed “B” \> empty “A”. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2006, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reasons-not-to-try-a-restaurant/385833/69 "2006-12-29T00:52:46Z")
Valet parking being available won’t necessarily turn me away. But self-parking _not_ being available is definitely a deal-breaker. Y’hear that PF Changs China Bistro in Long Beach, CA? We’re not willing to walk half a mile to your restaurant. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Swan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@The\_Swan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Swan)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2006, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reasons-not-to-try-a-restaurant/385833/70 "2006-12-29T01:29:42Z")
[QUOTE=Big Bad Voodoo Lou] You guys, buffets can be really awesome. Seriously. Even all-you-can-eat ones. [/QUOTE] No kidding. Skipping the “buffet” at the Ritz Carlton (if its anything like the one in Buckhead) was a very, very bad move. Also, I really enjoyed the Sunday Buffet at the Chatham Bars Inn (Cape Cod) A well done buffet is a truly wonderful culinary experience. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Swan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@The\_Swan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Swan)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2006, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reasons-not-to-try-a-restaurant/385833/71 "2006-12-29T01:37:46Z")
[QUOTE=kaylasdad99] Valet parking being available won’t necessarily turn me away. But self-parking _not_ being available is definitely a deal-breaker. [/QUOTE] Why, if you don’t mind me asking? There are many restaurants here in Atlanta that do not have enough parking available for their patrons, were they to self-park. Either that, or the parking is way too far away. Tipping a couple dollars may be objectionable, but I’ve never been particularly inconvenienced by valet parking. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Swan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@The\_Swan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Swan)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2006, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reasons-not-to-try-a-restaurant/385833/72 "2006-12-29T01:40:34Z")
[QUOTE=The Sausage Creature] Also a packed “B” \> empty “A”. [/QUOTE] I’ll get behind that. I eat at B restaurants occasionally, but they are usually more like “joints” (rib, barbecue, etc.) than restaurants. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2006, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reasons-not-to-try-a-restaurant/385833/73 "2006-12-29T02:01:20Z")
[QUOTE=Anne Neville] …A related issue is that the chain restaurant is likely to have more dishes to choose from than the small local restaurant. That’s important if you’re a picky eater and/or have a limited diet- more dishes to choose from means more likelihood that there will be something you can eat and will like. [/QUOTE] Of course a local restaurant _might_ just be more willing to modify an dish for you. I haven’t yet been to a local pizzeria refused to leave onions off a pizza because “the computer won’t let us”. ---
**Author:** ![adhemar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@adhemar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adhemar)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2006, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reasons-not-to-try-a-restaurant/385833/74 "2006-12-29T02:14:34Z")
[QUOTE=MacTech] Living in southeastern coastal Maine, i’ve always found it amusing (to say the least) that _anyone_ would eat at the chain seafood resturants (Red Lobster, i’m looking at you…), or the chain “Italian” resturants (Olive Garden and the like), when minutes down the road are legitimate, family run resturants that serve _actual_ seafood or Italian food [/QUOTE] another explanation might be that they don’t know where that lovely Italian place is or the cozy seafood place. I was in Tampa about 6 months ago and rode he trolly to Ybor city which was quite intersting. I love seafood, I like cuban food and I like a lot of Italian food once you move away from the pasta with tomato sauce pat. Ybor city was founded by Cubans, borders the Italian section of town and the shebang is on the gulf coast. I asked the trolley driver, attendant and several passengers for suggestions on where to eat, most of them told me how much they like The Spaghetti Warehouse. I did have a suggestion to go to a well known Cuban place that was way too expensive even being on an expense account (my meal per diem wouldn’t have paid for the meal). I try not to eat at national chain restaurants if I can avoid it, although I quite like Carrabba’s. My parents are going to Bar Harbour next summer so if you have suggestions…? ---
**Author:** ![adhemar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@adhemar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adhemar)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2006, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reasons-not-to-try-a-restaurant/385833/75 "2006-12-29T02:16:38Z")
[QUOTE=alphaboi867] Of course a local restaurant _might_ just be more willing to modify an dish for you. I haven’t yet been to a local pizzeria refused to leave onions off a pizza because “the computer won’t let us”. [/QUOTE] I went to a MacDonalds many years ago that refused to make a “Big Mac” withour onions because it’s a copywritten sandwich which wouldn’t let them change anything on it. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2006, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reasons-not-to-try-a-restaurant/385833/76 "2006-12-29T03:18:38Z")
[QUOTE=parsnip] 5) Buffets. In all circumstances. I thought I was going to the Ritz-Carlton one Mothers Day. Buffet only–we left. [/QUOTE] Good call. I got food poisoning at the Ritz-Carlton brunch buffet. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2006, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reasons-not-to-try-a-restaurant/385833/77 "2006-12-29T03:23:10Z")
[QUOTE=adhemar] I went to a MacDonalds many years ago that refused to make a “Big Mac” withour onions because it’s a copywritten sandwich which wouldn’t let them change anything on it. [/QUOTE] Utter nonsense. A sandwich can’t be “copywritten,” which is not even a word. Copy_right_ law doesn’t protect sandwiches. Patent law doesn’t protect recipes. The only conceivable protection is that the name “Big Mac” can be protected as a trademark. That would not prevent them from modifying it upon request. My guess is that they didn’t want to change it either because (1) things were pre-made and couldn’t be altered or (2) they just didn’t want to or (3) they were told not to because it screws up their order-to-service targets. ---
**Author:** ![fessie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@fessie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fessie)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2006, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reasons-not-to-try-a-restaurant/385833/78 "2006-12-29T04:02:04Z")
[QUOTE=phall0106] In addition to what’s been added already, I would also like to put in my thoughts on avoiding places with the “Server Wanted” signs–it’s pretty much definate that the service will be horrible. [/QUOTE] Particularly when it’s scrawled on a piece of round pizza cardboard, and misspelled. FIL dragged us into the restaurant anyway. Apparently he’d been there before, because he sent the soup back, saying “It’s not up to your standards”. The harried waitress just about laughed out loud. ---
**Author:** ![Jodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2006, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reasons-not-to-try-a-restaurant/385833/79 "2006-12-29T04:06:30Z")
[QUOTE=parsnip] 4) We don’t keep kosher, but any deli which can’t stay on one side of the fence (milk or meat) is probably no good. [/quote] What does this mean, please? I, like another poster, won’t eat at Hooters. As an approaching-middle-age woman, hot wings with a side of T & A (or T & A with a side of hot wings) doesn’t do much for me. As I’ve said before, I’ll eat at Hooters right after they open up a boy-candy franchise called “Buns.” ---
**Author:** ![fessie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@fessie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fessie)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2006, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reasons-not-to-try-a-restaurant/385833/80 "2006-12-29T04:09:37Z")
If they’ve posted a newspaper review in the window _and the reviewer panned the place_. My husband and I did that once, unawares. We chose the “International Buffet” only because my Aunt ate there often and had insisted we’d love it. It was amazingly awful. On the way out we stopped to actually read the review and decided it had been taped into the window as a warning, to prevent people from demanding refunds. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reasons-not-to-try-a-restaurant/385833.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reasons-not-to-try-a-restaurant/385833.md?page=5)