Restaurant Chains You'd Like to See in Your Area

In My Humble Opinion
1

For years now, I’ve been getting ads in the Sunday paper for a restaurant called Sweet Tomatoes. I get the Reno paper…Sweet Tomatoes in Las Vegas only. I’ve been longing to go to Sweet Tomatoes…but…really, a five hundred mile drive? Anyway I finally got to eat there when I was in Denver recently. It was great. (But then, I love salads)

While in Denver, I also got to eat at Qdoba, which I thought was quite good.

With the population in Northern Nevada growing like it is, I know it will only be a matter of time until we get these places…after all, there’s talk of a second Trader Joe’s coming in a few years.

So, are their any restaurant chains you guys would like to see in your town?

(I hope this is the right forum.)

2

I want a Macaroni Grill yesterday. We’re getting a Johnny Carino’s though, so I guess I’ll settle for that.

3

We do not have a Bob Evans Restaurant in Las Vegas, and we need one. Badly. I am forced to go to Denny’s or IHOP for a pancake breafkast, and they just dont compare.

Yes, I said “breafkast” and I meant “breafkast”!

4

I’d loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooorve an In ‘n’ Out to open up in Chicago. Hell, I’d settle for anywhere in the midwest; I’d drive up to 4 hours for one of those succulent, juicy Animal-style-Double-Double delights.

5

I just ate at Sweet Tomatoes the other day! Mmm, good place.

I mostly wish we had a closer Fuddrucker’s. There is one in Orlando, but it is a good half-hour or more across town, in a more crowded, tourist-heavy area. I don’t go there nearly as much as I would like to, due to logistics.

I also wish we had Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria here in O-Town, which is a Chicago chain that serves the best deep-dish pizza I’ve ever had. There are two Skyline Chili locations in South Florida (I’ve eaten at both), but it would be nice to have one of them closer up here.

Other than that, I typically prefer mom-and-pop restaurants and local institutions to the big chains.

6

Oh, two businesses I really REALLY wish we had, even though they aren’t restaurants (although both sell food): Trader Joe’s and IKEA.

7

I opened this thread expecting to feel like a snob, poo-pooing comments (there’s a Johnny Carino’s near here and I am not impressed :dubious: )

But I have to admit, I really would like to see In ‘n’ Out here in the NYC area.

8

I’d take an In ‘n’ Out up here in Eastern Washington, sure miss them from my stint in SoCal.

But mostly I’d like a Dunkin Donuts. Man I miss their coffee. Light and sweet. Mm-mm. And their doughnuts for that matter. Severe lack of doughnut shops around here.

9

There was a small chain in San Diego area called Soup Plantation.
I wish they would decide to open there first North-East location near my home.

I always loved their food.

10

Del Taco so needs to come to Dallas. Get rid of the inferior Taco Bueno.

11

Del Taco would be nice in Philly as well.

I’d also like to see a Rocky Rococo Pizza out here. Fellow Dopers in Wisconsin probably think I am nuts for that. But I really liked their pizza for the short time that they were in OH.

12

There’s a Rocky Rococo’s in Spokane, WA. I had no idea they were a franchise.

Guess they’re heading in the wrong direction from Philly…

13

Fuddrucker’s needs to come back to the Inland Empire. We also could use a Chick-Fil-A and a Steak & Shake. Hey, for that matter we could use a Taco Cabana, too. :smiley:

14

I’ve heard some good things about Bob Evans and would like to try them. Unfortunately they seem to be confined primarily to the southeast according to their web site.

15

I sorta feel lucky now. We have a Steak & Shake, Bob Evans and a Ruddfuckers right here in crappy Independence, MO.

I would like an In ‘N’ Out and a Chick-Fil-A. And there was this taco chain in LA that I can’t remember the name of… They had great fish tacos. MMMMMM.

Mostly what pisses me off is the chains that have disappeared from my 5 mile drive-thru radius. We used to have White Castle, Schlozky’s, Boston Market, Blimpie, D’Angelo & Popeye’s.

Hey, remember a restaurant called Grandy’s? I seem to recall it was a chain but I could be mistaken. They had the best chicken and yeasty dinner rolls ever.

16

Oh dwc- Bob Evans has yummy stuff. They have pancakes that contain cinnamon chips! Be sure to try some if you get to Slob Evans.

17

Morrison’s Cafeteria. I’ve only ever seen them in Florida.

18

I’d say they are more in the Midwest. I lived across the street from one in Columbus, OH. They’re ok. I give them credit for going non smoking while their competition, Tee Jayes, across the street did not. Here is a map of their locations.

19

Being in Chicago, I’m pretty flush with decent chain restaurants. In ‘n’ Out would be nice for some variety, though I think it’s overrated just for it’s novelty.

I wish there was a Hardee’s in the city, they seem to stick to rural areas only.

Also, a Fazoli’s is probably the main one I miss.

20

I thought every restaurant in Columbus was non-smoking.

And my fav at Bob Evans is the pot roast sandwich. Holy carp that’s good eatin’. I swear there’s a Bob Evans at every exit in Ohio.