Top U.S. Chain Restaurants - where HAVEN'T you been?

Cafe Society
181

Never eaten at #4 Starbucks (I don’t drink coffee)
Never seen: #15 Jack in the Box
Never heard of: #32 Carl’s, Jr.

182

  1. Carl’s Jr.
    Red Robin
    Little Caesar’s
    Texas Roadhouse
    P.F. Chang’s

  2. Carl’s Jr.

  3. Culver’s

183

Basically a somewhat upscale Chinese restaurant. Based on some of your other comments, I think you might consider it to be a Yuppie magnet. :wink:

184

Removed original post since I was talking about The Spaghetti Warehouse but my story was actually about The Old Spaghetti Factory.

Lowest on the list was actually #393 Foster’s Freeze. Some off ramp between San Francisco and Los Angeles. Incredibly dirty and disgusting so I’ve never gone to another one though that’s probably not fair if they’re individually operated.

185
  1. Never eaten at #13 Sonic
  2. Never seen, but heard of #41 Whataburger
  3. I have never heard of #58 Zaxby’s

The lowest number I have ever been to is #388 Hot Dog on a Stick, though I only got a Cherry Lemonade (but would not be adverse to getting an actual hot dog on a stick, I love corndogs!)

186

Out of the top 25, I’ve never been to/ordered from:
Pizza Hut
Applebee’s
Chili’s*
Chick-Fil-A*
Outback*
Red Lobster*
Dairy Queen*
Panera Bread*
Cracker Barrel*

I’ve been to the following three or fewer times:
Wendy’s
Domino’s
Sonic

*-Living in San Francisco, I have no idea if any of these are around.

187

Silly, but that spelling is coming from a classic Saturday Nigh Live sketch:

http://www.hulu.com/watch/3533/saturday-night-live-the-olympia-restaurant

188
  1. #4 Starbucks, never been into one.
  2. and 3. #21 Panera Bread. Never heard of it, therefore never seen one.

#337 (Pasta House) is the lowest one place where I have dined
FTR, I live in hicksville.

189

Chipotle Mexican Grill fills all categories for me.

190

I think this recommendation is for me. So, thanks. I see that there’s a Red Robin very close to where I’ll be staying in Pittsburgh in a couple of weeks. Maybe I’ll get a chance to check it out - I do love a good burger.

191
  1. I’ve never eaten at a Sonic.
  2. Never seen nor heard of Culver’s Frozen Custard & ButterBurgers.
  3. See #2
192

Only been to a Starbucks once.

  1. #11 Applebees
  2. #15 Jack in the Box. I think. I might have seen them when I was in LA for the Rose Bowl, but I can’t remember.
  3. #39 Church’s Chicken
193

Lowest I’ve eaten at is #380 Macayo’s. I may have had #391 Native New Yorker before. I know there’s one close to work so I may have been there or had take out from there and just can’t remember it.

194

Never eaten: Sonic
Never seen: Sonic (commercials, but never the place)
Never heard of: Buffalo Wild Wings

195

1. What is the highest ranking chain that you’ve never eaten at (or otherwise visited)?

#44 - Bob Evans.
**
2. What is the highest ranking chain you’ve never seen in person (but may have heard of)?**

#50 - Perkins Restaurant & Bakery

**
3. What is the highest ranking chain you never even heard of?**

#61 - Friendly’s (I swear I heard of Culver’s at some point in the past)

I can’t believe so many people haven’t heard of Whataburger. Maybe it’s a Texas thing (it did start in Corpus, after all), but they seem pretty common everywhere I’ve been.

I’m also a little shocked at the number of people who haven’t eaten at Sonic. I had a chocolate shake from them earlier this evening!

196
  1. #22, Panera Bread. Heard of 'em, but don’t even know if there are any locally.
  2. Same as 1.
  3. #36, Chiplotle Mexican Grill.
197

Amended answers:

Since Panera’s is known locally as St. Louis Bread Company, yes, I have seen and eaten there.

New Answers:

1, 2, & 3: #36, Chipotle Mexican Grill.

198
  1. Highest ranking chain I’ve never been to? #12 Chili’s
  2. Highest ranking chain I’ve never seen, but have heard of? #32 Carl’s Junior
  3. Highest ranking chain I’ve never heard of? #32 Carl’s Junior

Lowest ranking chain I’ve been to? #399 Maggie Moo’s

199

Never eaten at #13 Sonic, but that may not count since I’ve stopped at them for my wife, who loves their slushies. If that doesn’t count, then it’s #28 Quizno’s. I have no desire to eat cheese covered deli meats of any sort.

Never seen a Carl’s Jr. (# 32), although I’ve seen Hardee’s which I understand is nearlt identical.

Never heard of #58, Zaxby’s.

The lowest ranking chain I’ve been to is the last one, #400 Spaghetti Warehouse.

200

Whataburger only operates in the southern tier of states (including, obviously, Texas):

http://www.whataburger.com/one_near_you.php

There are some comments upthread about Sonic. Despite having advertised nationally for several years, Sonic is still not really a national chain. They’ve only started to expand into the northern part of the country in the past few years – I think they’ve believed that their drive-in concept may not work well in areas that get cold and snowy during the winter.