Where I live (Mid-Atlantic state, small town), we had a Taco Bell for nearly 20 years before we started getting authenic Mexican restaurants. First one came in in the mid 90’s, and 2 others have followed suit since.
I like the authenic places, TB used to be good up until 2-3 years ago, then it seemed like the manager just gave up and didn’t care anymore, orders are right probably 25% of the time, if that, long lines, staff with attitudes, if ti wasn’t for the highschool nearby, I don’t they would stay in business.
Ok, we like many of the things at Led Slobster, er…Red Lobster and a few others.
Then there is the new pizza joint down the road - The Brick Oven. From the menu and decor and prices, you would think this is a pretty good place. I have had better pizza at the gas station. I still have unresolved issues with that that place. As a matter of fact, when I saw a fresh pile of doggy droppings the other day, I told Mr. Cotta that I would like nothing better that to take said pile and use it to write “Your pizza sucks!” on the windows of Brick Oven Pizza.
He suggested I just write a letter to the management and get it out of my system… :rolleyes:
Let’s make this a bit more granular. I’m considering only national and large multi-state chains (McDonalds, Carl’s/Hardee’s, Olive Garden, etc); not single-state and local chains (Winstead’s, Blake’s Lotaburger, Braum’s, etc) or national chains that are located only in a few select cities (White Castle, The Palm, the remaining Howard Johnson restaurants, etc.) Chains outside of the US (Harvey’s, Wimpy’s, etc.) are also excluded
Here goes:
Worst fast food (general): Jack in the Box
Worst fast food (Mexican): Taco Bell
Worst fast food (chicken): Church’s
Worst fast food (drive-through only): Weinerschnitzel
Worst fast food (pizza): CiCi’s
Worst sit-down restaurant (general): Waffle House
Worst sit down restaurant (fake Irish pub): O’Charley’s
Worst sit-down restaurant (old-people food): Friendly’s (local old-people food chains are far worse, though)
Worst sit-down restaurant (truck stop): Flying J
Worst sit-down restaurant (steak): Ryan’s
Most overrated chain: Cheesecake Factory (still kinda’ good, but not worth a two hour wait.)
The Mrs. and I will entertain at least the notion to eat at any locale previously mentioned in the above posts (depending upon how hungry we are and if we are traveling)… EXCEPT for Chili’s. Absolutely not, under any conditions, are we going back to a Chili’s. Tried it twice, in two different cities. An abomination to food.
I used to like Pizza Hut back in the 80’s. I don’t know what happened, maybe new management, but the pizza really got a lot worse (in particular, the sauce) and the service went to sh*t.
Aw, c’mon, now. Years ago I was at a Waffle House and ordered pie from the crazy-grandma-lady-waittress. She let forth a tremendous eye-sparkling smile at me, and said, “Oh, I do love it when people order pie! It means I get to lick the knife!”
How can you not love a place that disgusting?
Daniel
I wonder if that is the same Cheesecake Factory we have - mostly cakes, chocolate coated coffee beans, cheesy dinners. They are all over the place here. I went into the Emu Plains store once and had to wait while another customer bought half a Hummingbird Cake and half a Caramel Mudcake. I have never waited any other time.
Nasty, dirty places, and not in that Nasty, Dirty Good Kind of Way…
KFC. There are at least three locations in my area. I’ve visited every one (because I really do like their original recipe chicken), but everything seems to be very, very dirty, like it hasn’t been cleaned EVER. This includes the countertops, display case with the neat little parfeits, the tables, the bathrooms, the floors and the employees. God only knows what they’re doing to the food. I don’t eat there, as much as I want some of the chicken.
LJS. See above, only add a ton of grease. Everything seems to be covered or soaked in grease. Even the fish-like food.
Old Country Buffet. Bland tasteless food. What’s the point in eating there, except you can load up on bland, tasteless food? I’d rather not eat.
Friendlies. Bland, tasteless food and a limited menu, which probably isn’t a bad thing considering how bland and tasteless the food is. Even the ice-cream is so-so. I’ve had better ice-cream. Much better.
Denny’s. HallGirl 1 was joining some friends there one late Saturday night. She witnessed the waiter *DROOL * :eek: on a customer’s food (not HallGirl 1’s) as he was picking it up to bring it to the table. She was almost sick by the sight of it. She vowed never to eat there again, and because of that (and the sucky food), neither will I. Where is that pukey smiley when you need one?
Nobody’s mentioned Fazoli’s!!! Aaaaah! Fazoli’s is so gross, so foul, so disgusting - the rats out by the dumpster have bags over their heads so their little rodential buddies won’t realize how desperate they’ve become. Take something red - ketchup? a tomato from last year? - thicken it up with grease (animal, vegetable, automotive), and spread it on congealed noodles. Just like Gramma used to make!
At least the other contenders have some meritorious qualities.
Ponderosa has that killer Tart 'n Tangy (i.e. low-rent French) dressing & weird cheese McDonald’s fries are tasty Burger King Whoppers can be good if you can find a restaurant where the staff has a nodding acquaintance with food preparation - the one in Bellefonte, PA, is actually good KFC still has excellent cole slaw
I’m surprised nobody’s mentioned Domino’s. I tasted one piece of their pizza over 20 years ago & have never been back. Apparently, though, they’re doing wicked things with dough and cinnamon, so perhaps they’ve got some positive qualities.
Taco Hell is weird stuff. Tastes like something the military feeds the troops, those “just add water” meals? Too bad they bought out Zantigo’s in the early '80s & closed all of them, Zantigo’s was seriously good.
We once went to an IHOP which was an absolute dive but we had a craving. Something about “rooty-tooty”. And the old guy behind us, dressed in shabby finery, placed his group’s order starting with “The ladies will have the pork chops…”
Probably not. Cheesecake Factory restaurants in the US are massive affairs, with most being located in upscale “lifestyle center” type shopping plazas.
Aw man you guys, I dont go to these places to “dine on fine cuisine” but I like Taco Bell plain tacos smothered in Hot Sauce, I love Pecan Waffles from Waffle House… and as a bonus there is always entertainment in the form of some freak listening to a walkman and chanting Biblical gibberish to himself!
I hate Applebees, O’Charleys, Red Lobster and Olive Garden because it all seems bland and over priced.
But c’mon, a .79 cent taco cant be held to a really high standard.
I agree with just about every sentiment expressed here except for three.
Using the words “ground beef” in the same sentence as “Taco Bell” is optimistic in the extreme.
Church’s, although their sides are not great, has the best chicken of all of them. No fancy batter or coating or seasoning. Just plain good fried chicken. Although the great big buspans of chicken sitting next to the fryer can be a bit off-putting. And the one down the street from me has a lardally challenged lady who is always chewing on something with her mouth open when she takes my order. Their biscuits are quite good too.
And they should take my tastebuds away for this but every once in a while four or five chili dogs with onions and mustard from Weinerschnitzel are the only thing that will satisfy.
I think it’s only been mentioned once, so I’m going to have to second Ruby Tuesday’s. I can find something edible at most other chain restaurants mentioned here, but not not at Ruby’s. Every single thing I’ve ever ordered there has been oil-soaked and nasty. I’m sorry, but a peice of baked fish should not oooze oil, even if it’s a fatty fish. Ewwwwwww…I’ve gotten indigestion every time I’ve eaten there, and I can pretty much eat anything without ill effect.
