# What Discontinued Casual Dining Item Would You Bring Back?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-discontinued-casual-dining-item-would-you-bring-back/779910
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [February 15, 2017, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-discontinued-casual-dining-item-would-you-bring-back/779910 "2017-02-15T16:01:08Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Spit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spit)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2017, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-discontinued-casual-dining-item-would-you-bring-back/779910/1 "2017-02-15T16:01:08Z")
In a blatant ripoff of **John\_Stamos’\_Left\_Ear** thread asking about discontinued fast food items, I ask:
You have the power to persuade a casual dining chain to bring back a discontinued item and have it on their menu again. What do you choose?
I am going with the original Tequila Lime Chicken dish at Applebee’s.
It came with the chicken, jack cheese, mexi-ranch sauce, and pico-de-gallo that is still there today. However, instead of rice, it was on a bed of chili-penne pasta, which was actually somewhat spicy\*. There was also no lime sauce covering the chicken, which imho, is a bit too tart on the “Fiesta Lime Chicken” (Which I just learned yesterday was changed from “Tequila Lime Chicken”, because it was such a popular dish that Applebee’s needed to copyright the name).
\*A pet peeve of mine is any fast food or casual chain that claims something is “Spicy!” or “HOT!”, when they never are :mad:
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### Author:  [@Spit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spit)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2017, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-discontinued-casual-dining-item-would-you-bring-back/779910/2 "2017-02-15T16:04:27Z")
BTW, does anyone else remember it being on pasta when it debuted- 1997. I think? I can’t find any reference to it on the net, and nobody I have mentioned it to seems to remember it.
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### Author:  [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2017, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-discontinued-casual-dining-item-would-you-bring-back/779910/3 "2017-02-15T16:13:45Z")
> [@Spit](#):
>
> \*A pet peeve of mine is any fast food or casual chain that claims something is “Spicy!” or “HOT!”, when they never are :mad:
My favorite one of these was when I ordered buffalo strips at Denny’s and the waitress firmly warned me that they were hot. In actuality they don’t _taste_ bad but they don’t even make my nose run.
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### Author:  [@Spit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spit)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2017, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-discontinued-casual-dining-item-would-you-bring-back/779910/4 "2017-02-15T16:38:10Z")
I was in line at WaWa recently, and grabbed a box of their spicy chicken chunks while waiting in line. Holy crap, they were actually spicy. I was stunned.
Unfortunately, the chicken itself was subpar, which is odd because their food is usually really good (Sandwiches and whatnot).
I will also give credit to Chick-fil-a for their spicy chicken sandwich, although I have noticed that it seems to be a per-location thing.
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### Author:  [@Cyros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyros)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2017, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-discontinued-casual-dining-item-would-you-bring-back/779910/5 "2017-02-15T16:55:54Z")
Chi-chi’s Chicken Soft Taco Diablo. God, I loved those as a kid and I think I would kill someone for a chance to have another.
Of course, with my luck, it wouldn’t taste nearly as good as I remember and I would be in prison for the rest of my life.
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### Author:  [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2017, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-discontinued-casual-dining-item-would-you-bring-back/779910/6 "2017-02-15T17:00:02Z")
> [@Ludovic](#):
>
> My favorite one of these was when I ordered buffalo strips at Denny’s and the waitress firmly warned me that they were hot. In actuality they don’t _taste_ bad but they don’t even make my nose run.
Years ago, we ate at a Long John Silver’s. One of the workers asked how I liked their fish. I told them I found them to be very bland. He nodded and said they changed the recipe because people were complaining the older version was too spicy.
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### Author:  [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2017, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-discontinued-casual-dining-item-would-you-bring-back/779910/7 "2017-02-15T17:04:41Z")
On The Border used to have something called Pico Chicken and Shrimp, which got dropped when they revised their menu a few years ago. For a while they would let me order it even though it wasn’t on the menu, but then that stopped too.
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### Author:  [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2017, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-discontinued-casual-dining-item-would-you-bring-back/779910/8 "2017-02-15T17:09:26Z")
Bennigans had my favorite Chicken Quesadillas. They were better than ones I had at Mexican places even.
It wasn’t national but Steak & Ale had my favorite Lobster tails. I like the just a bit over cooked and they did it perfect. They also had something called Blackened Chicken Pasta that was addictive. The shame of it was the S&A by me was a goldmine always busy but the parent company went under.
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### Author:  [@Spit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spit)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2017, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-discontinued-casual-dining-item-would-you-bring-back/779910/9 "2017-02-15T17:29:29Z")
> [@Quimby](#):
>
> Bennigans had my favorite Chicken Quesadillas. They were better than ones I had at Mexican places even.
>
> It wasn’t national but Steak & Ale had my favorite Lobster tails. I like the just a bit over cooked and they did it perfect. They also had something called Blackened Chicken Pasta that was addictive. The shame of it was the S&A by me was a goldmine always busy but the parent company went under.
Bennigan’s had the best chicken tenders I have ever eaten. S&A was good all around, and, as you said, a goldmine where I lived. Man, that parent company of both must have made some really, really, bad decisions along the line. Supposedly there is a comeback planned for both restaurants.
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### Author:  [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2017, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-discontinued-casual-dining-item-would-you-bring-back/779910/10 "2017-02-15T17:43:54Z")
My favorite chicken nugget-type meal was Papa John’s tenders, which had the best tasting chicken _and_ best tasting buffalo sauce. However it was around twice as expensive as you’d get at a comparable place (maybe at higher-end restaurants they’d be more if they even offered chicken tenders.) I say “was” because I haven’t ordered from PJ in a long time.
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### Author:  [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2017, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-discontinued-casual-dining-item-would-you-bring-back/779910/11 "2017-02-15T17:46:46Z")
The three-cheese burger at Cheddars. Nothing special, just a burger with 3 kinds of cheese on it. But I looooved that thing.
Also, ironically enough, the cheddar soup from Cheddars. You can’t get good cheese soup anywhere anymore…
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### Author:  [@stillownedbysetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stillownedbysetters)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2017, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-discontinued-casual-dining-item-would-you-bring-back/779910/12 "2017-02-15T18:48:54Z")
Can I bring back the entire Bill Knapp’s chain?
Knapp’s was our family go-to place for a good report card, after/before college football games, promotions, engagements, etc. I loved their homey food.
The one single item I miss is their cinnamon ice cream. It was best, of course, with a slice of warm apple pie.
Runners up were their killer chocolate cake, their au gratin potatoes, and ham and bean soup.
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### Author:  [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2017, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-discontinued-casual-dining-item-would-you-bring-back/779910/13 "2017-02-15T18:49:19Z")
There used to be a restaurant in Winnipeg called Grapes - they had a handful of locations. Their Spinach salad dressing was amazing. I miss it so much.
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### Author:  [@chrisk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chrisk)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2017, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-discontinued-casual-dining-item-would-you-bring-back/779910/14 "2017-02-15T18:52:03Z")
Well, I’m not sure if this counts… we’ve got a great casual-dining place across the street, they actually just reopened because of a fire, and I haven’t been back there yet, but…
They had Turkey schnitzel as a special one time, and I’d love it if that made their regular menu. I’d like it if it made anybody’s regular menu. 🙂
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### Author:  [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2017, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-discontinued-casual-dining-item-would-you-bring-back/779910/15 "2017-02-15T19:15:37Z")
The Monterrey Chicken at Chili’s. It was a piece of chicken coated with a sort-of glaze and had bacon strips. It was nice and the only thing I ever ordered from there. Maybe I was the only one, because it’s gone now.
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### Author:  [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2017, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-discontinued-casual-dining-item-would-you-bring-back/779910/16 "2017-02-15T19:57:00Z")
Speaking of Chili’s; what the hell happened to their chili? You used to be able to make a meal out of a bowl and now it’s basically chili-ish tasting soup. For that matter, what happening to the curly fries that were perfect for dipping into it?
Every now and then, especially if I’m hungry, I’ll drive by a Chili’s and my mouth will water and then I’ll remember there’s nothing there I care to eat any more ☹
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### Author:  [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2017, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-discontinued-casual-dining-item-would-you-bring-back/779910/17 "2017-02-15T20:02:45Z")
The first two that spring to mind are both items from Sizzler: their Hibachi Chicken platter and their original recipe Hot Bacon Dressing at the salad bar. The chicken was the perfect foil to a plate of salty fries. The dressing…ok, I can see why the dressing went away. That item was declared a Public Health Hazard in California decades ago. But it was soooo gooood! You could hear your arteries snapping shut just walking by the salad bar.
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### Author:  [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2017, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-discontinued-casual-dining-item-would-you-bring-back/779910/18 "2017-02-15T20:16:20Z")
As long as we are bringing entire chains back, I really miss Uno’s. Like \*\*Quimby \*\*'s Steak and Ale, our local Uno’s was always packed, and then one weekend we went and it was closed. For a couple of years after that, if we wanted Uno’s we’d have to drive into Kansas City, but eventually those closed up too.
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### Author:  [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2017, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-discontinued-casual-dining-item-would-you-bring-back/779910/19 "2017-02-15T20:26:03Z")
Nowadays Outback only sells the pepper crusted prime rib. I wish they still sold the regular prime rib. I have yet to find one at any other restaurant as good.
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### Author:  [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2017, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-discontinued-casual-dining-item-would-you-bring-back/779910/20 "2017-02-15T20:30:31Z")
I think it was Chile’s, they used to have a lettuce wrap that was great, and unlike anybody else’s lettuce wrap. And it’s gone. I used to go there just for that. Since they discontinued it I’ve hardly gone there at all.
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