Inspired by all the naysayers in this thread, which chain has the best food?
You are welcome to use any of the named chains in the above thread if you feel differently than all the complainers.
Ruth’s Chris for steak
McCormick and Schmick for seafood
My favorite fastfood chain’s are : KFC, Wendy’s, and Fazoli’s.
Stepiing up to casual dining : Ruby Tuesday’s, Texas Roadhouse, the Longhorn.
How are you defining chain? Several prominent chefs have opened fairly large empires of restaurants that all rely on the same basic concept of execution.
Backyard Burger makes a great burger and good fries. Subway is generally consistent and nonthreatening. At least you can get usually get fresh veggies for your sub there. I’ve had good sit-down meals at Houstons, but the local one is widely reputed to treat their employees very badly, so I don’t patronize them.
Not all chains are like Olive Garden!
Waffle House.
Fast Food? Culver’s, hands down. Mmm, Butterburgers!
Slightly Upscale Chain? I’d have to go with Macaroni Grill, Famous Dave’s or P.F. Chang’s.
Best steakhouse is Texas Roadhouse.
They have a great seasoning for their steaks and fantastic cinnimon butter.
If they would just stop playing that damn country music.
(woah deja vu…)
Oh yea and for fast food, gotta be Fazollis. I really wish they would open on in the Detroit north metro area. (Canton and Flint are just too far away)
For cheap diner and breakfast food, I’ve got no complaints about the various International Houses of Pancakes at which I’ve eaten.
Romano’s Macaroni Grill is very nice for a middle-end type of place. Never had a bad meal there.
Legal Seafood. I’m not sure if it is much of a chain, but we have them in NY and Boston.
I disagree. The Oceanaire for seafood.
Chang’s is good, if for nother other reason than the one in Tempe is crawling with coeds.
Schlotzsky’s makes a good sandwich.
It’s West Coast only, but I’m fond of Red Robin.
I’m partial to Quizno’s toasted sub sandwiches.
I’m pretty sure I ate at a Red Robin in New Jersey, unless you mean that the only good Red Robins are on the West Coast.
I love Red Robin, but the best chain food ever is Chik-fil-A. I’m very sad they don’t have any out here on the left coast. 
In-n-Out Burger by far has the best food of any chain. The secret menu drastically improves everything. The “well done” fries are the best as is any burger “animal style”
I’m really really partial to Steak and Shake.
However, I’m a huge fan of Romano’s Macaroni Grill also. We just don’t have any in Pittsburgh.
Went to Red Robin this past Saturday night and it was a disaster. Bad food, bad service, bad atmosphere. Exactly the opposite of the one I went to outside of Philly last year.
For semi-fast food: ** Subway.** Always a safe, nutritional bet.
For fast food: Taco Bell. It is consistant and affordable.
For Fast Food of a regional Chain that deserves more attention: Hot 'n’Now. Best freaking burgers and the.fastest.drive-thru.service.bar.none. Oh, and it’s also affordable. They just need shakes to complete the trifecta.
For Sit Down: Logan’s Steakhouse Just love everything about them.