# Which Chain Restaurant Has The \*Best\* Food? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 5, 2005, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-chain-restaurant-has-the-best-food/297895 "2005-04-05T19:55:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Winnie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e480ec/32.png) [@Winnie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winnie)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2005, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-chain-restaurant-has-the-best-food/297895/61 "2005-04-06T18:44:18Z")
I love: Famous Dave’s Panera Popeye’s Sonic (I was able to get a green chile cheeseburger there while on vacation in New Mexico last summer!) Corner Bakery Maggiano’s Red Robin (it was the only restaurant I could eat at while I was pregnant for some reason) Wendy’s, because if I was on death row I’d ask for a spicy chicken sandwich, french fries, and a frosty as my last meal. ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2005, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-chain-restaurant-has-the-best-food/297895/62 "2005-04-06T19:47:01Z")
Pick up Stix isn’t bad. It’s sort of like a low-rent P.F. Chang’s. The sauces aren’t very authentic, but they do use fresh vegetables. It’s one of the only fast-food places where you can get a reasonably healthy meal other than salad. ---
**Author:** ![Tentacle\_Monster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba9def/32.png) [@Tentacle\_Monster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tentacle_Monster)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2005, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-chain-restaurant-has-the-best-food/297895/63 "2005-04-06T20:08:59Z")
**El\_Kabong:** Even if Denny’s did take the Patty Melt off of the menu, try ordering one anyway. I say this because the last time I was at Denny’s, it was with my brother-in-law and sister, who informed us that you can still order the Grand Slam for the original price even though the Slam is no longer on the menu. Anyway, my favorites: Quizno’s has, hands down, the best subs. Unfortunately, the nearest one is an hour away, so I have to make do with the local, above-average Subway; where they have the sandwich toaster and they remember that I like to have it toasted _after_ everything’s on it. When I’m in the Midwest, I like to hit White Castle at least once. In the South, it’s Waffle House (conveniently placed every quarter mile) ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2005, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-chain-restaurant-has-the-best-food/297895/64 "2005-04-06T23:26:59Z")
To me, the majority of chain restaruants have good tasting food. They’d have to to stay in business. ---
**Author:** ![Gail](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Gail](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gail)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2005, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-chain-restaurant-has-the-best-food/297895/65 "2005-04-07T00:19:57Z")
_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._ –Cervaise Years ago, I took my brother, sister in law, and niece (visiting from Toledo, OH) to the Red Robin in Reno. They liked it and were pleased to get one in Toledo a few years later. My two favorite chains, right now are **Claimjumper** and **Chevy’s Fresh Mex**. (I love Chevy’s “corn pudding”; I found a recipe on line and make it every Thanksgiving.) ---
**Author:** ![Gail](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Gail](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gail)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2005, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-chain-restaurant-has-the-best-food/297895/66 "2005-04-07T00:29:26Z")
Oh…I forgot one… For breakfast, I love **Mimi’s** Kind of a western chain, I think. ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Plaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Scott\_Plaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scott_Plaid)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2005, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-chain-restaurant-has-the-best-food/297895/67 "2005-04-07T00:41:56Z")
> [@Big Bad Voodoo Lou](#): > > Does anyone remember Taco Viva? I seem to recall a taco stand in the local in the 80s, in MD, and it may have been one of those, but I can not recall clearly. On another topic, I figured that people might apreciate the following link: > **[Todd Wilbur's Top Secret Recipes](https://topsecretrecipes.com/?target=main)** > > For 30 years I've been deconstructing America's most iconic brand-name foods to make the best original clone recipes for you to use at home. Welcome to my lab. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2005, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-chain-restaurant-has-the-best-food/297895/68 "2005-04-07T02:42:18Z")
> [@Absolute](#): > > Sandwiches and bread: **Panera Bread**. No argument, case closed, discussion over. > > Not too pricy, either. Excellent salads, too! And they offer a low-carb bread variety or two, which I appreciate. ---
**Author:** ![CapnPitt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/edb3f5/32.png) [@CapnPitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CapnPitt)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2005, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-chain-restaurant-has-the-best-food/297895/69 "2005-04-07T14:10:18Z")
You’d think you couldn’t get good food at a gas station. That’s true. But you can get GREAT food at a gas station in Pennsylvania if you stop at a Sheetz. All kinds of subs, wraps, fajita wraps, burgers, salads, and on and on. About a week and a half ago I went to the “home base” store in Altoona and would you believe that it’s a sit down place too. At that one you can get pretty good pizza and some terrific garlic parmesan french fries. And **zenith** they have horseradish for the roast beef! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2005, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-chain-restaurant-has-the-best-food/297895/70 "2005-04-07T14:20:19Z")
I agree with others - the quality at the Macaroni Grill isn’t what it used to be. Last time I ate there wasn’t great. The food was meh, the atmosphere was loud, and the whole experience caused me and my husband to think we were just cattle shoved in so the company could make a buck. I don’t mind feeling like a customer, but feeling like livestock is right out. For Italian, Buca di Beppo (hi, **PinkMaribou**!) and Biaggi’s can’t be beat. Very good food. Not sure if either have made it all over yet - they’re smaller chains here in the midwest (Buca started in Minneapolis). ---
**Author:** ![Winnie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e480ec/32.png) [@Winnie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winnie)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2005, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-chain-restaurant-has-the-best-food/297895/71 "2005-04-07T14:25:49Z")
> [@CapnPitt](#): > > You’d think you couldn’t get good food at a gas station. That’s true. But you can get GREAT food at a gas station in Pennsylvania if you stop at a Sheetz. We have them in Virginia now, too! But the first one I ate at was in Gettysburg, PA. We went up there for the day and wanted a snack for the ride home. Mr. Winnie got one of their made-to-order subs, and I must say it was GREAT! Very fresh, tasty, the bread was perfect. We gave it 2 thumbs up. ---
**Author:** ![paa3838](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9de053/32.png) [@paa3838](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paa3838)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2005, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-chain-restaurant-has-the-best-food/297895/72 "2005-04-08T01:28:05Z")
I love the **Cheesecake Factory**. Also: Panera Melting Pot Quizno’s Inn-N-Out Burger ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2005, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-chain-restaurant-has-the-best-food/297895/73 "2005-04-08T04:30:59Z")
**Panera** – love the onion soup and the portobello mushroom sandwiches. The carrot bundt cake is also fabulous. **The Cheesecake Factory** – best cheeseburger I’ve ever eaten. The chocolate cake I had there was perfect. **Macaroni Grill** – I’ve only eaten there once but they had a woman wandering around the tables singing opera. Swoon! **Pizzeria Uno** – Basically the best pizza chain. **Olive Garden** – I love the fact that the soup and breadsticks are included with the entree. The minestrone is one of my favorite fast food soups ever. The red sauces tend to have too much sugar but everything else is generally quite good. I’m especially fond of the Chicken Castellina entree. ---
**Author:** ![Large\_Marge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/50afbb/32.png) [@Large\_Marge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Large_Marge)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2005, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-chain-restaurant-has-the-best-food/297895/74 "2005-04-08T06:37:25Z")
My favs: Wahoo’s Fish Tacos In-N-Out El Pollo Loco Naugles ---
**Author:** ![Trunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2005, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-chain-restaurant-has-the-best-food/297895/75 "2005-04-08T12:00:21Z")
**Panera** makes some tasty stuff. Of course it’s hard NOT to make a better tasting “bagel” when they’re loaded with that much sugar and butter. Those things are closer to a donut than a bagel. I don’t know what happened to the “bad” thread so maybe this belongs there, but my major complaint with the chain places is not so much the food, but the atmosphere. . .kids, flair, too much lighting, stupid shit on the walls, generic feel. Being in an atmosphere that you like is a big part of dining out. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2005, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-chain-restaurant-has-the-best-food/297895/76 "2005-04-08T17:06:29Z")
> [@Gail](#): > > _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._ > –Cervaise That was **Dignan** , actually. Just FTR. Last night I ate at [Rockbottom](http://www.rockbottom.com/RockBottomWeb/RBR/index.aspx?PageName=/RockBottomWeb/RBR/LocationFinder.ascx&SectionName=Root.LocationFinder&SiteID=10000). I’d been there before; pretty decent for a chain brewpub. ---
**Author:** ![Zjestika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/8edcca/32.png) [@Zjestika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zjestika)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2005, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-chain-restaurant-has-the-best-food/297895/77 "2005-04-08T19:15:48Z")
My regional favorites: **Beef-A-Roo** , **Happy Wok** , and **Maid-Rite**. The only thing I miss about my home town is the food. And my family, I guess. I like **Buca di Beppo** , too, although I tend to drink so much wine before the food comes that I’d eat anything. But **Chipotle** and **Noodles and Co.** are definitely the best. The food always tastes fresh rather than super processed, and you can eat for around five or six dollars. Mmmm… burrito. ZJ ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2005, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-chain-restaurant-has-the-best-food/297895/78 "2005-04-08T19:56:36Z")
What, you mean there really _is_ a restaurant called “Beef-A-Roo”? All this time I thought it was a gag from _Dork Tower…_ ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2005, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-chain-restaurant-has-the-best-food/297895/79 "2005-04-08T20:03:31Z")
I have a new choice as well: Too Jay’s. It’s a chain of delicatessens that has several locations around Orlando and elsewhere in Florida, but I’m not sure how far out they spread. I was skeptical at first, after being unimpressed by so-called “delis” like Schlotzky’s. But yesterday I went to Too Jay’s for my first time, and I was blown away! It was like having a New York City/North Miami Beach-style deli right here in central Florida. They had, among other things: Nova Kippered salmon Whitefish salad Pastrami Corned beef Chopped liver Stuffed cabbage Beef tongue Brisket Liver and onions Fresh-baked soft rye bread (perhaps the best I’ve ever had) and challah I love this sort of traditional Jewish deli food, and I’d eat if every day if I could afford to. Now that I know Too Jay’s is like this, I’ll definitely be back more often. ---
**Author:** ![Nutty\_Bunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d07c76/32.png) [@Nutty\_Bunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nutty_Bunny)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2005, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-chain-restaurant-has-the-best-food/297895/80 "2005-04-08T20:35:40Z")
I don’t think anyone’s mentioned **Chili’s** yet. I love their mushroom jack fajitas. And **Cracker Barrel** has great hashbrown casserole. When I lived in NC, I was never a fan of Chick-fil-a. Must’ve been a Southern thing. [sub]I like Olive Garden.[/sub] [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-chain-restaurant-has-the-best-food/297895.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-chain-restaurant-has-the-best-food/297895.md?page=5)