# Worst Chain Restaurant **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 23, 2012, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-chain-restaurant/632389 "2012-08-23T15:45:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-chain-restaurant/632389/121 "2012-08-24T21:44:56Z")
> [@Max\_Torque](#): > > [Firehouse Subs](http://www.firehousesubs.com/) recently opened a few locations in our town; they’re quite good. I still love Port of Subs…too bad the closest one to where I live is 3 hours away. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-chain-restaurant/632389/122 "2012-08-24T23:49:10Z")
I have not seen Chuck E. Cheese’s mentioned here yet. They would not make the list here, but they do serve what looks like food, and portray themselves as a restaurant. The ghastly food and the noise - awful in the extreme. I am thankful my kids are grown past that stage now. I would eat anywhere listed so far before going back to Chuck E. Coli’s. ---
**Author:** ![meenie7](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7993a0/32.png) [@meenie7](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/meenie7)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-chain-restaurant/632389/123 "2012-08-24T23:56:23Z")
> [@Kiros](#): > > I happen to live right in the middle of Suburban Chain Restaurant Central - 20 or so of your favorites within a 2 mile radius of our apartment. Thankfully, I also live less than 20 minutes from some absolutely excellent restaurants, both local unique places and local restaurant group mini-chains. Unfortunately, when my parents come to visit, they will almost always go for the ‘safe’ place that is a 60 second drive. Most of these are squarely in that $10-20 entree, cuisine that won’t offend anyone type chain, and over the five years that I’ve lived here, I’ve had at least a couple of meals at most of them. Seeing your location, I live not too far from you. What are your favorites of the local restaurants that aren’t big chains? I have liked all the Max Restaurant Group places I have been to (Trumbull Kitchen, Max Downtown and Max Burger). To be on topic – I have epic hate for Applebees and 99, and am meh toward the Olive Garden and Red Lobster. I like Red Robin better. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2012, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-chain-restaurant/632389/124 "2012-08-25T00:32:51Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > I have not seen Chuck E. Cheese’s mentioned here yet. They would not make the list here, but they do serve what looks like food, and portray themselves as a restaurant. The ghastly food and the noise - awful in the extreme. I am thankful my kids are grown past that stage now. I would eat anywhere listed so far before going back to Chuck E. Coli’s. Chuck E Cheese would be awesome if it weren’t for the kids and food. Dave and Buster’s games, for instance, suck. I just wanna drink and crawl through plastic mazes and play cheesy kinetic games! ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2012, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-chain-restaurant/632389/125 "2012-08-25T01:49:17Z")
My worst fast/chain food experience ever, in the history of my life, was when I made the mistake of ordering imo’s pizza in missouri. Holy Shit. Maybe I’m spoiled on the pizza thing living in the Chi. area, I don’t know. This “pizza” wasn’t even funny. Absolute garbage, and I noticed,at the bottom of the menu, that mozzarella cheese was “available on request.” I know this isn’t the pit, but fuck you imo’s. ---
**Author:** ![Sister\_Vigilante](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@Sister\_Vigilante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sister_Vigilante)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2012, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-chain-restaurant/632389/126 "2012-08-25T02:08:10Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > 91 posts and not a single mention of the horror that is\*\* Waffle House\*\*? :eek: > > I’ll just assume it was a given… Waffle House has the best grilled chicken sandwich I’ve ever had, every single time I’ve been there. The portion size has gotten smaller though. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2012, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-chain-restaurant/632389/127 "2012-08-25T02:15:33Z")
> [@meenie7](#): > > Seeing your location, I live not too far from you. What are your favorites of the local restaurants that aren’t big chains? I have liked all the Max Restaurant Group places I have been to (Trumbull Kitchen, Max Downtown and Max Burger). > > To be on topic – I have epic hate for Applebees and 99, and am meh toward the Olive Garden and Red Lobster. I like Red Robin better. Max’s Oyster Bar is also very good. (just moved from central-ish CT). First and Last Tavern is pretty popular, but not my favorite. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2012, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-chain-restaurant/632389/128 "2012-08-25T05:10:05Z")
Really, the only chain (assuming it includes fast food) that I think is truly mediocre is McDonald’s. And, even then, it’s only that way if you get the basic stuff. And, even then, it’s only that way because they changed the fry and nugget formulas. (The main burgers have always been inferior.) Then again, I have to admit that my idea of dining high on the hog is somewhere like Applebee’s. I honestly wonder if the reason people don’t like that place is that they don’t order their well-done steak, because it’s amazing. (I do know that all the clone recipes assume a medium-rare steak, seeing as they don’t season it.) ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2012, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-chain-restaurant/632389/129 "2012-08-25T05:13:37Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > Then again, I have to admit that my idea of dining high on the hog is somewhere like Applebee’s. I honestly wonder if the reason people don’t like that place is that they don’t order their well-done steak, because it’s amazing. (I do know that all the clone recipes assume a medium-rare steak, seeing as they don’t season it.) I got a steak once at Applebee’s and it was the worst steak I’ve ever had in my life. I complained and got my money back and they got their steak back. So, no. Granted, it wasn’t well-done, but I’m pretty sure that wouldn’t have helped it. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2012, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-chain-restaurant/632389/130 "2012-08-25T11:20:10Z")
I guess I live in an area where the chain locations are better than the norm, because I’ve never had a problem with most of these chains. The service, while not four-star, is usually tolerable, and the food is usually pretty tasty. And most of them are happy to make substitutions. Or maybe I just have low expectations. 😃 That being said, the worst of the bunch is Applebee’s. Their steaks are tenderized to within an inch of their lives, everything comes with some damn sauce, and they can’t make substitutions or leave sauces off some of the food. They’re usually crowded, too, and I’m not going to wait an hour for mediocre food when I can get better somewhere else with less of a wait. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2012, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-chain-restaurant/632389/131 "2012-08-25T13:15:34Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > Chuck E Cheese would be awesome if it weren’t for the kids and food. Dave and Buster’s games, for instance, suck. I just wanna drink and crawl through plastic mazes and play cheesy kinetic games! Maybe they should kick the screaming children out at 8:00 and start serving alcohol and wings, call it Chucks After Hours or something. ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2012, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-chain-restaurant/632389/132 "2012-08-25T13:27:12Z")
Mid-level family dining restaurants: Applebee’s hands down. I’ve live in a chain restaurant dominated suburb and across the street from an Applebees. Been here for six years. I’ve eaten at all the chains a dozen times at least. Except for Applebees, to which I’ve been only twice. Once to try it, a second time to confirm that it was as awful as the first time suggested. Though Guy Fieri recently opened one of his Johnny Garlic’s restaurants here as well and it is makes a run for the money (the food is better but it is multiples of the cost). Pizza: Sbarro. For a long time I didn’t know they existed outside of airports and thought they must have been created to give people stomach cramps so that they wouldn’t otherwise notice how unpleasant flying is. Fast Food: In ‘n’ Out. I don’t eat beef. So any fast food place that sells horrible fries and only offers me an American cheese-on-a-burger-bun grilled cheese is awful. Now that Five Guys is here too, they are in a tie. Breakfast Places: IHOP. They sell pancakes with what is essentially frosting on them. The abomination level is too high. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2012, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-chain-restaurant/632389/133 "2012-08-25T19:36:19Z")
> [@MsRobyn](#): > > That being said, the worst of the bunch is Applebee’s. Their steaks are tenderized to within an inch of their lives, everything comes with some damn sauce, and they can’t make substitutions or leave sauces off some of the food. Let me guess-the steaks still have marks from where the jockey was whacking it. > [@Ludovic](#): > > Chuck E Cheese would be awesome if it weren’t for the kids and food. Dave and Buster’s games, for instance, suck. I just wanna drink and crawl through plastic mazes and play cheesy kinetic games! Nobody makes good arcade games for, you know, the arcades anymore. I loathe those ticket games especially-give me a whole bank of classic games like Berserk, Defender, or Battlezone and I’m happy all day. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4bbf92/32.png) [@Charlie\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Wayne)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2012, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-chain-restaurant/632389/134 "2012-08-25T20:20:33Z")
> [@hogarth](#): > > According to Wikipedia, Red Lobster is owned by Darden Restaurants (who also own Olive Garden). The info I posted was 5 years old and so it may well have been sold since then. I apologize if my info was incorrect and I thank you for the corrections. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2012, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-chain-restaurant/632389/135 "2012-08-25T20:52:11Z")
> [@Sister\_Vigilante](#): > > Waffle House has the best grilled chicken sandwich I’ve ever had, every single time I’ve been there. The portion size has gotten smaller though. Actually, not\* all \*of the food at the dreaded Waffle House is putrid. Its just that the whole experience is scaring. Worst locations, always dirtier than a bus station shit-house, and usually more dangerous. The “decor” is wretched, the staff are straight out of a horror flick and the customers! Well, I’m not sure I can adaquatly describe them! I imagine thats what Riker’s Island is like. The whole experiance just make you feel the need for a shower afterward. But, like someone pointed out earlier, Waffle House really isn’t a resturant. Its more a “milestone”. ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2012, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-chain-restaurant/632389/136 "2012-08-25T20:59:32Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Actually, not\* all \*of the food at the dreaded Waffle House is putrid. Its just that the whole experience is scaring. Worst locations, always dirtier than a bus station shit-house, and usually more dangerous. The “decor” is wretched, the staff are straight out of a horror flick and the customers! Well, I’m not sure I can adaquatly describe them! I imagine thats what Riker’s Island is like. > > The whole experiance just make you feel the need for a shower afterward. > > But, like someone pointed out earlier, Waffle House really isn’t a resturant. Its more a “milestone”. Yeah that pretty much sums up Wafflehouse. Whenever I’m driving in the south I have to stop at one. I think it’s to get that authentic redneck feel. ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2012, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-chain-restaurant/632389/137 "2012-08-25T20:59:43Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Actually, not\* all \*of the food at the dreaded Waffle House is putrid. Its just that the whole experience is scaring. Worst locations, always dirtier than a bus station shit-house, and usually more dangerous. The “decor” is wretched, \*\*the staff are straight out of a horror flick \*\*and the customers! Well, I’m not sure I can adaquatly describe them! I imagine thats what Riker’s Island is like. > > The whole experiance just make you feel the need for a shower afterward. > > But, like someone pointed out earlier, Waffle House really isn’t a resturant. Its more a “milestone”. Ah, yes, the dreaded “waitressaurus”. ---
**Author:** ![chizzuk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@chizzuk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chizzuk)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2012, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-chain-restaurant/632389/138 "2012-08-25T21:15:48Z")
> [@Ellen\_Cherry](#): > > I don’t understand the hate for Cracker Barrel. We almost exclusively get the breakfast, though. They had some pancakes with granola in them or something one time and they were fantastic. Oh and I forgot! I went there once for Thanksgiving (long story) and it was great! Maybe they’re better in the South? I’ve only been to Cracker Barrel once (for dinner), but my order was so ridiculously over-salted that it was inedible. And I’m someone who absolutely loves salty food, but this was just waaaay too much. The thought of going back makes me cringe. I’ve also only been to Denny’s once. The food was okay, but there was a situation at our table with a plate being served from the kitchen with part of a dirty old burger stuck to the bottom of it, so I’m never going back there, either. It was so gross. If I’d ever been to places like Bob Evans or Red Lobster, those would probably be in contention for the worst, but we never went to Bob Evans when I was younger because my parents thought it was nasty and we never went to Red Lobster because my brother hates seafood. Since then I’ve heard so many complaints about the food at both places that I won’t even try them. So I can’t express an opinion. In terms of chain restaurants I’ve actually been to multiple times, the worst one has to be **Applebee’s**. This remains the only restaurant I’ve ever been to where I can’t find a single thing on the menu that looks appetizing. I’m not the most adventurous eater but whenever I go to any restaurant, I can always find at least one thing to order that sounds good. Not at Applebee’s. Flavorless, reheated crap. The problem is that I know several people that like it (heaven knows why), so I get stuck going every few years. Worst fast food for me is **Sbarro**. Really soggy, nasty, greasy pizza that I invariably associate with I-95 service plazas, which are gross enough in and of themselves. I almost threw up once after stopping at one in NJ, and ever since just seeing the logo turns my stomach. Give me McDonald’s any day. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2012, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-chain-restaurant/632389/139 "2012-08-25T21:19:10Z")
My only problem with Red Lobster is they’re overpriced. ---
**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2012, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-chain-restaurant/632389/140 "2012-08-25T22:17:17Z")
> [@Rubixcube](#): > > Applebees by a large margin, all of the other chains I’ve eaten at have food that’s at least edible. Not fantastic fine dining mind you, but it’s generally pretty tasty for the price. Applebees on the other hand…well let’s just say that I’ve had Banquet frozen meals that taste better than most of what they sell. Applebees is disgusting, primarily because every meal is pre-cooked and then frozen, shipped to the restaurant, and just waits to be ordered. There is nothing fresh at applebees, and I still can’t believe they are in business. And for what you get, they are not cheap. Two meals plus tip can run you $50 easy,which is a lot to pay for their frozen crap. Applebees gets my vote. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-chain-restaurant/632389.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-chain-restaurant/632389.md?page=8)