Best chain overall?

Question

I've always been pleased with Houston's. In the higher end, I think The Chart House is very consistently good and most locations have great views. Since I have little to eat--fish-eating vegetarian--at most of the big steakhouse chains, they hold little allure for me.

Answer

My favorite of the chains is easily Texas Roadhouse. Their steaks and ribs are consistently wonderful, sides are top notch, and the margaritas are pretty darn good. Now if only it wasn't so damn loud in there.

Answer

I had a meal at an Outback in Fort Lauderdale and I was very disappointed , not up to the usual standard for OB

Answer

Everytime I eat at Outback I am consistently disappointed. I find it impossible to get a rare steak at this establishment. I get medium, well done, if I'm lucky medium rare. If steaks are their core-competency and they can't get that right how good can they be. Service is also consistently bad.

Decent Chains in Southern California:
Buca de Beppo
Maggianos
Mortons
Lawrys
Claim Jumper
Mimi's Cafe (Fair)
King's Fish House

Answer

I love Chipotle! I find their ingredients to always be fresh, and I love the "subway-esque" set-up, so you can see exactly what is going on your burrito. 

I also think their atmosphere is very amusing (Small mexican statues of Aztecian gods and the workers wearing shirts that say Master of the Grill, I made the Guacomole this morning, etc)

Answer

I'm a Hound who is not anti-chain for the most part.

Some chains I really enjoy:
Flemings
Chipotle
Bonefish
Brio Tuscan Grill
Five Guys
Penn Station Subs

Some chains I don't mind going to under the right circumstance:
Carrabas
Quiznos
Outback
Baja Fresh

Answer

I typically avoid any and everything to do with chains, but I will go to Houston's any day of the week. 

I have never been impressed with the charthouse. Just a Landry's / Joe's crab with a better view.

Answer

Outback's food is pretty blah, but the worst part is they don't even try to emulate any Australian fare. Nothing on the menu attempts to be Aussie and they only have one beer from OZ: Fosters. People might like or not like Olive Garden, PF Changs, etc. - but at least they attempt a certain cuisine.
Outback simply takes a dish such as Buffalo Wings and renames them with an Aussie moniker. Me thinks Australia should file a grievance with the U.N.!

Sample menu for laughs: http://www.outback.com/ourmenu/menu.asp

Answer

Guilty pleasures:

PF Changs (great ribs and lettuce cups)
Melting Pot (fun activity for the kids)
Cheescake Factory
Chipotle

Answer

Some chains I like (I am in SoCal):

PF Changs
Rubio's
Souplantation
Chipotle
In N Out (for the rare occasion I eat a burger)
Roy's

Most of these (except Roy's) are lunch opions near work. I am forced to go to Olive Garden and Bennihana for family gatherings, but I do so under protest.

Guilty pleasure: TacoBell bean burrito, baked in the oven till crisp with lots of Fire sauce. Shh! Don't tell the other 'hounds! It's a leftover from the "salad days" of my 20's!

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Best chain overall?

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