Chains you're tired of making excuses for?

Question

Have a chain that you enjoy, yet you constantly see it getting ripped here or elsewhere? Tired of having to defend it over and over again? Is that what's troubling you today, poopy?

Me too. In my case it's Outback. I go there for the pork chops, and the wife loves the chicken pasta. We use call-ahead seating and never have to wait. So ease up. The desserts are good too.

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All chains are purely money makers, built by the rich to make themselves richer. They are not quality food establishments. Even places like Ruth's Chris are easily outdone by other steakhouses here in Atlanta. I don't hate, but I truly dislike all of them.

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Panda Express, Round Table pizza

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Um, mine would not be a chain restaurant but rather a chain grocery store that claims to offer a unique shopping experience. I'm afraid to even utter the name anymore lest I be drawn and quartered.

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Pretty much any chain that ever gets mentioned here. Apparently there's some thrill to posting and telling a bunch of strangers about how superior and much better developed your own palate is to those of the ignorant masses flocking to whatever given chain establishment you don't like. 

I particulary love the threads wherein a poster asks if anyone has any pointers on what to order at a place they don't frequent but have been given a gift card to, and there's always three or four responses about how they shouldn't go there in the first place, or some similar unhelpful comment.

But since you asked, Cracker Barrel, Red Lobster, Outback, etc., all get a lot of flak here, but as far as a family meal, they are OK. Am I going to get something there that will make me think about it for days afterwards? No, but I also know where I can go when the kids go to grandma's and my wife and I want to have that sort of dining experience.

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In the US: Chipotle, IHOP, Tasti-D-Lite, Ruby Tuesday (ONLY for the salad bar deal).

In Canada: Pizza Pizza, Chez Cora, Bridgehead Coffee, Panini (really only for the bread grill).

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Lick's, Sunset Grill, Pickle Barrel, Starbuck's, Costco (take-out pizza), and Hooter's.

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Noodles & Company (cheap, great for families, something for everyone and Fresca on tap)
Pei Wei (no other chinese place near me offers brown rice)
Uno's
Cheeburger Cheeburger
Good old Whopper
Good old Egg McMuffin

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Chez Cora. Don't care what you think. I like it. More for me.

Carl's Jr. I like it better than In-N-Out. If you don't, well, I'll be one fewer person in line at the drive-through of doom.

P.F. Chang's. I know it's not an "authentic" Chinese place -- neither are 95% of the Chinese places in this country. It's nice to have a place where I can sit in a reasonably nice environment, linen napkins, and not have the burden of shifting my coworkers' food paradigms on my shoulders. Because, y'know, sometimes I put the CH instinct on "pause" for the sake of consensus.

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Chilis has gone down the tubes.

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red lobster. the rest of the food may be so so, but those cheddar biscuits are still durn good.

mcdonald's. sometimes you've just gotta have those fries. dipped in sweet 'n sour sauce. and if it's been a REALLY tough week...add a big mac or some chicken nuggets. sorry kids, but that's the truth! i grew up loving those foods, and some things just never change...

a note on the chain restaurant discussion: i disagree that "chains are simply made for convenience and you need to accept the tradeoff." i think the real reason behind a chain is, as someone briefly mentioned, consistency. if you find something that you like at a chain restaurant, then you know you'll get that exact same item prepared that exact same way at any other location of that restaurant. and sometimes, that's a really good thing.

also, the comment implying that quality control doesn't occur at chain restaurants is, in my opinion, off the mark. i would argue that quality control is actually easier at chain joints, as the food is mass produced and arrives at the restaurant already prepared, for the most part. automated and mechanical "cooking" procedures also make quality control really easy.

i think the real reason that food at chains is not usually as good as an independent restaurant is the fact that the food is mass produced and, at least to some extent, pre-prepared.

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Ohh, and Subway :p

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PF Chang's is actually very good . . . for what it is. Yes, we all know it's NOT authentic, but who cares?

TT

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Uno's ...not for the pizza but the rest is pretty decent gourmet fast foood

Wendy's ONLY for the mandarian chicken salad....actually kinda healthy and an easy lunch (w/o the dressing)

Fudrukkers cause I like the shakes

Friendlys....reminds me of my youth and....well, sometimes you NEED a super-melt, Fribble and Reese's Pieces Sundae

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PF Chang's for the inauthentic Kung Pao Shrimp!

Red Lobster for the Snow Crab Legs and Drawn Butter!

Popeye's Fried Chicken for the Three Wing Dinner (Cajun-style, please)!

Waffle House for the Scattered, Smothered, Covered, and Peppered DOUBLE Hashbrowns!

Taco Bell for the Taco Supreme (crispy shell)!

But I hate Applebee's, no matter how many Tyler Florence ads I see!

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Have to agree with wittlejosh about PF Chang's and Waffle House chains. I love 'em. And about Applebee's which I can't stand but must eat at frequently. 

Chili's is great for high-end junk food. Red Robin has those bottomless fries with that seasoning they put on the tables. And they have a burger with pineapple and cheddar and teriyaki sauce. Decent turkey burger too...

Ooh! Don't forget Dairy Queen and Wendy's. And Panera. 

And I still just flat-out loathe McDonald's. No fix for it. 

After having been to Longhorn Steakhouse for the first time recently and having had a delightful filet mignon followed by a Ghiardelli brownie sundae the size of my head, I will defend it vigorously from the opinions of any naysayer. I would probably sell my soul for beef and a brownie sundae if I was hungry enough.

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Cheesecake Factory

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Taco Bell. No, it's not Mexican food, but it is cheap & tasty.

Popeye's Fried Chicken

In & Out Burger

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I love a 4-star meal, a local joint & chains. Sometimes it is the company and conversation & not the meal.

Local Chain-Cookout
Outback
McD's.

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I like Subway and A&W, Taco Bell, Wendy's, Chicken Delight, Red Lobster, Chili's.
 I did have a couple good meals at Applebees, but hey, maybe my palate is not as refined as all you other CH's out there. (or maybe the canadian applebees are just better, i ate there twice while in the states and was not impressed either time)

actually. i also ate at an A&W and a wendy's and some other place i can't remember the name of, and at all those places the food was very bland and tasteless. has anyone else noticed that american fast food just isn't as good as canadian?

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I love Chilis and have for many years, through college, after hours with coworkers at my college retail job many years ago, several boyfriends, catching up with girlfriends. It's a mainstay and I always find something there I like to eat - the Carribean Chicken salad comes to mind. 
I am miffed that they took the Tuna Steak sandwich off the menu though.

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Starbucks (Blue Bottle is not on every corner, and Starbucks cofee IS good, just don't put flavor syrups in it! Oh, and those Egg Florentine breakfast sandwhiches are extremely delicious!)

In-N-Out (I don't eat there a lot, but it is fresh-tasting and good)

Chipotle (come on, you know the ingredients are good quality)

Popeyes (spicy chicken, red beans and rice, biscuits. 'nuff said)

La Salsa (not authentic, so what, there's plenty of those in Concord, but La Salsa has habanero salsa!!!)

Johnny Rockets (great burgers and atmosphere at good prices)

Peets (when I want real robust flavor, but I actually prefer Starbucks)

Costco and Trader Joes (they're just chains I like, no need to defend them, who doesn't like them?)


Beard Papa (good for what it is)

Out The Door (does 2 make a chain?)

La Pinata (2oz tequila margaritas and great food. family owned, but there's like 6 or 7 of them)

Quiznos is fairly good in a pinch (better than the others in it's category)

That's all I can think of right now. I have no problems going to chains if they have quality ingredients, and with the possible exception of Popeye's all of these fit that bill. I hate chains like McD's, Taco Bell, BK, Subway, etc that have HORRIBLE quality ingredients. They have weird taste to their food.

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Chili's - Consistent food, decent service.

Starbucks - sorry, but I LIKE their coffee. Black.

Hardees - Hot Ham and Cheese and CURLY FRIES!!! mmmm

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cheesecake factory & carraba's. it's not haute cuisine, but who wants that all the time. cheesecake factory has good salads and carraba's has great bread & dipping oil & fried calamari.

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Wendy's
In 'N Out
PF Chang's
Bamboo Club
Benihana's
Taco Bell
Shakey's Pizza

There are so many listed here that we no longer have. They've closed down so many.

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arby's - (pseudo)beef & (pseudo)cheddar and those greasy as hell potato cakes...with extra horsey sauce. effin a!

taco bell - crunch wrap supreme (killer stoner food)

safeway - their paninis are a good value

jimmy john's - when you need a decent sub

peet's - the mocha freddos are like crack

jamba juice - macha green tea mist

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Jamba Juice, Starbucks are consistent for good product and snappy service. ("Hey Barb! That's a Razzmatazz with a Energy Boost comin' right up!")I'm a sucker for Taco Bell, too. Glad I'm not alone...such a guilty cheap pleasure, (in that order).

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Here in Los Angeles, my top picks in this category would be three Mexican chains: Poquito Mas, Baja Fresh, and El Torito (at least the ET branches in Beverly Hills and Marina Del Rey).

I also give honorable mentions to Cheesecake Factory and Jerry's Deli.

Every one of these chains has at least a couple of strong reasons to recommend it.

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I will always have a special place in my heart for McDonalds because of the afternoon in Rome, Italy, when I saw the arches and knew I would find....no not good food, but more about that later. I knew I would find a clean American style bathroom. The funny thing about the food was that 'when in Rome' etc. seems to be true for McD's as well. They had a salad bar that held beautiful fresh vegetables and fresh mozzarella.

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Cheesecake Factory's menu frustrates me. It is like a phone book! I took my mother and she wanted to order just the right thing...But their lemon rasberry cheesecake helped me deal with my anxiety.

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Growing up in the middle of the country, where decent seafood was (at least when I was little) pretty hard to come by, I have always liked to go to Red Lobster. My husband, who lived for many years in Oregon, loathes it.

We just went to a place in Joplin last week that I hadn't ever heard of but I understand is a chain, called Johnny Carino's (I think). It was pretty decent.

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Island's

I enjoy many items there, I like it fine.

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Papa John's Pizza: it gets to my house quickly and it is always hot. The sauce is good compared to the other chain pizza joints and I can order online. The wings aren't half bad too.

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Bojangles

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People have previously mentioned In-N-Out, which surprises me.

I don't make excuses for In-N-Out. I say I go to In-N-Out and no one ever questions it, save for the one response asking how it's overrated, but no one ever says it's bad.

I say Starbucks -- I like their seasonal lattes.

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My guilty pleasure is Steak and Shake. The fries are incredible and so are the shakes.

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Wendy's
Applebee's
Chili's
Fire and Ice
KFC

I love them all and I am not afraid to admit it...lol.

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Souplantation

Cheesecake Factory

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Has anyone mentioned Panera? I LOVE their sandwiches & soups. Great bread. They just started making pizza also that I have heard is good, but takes a long time.

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Jack in the Box

Especially their shakes now that they include the whipped topping and a cherry on top!

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Cheesecake Factory
Buca di Beppo
Yardhouse (only for happy hour)
Lucille's
Roy's
Nobu/Matsuhisa

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I love the Texas Roadhouse and I'm not afraid to admit it. No, my ribeye isn't prime, which makes perfect sense because we're not *paying* for prime. I'm paying for consistency, friendly (but not cutesy) and competent service, and a tasty meal. (And oddly, a side salad which I find addictive for some reason.)

Bonuses - jeans are expected attire, kids are welcome, and I don't have to consider a 2nd mortgage if said kids dine with my husband and I.

Spaghetti Warehouse is a different story - I'm convinced their fried calamari is about the best I've ever had - but hate just about everything else. Oh, well, the canneloni isn't bad. Not what I'm used to from when I lived in NY/CT, but really not bad.

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Sweet Tomatoes (the NorCal version of Souplantation). I like the broccoli salad & chowder, my hubby and daughter like the chicken soup and foccacia. It's a great place for fast, inexpensive, semi-healthy food. In second place: Chipotle, which uses a lot of Niman Ranch products and just got sold by MacDonald's.

For worst chain, I vote for anything by Wolfgang Puck. I've eaten many times at several of his restaurants in LA and Vegas (on business expense accounts) and have yet to have a good meal.

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Sweet Tomatoes, yes I agree, Claudette! I usually avoid any salad bar type establishment but this was clean and the selections were good. We found this chain when we were visiting an elderly relative in Florida. She and her "girlfriends" love it for the prices. (LOL, she even gave us advice about making free lemonade with the water and lemon wedges.)I wish there was one here in the Westchester area.

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I like Famous Dave's for BBQ pretty well. But now that I have a smoker at home, it doesn't have quite the pull it used to have.

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I'll eat at baja fresh sometimes. Also my mother and I go to Newport Bay,(Or/Wa chain) every now and then, the food is so/so.

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Papa Ginos
Tony Romas
Longhorn
Chick-Fil-A
Olive Garden (but the wait puts me off every time)
Cheesecake Factory (ditto)

Went to Wahoo's Fish Taco once and liked it very much - unfortunately a second trip is tough since we're in Massachusetts.

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Outback definitely rules for an inexpensive and descent meal. Add a lobster tail for ten bucks, can't go wrong. As far as chains I have never been let down by the Cheesecake Factory. Huge menu everything is good. Don't get me wrong I also like fine dining but fast and tasty is okay most of the time

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I forgot to mention Daily Grill. Good as far as chains go (IMHO).

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I like to try local fare when I travel, or maybe a chain that's not available in my area (Cheesecake Factory being my favorite away from home). But sometimes if I can't figure out where to go, it's nice to have a chain there that I know will be consistent, especially since I'm very health-conscious and will already know which items are healthy. Ruby Tuesday being my favorite with their salad bar and ever-changing menu. Second is probably Chili's, yes sorry for the haters on here, but I do love Chili's because of the very wide variety. I used to like Applebees too but after going about once-a-week with my elderly in-laws, that got old fast. The one thing I'll say for Applebee's is that they have a yummy weigh-watchers menu and some new items recently that are pretty darned-good. Happy Eating.

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If you have good local joints to frequent, why go to a chain?? Wouldn't you prefer to keep ALL of your money in your community? I don't care how the food is, as long as my money is ending up in the pocket of a person or people 200 or 1000 or 3000 miles away, I'm out.

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Because:

1)Because sometimes it is just easier to do logistically. I ate at the Cheecake Factory recently while shopping at the mall with a friend. We were not going to leave the mall, go up the street to a local place that I like, and then come back to the mall. It was expensive for what it was, but it was decent, our server was nice, I was able to smoke in the bar
1.b. Sometimes they are the only ones open.
2)I don't have kids, but I can speak for those who do in that a lot of chains make it quite easy to feed a whole family, especially with picky kids. Yes, one should seek out local family oriented places, but sometimes it might be easier to take the rugrats to Red Robin.
3)We like the food, as the title of the thread states,one can not always be a food snob.
4)Sometimes you are with company that prefers a chain, sometimes compromises are to be made. I'd rather have a sh*tty meal and good company, than a great meal with an a-hole.

I, like you, do not normally choose to go to a chain, but it happens, and I make the best of it.

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1. El Torito Grill 
2. Round Table Pizza
3. Yardhouse
4. Finbar's
5. Carl's Jr. (Western Bacon Cheeseburger)

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I've never actually had to make an excuse for it, but I really dig Schlotzky's.

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Starbucks - I like their roast and their coffee is decent even if there are better options in Seattle

Chipotle - Pretty decent. Better than any other Mexicanish chain other than the local Tacos Guaymas.

Pagliacci(local pizza chain) - It may not be as good as whatever you had back in NYC/Chicago/Naples but it isn't trying to be that either. It is a damn slight better than any of the national chains and even most of the local ones.

Jack-in-the-Box - My guilty pleasure for largish burger joints. Sure their stuff is over-processed but I like it way better than anything I've had at McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's, or Dairy Queen.

Quiznos - better than the alternatives.

Chain grocery stores - convienient, good selection, good sales, open late/24hours, not too horrible for the fresh stuff if you shop carefully.

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I finally thought of one that no one else had mentioned and I MISS...John Havard's. They don't have tons of locations but there was one on Long Island that I used to go to and LOVED it. The beer was respectable and the food was totally decent. That is one chain I do miss and would purposely make a point to go to next time I see one!

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Mitchell's Fish Market (Cameron Mitchell)
The Oceanaire
Lettuce Entertain You
Select Restaurants
McCormick and Schmick's
Maggiano's (Brinker)
Cheesecake Factory
PF Chang's
California Pizza Kitchen

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Arby's. I can't eat the fries anymore - they upset the stomach but I still love the sandwiches. I have to admit that I really miss Roy Rogers.

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PF Changs and Maggiannos (70 minutes away when we hit Trader Joes and Wild Oats)
In and Out, Macayos and Red Robin (when we visit my niece in AZ)
Locally we hit Outback, Chilis, Chipotle and Rotelli for a chain but mostly stick to locally owned places.

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Outback - Great steaks for the price
Bonefish - Good selection of fish, bang bang shrimp, not a fan of the sauces
Cheesecake Factory - the mediocre food is balanced by the cheesecake
Chipotle - love the salad with all the toppings

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Wings and Things... I can't help it. 

Applebees and Olive Garden are proof that Satan exists.

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claim jumper - love the soup and salad.
starbucks - green tea latte... i can't find it anywhere else, and i can't make at home nearly as tasty.

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the Cheesecake factory...a few good things, 2 or 3 great things(dulce de leche cheesecake especially) ,and a bunch of stuff that is not much better than Denny's

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Honestly, all of them. Chains, barring the occasional totally out there experience, deliver largely the same thing each time. you shouldn't be suprised about what your'e getting and getting into for the most part. I like KFC, Taco Bell, In N Out, etc etc at different times. Those times are few and far between, but when I've got a craving or when I'm on a road trip and other options are quick and easy and knowable...I do turn to the chain and having to "defend" the option or the restaurant itself gets old pretty quickly.

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