"99" restaurant... tell me about it please.

[Papa Deuce]

We have one opening in our area. I have never seen one before. Kinda looks like a kid friendly Applebee's. I know it is a chain. I went to their website.

Do you like it?

 

[gallaj0]

We have a bunch around here. We go quite a bit with the kids, the food is great. In fact, my DS just walked in, and wanted to say its really good.

He also wanted to add the jumpy guy.

If yours is as popular as ours, use their call ahead seating. Walk-ins on a Friday or Saturday night around here can be well over an hour wait.

 

[sunny_medford]

We L*O*V*E the 99. Ours is about 45 min away so we don't get there as often as we would like. My DH and I have each had really good steak there, mine was prime rib cooked to perfection. My step-daughter (17) loves it so much we got her a gift card for christmas so she and friends could go. She loves the chicken/broccoli alfredo. My youngest dd(5) likes it more than the rest of us. Every time we've been she's had different games on her menu so she's never bored with that. She always eat mac n cheese or chicken tenders when we go out (for her thats a treat). They really cater to her and have given her full size sundaes at the end of her meal instead of the size that comes with the kids meal. We have a fav waiter too! I hope the one in your area compares. Typically for 4 of us to eat we spend $70-85 including tip and drinks. (x-lrg beers for dh and margaritas for me, softdrinks for kids)
I say try it, you really won't know for sure otherwise.
Wendy

 

[monarchsfan16]

I guess you could say it's Applebees, Ruby Tuesdays, and maybe a steak place all rolled into one. Definitely kid friendly. We've got 3 or 4 within 20-30 minutes of us depending on traffic, and have had them forever. We don't go to them that often. The food is good, but we have other places in our area we like better. We've also never been that impressed with the service at any of the ones we've been to.

 

[kathyk2]

Love the 99. They are all over the place here in Mass. The burgers are huge. I also like their boneless bufallo wings and country fried chicken.

 

[cepmom]

we have at least four close by...Dh goes there a lot with the girls since I work most Friday and Saturday nights. I am not overly impressed with the 99, but it's not bad either. We like it better than Applebee's though....in fact, DH refuses to go to Applebee's ~ otherwise known as "Crapplebee's" in our house!

 

[Papa Deuce]

Good to know. Most important was kid friendly and decent food....

I have never even seen one until today. It looks like maybe 2 months til it opens by looking at how much is built.

 

[irishbosoxfan]

This is one of the dining establishments I miss the most being in the Midwest--Well anything and everything about Mass food I miss but used to fill up on those wheat crackers and port wine cheese before dinner then take the food home--Steaks are great(not Outback great but great nontheless) Do they still do the cheese and crackers?

 

[ILUVMYBRIT]

Yeah they still do the cheese and crackers. You have to ask though or you just get popcorn. I think last time I was there they charged us .99 for the cheese and crackers but they are still yummy.

 

[sunny_medford]

I forgot how big the burgers were! and the toasted ravioli......MMmmmMMMmmmMMmmMMMmmMmm!!!!!!!!!

 

[pixiemomma]

O'Charley's is one of their sister restaurants? It must be good.

 

[DawnCt1]

99 replaced a Ground Round in our area. Everyone in our family absolutely hates it! Maybe its this local restaurant but we found the steak tough, the salads boring, it just wasn't good.

 

[bicker]

My wife and I don't like The 99 Restaurant, probably for the same reason a lot of folks around our area do like it.

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

PD,

Knowing your love of BBQ and I think your appreciation for food I would say that the 99 is just OK. The prices are good but I must tell you I had a couple of really bad experiences sanitation wise at two different ones and you could not drag me back if my life depened on it. I know I am in the minority but judging from some of the places you have mentioned and I have tired this one does not really stack up. Yeah they give you popcorn(sometimes) and/or crackers and cheese whiz (sometimes) but all in all it is much worse than the rib chain that you have near you and just opened in MA last spring.

I went to one and got seafood chowder. I a mouthfull and knew something was wrong. In the chowder I found a piece of raw chicken!! It must have fallen in somehow. I called the waitress and she took it away and asked if I wanted my salad. I said no b/c I was on the verge of throwing up. I did not even get an apology from the manager. When I wrote a letter they basically told me they would look into it. This was a major heath hazard and cross contamination to the hilt. I KNOW THese things happen in restaurants and I am sure that they do not want to call attention to it but they did not handle it well. I had other questionable incidents too but this was the last straw.

The origianal 99 is right down the street from me and I will also tell you that quality wise they have gone down, down, down over the past years. Give it a try I am sure they will be on their best behavior when they first open.

 

[pjlla]

We are not picky and have never had a bad experience at a "99".... but their margaritas are the absolute BEST around..... head and shoulders above Applebee's, Pizzeria Uno, Chili's, etc............P

 

[Crankyshank]

The 99 is far superior to Applebees imho. I would compare it more to a TGI Fridays. They have great drinks too!

 

[DawnCt1]

Where is the original 99? thanks

 

[Lorix2]

Papa Duece - I've been a server at the "99" for 14 years. One of our asst mgrs just got back from training waitstaff at your location.

The menu is varied and there's something for everyone and reasonably priced. I don't think you're new location will be offered cheese & crackers and popcorn actually..I think I heard all the new locals are doing away with them.

We are "known" for our beef tips which are marinated in italian dressing, with you're choice of potato and veg, or low carb sides (mashed cauli & steamed broccoli) and the portions sizes are 8oz, 16 oz and 24 oz. You can have them 'smothered' in sauteed mushrooms, peppers & onions for .99 extra. Our buffalo wings (boneless) are awesome too.

We have been bought out by O'Charley's last year, but are maintaining the 99 name.

As with every new restaurant, there will certainly be "kinks" to work out and any you experience should always be brought to managments attention, but I would certainly try it out, you get great portions for the money, very reasonably priced.

Also, - Bella the ball - the cheese offered with crackers are real cheddar mixed with real bleu cheese chunks...not cheese whiz.

 

[Lorix2]

Where is the original 99? thanks

The original "99" was founded at 99 State Street, Boston, MA by the Doe family. Because this location was so successful, they decided to name the chain "The 99 Restaurant and Pub".

 

[DawnCt1]

The original "99" was founded at 99 State Street, Boston, MA by the Doe family. Because this location was so successful, they decided to name the chain "The 99 Restaurant and Pub".

I didn't realize it was the same thing (DUH) When DH was in med school and we lived in Marlborough, we would go to the one in Sudbury. It didn't seem like a chain and I liked the food then.