I hate chain restaurants.

[Todd&Copper]

I definitely have my favorite local [non-chain] restaurants, but I've been to a lot of non-chain stinkers, too. Some places people simply *rave* about have been big disappointments, while others are just alright and possibly overpriced.
I do really like Macaroni Grill and Outback. Not a fan of TGIFridays, Ruby Tuesdays or Chilis.

 

[It's A Happy Day]

1st, as a family, we do not eat out that much. I cook 7 days a week and IF we order out/go out we generally go to only a couple places and they are local restaurants vs. chains. Why? Because we live in the area and know those places are to our liking - price and taste.

BUT, when I am going out "with the girls" we do tend to frequent Pub 99 or a couple other chain restaurants. WHY? Because menu options vary to suit nearly anyones tastes and price. Or, Like PP, when I am on vacation in another area I want to be able to find something I know what the menu is, what the prices are, and although the food may not be A+, it is going to fill my families stomachs and be good (maybe not great but good). I do not want to walk up to a local establishment that nobody in town would dare step foot in or is only suitable for adults and I have my 2 young children, etc.

As for the food not being freshly prepared...take it from someone who has worked in both a sit down restaurant and fast food. Most of the sauces and such are pre-measured but there is actual work involved preparing those dishes - some from scratch others just assembled. Salads are not premade, veggies for most dishes are cut and cooked on site, and I could go on. Don't think because the sign out from says "mom & pops diner" that they are not getting anything premade because ALOT of them purchased pre-made desserts either from local bakeries OR mass merchandisers, frozen french fries, pre-jarred sauces, etc.

Like everything else in life....variety is there to suit 1 persons needs/wants and not anothers. If it does not fit into your lifestyle that's fine, it does however fit into many others. I for one will continue to enjoy my pasta entree's at Olive Garden, my salads from Pub 99, and my Chicken Club and fries from McDonalds drive through.

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

Not really. I eat what I like, regardless of which restaurant sells it. I am not really a culinary snob. If I like the salad at Random Restaurant, I'll go there to get it, chain or not.

Also, not really seeing how it's "frustrating". It's easy to avoid if you don't like it.

Well, I don't think I'm a culinary snob because I don't like a particularly kind of food.

It's frustrating because it seems like these franchises are taking over. It's becoming more difficult to find unique restaurants even in the small town we live in. For instance, if we want pizza, we have to go to a chain restaurant because the three pizza joints in our town are all chains that use frozen pizza dough. That never used to be the case.

While local places are certainly nice I like chains mostly because the consistency is there. If I am here in Missouri or in Florida I know what I am going to get at a chain restaurant versus an unknown experience (could be good or bad) at a local place. I actually look at that as a good thing. Like the PP said it is easy to avoid chain places if you don't like them.

Oh, they're consistent alright, but in my experience they have been consistently mediocre. Different strokes for different folks, I suppose. One of the reason that we like to travel is to try new things, especially food.

I don't necessarily agree. Our local Macaroni Grill is outstanding. I'm sure they work from the same recipes, but they certainly aren't serving frozen food reheated.

There are notable exceptions to my "chain restaurant = bad" rule of thumb. However, most of the chain restaurants where I have dined have served frozen food.

You really think they serve their food out of a box? Explain this, please

Well, you see, some of these chains get their food in boxes from a central location where it is prepared. They then freeze it until they want to use it. A lot of it is not prepared from scratch. I know that some independent restaurants also use frozen foods and other horrible shortcuts liked bottled sauces but I have had better luck finding independent restaurants that produce quality food than I have with chain restaurants.

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

If I am traveling and want a good meal for not alot of money I go to a chain. I know I will get a hot meal that I will like and the price will be within my meager budget.

{snip}

When I was on vacation in Toronto someone recommended a pizza chain which for the life of me I can't remember the name of and it was the worst pizza I have ever had in my life.

I actually find the opposite in terms of price. I have found chain restaurants to cost much more than independent restaurant, except for fine dining, of course.

Was the name of the pizza chain Pizza Pizza? It's horrible but is everywhere in Toronto.

Like everything else in life....variety is there to suit 1 persons needs/wants and not anothers. If it does not fit into your lifestyle that's fine, it does however fit into many others. I for one will continue to enjoy my pasta entree's at Olive Garden, my salads from Pub 99, and my Chicken Club and fries from McDonalds drive through.

I'm not saying that people shouldn't eat at chain restaurants. You seem almost offended that I don't like them?

 

[RSoxFan]

OK, where is there still an East Side Mario's?? That was my favorite restaurant, but all the ones around here closed

 

[Jennasis]

If any of the mom and pop restaurants around here didn't suck to high heaven, then I woul dbe happy to go there. However, they are all smokey, scarey, greasy dives that you couldn't PAY ME to eat at, so we enjoy Chili's, Ruby Tuesday, Logan's, and Red Robin.

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

OK, where is there still an East Side Mario's?? That was my favorite restaurant, but all the ones around here closed

They are throughout Atlantic Canada. I'm not sure where else. Maybe it was better where you are? Here it's packaged pasta with bottled sauce that costs around $15 a plate.

 

[It's A Happy Day]

I'm not saying that people shouldn't eat at chain restaurants. You seem almost offended that I don't like them?

Merely offering an opinion that is different than yours

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

Merely offering an opinion that is different than yours

Sorry. I misunderstood.

 

[BabyPiglet]

I like chain restaurants.

 

[Lintasare]

I actually find the opposite in terms of price. I have found chain restaurants to cost much more than independent restaurant, except for fine dining, of course.

Was the name of the pizza chain Pizza Pizza? It's horrible but is everywhere in Toronto.

It had some Italian name but was obviously a franchise so that may have had something to do with it.

 

[Mkrop]

Like someone else mentioned chains work better with kids. You know the menu and the atmosphere is family friendly.

I would choose a chain if traveling.

I have chains that I like and chains I do not care for. One chain Carrabas does their food fresh and the food is very good. It is one of my families favorites.

 

[Stacerita]

I like chains just as much as local places. It just depends on my mood and where I am at. If I am out of my area, and I am not with a local, then I prefer to go to a chain.

 

[Thats_for_Shore]

As someone who has many good friends who own their own restaurants (mainly seafood), I certainly eat at the "local" restaurants. And I've seen my share of restaurant kitchens and I refuse to eat at some of them.

But, I also eat at many chain restaurants. It totally depends on what you're in the mood for.

 

[Lovin' Lorne]

We rarely go to "local" restaurants. In fact, I can only think of three; one Mexcian one Italian, and one burger joint, and we usually just get pizza at the Italian one. Other than that, it's "chain" all the way. There aren't that many local places that I'd walk in to, since they are either A - way over $$$ or B - so scuzzy looking that I'd probably get food poisioning just walking through the door.

 

[lookingforward]

I love both...chains are perfect fo the "get what you expect" catagory...no muss, no fuss, you know how its going to be.

 

[Cool-Beans]

I like some and don't like others, just like with non-chain restaurants.

I know one guy who is a terrible alcoholic (although if you ask him, he'll tell you that is very good at it and you don't get to be that big a drunk without working hard at it ). He'll belly up to the bar and eat spaghetti with his hands when he's drunk enough. He once wet his pants at a wedding and continued walking around, talking to people until he was nicely escorted out. But he would never lower himself to eat in a chain restaurant. Too good for that. I'm so impressed with his good taste.

 

[mdrob214]

One thing I will not buy at a chain is seafood...let's face it, I get fantastic seafood from the local places...I find that the chains can't compete.

Well, for seafood, there just isn't much where I am from, but I agree with you. I don't like chain restaurants for steak or Italian. They never compare to those we have locally. I am, however, a huge fan of Red Robin's blue ribbon burger

I once went to WDW and ordered a steak at Artist Point, at the recommendation of the waiter. I was very leary of what I would get but it was wonderful! Tried it again at LeCellier and didn't have the same luck. Should've known better.

 

[Cantw8]

I like some and don't like others, just like with non-chain restaurants.

I know one guy who is a terrible alcoholic (although if you ask him, he'll tell you that is very good at it and you don't get to be that big a drunk without working hard at it ). He'll belly up to the bar and eat spaghetti with his hands when he's drunk enough. He once wet his pants at a wedding and continued walking around, talking to people until he was nicely escorted out. But he would never lower himself to eat in a chain restaurant. Too good for that. I'm so impressed with his good taste.

Wow, he sounds like a keeper....you have his number?

 

[Loverly]

There are a few chain restaurants that really have exceptional food & wine-Carrabas, Bonefish Grill, to name a couple.