Spinoff: Worst Chain Restaurants

[Shanna-like-Banana]

I'll play.

Applebees is the top of my once used to be good, but not anymore list. I think a LOT of it has to do with how old and worn down the restaurants are. When you feel like you're sitting in a dingy, grimmy atmosphere, you're not as apt to enjoy the meal. Plus over the years, it really seems more and more like Chef Mike is cooking the food. Chef Mike = Chef Microwave, getting food that's scorching hot on the edges and cold in the center

PF Changs has def gone down since we started eating there 10+ years ago, but nobody else does chicken lettuce wraps like they do, so I just cant quit them. The closest location is over two hours away, so we only get them when we go out of town.

I think it's telling how many people say Applebees across the board. I live in a smallish town, and have a few over the lower tier chains, the biggest named resturants we have around here are Chilis, Applebees and Ruby Tuesdays, we don't even have a Cracker Barrel, Out Back, those are the next town over

 

[katie01]

That's funny, we love Cracker Barrell. When we are on a family vacation, it's hard to get dinner anywhere for less than $100, but CB has an affordable meal and we can actually get fruits and vegetables for sides, unlike most of the other chain restaurants where it's only french fries or other greasy food. We usually get some sort of white fish, or the grilled chicken tenderloins, we like the biscuits/corn bread that come with the meal, and then for other sides we usually order some combo of a side salad, cottage cheese, fresh fruit plate, or fried apples. It's pretty hard to ruin fresh fruit and salad--I'm curious what people ordered that tasted disgusting? The grilled chicken isn't anything fancy, but it's not dry and tasteless either. I totally get people have different tastes, I'm only curious!

I agree that Red Lobster has gotten way too expensive for what you actually get. I feel like the cod dinner at Culver's tastes so much better (and gives you double the portion) of any fish I've ordered at Red Lobster. The biscuits are good though. I agree with a PP, also being in the Chicago area, that you really can't get superior seafood around here.

 

[eeyoreandtink]

Olive Garden
Applebees
Red Lobster
These are the 3 that we avoid at all costs.

Seeing a lot of people say Cracker Barrel, but we enjoy it.

 

[DawnM]

There are a lot of them I don't care for. We haven't eaten at an Olive Garden in a LONG time, and one of the only things I like about their salads are the pepperoncinis!

We don't eat out at chains all that often unless it is fast food, but I am pretty picky about the fast food. I can't stand Jack in the Box, Burger King, KFC, any of the fish fast food places, or most pizzas.

 

[bcla]

I have not seen "unconditional love." I see people just sharing that they like this particular restaurant. And defies "rational explanation?" What? I think I can confidently say that most people who have gone to Chick-Fil-A enjoy the food and receive excellent customer service. It's okay that you happen to not like the food, and it's a shame that you happened to receive meh service, but it seems that your experience is the anomaly that defies rational explanation.

I hear people talk about it like it's mind-blowing, like finding the perfect steak. And perhaps a little of the devotion they get is related to some of the extracurricular stuff that their ownership engages in (or has more recently tried to avoid).

It's a fried, breaded chicken sandwich. I remember 20 years ago McDonald's had something similar that I thought was better. I did get one a couple of weeks ago. I was staying in a hotel room and brought it to my room. stuffing it in that foil-lined bag kind of messed up the bread.

 

[Christine]

There are a lot of them I don't care for. We haven't eaten at an Olive Garden in a LONG time, and one of the only things I like about their salads are the pepperoncinis!

We don't eat out at chains all that often unless it is fast food, but I am pretty picky about the fast food. I can't stand Jack in the Box, Burger King, KFC, any of the fish fast food places, or most pizzas.

I went back to an Olive Garden last year--just looking for some salad. I was bummed to realize that it was predominantly iceberg lettuce as the base, versus romaine. Really, iceberg? Blech. The breadsticks aren't what I remember either. They just taste really fake.

 

[Bilberry]

About the only chain restaurant that I don't care for is Wendy's. I'm not a big chain food eater as it is, but for what ever reason most foods from Wendy's tastes terrible to me.

 

[JaxDad]

I hear people talk about it like it's mind-blowing, like finding the perfect steak. And perhaps a little of the devotion they get is related to some of the extracurricular stuff that their ownership engages in (or has more recently tried to avoid).

It's a fried, breaded chicken sandwich. I remember 20 years ago McDonald's had something similar that I thought was better. I did get one a couple of weeks ago. I was staying in a hotel room and brought it to my room. stuffing it in that foil-lined bag kind of messed up the bread.

Ah, I think the bolded is actually YOUR rational explanation.

I live deep in Chick-Fil-A territory, and I just hear it's a good sandwich and good service. Nothing mind-blowing. I personally think the key is that they pressure deep-fry it for just 3-4 minutes, so less time in the oil.

 

[kmb584]

For me, it's Applebee's. My daughter loves it so I'll indulge her sometimes (like, twice a year, ha!) and take her to lunch there, but I haven't had one thing there that I've even somewhat enjoyed. I've ordered chicken and I don't know what kind of chicken it is, but it doesn't taste or feel like chicken. I've ordered alfredo pasta and it comes out with a cup or two of water in the bottom of the bowl. I've ordered salads, but there isn't a normal dressing to be had. Now, if I'm taking her to lunch there, I eat beforehand!

 

[VandVsmama]

I have a few:

• Cracker Barrel - I will go once in a blue moon for ODD who loves their chicken & dumplings. Almost everything there is gross. Their pancakes & bacon are fine, but it's pretty hard to screw that up.
• Applebee's - hate the way the food tastes & looks. It's like a sad version of TGIFriday's or something.
• Red Lobster - for me, it's the smell. Every single Red Lobster I've been to smells like rotting fish. And most of the stuff on their menu is either fried or sauteed in a lake of butter and oil.
• PF Chang's - I don't understand what the big deal is about this place and why people flock to it. I'd rather just get more authentic stuff from a locally owned & operated Chinese restaurant instead.
• Village Inn - where good food goes to die a slow agonizing death, complete with pie a la mode.

 

[Kitty 34]

Olive Garden and Red Lobster. I'm not a fan of Applebee's but after visitng our DS and family in Oklahoma last year and going there....it has some sweet memories for us. We just won't talk about the food part.

 

[jliehr]

I think a lot of it is geographic. I live just outside of Chicago so seafood is very, very hard to come by here. There are a few really ritzy places in Chicago that will set you back a fortune. And not to mention, I'd have to make a bit of a drive for them. So I'm content sticking with Red Lobster which is about 10 minutes from where I live. If I lived in Boston, then of course, I wouldn't touch Red Lobster with a 10 foot pole.

You say you love Olive Garden and I wouldn't be caught dead in one. But that's because I have an abundance of top quality italian places near me with prices comparable to Olive Garden.

Ate at Joe's in Chicago a few weeks ago, fabulous meal. It has nothing to do with Joe's Crab Shack, luckily a vendor picked up the tab.

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

(Not trying to be overly negative because I also like a lot of places) I just cringe when I hear that somebody is wanting us to go to Olive Garden. It seems way overpriced, and I really really do not like the food. I figure it would be cheaper to just go to the grocery store and buy some cloves of garlic to chew on instead. I am not a big fan of Fazolis either, but it beats the heck out of Olive Garden if I am going to go somewhere I don't like I also just won't do Red Lobster. I am not a big fan of seafood, so yea... no sense in me going there. I have been like once, and did not like it.

On the way "budget friendly end", I just straight up refuse to go to Taco Bell. Long John Silvers is also on my avoid list.

Anything else, I can pretty much live with.

 

[RedAngie]

Chili's. The food is decent, but I always get crappy service.

DH and I got decent food at a Chili's in Orlando last year, but the service was so horrible it was the only time I can remember when we didn't leave a tip.

 

[Micca]

We've mostly given up on chain restaurants. We seldom go out to eat any more so it isn't a big sacrifice. I will give a dishonorable mention to Ruby Tuesdays. I had always wanted to try it because...it's such a good song. Five years ago we moved to our current location and there was a RT about 5 minutes from the house and it was awful. Some years went by and a some friends wanted to meet there so we tried again...still awful. That location has since closed.

 

[Poohforyou]

Cracker Barrel has changed over time. First one I went to decades ago was in Nashville (I was on a business trip there), where they served me one of the best breakfasts I've ever had.

They then started expanding and the food and service began to decline. Last time I ate at one (about three years ago) I decided they were being taken off the (relatively small) list of chain places I still occasionally patronize.

Interesting that no one here here has brought up Brio Tuscan. That one seems to be either loved or hated; I've never met anyone who is neutral on it.

Brio is great for happy hour but it doesn't do much for me otherwise. My daughter likes cheesecake factory so we'll go there occasionally. I much prefer local places. We have so much to choose from.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

We've mostly given up on chain restaurants. We seldom go out to eat any more so it isn't a big sacrifice. I will give a dishonorable mention to Ruby Tuesdays. I had always wanted to try it because...it's such a good song. Five years ago we moved to our current location and there was a RT about 5 minutes from the house and it was awful. Some years went by and a some friends wanted to meet there so we tried again...still awful. That location has since closed.

A lot of em have. It's a shame. That was one of the few CABs (corporate American Bistro) that really had a chance. It flirted with greatness. But their standards have fallen off and now they flirt with mediocrity..... From the bottom side.

 

[Pacolovestacos]

Ate at Joe's in Chicago a few weeks ago, fabulous meal. It has nothing to do with Joe's Crab Shack, luckily a vendor picked up the tab.

Haha yes that's one of the few places you can get outstanding seafood. Prices are a problem though. That's more of a special occasion type of place for us locals.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

I can't say Chik Fil A is the worst. But it's in reality average. I don't see anything to distinguish it as worth going out of my way. Pro tip. If you get it to go, ask for the same container the grilled comes in. It won't soggy the bun nearly as much. The sodium content is very high. Then again so is most everyone else's chicken sandwich too.

Some lady in Philadelphia sued because there was allegedly a mouse baked into her bun. Well. If she was a disser, we'd know who she named as worst.
http://www.grubstreet.com/2017/08/chick-fil-a-sued-for-baking-mouse-into-sandwich-bun.html

 

[wonder whisper]

Brio is great for happy hour but it doesn't do much for me otherwise. My daughter likes cheesecake factory so we'll go there occasionally. I much prefer local places. We have so much to choose from.

I'm with you on preferring local places. As for Brio, I feel it's overpriced for what one gets and the service at the one in my area is beyond slow.