Spinoff: Worst Chain Restaurants

[Bianca and Bernard]

Thought of another..

Golden Corral. Back in the early 90s, they were pretty good, at least the one where we lived at the time was. They'd make the rolls fresh and people would line up at the counter at the oven station to get hot, fresh rolls.

We really dislike it now. The whole chocolate fountain thing, ick...and the rolls are not hot and fresh anymore.

 

[dreiwhit]

I'm with you on preferring local places.

There's a few mom & pop places around here, but most are the chains.

Its sad about Applebee's, because that's the restaurant my wife and I used to eat a lot at back in the 1990s and early 2000s when we were dating/engaged/newly married. She loved the food, and I have to admit it wasn't bad back then.

Just my opinion, but i've noticed that in the past 10 years that, due to the economy, restaurants have either cut back their portions, cut back their quality, raised prices, or a combination of the above. Unfortunately, it has lead to many restaurants that used to be good (Applebee's, Ruby Tuesdays, Olive Garden, Macaroni Grill) not being worth eating at anymore.

And even if the food is good, the service is hit or miss. I once got a waiter at a Mexican restaurant fired by telling the manager how poor his service was and how bad his attitude was. He didn't realize that some gringos spoke enough Spanish to understand the insults he was muttering while service us.....

FWIW, eating out has become a luxury for us. If we do eat out, its Milo's (a local chain) or Steak & Shake.

 

[dclpluto]

Applebees

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Ryan's buffets. I would get sick every time I ate there.

Google the Great Ryan's Steakhouse Story - warning, the story & language are not for the faint of heart. But, it's truly hysterical LOL

 

[Gumbo4x4]

They all do this. I've eaten at OG in several states. Those are just Pepperoncini...pretty common in Mediterranean cuisine.

Yup, our local Italian place does the same & the owner is an Italian immigrant.

 

[lovesmurfs]

Its sad about Applebee's, because that's the restaurant my wife and I used to eat a lot at back in the 1990s and early 2000s when we were dating/engaged/newly married. She loved the food, and I have to admit it wasn't bad back then.

Just my opinion, but i've noticed that in the past 10 years that, due to the economy, restaurants have either cut back their portions, cut back their quality, raised prices, or a combination of the above. Unfortunately, it has lead to many restaurants that used to be good (Applebee's, Ruby Tuesdays, Olive Garden, Macaroni Grill) not being worth eating at anymore.

Agree. I once asked for an Applebee's appetizer without cheese (or something), and we were told that the kitchen didn't actually make the food, that it came pre-made and frozen.

I don't know if that's the case for the entrees, or if it's still the case, but it made us go off Applebee's unless we have to meet someone there.

 

[Jennasis]

WAFFLE HOUSE

Golden Corral

Applebees

TGIFriday's

Cracker Barrel

Red Lobster

Sadly, I live in an area where the local mom and pop restaurants are worse than the chains. Truly an abyss.

 

[dreiwhit]

Google the Great Ryan's Steakhouse Story - warning, the story & language are not for the faint of heart. But, it's truly hysterical LOL

I just read it and its been a while since I laughed that hard!

Seriously, I used to get stomach cramps and gas every time I ate at Ryan's. I'm not sure what they did with the food, but it most definitely did not agree with me!

WAFFLE HOUSE

The absolute best customer service and some of the tastiest food that I have eaten was at the Waffle House on Apopka Vineland Road, near I-4, in Orlando. The service was so good that I tipped the waitress heavily and wrote a letter to Waffle House Corporation praising her.