EntropySink

Nothing & Everything => Open Discussion => Food and Naked Yodeling => Topic started by: Jake on December 21, 2012, 03:22:07 PM

Title: eating out
Post by: Jake on December 21, 2012, 03:22:07 PM
where do you guys eat out and why? looking for suggestions for national chains of sit down style inexpensive restaurant (applebees, red lobster, etc.). We eat out 1 to 2 times a month (as a family, I eat out a lot when traveling) and it is usually either Sweet Tomatoes (http://www.souplantation.com/), Chilli's or Olive Garden. We all really like sweet tomatoes - I think it is a bit more healthier, plus their coupon deals are pretty sweet. Love that chilli and other soups. Kids like it too.
Chilli's I like because they are consistent; coast to coast - I am almost always very happy with the quality of food and service.

Place I really don't like is TGIFridays: I haven't been there for several places, and probably a handful of times total before that, but it has always been a bad experience.   
Title: Re: eating out
Post by: charlie on December 21, 2012, 03:37:03 PM
I like BJs. I also like to eat at the restaurant of that name. It's a brewhouse, but not bad for kids anyway. Mimi's Cafe isn't bad and is usually very good with kids (they don't bring out hot plates, they get food to the kids quickly, etc). We like CPK, too. There isn't a Chili's or Olive Garden that's all that close, but we do go to those places if they're around and we feel like chain restaurant food.

We also got to Denny's a lot (and by a lot I mean a couple times a year) mostly because we still remember it from college as the place to go for $3 meals even if they don't have those anymore.

Don't like P.F. Changs, it's way too expensive for what you get. We also haven't gone to Outback in a while, just doesn't do it for us I guess. I'd agree on TGIFridays.
Title: Re: eating out
Post by: KnuckleBuckett on December 21, 2012, 06:51:22 PM
Olive Garden blows IMO. 

National chains worth going to...
Carrabba's
Texas Roadhouse
Outback
Longhorn Steakhouse
Golden Corral (No.  Really.)
Moe's
White Castle and or Crystal (This could be a personal issue.)

Crappy or meh ones...
Olive Garden (You know!  the Italian place that people go to for the salad, because the bread tastes like raw dough and sodium and the pasta dishes are made in a factory and sent to the chain in frozen pans.)
Red Lobster
Applebee's
TGI Fridays
Ruby' Tuesdays
Chipotle (Yeah.  I said it.  Whatcha gonna do about it?)
Macaroni Grill (Used to be good.  Now they are just kind of snooty.)


Title: Re: eating out
Post by: jkim on December 21, 2012, 10:18:01 PM
I am really anti-Golden Corral.

TGIF and Applebee's are only good if you go late for half off apps.
Title: Re: eating out
Post by: Mike on December 21, 2012, 10:33:52 PM
In-N-Out Burger is a must go
Title: Re: eating out
Post by: jkim on December 22, 2012, 01:14:55 AM
Also, it's not particularly cheap and I wouldn't consider it a "chain" (although now that I look at a map, there's a bunch of locations in California), but I really love the Yard House that opened up by me.
Title: Re: eating out
Post by: KnuckleBuckett on December 22, 2012, 09:31:52 AM
I am really anti-Golden Corral.


Why?  Maybe the ones you visit are crappy.  Ours are pretty decent and have the best breakfast offered by a chain that I am aware of.
Title: Re: eating out
Post by: Jake on December 22, 2012, 09:42:01 AM
Also, it's not particularly cheap and I wouldn't consider it a "chain" (although now that I look at a map, there's a bunch of locations in California), but I really love the Yard House that opened up by me.

Yeah, I really like the yard house too...but it is more expensive than the other places we're talking about. But the food (and beer) is really good.
Title: Re: eating out
Post by: Jake on December 22, 2012, 09:43:19 AM
>>Golden Corral (No.  Really.)
I've been there a few times, usually when out of town. The closest one to my house is about an hour away so that eliminates it.

>>Chipotle (Yeah.  I said it.  Whatcha gonna do about it?)
Yeha why? I do like some chipotle for lunch.
Title: Re: eating out
Post by: jkim on December 22, 2012, 10:14:21 AM
I am really anti-Golden Corral.


Why?  Maybe the ones you visit are crappy.  Ours are pretty decent and have the best breakfast offered by a chain that I am aware of.

Well there are none in the northern half of New Jersey. I've only been for team dinners on the road to track meets, so probably in the middle of PA, OH, or WV. I don't know. I was always very underwhelmed.
Title: Re: eating out
Post by: Betazep on December 22, 2012, 10:54:35 AM
Is Buffalo Wild Wings a national chain?  It is not the same as the family style restaurants you are talking about... but at the moment I have a strong urge to eat some chicken. :)
Title: Re: eating out
Post by: Perspective on December 22, 2012, 11:01:20 AM
I like Jack Astors for the beer and cheddar soup. Don't know if they have those down your way.
Title: Re: eating out
Post by: Jake on December 22, 2012, 01:21:25 PM
Is Buffalo Wild Wings a national chain?  It is not the same as the family style restaurants you are talking about... but at the moment I have a strong urge to eat some chicken. :)

bdubs is really popular with guys at work. I swear they eat there 3/4 times a week.
Title: Re: eating out
Post by: charlie on December 23, 2012, 02:51:46 AM
Hooters apparently has good food. In n out doesn't count cuz it's fast food and we don't want to go there.

Edit: Meaning we don't want to take this conversation in that direction or we'll go way off topic.
Title: Re: eating out
Post by: Mike on December 23, 2012, 03:21:22 AM
Quote
Hooters apparently has good food.
Meh, it is alright but they are down right slow to refill your unlimited wings.

In n out doesn't count cuz it's fast food and we don't want to go there.

Edit: Meaning we don't want to take this conversation in that direction or we'll go way off topic.
I'll cut you!
Title: Re: eating out
Post by: kermi3 on December 23, 2012, 02:36:04 PM
If we're talking fast food - then add in Five Guys...but seriously - what's your beef with Chipoltle?  So tasty....

I don't tend to go to many national chains - I'll do Applebees every once in a while.  Panera bread is good too....

When I'm here in Baton Rouge (where there are lots of national chains), I'm a fan of BJ's - really like their BBQ chicken chop salad.  Gotta think on this one smore more - do'nt really have a high concentration of national chains in NYC or NOLA (especially NOLA).
Title: Re: eating out
Post by: Mike on December 23, 2012, 02:52:46 PM
If we're talking fast food - then add in Five Guys...but seriously - what's your beef with Chipoltle?  So tasty....

I don't tend to go to many national chains - I'll do Applebees every once in a while.  Panera bread is good too....

When I'm here in Baton Rouge (where there are lots of national chains), I'm a fan of BJ's - really like their BBQ chicken chop salad.  Gotta think on this one smore more - do'nt really have a high concentration of national chains in NYC or NOLA (especially NOLA).
I just started going to Five Guys, they are alright.  A step up from most places for sure
Title: Re: eating out
Post by: kermi3 on December 23, 2012, 03:07:30 PM
Yea - Shake Shack is better IMO.  Same premise - upscale fast dining.  It's primarily in NYC now, but they're expanding...
Title: Re: eating out
Post by: KnuckleBuckett on December 23, 2012, 04:15:30 PM
Chipotle is overhyped and generally poor quality ingredients in my experience.  Five Guys has dropped in quality in the last few years also.  I get the fries there.

BJs are great.
Title: Re: eating out
Post by: kermi3 on December 23, 2012, 04:47:03 PM
I disagree on Chipotle, but I agree that Five Guys has dropped in quality.  The one I used to go to in Virginia was much better than the ones in NYC.  The cajun fries are fantastic though - even if they are just well cooked fries with lots of Little Tony's seasoning....
Title: Re: eating out
Post by: charlie on December 23, 2012, 10:38:56 PM
In n out doesn't count cuz it's fast food and we don't want to go there.

Edit: Meaning we don't want to take this conversation in that direction or we'll go way off topic.
I'll cut you!

You'll cut me because I suggested not starting in on a fast food tangent?
Title: Re: eating out
Post by: ober on December 23, 2012, 11:43:52 PM
Bdubs... love that joint.  I don't care for some of the other chains like applebys, TGIF, etc.  We do panera every once in a while.

I dig chipotle.  I like Five Guys... but I hate the fucking fries.  Awful.

Red Robin is some good eatin though.  I think that's a national chain.
Title: Re: eating out
Post by: kermi3 on December 24, 2012, 12:27:49 AM
Oooo.  Only been to red robin once but I really liked it.
Title: Re: eating out
Post by: Mike on December 24, 2012, 12:41:23 AM
In n out doesn't count cuz it's fast food and we don't want to go there.

Edit: Meaning we don't want to take this conversation in that direction or we'll go way off topic.
I'll cut you!

You'll cut me because I suggested not starting in on a fast food tangent?
yes.  Plus chipotle was already brought up
Title: Re: eating out
Post by: kermi3 on December 24, 2012, 12:43:18 AM
Chipoltle isn't fast food - it's Fast Casual.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fast_casual_restaurant
Title: Re: eating out
Post by: Mike on December 24, 2012, 01:46:58 AM
Then In-N-Out isn't fast food, it is fast awesome!
Title: Re: eating out
Post by: charlie on December 24, 2012, 12:59:39 PM
In the fast-casual/fast-awesome category I like Chipotable, Five Guys and In-n-Out roughly the same. A little edge for the first one for having something other than burgers.