 Yesterday the New York Times Diners Journal's daily "What We’re Reading" post (with which we are ridiculously obsessed and over which we weep when we [frequently] don't make the cut) pointed us to a 2009 (but new to us) video on Americans’ perceptions of the chain restaurant industry. The National Retail Foundation and Shop.org partnered with ExpoTv.com to ask consumers to sum up what they like about national chains like T.G.I. Friday's, Chili's, Panera Bread and Cracker Barrel. Their overwhelmingly consistent response? Consistency - as manifested in atmosphere, service, menu items, pricing and even uniformity in food size. We get it. We totally do. Sometimes we're out on the road, low blood sugared, beset with ennui - something's gone awry, and we just wanna get fed with no major surprises. There are even a few items (helloooooo Chick-Fil-A chicken biscuit!) for which we beeline when we're in geographical range. But beyond that, in many ways consistency is rather the antithesis of what we're looking for when we spend our money to dine out. Yes, things should be consistently GOOD, but new choices, flavors, dishes, cuisines and ingredients - that's thoroughly linked to our love of the non-chain places. Previously - Poll: Maintenance meals |
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I chose OTHER as my reason because my choice to go to a chain restaurant has little to do with anything other than just to eat something different. I have picked up cooking as a hobby when I was 13 years old and have created my own master pieces in the comforts of my own home. I have also found that cooking healthy and on the gourmet level is actually quite simple if you just educate yourself. Often when I take my family out to eat the common remarks from my family are, "Dad, I like your version better." This not only re-enforces my love of cooking but also shows/educates my children on eating healthy at home. So choosing a chain restaurant for dinner is just something we do for fun!
I don't usually go to chain restaurants except when I have my children with me. We find that chain restaurants are consistent enough that I KNOW I will find something for the picky kids to eat and I will find something to make me happy as well.
Reading about people who frequent chains makes me happy I had a dad who would laugh at me if I suggested we go to somewhere like the Olive Garden. I love that I grew up eating locally and eating well.
Generally I stay away from chains, but every now and then, I get a craving for a few of them (Chik-Fil-A, Panera Bread, and a few others, like Bonefish Grill –which doesn't seem like a chain). When dining out in my own city–which has a big selection of both chains and local places–I tend to frequent the small, local restaurants, even if I pay a bit more. Usually, the food is better and fresher, and I like the feeling of supporting a family business that's been around for years. But I do certainly understand the consistency of chain restaurants–especially if you have a picky child (or adult) who only eats certain things. Also, if I'm traveling, I'll stop at a chain–but that's usually on the actual drive/airport wait, not when I'm at the destination itself.
If I eat at a non locally based chain, it's for one reason... I need something fast, and I don't really care what it is. With the exception of Dairy Queen (I have a Blizzard sweet tooth), I just don't really like fast food or most chains. Local restaurants change their menus by the season (especially those that emphasize organic ingredients), so you're more likely to have a unique dining experience every time.
When my family travels we always end up eating at chains like Sonic, Steak & Shake, and Red Lobster. This is because we don't actually get those chains where we live (even though Red Lobster is advertised to us every 3 commercials). Personally, I'm not a huge fan of chains, and would rather try local food....But I'm only 1/4 the vote.
I stay away from the chains, there are too many local places with better food, better service, and better prices. In my experience, the local places are far more interested in doing their best to convince customers to return regularly. It's a no-brainer to patronize the local places rather than the chains.
Chains are designed solely for creatures of habit. Supporting local business is much better for you and your town. $0.55 of every dollar spent at a local business goes back into the local economy as opposed to $0.15 of every dollar at a corporate business. Restaurants are no exception to the rule. Buy local, eat local, and you'll end up ultimately helping yourself.
Ah, very good, thank you for the info.
I like your figures, but where did they come from?
I eat at chains for a change. We normally eat at our favorite places that are local and, more importantly, close to our house. Every now and then it's fun to just go in Chili's, or some place like that, and eat a bunch of fatty appetizers.
I like chain rest.but HONESTLY there just part of the countrys problem.country needs to start from scratch and learn whats its like not to be financially raped everytime you step outside your home.i thinkk we'll be just fine with out...ie.red freakin robin or chilis where A FREAKIN CUP OF COKE IS 2 BUCKS..ripoff
I like that most chains have nutritional information online. It's easier to eat well when you know how many calories and fats are going into your body.
I was about to make some snobby comment about not eating at chains but I realised that I eat out at chains more often than I think. I don't do places like Olive Garden, Red Lobster, TGIFriday's, etc, because I find the food to be barely one step above fast food restaurants. But I do eat at chains like P.F. Chang's, Ruth's Chris Steakhouse and California Pizza Kitchen. I also admit to Chipotle and Chik Fil-a every few months.
Most of the time when I eat out, it's something local but every now and again I will go to a "high-end" chain or a mid-grade chain that hasn't been beat down on every corner. You find Applebee's and Chili's everywhere, but places like Fogo de Chao don't have that "neighbourhood" feel to it. I try to avoid that, at least.
"Senseless Scribbling of an Idiot" Very interesting. Is this for your personal whimsy?
Where did you get your name from?
Good point. There are some chains that provide excellent food. Compare Ruth's Chis to Aplebee's. Would anyone consider Lidia's a chain because she has a few eponymous restaurants? If so, then the bar set for chains must be raised considerably or divided up qualitatively
Chains are not always consistent – depends on where you live and the pool of employees available for hire. That goes for the managers as well as the lowly sandwich-makers!
hard to choose just one. I think consistency is the biggest factor, but it has to do with liking the food first. I don't particularly like fried chicken so I'm not likely to hit up Popeye's but I'll go to a Taco Bell. It is annoying when you go to a chain that doesn't meet the standards of the others in service, quality, or cleanliness.
I could go for some country fried shrimp from Cracker Barrel right now
Wow CNN, which chain paid for this "article?"
Looks like Olive Garden, Burger King; Applebees, McD's, Panera, Chile's ........ ;)
So not a fan of chains, but here in Cowlumbus, Ohio its either chains or pricey downtown white tablecloth restaurants. Its nice having a night off from cooking so we eat the chain crap sometimes, but I'd so much rather have some cute little family run place or a fun diner or a great pub. Chain restaurant menus are nothing but low quality ingredients hidden under a mountain of fat and salt.
Being a 'supertaster' I cannot stand inconsistencies in food. If you go to a Mom and Pop, the chicken and noodles might have celery one day and carrots the next. This throws off the whole taste and may or may not agree with my overly picky tongue. If you go to Hooters, the wings are the same everywhere, and every time. The only thing that really irritates me is when chains start messing with their menus. Chili's going from Texas Red to Terlingua Chili, for instance, almost ruined my life. It's been years since they made the switch and I went from eating there 4 times a week to 4 times a year. Olive Garden got rid of the manicotti recently, too. These can be devastating for people who have been ordering the same thing for years.
Devastating? Really? o_O
a "supertaster" would notice the inferior quality of chain meals.
Even a supertaster can have bad taste
I try to avoid ALL chain businesses – restuarants, stores, you name it. Primarily because I'd rather as much money as possible stay in my community – a far more likely proposition if I stick to mom and pop type places and regional chains (10 locations or less is generally my rule, but I find it's tricky with some stores/items).
With regard to food specifically – my favorite "restaurant" is the weekly farmer's market. The one in my area sales enough prepared foods on sale that one can actually go have lunch or a quick breakfast and people watch. I also live close to a vibrant downtown, and can bike or walk to most of the higher end local restaurants, whereas the chain places are all so far out on the edge of town that if it's just me in the car, it isn't even worth the gas money. The more
And when you get to the chain restaurants, the quality really does seem horribly mediocre, even if it is consistent. The more day to day, affordable local restaurants, while often slightly more expensive than the chains, I found are still very reasonably price and the quality significantly better. In some cases (especially with southern bbq and asian cuisine, in my corner of virginia) the food is actually cheaper and is better prepared and uses better ingredients.
You do of course realize that most of these chain restaurants are A- locally owned and B – employ people from your community. They don't bus in their own work staff.
I don't like chains either and i myself do prefer to "buy local" but your logic is a bit flawed in my opinion.
It's like people who refuse to buy anything other than American cars. Who do you think works at the Honda plant in Ohio? Americans. Whose GDP does a Honda made in America go to? America's.
I think a better reason to avoid chains is to give the individual restaurant a better chance to get off the ground. Variety is the spice of life. Basil is the spice of a chain restaurant.
The one thing I've noticed since I had a child is that consistency is even more important. Why is there always an assumption when people are eating out that they're looking to try new flavors and dishes? I like the things I like, I go to a restaurant because I have a craving for a specific thing. I'm a picky eater. While there are some local non-chain restaurants I love dearly, when I'm eating out with my daughter, I'll almost always choose a chain because I *know* what I'm going to get. A reliable kid's menu with something my daughter will eat, an ambiance that is friendly towards a boisterous child, and a place that I know has reliable service. Bottom line: I'm not a food critic, I don't care if my experience is new and different each time, eating out for me is to feed my hunger, not some kind of psychological thrill.
My mother always told me that men who are boring with their food choices are usually boring in bed. "Passionate tongues can never eat common food!" My mother's french, so I suppose she knows what she's talking about on food and men.
I'd like to meat your mom
I am so lucky I live in New York and don't have to eat at chain restaurants. I eat out frequently and haven't eaten at a chain restaurant for maybe 6 months. Most of those places are very low brow. I always have to laugh when I hear people get excited over the Olive Garden or Applebees. Thank God I have better taste than that!
Actually, I partially lied. I will eat at Chipotle or Subways, but only if I am broke and/or in a hurry!
I dont know, I always felt like Chipotle was the exception to the rule as far as fast food type places go, but maybe I'm kidding myself. It always seems fresh and much less processed than just about any other chain in its price range.
Yes I go for the chains (except maybe Taco Bell anymore) because they're fast, convenient and consistent while at home and during the workweek (that and I have young children that like fast food fries). When I'm on the road, however, my fast rule is unless we're grabbing that we're eating in the car while driving (fast food burgers work here), we do not go to any place we can go to at home, even it's a chain. Best example I can come up is in 2004, I drove from Iowa to Florida and stopped at Chik-Fil-A while in Georgia since we didn't have one in my town. Now that they've located one in my town, I no longer will stop there while on the road.
The only thing that will get me to eat in a chain is desperation. Like if i've just gotten off a plane and it's late at night and I haven't eaten for 10 hours and I know there is no food at home, which is an hour and a half from the airport. In the last half dozen years, I think I went to a Chili's once (awful), a Red Robin once (mediocre)...and that might be it. I used to like Baker's Square many years ago, but either they declined in quality or my tastes improved because I started to find them disgusting. I have traveled all over the world and have never eaten at a McDonald's or KFC on my trips. I'd rather skip meals than fall back on that kind of thing.
99% of the time, I don't touch chains. That other 1% is when I have a craving for a certain place's certain food. Like, maybe once a year, I'll eat at McDonalds, because I have a craving for their cheeseburger.
One place I never ever dine at: The Olive Garden. There is nothing that they have that I can not make myself, or one of the dozens of local Italian restaurants do not have a better alternative for (and in both cases, I can get it cheaper).
Oh Yes Pete and a McDonalds Sausage egg McMuffin with hash browns – Oh my!
I think generally there is some good advise here for sticking to chains. My wife and I once while away from home decided to try this very nice looking well spoken of independent resturant that was off the hiway in northern Washington. We ordered from a rather pushy guy claiming to be the owner. As I watched the cook who looked very strange, and noted that there was no one else in the restuant, I became concerned. Well okay I and my wife are the kind who keep our word, so we went on to eat a half cooked meal of beautiful salmon and Halibut, and we did not get sick, but later as we talked through the experience we started to wonder if these two guys were robbing the place and we stumbled in on them??? We are now able to laugh about the experience – but we made a vow to each other if we run onto a situation like this again – no more mr. nice guy – we get up and walk out.
Im in the country and while we do have a few great local places they always die out. Locals want their Ruby Tuesdays and Longhorns. They think Chinese food is ethnic food. HA! Our best place is a taco stand in back of a mexican store. Super fresh and inexpensive. My family will drive an hour to go to dinner so we can enjoy a meal out. Like The Afghan Restaurant in Crystal City VA outside DC. AMAZING!
I'm not a big fan of chain restaraunts and rarely "eat out" to begin with. When I DO eat out it's at a locally owned (non-franchized) restaraunt where I know they use fresh ingredients and they food actually has taste. There aren't many chain restaraunts that have good food. People THINK it's good because that's what they're used to and have grown up eating and so their palets have adjusted to the extra fat, carbs and sodium that's used. Once you get off fast processed food like that for a year or so, your body starts to change and you will begin to taste food again like you never imagined. You'll never eat that garbage again I promise. (most people can't do this though....not in this country at least)
I live in a tourist area with lots of independant restaurants. When I'm on the road, I look forward to the chain restaurants as a pleasant change.
I travel about 2/3 of the time and when on the road I often don't return to my hotel room until late afternoon. Breakfast is usually the hotel continental fare and lunch is fast food. A substantial meal is desired for dinner, but due to time and travel restraints, dining out during the week often becomes a commodity as well. The main reason for choosing a chain is convenience. Convenience in turn includes many of the reasons listed: familiarity (with the name), it's close by, it's the only thing around, and reasonable price. When at home, though, I rarely eat in chain restaurants. No offense to my on-the-road coworkers, but I prefer to save the nice dining experience for my wife.
I avoid chain restaurants in favor of locally owned restaurants. BUT- I will chose smaller chains (regional, like Aladdin's Eatery) that serve fresh healthy food.
I avoid chain restaurants with political ties the best I can (Domino's, Chik-Fil-A, etc.) because I won't starve while I find some place that's more local, healthy and mostly politically not involved.
What political ties do those businesses have?
Both are affiliated with Christian Conservative groups. I avoid them for much the same reason (And I consider myself somewhat, if not quite conservative! I just find their brand of religion and politics crass)
I'm clear on Chik-fil-a's religious ties. To what is Domino's connected?
I try to eat at locally owned restaurants as much as possible. They are usually better and you are helping your neighbor. I'm not some grow local, eat local hippie do-gooder but I do feel eating local is better than eating at a corporate restaurant. That being said...bring on the BW3 wings and Olive Garden salad! (from time to time of course)
On the road, we might stop at a fast-food place like Subway or Taco del Mar, or (gasp!) Burger King. When you only eat there once or twice a year, it's something of a treat.
But around home, living just outside Portland, OR – which I've read has the highest number of restaurants per capita – we almost never eat at chains. There are just too many independent restaurants to try. That being said, if we're looking for something quick, you can't beat our local mexican chain, Muchas Gracias!
Exactly! I live in Portland and I don't think I have eaten at a chain since I came home from college – no Subway, no Chipotle, and I would rather DIE than eat an Olive Garden/Chilis/Applebees (puke). You want quick food? Food Cart. Sometimes it takes some effort to get what you want, but it ALWAYS works out for me. I'd rather eat well than eat cheap, microwaved meals from a chain.
I bet 95% of those who said they never eat at chain restaurants have eaten at Chili's or Olive Garden in the past few months.
LIARS!
I actually have no desire whatsoever to eat at a tacky place like that, thank you very much.
we only go where they have the trivia game on tvs
Would you name a few? All we have is BW3's for free trivia and a couple of bars on the beach – and it's out of the way to go to BW3's. We HAD American Pie, but that had SO many strikes against it that it wasn't worth going ..... and it's closed now. ;)
There are some chain restaurants that I absolutely love...like the Cheesecake Factory, Panera, Chipotle, and I am a fan of the Olive Garden's salad. So those are the places I tend to eat at when I am not sure of the restaurants available to eat at. When you are really hungry and go to a "new" place, you run the risk of the food being crappy and still leaving hungry, so in those instances, I rely on chains because I know what to expect. And I consistently order the same thing at every chain. I have started using urbanspoon and other sites like that to get recommendations on eating establishments in my area and in other areas when I am traveling. Where I live now, though, I tend to frequent other restaurants other than chains.
There are very few other choices, in metro area, other than chains. By the time I weed out the Tex-Mex, of which there are far too many, and the fast food, and the greasy spoons, the chains are about all that is left.
Independently owned, is an endangered species.
Yeah, except for all those "greasy spoons" you're leaving out of the equation.
My fave might be Ruby Tuesday- I love their salad bar and they usually have good bartenders. I also like Longhorn, actually for their house salad and baked potatoes. I like Olive Garden, too.
Bensi is an Italian restaurant chain in the NJ area that is awesome. When I travel, I love to go to regional chains I'd never get to go to normally because they don't have them by me. In a way, it makes me feel like I am experiencing a restaurant meal like the locals would. I think there is a restaurant named Fazoli's in St. Louis that I loved. They use a type of cheese called provel that is specific to that region that is yummo.
when I go to California to visit family, I look forward to In-n-Out as much as I look forward to seeing my family ... more in the case of some members of my family
Five Guys and Elevation Burger are both better.
I don't discriminate – I like chain restaurants as much as I like local places. Am I the only one who's gonna stick up for them here? Outback's Bloomin' Onion anyone?? Olive Garden – everything is delicious. So what if it's not "real" Italian food? Tastes great! Red Robin, like the commercial says: "Yummm." Texas Roadhouse's country fried steak with two hearty sides and those amazinggg rolls is an excellent dinner. Plus, there's always enough to take home for later/tomorrow. Ruby Tuesday is a good one, their menu has all kinds of options. And I love Panera, I swear I have cravings for their French onion soup. Of course, not all of them are this great (I'm not a big fan of Applebee's, for example), but the point is, there's nothing wrong with eating at a chain when in the mood for a casual, yummy meal.
P.S. How could I forget IHOP...how could anyone not like IHOP?
Why would anyone want to eat at IHOP now that they no longer offer buckwheat pancakes.
I don't like IHOP, but it's more because of it being packed full of loud talkers and screaming kids. I'm not sure I've ever actually given it a fair chance.
Ever since the IHOP in town started giving free hepatitis with their meals I don't go.
Elitist much, Charlotte? The degree to which you talk down to those who disagree with you in your several posts here is pretty obnoxious. People are different. Some like the tried-and-true, some get bored with that easily and crave new experiences. The difference may even be biological in origin; recent research points to the existence of a "thrill-seeking gene" which can lead people to be more likely to do everything from trying new foods, to skydiving or rock-climbing for fun, to adopting left-wing political views, to cheating on their spouses. None of which, particularly the last, is evidence of any kind of moral superiority. In addition, it's really none of your concern if other people choose to frequent chains, so your rage and loathing about it is sorely misplaced.
We stopped going to IHOP when I picked up a knife and my hand STUCK to it. Ew!
We are SO lucky that we live where there are many other places to choose from for dining out.
I crave Panera's French onion soup all the time. I really wish they would open one near me!
I couldn't really pick any of the options. We eat at one restaurant a week (except on vacation or when I travel for work). So generally that's only 50 some options a year. That means we only make it to places like McDonald's maybe 2 x a year (yes, McD's is a restaurant), or Applebee's once. Most of the time when we do go it's because the advertising of some new item on TV wears us down. So, since it's new to us, it's not really consistency. Love of the food...maybe? I mean, we're going there for the food. And the food is enjoyable if you don't eat it all the time. So yeah. Chain doesn't mean bad...it generally means "acceptable." Chances are it won't be the best food, but due to the "consistency" or whatever that keeps them in business, they are also unlikely to be the worst (seriously...there is a reason some indy restaurants appear and then are gone two months later...it's not always because they're just "overlooked" or "crowded out"...some are just bad.)
Simple - one reason and one reason alone, price. When you're eating on a working person's budget, and just the very idea of leaving your house to have food as opposed to cooking it yourself from bare-bones-basic generic low quality store-branded grocery ingredients is a splurge, you don't wanna drop $30 or $40 on a single meal, no matter HOW tasty or high quality it might be, when you can go to Applebee's or Friday's and fill up for $14.99. I am less concerned about lining some snooty chef's pocket or paying top dollar for overpriced "organic" ingredients, than I am with just not being hungry any more. And if it's between an $8 burger and a $16 one, the $8 burger wins every time. Even if it's not grade-A prime meat.
If you are spending your money to eat out, and let's assume that it's a treat for you and not something that you have the budget for on a more regular basis, it can be extremely disappointing to shell out cash on a meal that isn't good. At least when you go into PF Chang's you know that you're going to like what you order (assuming you've already been). Please remember that not all of us can afford to take a gander on a new place.
Why can't it be both a treat and a budget-conscious spending decision?We have two kids and they like to eat out.So we take them to Olive Garden once a month, Panera every other Friday, Qdoba Grill sometimes– we have a monthly eat-out budget of $250 and stay within it!On another note, restaurant.com has $25 coupons starting at $2 sometimes for local places.We do that too!
I agree with you 100%. Delaware is the exception. I've been to a fraction of the first state several times and, if you don't eat seafood, you eat fast food. Ther is nothing else.
You should break this question into two components: reason around home and place of work, and reason while away.
I don't like chain restaurants as a general rule, but I have been to Panera a couple of times while visiting friends and family out of state, and I find as far as a chain goes, they are fairly decent. We don't have Panera where I live, which is strange because we have every other friggin' chain under the sun.
If I'm in some redneck midwestern town that only has chains and only offers Gallo at the local liquor store, at least if there is an Outback I can go in and get a nice glass of Aussie Shiraz, although I may not bother with the food.
"Sometimes we're out on the road,, and we just wanna get fed with no major surprises. ... But beyond that, in many ways consistency is rather the antithesis of what we're looking for when we spend out (sic) money to dine out." When out on the road, away from home, eating at a non-chain local eatery is a complete gamble. Maybe you'll get a pointer from a local, and maybe it'll pan out, but unless all those maybes line up, it is sometimes just safer and easier to stop at the chain joint, and then move on down the road to the next stop.
"safer"???? Just what are you afraid of?? In most states, restaurants have to pass certain health standards and safety at a chain is no more likely than safety anywhere else. Or if you are afraid of not recognizing the menu items, why not stop at a local place and look at the menu before you sit down. Many actually have them posted on their front window or doorway. If it all looks too terrifying for your system, then go find something that won't frighten you.
By "safer" I didn't mean to imply any kind of health hazard – I simply meant that it was a safer bet that you would know what would be on your plate. I travel a lot by motorcycle all over the country, so I'm often in some little town far away from the highways and the chain joints. When you pop into the local Pop's Diner for lunch, sometimes that simple hamburger is sublime and wonderful, sometimes it is just ok, and other times it can be so bad – you just don't know until you get your food. At least when I do stop at a Chili's/Applebee's/In-n-Out/pick a chain, I have a good idea exactly what I'm gong to get – that's what i meant by safe – it's a safe bet. I'm all for trying the local places most of the time, but sometimes it is nice/comfortable to go for the familiar (especially when I've been on the road for a week or two)
True-When you're exhausted or super-hungry,you just want something you can rely on.I guess in a way,chains offer some kind of comfort in familiarity!
While I do see your point, Dave, I have to point out that there have been times when we chose a chain restaurant because of the familiarity factor when travelling, only to waste our money on a bad or worse meal. I can honetsly say the memorable meals while travelling were at privately owned places who just happened to serve really good food. Couldn't tell you the names of most of those restaurants or even how to locate them again, but sometimes you take a chance and it works out.
I think sometimes it is easy to forget that just because a venue is a chain, doesn't mean that it is in every city. When we travel for business and vacation, we'll do a mix of independent and chain restaurants/fast food. We'll go to the chains we don't have back at home (PF Chang's, Fogo de Chao, Panera, and of course, In-N-Out).
Someone help me out here; when in some European country with great and reasonably priced local cuisine, why do some Americans go to chains like McDonalds for a fat- and salt-laden heart attack bomb?
Truly mystifies me.
Simple answer: American has no "local" cuisine. Sadly our "local" cuisine IS fast food.
But as you pointed out in Europe – ditto with Asia...local food is delicious, not that bad for you, and is super cheap.
Sorry...Local cuisine is all throughout America. It is one of the best experiences to try a local cuisine. Cajun in Nawlins, hoagies & cheesesteaks in Philly, local seafood in any location by the water. Crabs by the Chesapeake Bay. Open your eyes!
Adam, Mike is right and you are mistaken. America DOES have "local" cuisine and the variety is incredibly rich and delicious! Only troglodytes think that hamburgers are actually American food. I know a guy from Ohio who went to a Mardi Gras party and he and his wife "had" to stop at Wendy's on the way home for some "Real, American" food because they were afraid of the "foreign" food at the party. Foreign? Cajun food is as American as apple pie, New England Clam Chowder and roast Turkey! I pointed out to him that New Orleans and its Acadian influenced food were part of America long before there WAS such a thing as a hamburger but he did not understand my point – that just because his house is surrounded by trailer trash eateries does NOT mean that they are the epitome of American cooking and that anything that is different is somehow 'un-American'.
Not me, but I know from my best friend's & my loving hubby's tastes that some Americans just do not have adventurous palates. They eat what they know and will not deviate. I'll eat anything anywhere. Going to other places (either states or countries) is great for me – my #1 rule is not to eat anywhere when I'm away where I can eat at home.
Exactly! My father is exactly like that. He spent a week fixing up a church in Mexico once, and all he'd eat were pinto beans. Of course, his idea of exotic cuisine is spaghetti or lasagna. I'm glad I married a man who likes to experiment with food. When we travel, he researches the restaurants thoroughly before we go and prints out the maps. We usually eat at non-chains, however, because we like ethnic food and chain ethnic totally sucks, except for Olive Garden and P.F. Chang's.
The operative word being "some" (as Americans not having adventurous palates). These so-called Americans tend to be lower to lower-middle class, tend to live in the Bible belt and are also xenophobic about everything else as well as food.
They may "tend" to be where you come from, but the two people I referenced are world travellers, VERY well educated and live far outside the Bible belt. Guess you'll have to troll for your generalizations somewhere else.
To be fair,It's not just some Americans-People from lots of different countries are not adventurous when it comes to food.They just do it a different way.
I love the generalizations about americans tastes, especially when they promote the idea that only americans have idiosyncracies about food! Too funny. That being said, my husband, who has a pretty adventurous palate, was raised in a family where chili and lasagne were considered weird foreign cuisine. I don't need to tell you what they think about sushi, guacamole, or hummus.....
Because they're stupid.
Anytime we travel we look for local places to eat over chains, a local Italian place will beat Olive Garden any day. If we're in a hurry we'll hit up Panera or Au Bon Pain but those aren't as common in some areas of the country so Subway is the only decent choice for fast food.
LOL! Actually ANY Italian place will beat Olive Garden if you want Italian food. What they serve at Olive Garden may be consistent and predictable and mildly tasty, but is sure isn't Italian!
It's funny, my Italian friend prefers Olive Garden to most of the "real" Italian places. We give him so much flack for that.
I hardly ever eat out so when I do it's usually at a chain. The few I do go to are good and the food and service is consistent.
When I travel for business I have a few favorite chains where I eat that are once again good and the service is consistent.
When I'm traveling, I prefer to find something I won't get at home–so no chains. But when I'm home and in a hurry (like I'm taking my kido with), I like the consistency of the service.
I guess they were successful enough to become chains for a reason! Still not my favorite, but always a safe bet. As long as its not Applebees or Chilis. Places like NoRTH, Panera, and BWW I do like though.
Be true to it's heritage! It's BW3. Buffalo Wild Wings Weck. (Not many people knew what weck was so they took it out of their name). Next time check your receipt. I think they still reference it as BW3.
I find BWW's wings to be rather mediocre. For a place who supposedly specializes in wings, Domino's shouldn't have better wings than a wing establishment. (Not complaining about Domino's wings because they are awesome.)
How could you possibly think Domino's has better wings than B-Dubs...
Oh wait, you think Domino's has better pizza than I do too, don't you. Case Dismissed! Papa in the HOUSE!
Some places, chains are all you can find easily, but I still usually only eat at a chain if I have to. Consistency is great, but I think most chains lack in the quality of the food.
I agree. The food is usually consistent in the fact that it's just standard fare that happens to be regognizable. We choose it as an absolute last resort when travelling, when there's not a whole lot around too choose from. At home, we avoid chains altogether, and restaurants in general. Dining out has gotten so expensive, when you can prepare a much tastier, healthier meal at home.
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Wow. You two must either be very bored or have extremely pathetic lives.
They live like meQ %(^$)OKJFOPOIF{}":?NMFDW@%^(
I like chains because they have nutritional info available- sometimes it's hard to figure out what's meat free at local places. That being said, local food is usually better.
And you can thank the Federal Government for the fact that you are able to get that nutritional information. All those clueless yahoos who were so mad about this requirement, claiming that it's government takeover dictating what we eat. Now everyone sees those people were full of sh*t and all it is is a requirement to let you know what you are eating. Myself I don't eat at chains but I think the availability of this information wherever possible is a real help to consumers!
Woah. Calm down Charlotte. Calm down. Nutrional information on some chain restaurant menus is hardly a reason to get excited about the innovative contributions of our federal government. There is no evidence that the average consumer pays any attention to the calorie counts or that the presence of the calorie counts is causing people to eat more healthfully. Certainly there are diet conscious people that make use of the charts and lead to informed decisions. But for most, no effect. So simmer down and eat your McNuggets.
Local restaurants are were the real creative chefs work. Personally I love unique tastes and styles.
It's definitely a familiarity thing for us. If we're on the road and nothing "native" looks appealing, we'll pick a chain. But doesn't familiarity go hand-in-hand with consistency? I'm not sure why that's an additional option.
I'm not a huge fan but I'll eat at them for convenience (as I eat my Jimmy John's unwich for lunch). The city I live in is filled with chains. For a night out at dinner, we prefer local places, but for quick lunches like today, I'll go somewhere close and fast like a Jimmy John's or Chili's.
I love Jack in the box. That's fast food though. As far a chains like applebees, I see no reason to go there. I find that they offer 20 mediocre meals. I can get better cheaper food from smaller specialty places. That idea gets tough when a bunch of people can't agree on what type of food they want and then it ends up being applebees because there is something on the menu that everyone wants, but it's all mediocre. Red robin does have good burgers. Really anywhere I can get a beer I'm happy.
I don't like chains. They are noisy and you have to drag 'em in and out of the car. What happens if there is a fire,I'm always the last one out!
That's what I'm screamin'.
Yes, about that screaming, please stop. I can hardly hear myself thinking about what a tool you are over all the senseless noise. Sheesh!
I view chains as a backup when in an unfamiliar area. It's not the first option, but if the gamble with the first doesn't turn out well, mind as well go get what you know.
Check out Yelp.com when you are in a new place. many very informative reviews.
Yelp is a (bad) joke.
Most of the reviews are either too elementary ("This place is great!") or clueless (My neapolitan pizza had burns!).
Taco Bell is a chain.... Ok! Ok! I won't even go there! :) hee-hee
It IS ......... and I understand their taco "filling" is the BEST!!!! ;))))))))))))))))))
"the best"??? I suppose so long as you aren't intending to compare it to actual Mexican food.
MMMM!! Actual Mexican food! Please express me some of those pork-filled chimichangas from unknown state in Mexico (which is heavily regulated by a similar department as our USDA). No? You no likey da trichnosis? Me, either.
It's a shame sarcasm doesn't translate well over this venue. But the repetitive :) should have been a clue! Lighten up Girlfriend!
Charlotte, you are an idiot.
@Jdizzle McHammerpants – I suggest all fine ladies wanting to avoid trichinosis should avoid what you have to offer. : )
Agree, when I travel alone on business, I will probably chose a chain, Carrabas, Olive Garden, Cheesecake Factory, etc. as I know I will like the food. When on vacation, I'm usually more adventerous and want local places to explore.
JB, why wait until vacation to be adventurous?
Cause that's where the real chicks are. Our American ladies need to step it up a notch and keep us stateside.
@Jdizzle McHammerpants – yes, that is our collective goal, to catch a charming, studly, prize like yourself.
I don't enjoy chain restaurants with a few exceptions – places like Olive Garden, Red Robin, Panera. I don't have many chains near where I live or in the areas I hang out (I guess there are some near the hotels and tourism things in the ctiy but I usually stay away from that area) so eating at a chain that I like is a special treat when I'm out of town. I know they will have the food item(s) I like and how they will taste which is a releif while traveling.
Erin = 78 lbs overweight.
why do you have to be a rude a-hole to someone you know nothing about?
Stacey = Friend of Erin
Cause I hate my life and can vent anonymously via the internets. That is all.
Jdizzle, you are hilarious!
How rude! And even if she is or is not overweight, what is it to you? I eat at chain restaurants (gasp) about once a week. I am overweight. Do I care? No, not really. I would rather spend my life eating food and doing things I enjoy than eating nasty health food from a diet cookbook. It is not like changing my diet will make me live 200 more years. We are all going to die someday, so I do the things that I enjoy...even if it means eating at a fast food/chain restaurant.
@Jdizzle: Too funny, and probably too true.
I eat at chain restaurants occasionally and I am NOT overweight.
girls just don't get the internet.
Jdizzle McHammerpants = IQ 78
@jewell – the problem with too many Americans . . . you're just too lazy to care. Eat away! Avg dress size for an American woman is 4 sizes larger than the average of a French woman.
Really? ".... girls ...." Really? Do you really believe what you're saying or are you just stirring up the pot for your own entertainment?
I don't know how not eating at chain restaurants makes someone overweight. I said they don't exist where I live so I only go 1 or 2 times per year while traveling.
If anything is going to make me fat it's all the glorious beer coming out of my area.