Whats your favorite chain restaurant?

hawkilady · October 2009

I have to go out to dinner with the ILs tomorrow night and I'm supposed to pick a restaurant but they will only eat at chain restaurants. If I'm going out to dinner and eating all the extra calories/spending the money I would much rather go to some place original with some character. But they prefer chilis, applebees, etc...

What's your favorite one? Maybe it will help me suggest something that isnt so common.

hawkilady · October 2009

My favorite is Max and Erma's because their chicken tortilla soup is excellent - I like to go at lunch and get soup and 1/2 of the sante fe chicken salad. So good, but we went there last time with the ILs so it doesnt work this time.

kaleyandjason · October 2009

Yum! I like Max and Erma's, too. My favorite that we never go to enough is Boston Beanery. They have this awesome crab, spinach, cheesy dip! This is making me hungry thinking about it.

Last time we went out to eat we went to Applebees because of the 2 for 20 deal. I like it. The last few times we have been it has been really good.

But really, my favorite is probably Outback. I know that isn't really anything off the beaten path, but I just love the bloomin' onion. I think their salads are always really good and fresh.

SBS0628 · October 2009

I don't know if any of these are where you are (since I, personally, have never heard of Max & Erma's), but my favorites are:

California Pizza Kitchen

Red Robin

On The Border

El Torito

just dandy. · October 2009

Um hi... are you me? My dad loves Chili's, Bennigan's, Applebees, you name it. I HATE chain restaurants, at least the ones we have around here (the ones mentioned above, on the border, outback, tgi fridays). I can tolerate Olive Garden if I absolutely must. And some of the more upscale ones - Cantina Laredo, Cheesecake Factory (I like them because they serve plain steamed artichoke), California Pizza Kitchen, or Carrabba's are okay too. But I generally try to avoid them.

Kellybeth124 · October 2009

We like Carrabba's, On the Border, Rockfish and a local Greek chain. I'll tolerate Red Lobster for the cheddar biscuits.

kaleyandjason · October 2009

just dandy.:
Um hi... are you me? My dad loves Chili's, Bennigan's, Applebees, you name it. I HATE chain restaurants, at least the ones we have around here (the ones mentioned above, on the border, outback, tgi fridays). I can tolerate Olive Garden if I absolutely must. And some of the more upscale ones - Cantina Laredo, Cheesecake Factory (I like them because they serve plain steamed artichoke), California Pizza Kitchen, or Carrabba's are okay too. But I generally try to avoid them.

Ok I totally forgot this one! I love Cheesecake Factory, but the closest one to us is Columbus, OH. 2.5 hours is just to far to drive for a dinner out! Now, throw in some awesome shopping for a day trip and that is the first place I pick!

hopscotch. · October 2009

Olive Garden, by far!! H and I both love it and go there a ton (but we both are obsessed with Italian food)

Also love California Pizza Kitchen and Mellow Mushroom for pizza joints. Sadly, we don't have a CPK in Huntsville.

hawkilady · October 2009

just dandy.:
Um hi... are you me? My dad loves Chili's, Bennigan's, Applebees, you name it. I HATE chain restaurants, at least the ones we have around here (the ones mentioned above, on the border, outback, tgi fridays). I can tolerate Olive Garden if I absolutely must. And some of the more upscale ones - Cantina Laredo, Cheesecake Factory (I like them because they serve plain steamed artichoke), California Pizza Kitchen, or Carrabba's are okay too. But I generally try to avoid them.

DH's dad's favorite restaurant is Olive Garden... and he orders chicken tenders pretty much everywhere else because he wont buy reading glasses but he can't really see the menu. They also only eat frozen foods and his mother thinks mashed potatos should be instant with gravy from a jar. Dining with them is an adventure. I'm really trying to break DH of these habits and introduce him to new things.

I forgot about Cheesecake Factory - that one is pretty good and at least offers some variety. Because its at the mall it reminds me of BJ's Brewhouse which is also pretty good - that one might be a regional chain...

SBS0628 · October 2009

Thanks to KB, I will now spend the rest of today dreaming about Red Lobster cheesy biscuits.

hawkilady · October 2009

Kellybeth124:
We like Carrabba's, On the Border, Rockfish and a local Greek chain. I'll tolerate Red Lobster for the cheddar biscuits.

I just google'd Rockfish because I have never heard of it - a little jealous that one sounds pretty good.

just dandy. · October 2009

hawkilady:
I forgot about Cheesecake Factory - that one is pretty good and at least offers some variety. Because its at the mall it reminds me of BJ's Brewhouse which is also pretty good - that one might be a regional chain...

We have a BJs in BR . It was pretty good, but my dad liked it, which made me dislike it in return, haha.

chrissyvcm · October 2009

I love Red Lobster cheddar biscuits! I haven't to one in years though, because unfortunately the biscuits aren't good enough to warrant a trip to East County (SBS knows what I mean...)

We're fortunate enough to live in a city with tons of great non-chain restaurants, but DH and I still like: On The Border, Macaroni Grill, CPK, BJ's Brew House (or any brewhouse, for that matter!) and Island's.

Good luck! Sounds like picking a good restaurant is more for your enjoyment than theirs.

SBS0628 · October 2009

I probably shouldn't mention this, Chrissy, but there IS a Red Lobster in Mira Mesa -- just down the road from the On the Border we met at. But you didn't hear it from me

mbd62709 · October 2009

I vote for Cheesecake Factory. Other ones that I think are chains but don't know if they're in your area:

Claddagh's Irish Pub

Bravo/Brio

Maggiano's

Good luck!

luckycooky · October 2009

Olive Garden is ok but we love the atmosphere at Buca. I also like the salad bar option at Ruby Tuesdays. I get so tired of fries and I cannot eat mashed potatoes unless there is literally someone in the back peeling and slicing. We love Texas Roadhouse - fresh bread with cinnamon butter YUM!

chrissyvcm · October 2009

Really?? I had no idea. Now that we're about to Mira Mesans (we pick up our keys today!), I might have to make a trip over there.

J&G_BlueGLH · October 2009

Locally - Chili's, Panera Bread, Olive Garden, Logan's, Chipotle, Smokey Bones

Out of the area - Joe's Crab Shack, A&W, Steak & Shake

Savy _05 · October 2009

We don't have a huge choice around here.. small town(and we have to drive 25 mins just to get to these) When it's just the two of us we rarely do any chain restaurants, but when we do some of our favorites are rafferty's, o'charley's, chili's, olive garden, occasionally we end up going to logan's or texas roadhouse... like i said really not a huge variety!

I would probably say my favorite right now is O'charley's they revamped their menu last year or so and i love it now... i love chili's also but our closest one is a little over an hour away...

Oh and for all of you craving cheesy garlic biscuits from red lobster... look on the back of a bisquick box.. recipe! plus they sell a prepackaged (cheese and all) packets near the bisquick... my mom loves them and finally found a recipe!

roxchris · October 2009

The restaurants that we like to eat at are:

Applebee's, Famous Dave's, Red Lobster and Olive Garden

We don't go out to eat that often, but when we do it's usually one of those places.

MsWildcat · October 2009

hmm..i used to live there so i should be good with this...i like BJs, Buca, Olive Garden (but always so crowded), CPK, or PF Changs. Cheesecake factory has something for everyone. I vote to go down to capt's quarters though if the weather is any better..that is one of my favorite spots (but not a chain i guess but they have that sort of food).

hawkilady · October 2009

I love captain's quarters too (that's where our RD was actually) but I think its going to be too cold and I really only like going if we can go outside - I dont think the food is all that great. I think we are going to go to BJs - they haven't ever been there and DH wants good beer.

Whats your favorite chain restaurant?

Re: Whats your favorite chain restaurant?

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