The Best National Restaurant Chain Thread

[TripletDaddy]

Buca di Beppo isn't that great, but it's edible. The best thing about it is the decor. It's just like walking into any 60+ aged Sicilian's home.

My wife loves this place....as you say, the decor gives the kids something to look at and it is always so dang noisy that nobody notices are cares if the kids start melting down.

They also seem to subscribe to the pound of food philosophy. And they also subscribe to the pound of cheese philosophy. I have had a couple of things there and they were both fine, as you stated.

Again, anything but Olive Garden, which is honestly one of the worst chain restaurants in operation, a few notches above Sizzler.

[falafel]

serious? I've tried, but I just can't learn to dig that place. I am not saying that I find the food to taste gross......but it just doesn't appeal to me at all. I can eat it though, but it isn't even my third or fourth choice.

what am I doing wrong? is there anything I should be ordering?

Have you tried the lettuce wraps?! MMMMMM!

[Hot Lunch]

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Italian: I enjoy italian food but I hate Olive Garden. Is there a good Italian chain?

While in Denver I ate a place twice in one week it was so good a couple of years ago. They told me it was a chain but I can't think of the name right now.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

Italian: I enjoy italian food but I hate Olive Garden. Is there a good Italian chain?

My sophomoric tastes enjoy Macaroni Grill, I believe that is somewhat national.

[Indy Coug]

Again, anything but Olive Garden, which is honestly one of the worst chain restaurants in operation, a few notches above Sizzler.

A mild defense of Olive Garden is that I think they are considerably better than they were 5 to 10 years ago.

[falafel]

My sophomoric tastes enjoy Macaroni Grill, I believe that is somewhat national.

I also enjoy that place. I was hit on by a chubby waitress at the downtown SLC location last time I was there. That might have something to do with it.

[Indy Coug]

While in Denver I ate a place twice in one week it was so good a couple of years ago. They told me it was a chain but I can't think of the name right now.

Has anyone tried Pappadeaux's?

[TheBYUGuy]

Someone listed Texas Roadhouse for family dining. Is that a national chain?

Texas Roadhouse is a publicly traded chain restaurant on the NASDAQ (symbol TXRH) that specializes in steaks and promotes a western theme. ... The chain operates about 320 (July, 2009) locations in 46 states. It is known for its free buckets of peanuts at each table.

[ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_Roadhouse"]Texas Roadhouse - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/File:Texas_Roadhouse.svg" class="image"><img alt="Texas Roadhouse.svg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/b0/Texas_Roadhouse.svg/200px-Texas_Roadhouse.svg.png"@@AMEPARAM@@en/thumb/b/b0/Texas_Roadhouse.svg/200px-Texas_Roadhouse.svg.png[/ame]

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

I also enjoy that place. I was hit on by a chubby waitress at the downtown SLC location last time I was there. That might have something to do with it.

Cart girls and waitresses, you devil!

[Jeff Lebowski]

serious? I've tried, but I just can't learn to dig that place. I am not saying that I find the food to taste gross......but it just doesn't appeal to me at all. I can eat it though, but it isn't even my third or fourth choice.

what am I doing wrong? is there anything I should be ordering?

We like it. Some of our favorites:

Lettuce wraps
Crispy honey shrimp (or chicken)
Walnut shrimp (with the honey dew melon balls - awfully sweet though so it probably wouldn't appeal to everyone)
Mongolian beef
Stir-fried eggplant

Then we try to randomly order something new each time.

[TheBYUGuy]

Has anyone tried Pappadeaux's?

Pappadeaux is not bad. The Tex Mex version called Pappacito's is excellent.

[Portland Ute]

I like Biaggi's. They have locations around the country.

As for OG, yeah, it's a LOT better than it was 10 years ago, but that's still not a ringing endorsement, either.

The Claimjumper is okay, too. You can usually find something good to eat there.

I haven't eaten at many of the locations, but I have to put in McCormick and Schmicks. The restaurants they own in Portland are great. I don't know how the ones outside of the Portland metro area stack up.

[TripletDaddy]

Has anyone tried Pappadeaux's?

The Pappas family has a litany of pretty good restaurants (mexican, cajun, seafood, steak, bbq), unfortunately not national chains. I dug it while I was in Houston, though (although Goode Company BBQ was my fave....do locals respect that place?).

I had no idea about Texas Roadhouse. I need to get with the program!

[falafel]

The Pappas family has a litany of pretty good restaurants (mexican, cajun, seafood, steak, bbq), unfortunately not national chains. I dug it while I was in Houston, though (although Goode Company BBQ was my fave....do locals respect that place?).

What, exactly, makes a chain "national"? I ate at Pappadeaux's in Chicago. I'm not a seafood lover, but my blackened swordfish was excellent.

[Portland Ute]

Texas Roadhouse is a publicly traded chain restaurant on the NASDAQ (symbol TXRH) that specializes in steaks and promotes a western theme. ... The chain operates about 320 (July, 2009) locations in 46 states. It is known for its free buckets of peanuts at each table.

Texas Roadhouse - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I think Texas Roadhouse is fantastic...for it's price point.

Don't go expecting Ruth's Cris. That, it is not.

However, I think it's better than Lonestar, Outback, Ruby River, etc.

For the price, I think it's a great national chain restaurant.