The Best National Restaurant Chain Thread

[Art Vandelay]

Steak: Ruth's Chris

American: They all seem interchangeable to me. I do like Fuddruckers both for the burgers and the opportunity to say the name. Similar to driving the Columbia River Gorge and telling my wife 3 separate times "Dam that is big".

Italian: Buca di Beppo, though it gives me huge heartburn for days if I eat their raviolis


Pizza: Roundtable. The best pizza I have every had was in Berkeley above campus in the general vicinity of the church. I don't recall the name but it was fantastic.

Dessert: Cheesecake Factory. I love the raspberry-lemon.

Sushi-Seafood: I'm sure the food snobs and real sushi eaters look down on it, but i love Todai.

[TheBYUGuy]

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!

Goode Company is definitely well-respected and highly popular. The Pappas restaurants have proliferated more than Goode. I will say that I went to Pappas BBQ once and was very underwhelmed.

[TripletDaddy]

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.

another one I didn't realize was all over. that would count as national, for sure.

[TripletDaddy]

Steak: Ruth's Chris

American: They all seem interchangeable to me. I do like Fuddruckers both for the burgers and the opportunity to say the name. Similar to driving the Columbia River Gorge and telling my wife 3 separate times "Dam that is big".

Italian: Buca di Beppo, though it gives me huge heartburn for days if I eat their raviolis


Pizza: Roundtable. The best pizza I have every had was in Berkeley above campus in the general vicinity of the church. I don't recall the name but it was fantastic.

Dessert: Cheesecake Factory. I love the raspberry-lemon.

Sushi-Seafood: I'm sure the food snobs and real sushi eaters look down on it, but i love Todai.

Blondies.

There is also one right off Union Square, just above the Cable car turnaround on powell and market.

yum.

[Art Vandelay]

Goode Company is definitely well-respected and highly popular. The Pappas restaurants have proliferated more than Goode. I will say that I went to Pappas BBQ once and was very underwhelmed.

Famous Dave's is not great but not horrible. I'm not sure they are outside the NW though.

[LiveCoug]

I enjoy PF Changs and Rodizios (if that counts). Also, I like the soup, salad and breadstick deal at Olive Garden (but nothing else). Sue me.

[I.J. Reilly]

Famous Dave's is not great but not horrible. I'm not sure they are outside the NW though.

There is a Famous Dave's right here in good ol' Utah.

Has anyone eaten at Chevy's Fresh-Mex? It's been a while since I've been there, but I do remember liking it.

[falafel]

There is a Famous Dave's right here in good ol' Utah.

Has anyone eaten at Chevy's Fresh-Mex? It's been a while since I've been there, but I do remember liking it.

I had one really good meal at Famous Dave's, and one really bad meal. So on average, its.... average.

I think Chevy's went out of business.

[Pheidippides]

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!

We have Goode Company catered in all the time. Good stuff.

[Mormon Red Death]

Famous Dave's is not great but not horrible. I'm not sure they are outside the NW though.

they have a couple famous dave's in metro detroit.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

Sue me.

Do I have to? Donut is my lawyer and this could get really ugly for the board.

[Portland Ute]

Famous Dave's is not great but not horrible. I'm not sure they are outside the NW though.

I think Famous Dave's is horrible.

Their brisket and pulled pork are edible. I've NEVER had good ribs there. Never. Not once.

Their fries are good, too, now that I think about it, but their corn on the cob is awful. Terrible.

I grumble any time anyone wants to go there. I'd go to Tony Roma's any day of the week before going to Dave's, but, alas, there is no longer a Tony Roma's in my part of the world. That's okay, there are other bbq joints that are better.

[LiveCoug]

Do I have to? Donut is my lawyer and this could get really ugly for the board.

Yes, do it. I have hired falafel to represent me. Bring it.

[John McClain]

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.

We've got a Pappadeaux's here in Albuquerque. It's food is just OK and in my view overpriced. I also ate at a Pappacito's in Arlington TX after the BYU/Oklahoma game and felt the same way. My favorite Italian chain restaurant here is Zio's - good food and very reasonable. I enjoy the meals at both Lonestar and Texas Roadhouse. National chain Mexican restaurants do not fare well here because the local New Mexican restaurants are so much better. In fact, I think every national chain Mexican restaurant we've had here in the past 30 years has gone out of business. I am not a fan of Oriental food in general, so PF Chang's does not rock my boat.

[YOhio]

I went to Longhorn Steakhouse a few weeks ago and really enjoyed it, but I think it might just be a regional chain. Texas RH and Logan's RH are both decent spots.

Ruth's Chris is also great. CC Factory is good, but only if you don't have to wait.

Potbelly's is a great little sandwich chain.

I like the french fry seasoning at Red Robin.