The Best National Restaurant Chain Thread

[Pheidippides]

Mexican: Chipotle.

Italian: Maggiano's. Macaroni Grill.

Pizza: Papa John's. Pizza Hut.

American: Fuddruckers. Red Robin. Ruby Tuesday.

Steak: Outback.

Breakfast: IHOP.

Asian: Todai.

Is Sarpino's national or not? I put them a step above Papa John's if so, for the pizza category. Also, any of the Texas chains will kill Outback, but I'm not sure if they are national, again.

I notice that nobody is taking a stab at Fast Food. While I rarely eat the stuff anymore, I do have my preferences. I tend to like the burgers at Wendy's the best, unless you include semi-regional chains such as Culver's and Whataburger (the former is better).

[kccougar]

On The Border is solid. Not sure how we are defining "national" but they are pretty widespread. In fact, every state that borders Utah has one ... but not Utah. I would kill for an OTB here.

Talk about cheese overkill - Every entree I've ordered there was an indistinguishable gelatinous mass of cheese.

[Indy Coug]

On The Border is solid. Not sure how we are defining "national" but they are pretty widespread. In fact, every state that borders Utah has one ... but not Utah. I would kill for an OTB here.

They just opened up one here a couple of months ago and it wasn't too bad, but I'm not going to weigh in until I've tried it a couple of more times.

[MartyFunkhouser]

On The Border is solid. Not sure how we are defining "national" but they are pretty widespread. In fact, every state that borders Utah has one ... but not Utah. I would kill for an OTB here.

I would rather eat at Cafe Rio once a week for the rest of my life than to be forced to eat that crap again. For someone who complains about Cafe Rio and its level of spice, I am shocked that you consider On the Border solid.

Why would you need on here when you have places like the Red Iguana?

[FMCoug]

I would rather eat at Cafe Rio once a week for the rest of my life than to be forced to eat that crap again. For someone who complains about Cafe Rio and its level of spice, I am shocked that you consider On the Border solid.

Why would you need on here when you have places like the Red Iguana?

Rephrase: I would kill for OTB's all over the place here (i.e. like Care Rio, Olive Garden, Chili's, etc.) Red Iguana is great but quite the drive from Utah County. We are not foodies at all ... so driving an hour for food is not something we would likely ever do.

I think OTB is good TexMex ... disagree on the lack of spice. Wonder if it's a regional thing as I've always eaten at them in Texas?

[Pheidippides]

Rephrase: I would kill for OTB's all over the place here (i.e. like Care Rio, Olive Garden, Chili's, etc.) Red Iguana is great but quite the drive from Utah County. We are not foodies at all ... so driving an hour for food is not something we would likely ever do.

I think OTB is good TexMex ... disagree on the lack of spice. Wonder if it's a regional thing as I've always eaten at them in Texas?

Could be - I ate at an OTB a while ago here in Houston, and it was palatable. Not my favorite, but decent enough.

[FMCoug]

Not my favorite, but decent enough.

Exactly. We are talking about national chains after all.

[Surfah]

Is Sarpino's national or not? I put them a step above Papa John's if so, for the pizza category. Also, any of the Texas chains will kill Outback, but I'm not sure if they are national, again.

I notice that nobody is taking a stab at Fast Food. While I rarely eat the stuff anymore, I do have my preferences. I tend to like the burgers at Wendy's the best, unless you include semi-regional chains such as Culver's and Whataburger (the former is better).

I've never heard of Sarpino's so I am guessing not.

I didn't include fast food either. My favorites aren't national: Carl's Jr and Jack in the Box.

[JohnnyLingo]

I've never heard of Sarpino's so I am guessing not.

I didn't include fast food either. My favorites aren't national: Carl's Jr and Jack in the Box.

Jack in the Box makes me feel like puking every time I eat their food. For that reason, it has been a couple years since I've eaten there.

Carl's Jr. is great.

Arby's is my favorite fast food place.

[FMCoug]

I can dig the Carl's Jr. love and I do like it. But it seems to have gone downhill since they went National. Back when it was CA only it was a lot better IMO.

[falafel]

Jack in the Box makes me feel like puking every time I eat their food. For that reason, it has been a couple years since I've eaten there.

Arby's is my favorite fast food place.

These two statements cannot be reconciled.

[MartyFunkhouser]

Rephrase: I would kill for OTB's all over the place here (i.e. like Care Rio, Olive Garden, Chili's, etc.) Red Iguana is great but quite the drive from Utah County. We are not foodies at all ... so driving an hour for food is not something we would likely ever do.

I think OTB is good TexMex ... disagree on the lack of spice. Wonder if it's a regional thing as I've always eaten at them in Texas?

I ate there once in College Station, Texas. I ordered something that said it was spicy and it was so bland that it made Cafe Rio taste spicy. Maybe it was one bad experience and I am imputing my disappointment at eating at a chain restaurant in a college town that surely had some fantastic food onto the entire franchise and it is better than I give it credit for.

[JohnnyLingo]

These two statements cannot be reconciled.

Amazing how there's no accounting for taste, isn't it?

[Art Vandelay]

For those of you who have lived in Japan (Nik,Tim,etc) how would you rate the sushi at Todai's? I like the fact they have a large variety and I can try lots of different things and if I don't like it I don't feel bad for wasting food.

[Hot Lunch]

Also, I like the soup, salad and breadstick deal at Olive Garden (but nothing else). Sue me.

I love this deal at Olive Garden. It is all I order but I will go there just for this.