Worst National Chain Thread

[DU Ute]

I am surprised by the love for Red Robin. I must be ordering the wrong horrible hamburgers. Are there any less-horrible hamburgers that you would suggest?

My wife and I had been newly wed for less than a year. My FIL flys into town and takes us out to dinner. We were still in school, so as many here can attest, the dinner paid for by Dad is always a HUGE treat....eating out for free is awesome, awesome, awesome.

FIL asks my wife to choose...."anywhere you want....my treat....." Instantly, my mind becomes a raging torrent, flooded with rivulets of thought, cascading into a waterfall of creative alternatives. I envisioned steak at ruby river, blackened chicken at Magelby's, a scenic jaunt up to the Tree Room at Sundance (bear in mind the unrefined taste buds of a college student).

My wife thinks about it for a few seconds and says, "I want to go to Red Robin? there is one at the mall." My FIL agreed and we were on our way.

I was very annoyed. We go to Red Robin, my wife orders a salad (double annoyance bonus) and my FIL and I proceed to have a terrible meal. Later that evening my wife and I had one of our first spirited disagreements. My contention was that if you were just going to order a salad, why not choose a place that had other stuff that the rest of the group wanted to eat? We had a free shot at the brass ring and my wife chooses Red Robin. We have never eaten there together since (I have eaten there a few times for work) and it is actually still a slightly sore subject between us because it hadn't dawned on my wife that she probably could have ordered a salad somewhere else.

I don't like Red Robin.

Gal-darnit, DDD, you use your tongue prettier than a 20-dollar whore.

[Art Vandelay]

Gal-darnit, DDD, you use your tongue prettier than a 20-dollar whore.

Your snuggie avatar reminds me of Parrothead. When I saw your post I thoug whoa, I wouldn't be talking like that with my FIL around (even if my FIL has a history of much more controversial posts).

So the next big CUF get together will be at Red Robin, so as to keep the riff raff away?

[landpoke]

I love eating by myself. weird, I know.

Nothing weird about it. I also enjoy eating alone. I don't mind drinking alone either.

[DU Ute]

Your snuggie avatar reminds me of Parrothead. When I saw your post I thoug whoa, I wouldn't be talking like that with my FIL around (even if my FIL has a history of much more controversial posts).

So the next big CUF get together will be at Red Robin, so as to keep the riff raff away?

Too bad my FIL doesn't recognize the continuation of a good Blazing Saddles quote.

[Pheidippides]

I am surprised by the love for Red Robin. I must be ordering the wrong horrible hamburgers. Are there any less-horrible hamburgers that you would suggest?

My wife and I had been newly wed for less than a year. My FIL flys into town and takes us out to dinner. We were still in school, so as many here can attest, the dinner paid for by Dad is always a HUGE treat....eating out for free is awesome, awesome, awesome.

FIL asks my wife to choose...."anywhere you want....my treat....." Instantly, my mind becomes a raging torrent, flooded with rivulets of thought, cascading into a waterfall of creative alternatives. I envisioned steak at ruby river, blackened chicken at Magelby's, a scenic jaunt up to the Tree Room at Sundance (bear in mind the unrefined taste buds of a college student).

My wife thinks about it for a few seconds and says, "I want to go to Red Robin? there is one at the mall." My FIL agreed and we were on our way.

I was very annoyed. We go to Red Robin, my wife orders a salad (double annoyance bonus) and my FIL and I proceed to have a terrible meal. Later that evening my wife and I had one of our first spirited disagreements. My contention was that if you were just going to order a salad, why not choose a place that had other stuff that the rest of the group wanted to eat? We had a free shot at the brass ring and my wife chooses Red Robin. We have never eaten there together since (I have eaten there a few times for work) and it is actually still a slightly sore subject between us because it hadn't dawned on my wife that she probably could have ordered a salad somewhere else.

I don't like Red Robin.

I think you're confusing emotional hatred for taste bud hatred. The hamburgers (while certainly not gourmet!) aren't horrible.

But MMM did violate rule number 1 of eating out: he or she who wants the salad gets no say in the matter.

[statman]

I've never had an issue with Olive Garden. I'm not that picky. I think it is pretty good.

Olive Garden is fine as long as viewed properly and not turned into a 'dining' experience. They make a decent bowl of soup, and their salads are fine. Their entrees are about what I could throw together at home if I felt so inclined. For conveninece, speed and cost of not eating at home, Olive Garden is fine. Just don't confuse it with real Italian food or good italian food.

And it's WAY better than the cafeteria at work. And Olive Garden is only a mile away. I eat lunch there about once a month or so.

[Fiyero]

Olive Garden is fine as long as viewed properly and not turned into a 'dining' experience. They make a decent bowl of soup, and their salads are fine. Their entrees are about what I could throw together at home if I felt so inclined. For conveninece, speed and cost of not eating at home, Olive Garden is fine. Just don't confuse it with real Italian food or good italian food.

And it's WAY better than the cafeteria at work. And Olive Garden is only a mile away. I eat lunch there about once a month or so.

I had the $16 salmon last time, and it was the smallest cut of salmon that I've ever seen. 6 oz., perhaps?

[Portland Ute]

Outback has one saving grace. They have Blue Bell ice cream at every location. So we have been knwon to go there just for that since Blue Belli s one of the things we miss from Texas.

It's vanilla ice cream.