Worst National Chain Thread

[FMCoug]

I hate Outback Steak House. And Chili's.

Steak is one where I don't think there truly is a decent national chain. MAYBE Ruth's Chris. Some great regional chains ... but I can't think of a national one.

[Fiyero]

I hate Outback Steak House.

Seconded!

Steak N Shake

[Pheidippides]

This is why Applebee's is a one-and-done, hands-down winner of this category for me. I'll eat Chili's chips and salsa or OG's salad, if I'm there with a group. I refuse to order anything but a Diet Pepsi at Applebee's.

Bingo. I will to and have gone to Chili's and made do. Same with OG, if it's just soup, salad and breadsticks.

I will never go to Applebee's again. Unless I am buying for a group and want to keep it cheap - I was lucky to escape a significant marital audit last time I bought a group dinner. Something about drinks being on the receipt....

[beefytee]

I hate Outback Steak House. And Chili's.

That's another one I've been unimpressed with.

[Babs]

Bingo. I will to and have gone to Chili's and made do. Same with OG, if it's just soup, salad and breadsticks.

I will never go to Applebee's again. Unless I am buying for a group and want to keep it cheap - I was lucky to escape a significant marital audit last time I bought a group dinner. Something about drinks being on the receipt....

<rolling eyes>

watch it or I'm going to bust out a "summon nikuman" jpg. I haven't figured it out yet, but something involving aquanet and a mojito.

[wuapinmon]

This is why Applebee's is a one-and-done, hands-down winner of this category for me. I'll eat Chili's chips and salsa or OG's salad, if I'm there with a group. I refuse to order anything but a Diet Pepsi at Applebee's.

I agree; I'll eat there if I have to, and then it's a salad, which even then lacks any creativity.

[landpoke]

Sonic is straight ass.

[kccougar]

I really like the steak & portebello mushroom fajitas at Chilis.

[BoylenOver]

Sonic is straight ass.

Like their frozen drinks and breakfast burrito, hate everything else.

Some other chains I hate:

-Pizza Hut
-Applebees (as mentioned)
-Fazolis had (and still has) a sponsorship agreement with the Grizzlies, so when I was an intern with them last year we ate there every day for two weeks during the Grizzlies training camp (I wasn't turning down free food as an unpaid intern), and they catered the pregame meal four or five times a month during the season. I can't eat there anymore.

[falafel]

Like their frozen drinks and breakfast burrito, hate everything else.

Some other chains I hate:

-Pizza Hut
-Applebees (as mentioned)
-Fazolis had (and still has) a sponsorship agreement with the Grizzlies, so when I was an intern with them last year we ate there every day for two weeks during the Grizzlies training camp (I wasn't turning down free food as an unpaid intern), and they catered the pregame meal four or five times a month during the season. I can't eat there anymore.

The bread sticks are still good, right?

Pizza Hut is naasty. I'll eat Little Caesar's before I eat Pizza Hut. Pizza Hut is the Taco Bell of the pizza industry - always introducing some odd new way to combine dough, sauce, and cheese.

[Solon]

I'm going to have to plead guilty. I still love their chow mein noodle and orange chicken.

I like Panda Express just because I once told my little sister that the meat they served was chopped up pandas. (she was about 7 at the time). It took her awhile to get over that one.

[BoylenOver]

The bread sticks are still good, right?

Yes, but it doesn't make up for the rest of their food.

[SuperGabers]

Applebees = TGIFridays = Chilis - Their food ALL tastes the same. My sister aptly calls it "Sysco Food"...

And I HATE, HATE, HATE Macaroni Grill...

[FMCoug]

Applebees = TGIFridays = Chilis - Their food ALL tastes the same. My sister aptly calls it "Sysco Food"...

I pretty much agree with this. And I'm okay with any of them to grab a bite.

[Parrot Head]

Steak is one where I don't think there truly is a decent national chain. MAYBE Ruth's Chris. Some great regional chains ... but I can't think of a national one.

I've enjoyed each of my visits to Morton's, but I've had the same thing every time. Very disappointed in Lawry's. But each of these don't fall into the same vein as Steak N Shake, Arby's and Chili's.


I second funk on the tricky stix from Pizza Pipeline. mmmmm.....