Worst National Chain Thread

[FMCoug]

Put me down for a dislike of Outback. I prefer a "Texas" type steakhouse to the "Australian" style steakhouse.

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.

[John McClain]

Only those who approve of Outback were invited to vote.

Coincidentally, I am preparing a lawsuit for a group of individuals who were recently denied the right to vote in a tribal election. Don't make me expand the scope of the litigation:fight:

[falafel]

Coincidentally, I am preparing a lawsuit for a group of individuals who were recently denied the right to vote in a tribal election. Don't make me expand the scope of the litigation:fight:

Oh yeah? Well I represent the fine aboriginal people of Australia and New Zealand, and I'm preparing to file a lawsuit against you for defaming their national heritage and injuring their revenue stream.

[Surfah]

I know Surfah and Gidget like Outback. C'mon you guys, Outback needs your help!

Hey I put it on my list of best national chains under my steakhouse category. And Zagat is with me you CUF food snobs.

I don't mind their steaks. I always get a steak, baked potato and steamed broccoli. It's not hard to mess any of that up. And I have never been disappointed really with any of that. Can I get a better steak at Morton's or Ruths Chris or on my own grill? Of course. But it's not bad. Really my favorite thing at Outback is their Caesar salad. I really like their Caesar dressing. And who doesn't love a bloomin' onion?

[MarkGrace]

Count me in among the fans of Red Robin. I go with the bleu ribbon burger. It's good, cheap and gets me full. Plus, it's a Seattle original, and everyone knows I'm predisposed to liking things from Seattle.

[John McClain]

Oh yeah? Well I represent the fine aboriginal people of Australia and New Zealand, and I'm preparing to file a lawsuit against you for defaming their national heritage and injuring their revenue stream.

Outback is based out of Tampa Florida - maybe you meant the Seminoles?

[falafel]

Outback is based out of Tampa Florida - maybe you meant the Seminoles?

Do you mean Tampa, Florida, New South Wales?

[John McClain]

Do you mean Tampa, Florida, New South Wales?

Maybe that's it. Who knew?

[Art Vandelay]

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.

This should be in the best thread instead of the worst, but all other ice creams are competing for 2nd place after Tillamook, especially when you get it straight from the factory. Watching cheese being produced by the tonnage always makes the ice cream taste better.

[Pheidippides]

Greasy spoons, by definition, have not become homogenized by corporate America, and while consistency may be a problem, for the most part their food, in my experience, tastes better. One of my partners (since passed away) always knew the off the beaten path eateries in nearly every city I visited with him, and the food was pretty much always great. When I have visitors, I will take them to some of the locally owned restaurants rather than the chain restaurants because the food is better and the ambience is more unique.

Yup. They have character to go along with the food. I don't mine a certain amount of homogenization when I'm out and about and don't have much time - I know what I'm signing up for when I go, so while the food isn't special I'm at least not surprised - but a good mom-and-pop shop and/or small regional chain with only a few locations is my preference. I know the good ones in Houston.

[Flystripper]

Oooohhh... Ouch. That one hurts us...

their cheesecakes are good though!

[Jeff Lebowski]

My problem with Outback is that I tend to travel quite a bit and for a few years the guys I travel with liked to go to Outback all the time. I just got tired of it.

As for Chili's, that is about the only option for a regular meal at some airports. Again, I get tired of it.

In spite of how it may seem, I am actually a pretty good sport when it comes to food. I can eat almost anything, but I do enjoy good food.

[TripletDaddy]

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.

[Surfah]

My problem with Outback is that I tend to travel quite a bit and for a few years the guys I travel with liked to go to Outback all the time. I just got tired of it.

As for Chili's, that is about the only option for a regular meal at some airports. Again, I get tired of it.

In spite of how it may seem, I am actually a pretty good sport when it comes to food. I can eat almost anything, but I do enjoy good food.

Pretty much how I feel. With as much as I traveled with my last job I tended to eat safe. I couldn't afford to get sick. I also traveled alone for the most part and I hate eating out by myself. Usually I got take out and would go back to the hotel or if there was a game on I'd cozy up to the bar and eat there.

[TripletDaddy]

Pretty much how I feel. With as much as I traveled with my last job I tended to eat safe. I couldn't afford to get sick. I also traveled alone for the most part and I hate eating out by myself. Usually I got take out and would go back to the hotel or if there was a game on I'd cozy up to the bar and eat there.

I love eating by myself. weird, I know.