10 Chain Restaurants Worth Visiting

GURPS

GURPS

INGSOC
PREMO Member
Cheesecake Factory: Never Been ....
Chipotle: I prefer Generic Taco Bell ....
Five Guys: LOVE 5 Guys ...
Jason's Deli: Never heard of 'em.
California Pizza Kitchen: Barf barf barf. I would choose Ledo's / Pizza Hut / Domino's over them any day. - Ditto
Outback: I like them okay. Their steaks are always good and they don't cook their veggies into mush.
Ted's Montana Grill: Never heard of 'em.
Houston's: Never heard of 'em.
Melting Pot: Never Been
In-N-Out Burger: Never been to one.
 
MMM_donuts

MMM_donuts

New Member
migtig said:
Cheesecake Factory: Overwhelming amount of "choices". Felt rushed. Overcrowded. Don't love it.

Chipotle: I'll eat there, but I'd rather go to a real Mexican restaurant. I dislike cafeteria style lines.

Five Guys: Too greasy.

Jason's Deli: It's just a sub shop. Jerry's here is the same thing. I don't why this is sooo special, because it's not. there are much better delis out there.

California Pizza Kitchen: Okay, but not worth going to imho

Outback: I like Outback. Consistant food, usually decent service and always the same.

Ted's Montana Grill: Okay, this one, this one is a really good "chain". It's a theme chain offering bison and cowboy style cooking. My husband would love the bison meatloaf. I need to check and see if there is a chain near us now

Houston's: Unknown.

Melting Pot: Very pricey and you really need a group of people you really like with you. I mean they are sticking their hands in a plate and sticking that food into cheese and then eating off a stick. Okay - it's good but very gross and I feel like Misfit and worry about cooties and germs. I'm encouraging the giant to get me a fondue pot so I can just sit in front of the tv with it and not share.

In-N-Out Burger: Actually, really tasty, crack-like fast food where the burger actually looks like the commercial pictures.
Click to expand...

I agree with this post more closely than any other except I would swap Chipotle and Outback, and I've never been to a Ted's or an In and Out.
 
migtig

migtig

aka Mrs. Giant
MMM_donuts said:
I agree with this post more closely than any other except I would swap Chipotle and Outback, and I've never been to a Ted's or an In and Out.
Click to expand...

There's three in Virginia - one's in Crystal City. I'm thinking if we are in the area for something, it would be worth the giant trying it out. I don't eat meat anymore but I remember thay had great onion rings.

Ted's Montana Grill
 
MMM_donuts

MMM_donuts

New Member
migtig said:
There's three in Virginia - one's in Crystal City. I'm thinking if we are in the area for something, it would be worth the giant trying it out. I don't eat meat anymore but I remember thay had great onion rings.

Ted's Montana Grill
Click to expand...

Cool, we'll have to give that place a try. I don't eat meat either but my husband does and we enjoy trying new places and different foods. Anymore I find that there are plenty of interesting options for people like us.

I don't hate chain restaurants. If anything, I value the attempt at consistency. For example, I've eaten McDonald's in 19 different countries where I had to minimize the risk of food poisoning as much as possible or navigate language differences. Just like choosing to stay home, it all just depends on our mood and what we're doing.
 
RoseRed

RoseRed

American Beauty
PREMO Member
vraiblonde said:
:howdy: Right here!

Cheesecake Factory: Too many items on the menu. I've eaten there a couple times and have never had cheesecake one time but my memory is that it was pretty good.

Chipotle: I don't get it, but I'm not an enormous pre-fab Mexican person. It's better than Taco Hell.

Five Guys: Their burgers annoy me because they're too big, and the fries are always soggy. Sheetz has much better burger and fries, sad to say.

Jason's Deli: Never heard of 'em.

California Pizza Kitchen: Barf barf barf. I would choose Ledo's or Pizza Hut over them any day.

Outback: I like them okay. Their steaks are always good and they don't cook their veggies into mush.

Ted's Montana Grill: Never heard of 'em.

Houston's: Never heard of 'em.

Melting Pot: I've always wanted to try it but everyone says it sucks. Fondue is cool.

In-N-Out Burger: Never been to one.

I had lunch at Boston's in Waldork today and it was yummy. Mediterranean chopped salad. Wonder why they didn't make the list?

My favorite fast food restaurant is Chik-Fil-A and my favorite sit-down chain is (sorry, folks) Carrabas. But I'd still rather have a local one-of-a-kind restaurant than an impersonal chain.
Click to expand...

They do have smaller size burgers.
 
P

phobos512

Member
Flemings. Talk about a world class experience. That's a chain I would go to every day (if I won the lottery...not cheap but great for special occasions).
 
sockgirl77

sockgirl77

Well-Known Member
GWguy said:
I don't like Chipotle. Been there twice, just don't like it. I know I'm in the minority.... oh well.
Click to expand...

I do not like their food either. A few former coworkers used to eat there 2 or 3 times per week. I tried it a few times and never liked their menu or food.
 
Beta

Beta

Smile!
somdfunguy said:
Outback, Melting Pot, and In and Out? Seriously?
Click to expand...
I'm not surprised Melting Pot is on there...plenty of people love the fondue. Who doesn't love paying a ton of money to cook your own food?

struggler44 said:
The one locally isn't very good compared to others that I've been to, there's one near Arlington that should be a model for the rest of the stores
Click to expand...
Chipotle is a ####ing chain. It's nearly identical everywhere. Even in other countries. I've never had a different experience at any Chipotle. :smack:

RPMDAD said:
Hank, just curious what is the problem with Melting Pot. Have been numerous times, always had great service, food, and drinks were good but like i stated it is expensive, to us anyway and only go on special occasion type things.
Click to expand...

1) many people don't care for fondue
2) it's a very slow meal. If you're not on an intimate date then it's way too long.
3) you cook your own damn food. why are you paying so much money for a waiter and raw food?



Let's see...
Cheesecake factory: I really like this and its sister restaurant (Grand Lux). Great portions and menu selection - everyone should be able to find something they like. I've never had a bad meal there. Even the one in Annapolis is OK.
Chipotle: :yum:
Five Guys: I can see why it's on here, but to be top 10 feels a little overrated. It's a top 10 FAST FOOD chain.
Jason's Deli: Pretty good, but I don't see how this is any better than Panera, which didn't make the list.
California Pizza Kitchen: It's average pizza. With weird toppings. Yay....?
Outback: Just like any other steak company. How did this differentiate itself to make a top 10 list?
Ted's: Sounds interesting. Never been
Houston's: Heard good things about them
Melting Pot: I think I've made my point
In-N-Out: More deserving than 5 guys, but still...top 10 fast food. Overrated for top 10 overall chains.

Clearly this list was trying to be "all inclusive" by including a variety of restaurants. There are others that are more deserving, for sure, but it's not a bad list.
 
sockgirl77

sockgirl77

Well-Known Member
My reviews of the restaurants on the list:

Chipotle: Eh. Just not my thing.
Five Guys: Too greasy for my taste.
Outback: I actually love Outback. I like their bread, coconut shrimp, and steak.

I've never been to the other 7.
 
H

havingfun

New Member
Jason's Deli: It's just a sub shop. Jerry's here is the same thing. I don't why this is sooo special, because it's not. there are much better delis out there.

Bummer - I have never seen/been to one but it sounded good. I would love a place with an awesome salad bar and homemade soups. Years and years ago there was a restaurant called Bravo's in the mall. An older Italian gentleman owned it and he had the best salad bar. Had the neatest stuff almost like an antipasta bar as well.
 
vraiblonde

vraiblonde

Board Mommy
PREMO Member
Patron
havingfun said:
Bummer - I have never seen/been to one but it sounded good. I would love a place with an awesome salad bar and homemade soups. Years and years ago there was a restaurant called Bravo's in the mall. An older Italian gentleman owned it and he had the best salad bar. Had the neatest stuff almost like an antipasta bar as well.
Click to expand...

I am a sucker for a great salad bar, especially when there's soup. :yay:
 
MarieB

MarieB

New Member
havingfun said:
Jason's Deli: It's just a sub shop. Jerry's here is the same thing. I don't why this is sooo special, because it's not. there are much better delis out there.

Bummer - I have never seen/been to one but it sounded good. I would love a place with an awesome salad bar and homemade soups. Years and years ago there was a restaurant called Bravo's in the mall. An older Italian gentleman owned it and he had the best salad bar. Had the neatest stuff almost like an antipasta bar as well.
Click to expand...


Jason's deli isn't a sub shop

And they have a great salad bar, salads, pasta, baked potatoes, soups, great chili, etc
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top