Which "Chains" DO you enjoy ???

Chick Fil A

White Castle

Red Robin
5 Guys
Panera
Famous Daves (I've only eaten in the restaurant once, but we have them for work catered several times a year)
CPK
Pei Wei (the "fast food" version of PF Changs. Owned by the same company. I can't figure out why we don't have one here!)

Most chains places we go to eat breakfast and we will hit any of these in no particular order.

Waffle House. It can be hit or miss depending on the location and whose cooking.
Bob Evan's. Very consistant, fairly decent food; service not so much. It seems like they take your order and then bring your check when they bring your food so that they don't have to come into contact with you again ...You might actually ask for a refill on your coffee or something. And I've never, ever seen any one pre-bus or clear a table here except the mostly Latino bussing staff that wait till you get up.
Cracker Barrel. Same as above.

For other meals, we like chain places that have coupons that actually give you some bang for your buck, for example:
Steak and Shake ($5.99 Steak and Shake Meal is a $3.00 off coupon)
Smokey Bones (They send out lots of Buy-One Get-One Free and $10.00 off $20.00 coupons)
Buca de Beppo, I actually really like the food here. (They also send out lots of $10.00 off $20.00 coupons as well)
I tend to get all of these to go as well to avoid paying two or three dollars for beverages and you also don't have to tip a server. However, I will give a buck or two to whom ever is boxing up my meal.

It seems strange because when we go to other local places I don't have this mentality. I will spend freely and tip genorously.
In my own little way, I feel like I'm sticking it to the corporate bean counters of these places that issue coupons because I know their desire is really to get you to come in to eat with your coupon, order an appetizer, specialty drink or maybe dessert to help fatten up the check average to what you would have spent anyway without the coupon.

Liquor Barn

Chick Fil A
Steak and Shake
Popeyes
White Castle
Culvers
Longhorn
Old Chicago
Five Guys
Carrabas
Famous Daves
Cracker Barrel (LOVE their French Toast, and they have REAL maple syrup)

Waffle House---seriously. We like the waffles.
Denny's---about the best burger here in Etown, sad to say, on a consistent basis.
Cracker Barrel--if in the mood for "home cooking" without the work
Hungry Howies--because of the kiddos. $1.99 cheese pizzas on Thursdays!!!
Red Robin--if RIck and I are in Louisville and wanting a burger
Double Dragon--they have multiple locations, but don't know if it qualifies as a "chain". Cheap chinese food.

I do love Double Dragon!

You have Hungry Howies! We used to have one in Lou, but it went away years ago. DH and I were just talking about Hungry Howies a few weeks ago.

[quote="Michelle R."]
Cracker Barrel (LOVE their French Toast, and they have REAL maple syrup)[/quote

If you look at the bottles now, it is a mix of syrups...

Texas Roadhouse
Cracker Barrel
Skyline

My mom and dad talk bout Hungry Howie's all the time! There's one out by Ft. Knox, but that's as close as they get.

Noodles and Co (but there isnt one here). it's like Moe's but with noodle dishes. Which takes me to my next entry...

Moe's - yeah it's not REAL burritos but as far as this type of thing goes it kills Qdoba by not being overloaded with cilantro AND being I'm a vegetarian who hates beans I have other options.

PF Chang's isnt bad but I havent been to many asian cuisine chains outside of panda express haha. (well I guess Noodle's has some asian dishes as well but I havent tried them).

Davanni's - reminds me of the Pizza Hut of my youth. again, too b ad there isnt one here, oh I cant move to MN soon enough and have that and Luce at my beck and call.

Texas Roadhouse
Cracker Barrel
Skyline

^ Those plus Jason's Deli.

Macaronni Grill
Panara
PF Changs
Red Robin
Jason's Deli

[Robin Garr]

Tony Boombozz
J. Gumbo's
Shiraz
White Castle



Actually, I've given favorable reviews and ratings to a surprising number of family-dining chains: Bonefish, Carrabba's, Buca di Beppo and a fair number of others.

As I told Tony Palombino in another discussion, the break point when a chain turns sour for me is when the budget-makers gain control over the chefs and menu planners and start insisting that corners be cut that make a difference in quality. Some major chains never reach this point. Some get there when they open their third or fourth property. It's not fully predictable, but it really depends on the quality and character of the people in charge.

That being said, there's also the issue of whether the profits (as opposed to wages circulating in the community) stay in town or get shipped out to a distant headquarters. That's non-trivial in today's economy, and you'll notice the first three of the four "chains" I list above are locally based.