Industry Standard: It's called "the special" for a reason!

[Robin Garr]

For the vast majority I agree! My only point - from the very begining - is that by making a statement that chains do not have specials Marsha lessened her point! That's all I was trying to get across! By changing it to "special specials" I would have been happy!

"Special specials" it is!

Andrew you mention after reading the various chain threads...I hope that you are not meaning this forum....This forum does not speak for the majority of the people out there....Just look at the parking lots every night at the places you mentioned....If they all followed the advise of the Majority that post on THIS forum....They would be all empty and boarded up with a much higher unemployement rate then we have now....but you see none of that has happened....

I agree 100% with what Andrew said.

I should add that there is nothing I love more than going to a restaurant I frequent (like Cafe Lou Lou) fully expecting to order something I usually order (the meze plate and/or muffaleeta) and being told about some special that not only entices me away from my usual fair, but provides a wonderful and unique dining experience.

There are few things I enjoy more than the "special special". The only downside is that you know the chance of repeating that particular experience is very slim. I've had some "special specials" I would love to repeat.

I think it comes from my upbringing. My Mother is a wonderful cook. She typically made dinner from whatever she had around, or roughly based on some recipe she read, and our meals (with only 1 notable exception in 38 years) turned out wonderful. I've had many great meals in my life I will sadly never have again. It's one of the great pleasure / pains of my life.

I was too blessed with a Mom that was a great cook...those meals will never be equalled again either by a chain or local...They just cannot compete with Mom's Home Cooking...