Ohio Chatter

Chain or Local

Serious Business
Belly35 Elderly Intellectual
10,015 posts 56 reps Joined Nov 2009
Fri, Jun 8, 2018 8:35 AM

The wife and I eat out for dinner with friends almost every weekend. We have this couple that when it’s their time to choose a restaurant they op for the chain type restaurants OutBack, Fridays…

What are your tendencies?  Chain Type Restaurants or Local Establishments

I’m not a fan of Chain restaurants, granted the food at time is very good 50/50 and somethings very unique special dishes are good. However, I like the Local establishment because their meal will be good all the time and the standard of perfection is always there, the waiter, waitress and owner know who I am and provide me with a little extra service. Plus I know what on the menu and what I like…    

ernest_t_bass 12th Son of the Lama
26,698 posts 204 reps Joined Nov 2009
Fri, Jun 8, 2018 8:42 AM

Yes
justincredible Honorable Admin
37,969 posts 246 reps Joined Nov 2009
Fri, Jun 8, 2018 8:48 AM

I try to avoid chains when not eating fast food. Too many great local restaurants in Cincinnati to waste a meal at a place like Outback Steakhouse.
Belly35 Elderly Intellectual
10,015 posts 56 reps Joined Nov 2009
Fri, Jun 8, 2018 8:55 AM
posted by justincredible

I try to avoid chains when not eating fast food. Too many great local restaurants in Cincinnati to waste a meal at a place like Outback Steakhouse.

Agree ..... lunch for me is most of the time a local restaurant or a coney place... .
Fab4Runner Tits McGee
6,997 posts 64 reps Joined Nov 2009
Fri, Jun 8, 2018 8:56 AM

Prefer local, but will eat at a chain. If the food is good, the food is good. 
vball10set paying it forward
26,788 posts 121 reps Joined Nov 2009
Fri, Jun 8, 2018 10:47 AM
posted by Fab4Runner

Prefer local, but will eat at a chain. If the food is good, the food is good. 

this
Laley23 GOAT
33,369 posts 132 reps Joined Nov 2009
Fri, Jun 8, 2018 10:53 AM

Usually local. But lunches I’ll often go chain (Chipotle, Chick Fil A, Nandos, etc).
Heretic Son of the Sun
20,517 posts 202 reps Joined Nov 2009
Fri, Jun 8, 2018 11:25 AM

Pizza, local all the way. If I'm on the road in a larger city, probably a chain simply because it's easier to just hit up the steak place near the freeway than to extensively search the 'net for best local restaurants in the area.
gut Senior Member
18,369 posts 114 reps Joined Nov 2009
Fri, Jun 8, 2018 11:57 AM

local can be just as overrated/bad as chains.

Good food is good food.  Most restaurants you just have to know what is good and what isn't.  But if you're on vacation, I think you should venture outside the usual "chain" restaurants.

I travel a lot for work, and sometimes chains are about all that is available if I just want something quick for carryout.  I try to avoid fast food and get a fish dish from Olive Garden, etc..
Verbal Kint Senior Member
1,062 posts 16 reps Joined Jul 2017
Fri, Jun 8, 2018 7:31 PM

I prefer it warmed on a skillet, but will eat it cold.
iclfan2 Reppin' the 330/216/843
9,465 posts 98 reps Joined Nov 2009
Fri, Jun 8, 2018 10:35 PM

I don’t have a problem with most chains (fast food, chipotle, etc) but if you like Applebee’s, Fridays or those ilks over a real local restaurant you got something wrong with you.
cat_lover Senior Member
3,629 posts 44 reps Joined Nov 2009
Fri, Jun 8, 2018 11:23 PM

Eat at mostly local but also chains. Our town doesn't really have a local Italian place so if you want Italian it is Olive Garden.
Verbal Kint Senior Member
1,062 posts 16 reps Joined Jul 2017
Sat, Jun 9, 2018 7:28 AM
posted by cat_lover

Eat at mostly local but also chains. Our town doesn't really have a local Italian place so if you want Italian it is Olive Garden.

Sorry to hear that.  Processed flour and breadsticks covered in tomato paste is not Italian.  
vball10set paying it forward
26,788 posts 121 reps Joined Nov 2009
Sat, Jun 9, 2018 7:38 AM
posted by Verbal Kint

Sorry to hear that.  Processed flour and breadsticks covered in tomato paste is not Italian.  

their breadsticks and salad is good, and their soups aren't bad either....but yeah, calling Olive Garden 'Italian' is like calling Chi-Chi's 'Mexican' (are they even still around???)
Verbal Kint Senior Member
1,062 posts 16 reps Joined Jul 2017
Sat, Jun 9, 2018 10:19 AM
posted by vball10set

their breadsticks and salad is good, and their soups aren't bad either....

If Bob Evans is a 3/10, Olive Garden is a 1.5/10.

posted by vball10set

Chi-Chi's 'Mexican' (are they even still around???)

The HepA death 15 years ago put them out of business.
vball10set paying it forward
26,788 posts 121 reps Joined Nov 2009
Sat, Jun 9, 2018 11:27 AM
posted by Verbal Kint

If Bob Evans is a 3/10, Olive Garden is a 1.5/10.

 

disagree...OG’s soup/salad/breadsticks > BE’s same...all day long
SportsAndLady Senior Member
39,070 posts 24 reps Joined Nov 2009
Sat, Jun 9, 2018 2:23 PM

This is blasphemy against Olive Garden. That place fucking rules. 

Other than that, I rarely ever go to chains. If I do, it's not my decision.
Verbal Kint Senior Member
1,062 posts 16 reps Joined Jul 2017
Sat, Jun 9, 2018 5:31 PM
posted by vball10set

disagree...OG’s soup/salad/breadsticks > BE’s same...all day long

Perhaps it is, I don't eat bread and the salad dressing there is sugar.

I was just using BE as a baseline of consistent below average food.

 

I don't mind Carrabba's as a chain for Americanized Italian food.

 
Laley23 GOAT
33,369 posts 132 reps Joined Nov 2009
Sat, Jun 9, 2018 5:35 PM

Olive Garden is trash. But I also hate pretty much any chain Italian place.
vball10set paying it forward
26,788 posts 121 reps Joined Nov 2009
Sat, Jun 9, 2018 6:12 PM
posted by Laley23

Olive Garden is trash. But I also hate pretty much any chain Italian place.

lol, trash? just because it was right next to your hs alma mater is no need to hate on it-lol
iclfan2 Reppin' the 330/216/843
9,465 posts 98 reps Joined Nov 2009
Sat, Jun 9, 2018 10:35 PM

Ha this is an interesting argument. I’ve been to Italy twice, from ytownish area with real Italians, and still think Olive Garden is fine. Red sauce w sausage is good enough. 

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