Chain vs Chef-Driven Restaurants (Atlanta: fit in, neighborhoods, college)

[Newsboy]

Originally Posted by tikigod311

Mmmmmmmmmm American Deli.

Philly and Wings. Yessss damnit, with fries! Scared to know how many calories are in that delicious heart stopper.

AMERICAN DELI?! Are y'all serious? I've never had the courage to eat at one, because they always seem to be the only place in some depressing strip center that's half empty. NOT A GOOD SIGN in my book!

Now gimme a JIMMY JOHN'S ... WOWZY!

Also, I've become quite partial lately to Zoe's Kitchen.

[tikigod311]

Newsboy, I was in the same dark place you were just a year ago. Co workers took me to the American Deli in the North Kroger shopping center in Ftown and made me a changed man!

Try it sometime, the two I have been to (Fville and Hapeville) have both been clean and well run. The philly is damn good for a chain, yet to try a better one in Atlanta.

You must be in the mood for greasy short order type food. Love me some Jimmy Johns too!

[Rocco Barbosa]

Originally Posted by gerrythesnake

Which do you prefer and why?

To be honest I like both.

With a Chain, you can EXPECT a familiar taste that's very uniform. Unless the chef is very good/well known, you can be disappointed. As I stated I do like both.

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by Rocco Barbosa

To be honest I like both.

With a Chain, you can EXPECT a familiar taste that's very uniform. Unless the chef is very good, you can be disappointed. As I stated I do like both.

This.

[GeorgiaLakeSearch]

Originally Posted by Newsboy

I asked the concierge at an Orlando hotel to recommend a "good, local" restaurant once, and she suggested Olive Garden and Outback!

Now that is funny!

[billl]

Originally Posted by George Chong

I always laugh when I see American tourists in Europe eating at a McDonald's or a Kentucky Fried Chicken

We were in Paris (which has fantastic food everywhere you turn) and walked by the McDonalds on the Champs-Élysées. Which, in and of itself just seems like anathema or something. And the place was loaded with American tourists. I wanted to walk in there and yell at all of them: "You are in PARIS for God's sake. Go out there and eat some REAL food."

But then later that night we were in a wonderful café (well, they are all wonderful) and overheard the typical loud and rude American two tables over ordering "van" (yes, that's how he pronounced it). So, maybe it is a good thing that some of them stay in McDonalds.

[billl]

Originally Posted by Newsboy

This is all fine and good if you're single people or childless adults traveling together. Wait until you have kids and you'll change your tune.

We've regularly taken both our kids to nice restaurants. We expect them to sit at the table quietly and behave themselves, and we expect them to try different food. They don't have to eat all of it, but they are expected to taste it. Our oldest, who is now an adult, enjoys the better restaurants and actually gets upset with us if we go someplace interesting without her. I attribute this mostly to the experiences we gave her as a child.

Of course we still do our time at McDonalds, Burger King, Stevie Bs, and Subway to satisfy the little one.

[vince217]

Originally Posted by Newsboy

This is all fine and good if you're single people or childless adults traveling together. Wait until you have kids and you'll change your tune. For families, familiarity is where it's at! Orlando is the biggest family vacation destination in the world, and there's a reason why Orlando is overrun with chains, chains, chains, chains, chains, chains. It's almost IMPOSSIBLE to find good "local" restaurants in Orlando. I asked the concierge at an Orlando hotel to recommend a "good, local" restaurant once, and she suggested Olive Garden and Outback!

i agree that chains are more convenient for families with young kids. However, my wife and I have been training our kids (6 and 4) on how to eat at more 'fancy' restaurants, with no crayons and without giving them our phones to play with. Hopefully this will teach them manners and how to be gentlemen when they eventually do these on their own.

So far they have done well in Fogo de Chao (a chain but at least an upscale one), Peter Luger (yes, Brooklyn), and Cardamom Hill.

[Atlanta_BD]

Originally Posted by billl

But then later that night we were in a wonderful café (well, they are all wonderful) and overheard the typical loud and rude American two tables over ordering "van" (yes, that's how he pronounced it). So, maybe it is a good thing that some of them stay in McDonalds.

"Van" as in "vin" for wine? Embarrassing.

[Rocco Barbosa]

If Warren Buffet can eat McD's (while flying on his $20 million private jet), so can we.

Originally Posted by George Chong

Agree

I prefer to dine at a chef driven restaurant but chains serve a purpose too. I enjoy the food at Seasons 52 and Bonefish Grill.



I always laugh when I see American tourists in Europe eating at a McDonald's or a Kentucky Fried Chicken