Chain vs Chef-Driven Restaurants (Atlanta, Columbus: income, live in, price)

[Iconographer]

Originally Posted by ATLondoner

A few weeks back we was eating on the patio at Barcelona in Inman Park on a Saturday afternoon, a group of 2 couples were seated on the table next to us...they had been to the braves game that afternoon.

After studying the mainly tapas menu one of the girls asked the waitress if she could get them 'something American as we don't like foreign foods'.

The waitress politely mentioned to them that they were in a Mediterranean style tapas bar.

"Well you must sell tacos or nachos?"

"Ma'am, tacos and nachos are both Mexican and not American" replies the waitress.

BOOM!

Blonde with big breasts?

[AnsleyPark]

Originally Posted by lovindecatur

blonde with big breasts?

where????

[Iconographer]

Originally Posted by AnsleyPark

I've found that folks in other countries actually appreciate it when you attempt to speak their native language, even if you mess it up. Shows some respect.

Knowing Hello, Thank You, and Goodbye goes a long way.

[Newsboy]

Originally Posted by ATLTJL

Both are fine.

I don't want to go off on a tangent here, but it seems to me that in a lot of ways, we are entering a "this or that" society.

I mean, just look at this board. Chain or chef? Suburb or in town? We get asked a lot of either or styled questions often forgetting to realize that very little in life is a zero sum game.

The answer is almost always in the middle. For example, this question. As has been stated, both serve individual purposes. Only a fool would say one is always better than the other because you have some chef driven restaurants that are actually pretty terrible and then you have some chains, like Houstons, that are often better than a chef restaurant. I've taken to pretty much refusing to eat anywhere until I've checked the Yelp reviews. I'm not going to step into a complete unknown just because it looks a certain way.

I really like both types of restaurants. Just like I really like the suburbs and intown neighborhoods. I wouldn't judge anybody for choosing one over the other so long as they acknowledged what is good and bad about both before diving into a decision.

It reminds me of the kids I knew in college who liked REM or Nirvana, but then refused to listen to them anymore once they gained traction and sold some records. The fact that other people like the music now as well doesn't change what it is and shouldn't influence whether you like it. I like underground stuff you've never heard of as well as crap that you hear all over pop radio.

Not to mention the fact, all these people who only eat in "chef-driven" (???) restaurants must have a LOT more disposable income to throw around than the rest of us. Some of the arrogant comments about those "embarrassing" American tourists in Paris suggest this is really a discussion about class, and not food.

[JPD]

Originally Posted by AnsleyPark

where????

Bahahaha! Nicely done!

[Atlanta_BD]

Originally Posted by billl

Yes "van" as in "vin".

I think the exact quote was "we would like to order some van."

LOL!

[ATLondoner]

Originally Posted by LovinDecatur

Blonde with big breasts?

Sadly not....in fact I think she had more ears than teeth.

[Atlanta_BD]

Originally Posted by Newsboy

Not to mention the fact, all these people who only eat in "chef-driven" (???) restaurants must have a LOT more disposable income to throw around than the rest of us. Some of the arrogant comments about those "embarrassing" American tourists in Paris suggest this is really a discussion about class, and not food.

It's about being knowledgeable about local culture and making an effort to learn the language before going to other countries. It's arrogant of Americans to go to other countries and demand or expect people to speak English in their own countries.

It's not about class. Heck, I grew up working class, yet I studied French in school and know enough about the French culture to know that I should try to speak some French properly when going there. I know to go into a restaurant in France and say, "Je voudrais, une bouteille de vin, s'il vous plait," and not say, "Can I have some van," and I'm not upper class. Sheesh! LOL!

It's about being cultured and not everyone who has money is cultured.

[ATLTJL]

Some of the arrogant comments about those "embarrassing" American tourists in Paris suggest this is really a discussion about class, and not food.

Exactly!

And you know, I'm not a huge international traveler, but I know someone who is. I mean, this guy has been EVERYWHERE. He's not afraid to camp in a tent in the Sahara or ride a train through Siberia.

I remember years ago asking him about his trip to Luxor, and he told me that he ended up eating at American fast food restaurants way more than he wanted to because they were so available. He said that one of the best views of the pyramids, or maybe the sphinx, I can't quite remember, is from a Pizza Hut!

I think familiarity can be a good thing sometimes. Even though I'm not a world traveler, I do remember going to New Orleans years ago and after a few days just wanting a McDonalds or something because if I had one more muffaleta, jambalaya, or bowl of gumbo, I was going to go nuts. Yeah, that stuff is great, but sometimes the familiar is what you really crave.

I understand the derision toward chains because I can't remember the last time I visited an Applebees or Chili's. But that doesn't make them evil, bad, or me better than people who do go there. I like to keep my feet firmly planted, and I didn't step into a $60,000 job right out of college. I remember when a Saturday night dinner at a place like Chili's was considered going out to a nice restaurant!

I don't really know what else to say, except variety is the spice of life, and yes, even chains make up the variety of the landscape. Can anyone honestly say they haven't just craved salad and breadsticks at Olive Garden or a blooming onion at Outback and would have taken one of those over dinner at a celebrity chef restaurant?

Maybe it's because at heart, I'm a rebel, and nowadays it seems like the more rebellious thing to do is go to a chain because it pisses off all the pretentious douchebags so much.

[kaitlyn142]

I'm the first to admit I'm a complete food snob, and even I understand the point of an Applebees or Chilis. 99 times out of 100, I choose the small local place, but sometimes, it's late, you're travelling for business, and you just want somethign familiar without having to figure out what or why. Didn't stop me from researching all of the restaurants in Roswell before deciding to move there, though.