Cheesecake Factory Ridiculous Wait Time (Orlando, Winter Park: purchase, luxury, per square foot)

[gabaghoul]

Originally Posted by annerk

I think that overall the food at Cracker Barrel is better.

I'm not biased that way. I agree, Cracker Barrel has excellent food, but it's a different kind of restaurant. It's an irreverent comparison. I'd love to have calamari at Cracker Barrel.

[annerk]

Originally Posted by gabaghoul

I'm not biased that way. I agree, Cracker Barrel has excellent food, but it's a different kind of restaurant. It's an irreverent comparison. I'd love to have calamari at Cracker Barrel.

Cracker Barrel and Cheesecake factory are in the same class--add in Red Lobster for a Trifecta.

[chopchop0]

Originally Posted by annerk

Cracker Barrel and Cheesecake factory are in the same class--add in Red Lobster for a Trifecta.

quite frankly, I'd eat at any of those three over olive garden. Talk about the most mass-produced crappy Italian "product" in the world. Pretty much on par with Fazoli's (if you remember those!) IMO

[annerk]

Originally Posted by chopchop0

quite frankly, I'd eat at any of those three over olive garden. Talk about the most mass-produced crappy Italian "product" in the world. Pretty much on par with Fazoli's (if you remember those!) IMO

Agreed. I'd rather eat at Wendy's than Olive Garden.

Tijuana Flats is better than any of the above (except breakfast at Cracker Barrel--mmm... apple butter and biscuits...)

[brinkofsunshine]

Originally Posted by annerk

Agreed. I'd rather eat at Wendy's than Olive Garden.

Tijuana Flats is better than any of the above (except breakfast at Cracker Barrel--mmm... apple butter and biscuits...)

Agree with the Wendy's comment- if I have to eat fast food, that's where I go.

I don't know why people go to Olive Garden, Red Lobster, etc. when there are better (and local) restaurants with similar prices. I avoid those unless I'm somehow forced there.. which is rare. My friend drags me to Cheesecake every once in a while if he gets a gift card from family. I much prefer Yellow Dog Eats, Press 101, Bento Cafe (small FL chain), etc.

Although, my guilty pleasure is walking around the Cracker Barrel gift shop

[FloridaNative35]

I don't care for Cracker Barrel or Olive Garden, but I'll eat at Red Lobster when out of town. I love their chocolate cake and cheese bread, and I've never had a problem with my food there. Seafood is always my first choice when eating out, and for a chain, I don't think Red Lobster is bad. I'll choose it over an unknown when out of town (but part of that may be having a few very very bad experiences in seafood restaurants, like being served partially frozen mahi in one place and spoiled crab at another.

In town, though, I always choose local. I actually had a surprisingly great meal at Kingfish Bistro in College Park a couple of weeks ago. I'd read some dodgy reviews, but the mahi picatta and linguini was insanely good. Sadly, the place was mostly empty on a weekend night. I'm not sure they'll be around much longer.

[brinkofsunshine]

Originally Posted by FloridaNative35

I don't care for Cracker Barrel or Olive Garden, but I'll eat at Red Lobster when out of town. I love their chocolate cake and cheese bread, and I've never had a problem with my food there. Seafood is always my first choice when eating out, and for a chain, I don't think Red Lobster is bad. I'll choose it over an unknown when out of town (but part of that may be having a few very very bad experiences in seafood restaurants, like being served partially frozen mahi in one place and spoiled crab at another.

In town, though, I always choose local. I actually had a surprisingly great meal at Kingfish Bistro in College Park a couple of weeks ago. I'd read some dodgy reviews, but the mahi picatta and linguini was insanely good. Sadly, the place was mostly empty on a weekend night. I'm not sure they'll be around much longer.

I can understand the consistency from restaurant to restaurant is an argument for choosing a chain like Red Lobster, but nowadays there are so many quick and easy ways to find reviews of the best restaurants in various places using your computer or phone... I'm sure a quick check on Yelp, Zagat, or something similar would bring up a bunch of better, more interesting choices. What's the fun in traveling if you just go to the same old chains?

[FloridaNative35]

I don't mean to eat at when at a destination... I mean on the road (like when driving home from Philly or Charlotte and stopping to eat). It's not worth the time to read 100 reviews and I don't trust them that much anyway, to be honest.

[IAm_FloridaBorn]

wow some of you people are superficial. I'm kind of glad I know real Floridians.

[gabaghoul]

Originally Posted by IAm_FloridaBorn

wow some of you people are superficial. I'm kind of glad I know real Floridians.

I'm an east coast Floridian , we tend to complain a lot I guess.