RIP TGI Friday's (San Francisco, Union City, Bell: lease, house, movies)

[BayAreaHillbilly]

Originally Posted by nmnita

I sometimes agree with you, but this time I do not: TGIF is neither American or anti American. As for the food being crappy, that is strictly opinion. The food wasn't gourmet, but decent for the price. i don't know why you think it was responsible for closing down Mom and Pop restaurants. Restaurants are not like grocery store chains, they are totally different. How can you say Chain restaurants are not owned by Americans, what about those the Brinker owned before he died the other day, what about InandOut. These are just a couple that come to mind.

Nita

In fact it was Brinker passing away that got me thinking about this. I sort of knew all the Bay Area carpetbagger communists and haute cusine snobs would be all over this thread ragging on both TGI and BA. I realize those were not actually Brinker operations but certainly of the same genre. For me wife and I (note - my wife is a durned furiner - but one who loves America and at least certain aspects of American fly over culture) these mid end chains of the Brinkeresque genre have a niche. We don't go to them all the time, but there are times when we yearn for it. Yet another aspect of our lifestyle falling by the way side.

[BayAreaHillbilly]

Originally Posted by bayarea-girl

Oh Lord, what is so American about TGIF? I think companies like TGIF are anti-American. The company was too big and served crappy food, and closed down Mom & Pop restaurants which is American. Who do you think owns big corporations like TGIF? It isn't Americans. I think they should close all chain restaurants, they are AWFUL!!!! The best places are one of a kind.

Yeah, right. There ought to be a law. I can see it now:

"The Ministry of Central Economic Control has decreed that chain restaurants are not in the People's interest, and must be liquidated."

[clongirl]

Originally Posted by nmnita

now we show how subjective food is, I would take TGIF over Applebees any day, I am not a huge fan of either: I like Rudy Tuesdays cause they have an awesome salad bar.

Cityboy, you certainly realize anyone can get food poisining and it may or may not be from the restaurant. How would you know it was not a virus? As for Outback, Nature's message, it happens to be my favorite of all these chains. I used to like Macarroni Grill, but haven't eaten there in ages: I have never like Dead Lobster oh, I mean Red Lobster.

Nita

Well, I think you might need to realize that the Bay Area is full of "foodies". My husband and I happen to be this way because we have spent a good part of our lives eating good food (we were lucky to be so blessed in SF). It's a San Francisco/Bay Area thing...it's serious business and part of who we are, and a huge part of why we love the Bay Area.

We certainly didn't grow up this way (he from Ireland, the land of boiled, blandness and no choice, but from the land) Once you graduate your way up over time, then ordinary food (especially a chain) will never be acceptable again. It's like eating a HoHo then discovering the authentic French bakery down the street. You will never go back to eating HoHo's...especially when you read the ingredients list with disgust when you discover what's in them.

It's not a "snobby" or "elitist" thing to us or anything..we just love to eat excellent food (it doesn't have to even be pricey but of good quality)..it's our entertainment since we don't spend money on movies.

If I have a burger, you learn that places like Applebee's or Chili's get their meat from inhumane sources where one burger contains the bits from a thousand cows from feed lots all over the country and given nasty feed and treated horribly...gross for people that actually care about what goes into their bodies. French fries from these places contain some freaky chemical so they last longer and can't decompose..

Anyway, I'm sorry to seem so disagreeable, but your opinion on chains when you've been living in the land of chains and fat people don't really apply or have any significance to the people that live in a food/health oriented place like SF/Bay Area...

So I'm perfectly fine and happy with these nasty places closing their doors forever where quantity and profit rule and pre-diabetics chow down because it's affordable.

All of these places are disgusting..and I'm not talking about the taste.

[BayAreaHillbilly]

Of course, San Francisco is the ultimate place, according to the Stuff White People Like tribe. So, the reactions on this thread thus far do not surprise me. The SWPL tribe don't like big corporations:

#82 Hating Corporations « Stuff White People Like

[BayAreaHillbilly]

Originally Posted by clongirl

Well, I think you might need to realize that the Bay Area is full of "foodies". My husband and I happen to be this way because we have spent a good part of our lives eating good food (we were lucky to be so blessed in SF). It's a San Francisco/Bay Area thing...it's serious business and part of who we are, and a huge part of why we love the Bay Area.

We certainly didn't grow up this way (he from Ireland, the land of boiled, blandness and no choice, but from the land) Once you graduate your way up over time, then ordinary food (especially a chain) will never be acceptable again. It's like eating a HoHo then discovering the authentic French bakery down the street. You will never go back to eating HoHo's...especially when you read the ingredients list with disgust when you discover what's in them.

It's not a "snobby" or "elitist" thing to us or anything..we just love to eat excellent food (it doesn't have to even be pricey but of good quality)..it's our entertainment since we don't spend money on movies.

If I have a burger, you learn that places like Applebee's or Chili's get their meat from inhumane sources where one burger contains the bits from a thousand cows from feed lots all over the country and given nasty feed and treated horribly...gross for people that actually care about what goes into their bodies. French fries from these places contain some freaky chemical so they last longer and can't decompose..

Anyway, I'm sorry to seem so disagreeable, but your opinion on chains when you've been living in the land of chains and fat people don't really apply or have any significance to the people that live in a food/health oriented place like SF/Bay Area...

So I'm perfectly fine and happy with these nasty places closing their doors forever where quantity and profit rule and pre-diabetics chow down because it's affordable.

All of these places are disgusting..and I'm not talking about the taste.

I am a Bay Area native. I certainly appreciate non chain restaurants. But I don't hate chains either. I find that the foodies around here who are the most full of themselves tend to be transplants.

[clongirl]

Originally Posted by BayAreaHillbilly

I am a Bay Area native. I certainly appreciate non chain restaurants. But I don't hate chains either. I find the foodies around here who are the most full of themselves tend to be transplants.

No, You've got me all wrong..Sf/Bay area native here..only half white too!. I'm a foodie because I've tasted good food, that's all. Started when I was on my own at SFState. Got tired of "Ragu" and started adding my own vegetables. I grew up in the City and was born in the Bay Area.

I just care about putting healthy stuff in my body..I'm not a vegetarian or anything but I get grossed out when I read the ingredients of "food".

I'm just of the mindset of making it from scratch so I know what's in it or eating at an establishment that isn't putting some preservative in it to last longer. It's actually a very "conservative" and old fashioned way to eat..I'm not anal about it, but I do everything possible to avoid chains.

I'm not one to spend loads of money on overpriced organic stuff from Whole Foods or places like that, but I just don't like what I read on most labels..

I eat like the way I grew up (we rarely ate out and my mom cooked most things homemade). She wouldn't even buy Oreo's or Rainbow bread (I don't know if you're old enough to remember this stuff) and insisted on making her own choc. chip cookies (really embarrassing at the time, but I appreciate it now). Also, we didn't grow up with a lot of money (convenience foods were actually for the wealthier people when I was growing up).

So you've actually made a lot of wrong and judgmental assumptions about me.

[BayAreaHillbilly]

Originally Posted by clongirl

No, You've got me all wrong..Sf/Bay area native here..only half white too!. I'm a foodie because I've tasted good food, that's all. Started when I was on my own at SFState. Got tired of "Ragu" and started adding my own vegetables. I grew up in the City and was born in the Bay Area.

I just care about putting healthy stuff in my body..I'm not a vegetarian or anything but I get grossed out when I read the ingredients of "food".

I'm just of the mindset of making it from scratch so I know what's in it or eating at an establishment that isn't putting some preservative in it to last longer. It's actually a very "conservative" and old fashioned way to eat..I'm not anal about it, but I do everything possible to avoid chains.

I'm not one to spend loads of money on overpriced organic stuff from Whole Foods or places like that, but I just don't like what I read on most labels..

I eat like the way I grew up (we rarely ate out and my mom cooked most things homemade). She wouldn't even buy Oreo's or Rainbow bread (I don't know if you're old enough to remember this stuff) and insisted on making her own choc. chip cookies (really embarrassing at the time, but I appreciate it now). Also, we didn't grow up with a lot of money (convenience foods were actually for the wealthier people when I was growing up).

So you've actually made a lot of wrong and judgmental assumptions about me.

I get your meaning. No worries. I actually eat like a health nut most of the time (and was also raised that way - partially out of thrift and partially out of health consciousness). But there were times when we would let loose a bit. My wife and I are like that too. I have fond memories of the Friday's that existed during the 70s near the hood I grew up in (long gone). It was sort of a gathering spot for family and friends for certain purposes. Of course, we also had our stand alone mom and pops as well. Also some fond memories of Farrell's, Swenson's and Shaw's (I reckon those are more primitive sorts of sugar high memories - LOL!).

[bayarea-girl]

Nita, I disagree with you too. Sure INnOut started out as American but like most chains developed corporate structure, forgot about their customers, and quality control in order to cut cost and increase their profits. When new developments go up, developers are not interested in renting to the Mom & Pop business owner they will take the bigger guy any day of the week. The new shinny building always affects rents in the surrounding area too. There were a lot of quality restaurants that have gone out of business because of this. Also, I only brought up the American comment in response what Bayareahillbilly communicated.

Why would anyone want to eat processed foods? All of the chains need to go out of business.

My mother always cooked and if we wanted fries from Mac Donalds or even their burger my mother cooked for us instead. Just like the previous posters. Going out for my family was truly a rare treat. I am so grateful that I wasn't feed the garbage so I could get use to that crap or think that it was normal in any way.

I love food and love to go out and eat but I can't pay for crap. It hurts my stomach to do so. Quality food is worth spending the money on. You couldn't pay me to eat at most of the chain restaurants.

[ANC]

Black Angus is still open in Cupertino, isn't it? Or did that go out in the last few months?

TGIFridays is where we used to go when my fiance got off work late, the only place aside from something like Denny's open after 10 in or near Redwood City that we know of.

[BayAreaHillbilly]

Originally Posted by ANC

Black Angus is still open in Cupertino, isn't it? Or did that go out in the last few months?

TGIFridays is where we used to go when my fiance got off work late, the only place aside from something like Denny's open after 10 in or near Redwood City that we know of.

RE: Angus - You're probably thinking of the one in Sunnyvale, which is indeed still open. But for how long?

RE: Friday's - the late hours are / were a key advantage. We had a situation a few weeks ago where we wanted to meet a friend quite late, the original plan was meet at the Friday's at El Camino and 380 in San Bruno. Well so much for that, we ended up meeting at the one diner in the area that was open. Was pretty loud and difficult to carry on a conversation, everyone was crowded in there, no doubt partially due to Friday's having recently shut.