is it just me or do the Tri-Citians love their chain restaurants a little too much? (Richland: houses)

[Mopac1980]

It seems like the chain restaurants like Five Guys, Red Robin, Olive Garden, Texas Roadhouse and Red Lobster are often packed and it's never uncommon to wait a bit for a table, why do so many people think they're the only good restaurants the Tri-Cities has to offer?

[j_k_k]

It's just part of the local culture. It defines itself to some degree by the number and prestige of chain restaurants that locate there. It's very hard for quality independent restaurants to break in, because they have to make a living for ten years before people take a week off from the Country Gentleman (which they followed way the hell out Badger Road) and give them a try. I remember the year they got an IHOP and an Olive Garden in the same year, and you'd have thought it was the Rapture. If they ever get a Nordstrom, it'll be a spontaneous Boat Race Weekend in exultation.

There's a Five Guys there now? Should do well. Will put pressure on Zip's (which I liked) and Burger Ranch (which I did not). Wonder how it's doing. There's a Sonic, as I recall, and I think it was often busy. Gage is a good location for chains.

[Tall Traveler]

Originally Posted by Mopac1980

It seems like the chain restaurants like Five Guys, Red Robin, Olive Garden, Texas Roadhouse and Red Lobster are often packed and it's never uncommon to wait a bit for a table, why do so many people think they're the only good restaurants the Tri-Cities has to offer?

There's been a dearth of good restaurants in the Tri-Cities which has improved with time. My belief is you have a good restaurant in Tri-Cities, it's going to do well. So my perspective is people go to the chains because there aren't enough good alternatives.

[M3 Mitch]

Originally Posted by Tall Traveler

There's been a dearth of good restaurants in the Tri-Cities which has improved with time. My belief is you have a good restaurant in Tri-Cities, it's going to do well. So my perspective is people go to the chains because there aren't enough good alternatives.

Yeah and no. You can't treat the Tri-Cities as a single block. Richland, for example, has a good bit of money in it, but the old-timer population is CHEAP. About the only upscale to survive long term is Anthony's, which is technically a chain but I give them a pass because the chain is small and the quality is very good. But their location can draw from all 3 cities.

There are a lot of good to excellent non-chain restaurants here, see the thread on them. Masala could hold their head up in a much bigger city. Wide variety of good Mexican and Tex-Mex.

The thing is, for whatever reason, Tri-Cities people do love chains.

[Mopac1980]

Originally Posted by M3 Mitch

Yeah and no. You can't treat the Tri-Cities as a single block. Richland, for example, has a good bit of money in it, but the old-timer population is CHEAP. About the only upscale to survive long term is Anthony's, which is technically a chain but I give them a pass because the chain is small and the quality is very good. But their location can draw from all 3 cities.

There are a lot of good to excellent non-chain restaurants here, see the thread on them. Masala could hold their head up in a much bigger city. Wide variety of good Mexican and Tex-Mex.

The thing is, for whatever reason, Tri-Cities people do love chains.

I agree there are a lot of Mexican restaurants in the Tri-Cities that range from very good to excellent, I personally enjoy going to these restaurants more than the chains any day.

[pnwguy2]

With a few exceptions, a market of just under 300K can't expect to have quality local restaurant establishments. Compare to others of similar size. However, a couple/three can exist, and many have been mentioned here. Explore, sample, and spread the word.

[j_k_k]

Well, too, the definition of 'quality' varies from person to person. It helps to clarify one's own.

For some people, quality is related to upscaleness; in other words, quality dining is fine dining, or formal dining with all the trappings. For some, it's related to value received, so they would have a best-in-class for steakhouses, taco trucks, etc. And for some, it's pure and simple, whose food tastes the best and isn't dangerous.

Since I like to try a wide variety of things, I'm about halfway between the second and the third. I do want to know the best in each class, without expecting Zip's to be Red Robin and grading them out separately, but I also will have a bottom line overall preference. And those are just definitions through my own lens, which may not apply to others.

[pnwguy2]

Originally Posted by j_k_k

Well, too, the definition of 'quality' varies from person to person. It helps to clarify one's own.

For some people, quality is related to upscaleness; in other words, quality dining is fine dining, or formal dining with all the trappings. For some, it's related to value received, so they would have a best-in-class for steakhouses, taco trucks, etc. And for some, it's pure and simple, whose food tastes the best and isn't dangerous.

Since I like to try a wide variety of things, I'm about halfway between the second and the third. I do want to know the best in each class, without expecting Zip's to be Red Robin and grading them out separately, but I also will have a bottom line overall preference. And those are just definitions through my own lens, which may not apply to others.

Fair post, and I agree. For me personally, it means quality food, good service, at a decent price. (By decent, I don't mean cheap, but not over-the-top expensive either.) I think you are on the right track here.