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I voted "other" because it's been between 5 to 15 years since I've been to any of these places, so I can't even imagine which one's I would like the most (or dislike the least). I'd guess most of whatever I've eaten at any of these places is probably not even on the menu now. Never heard of Ground Round either. If I were to base my vote on the last time I ate at any of these places, I would say Outback was the best.
I have no idea what a "Ground Round" is but it doesn't sound appetizing.
Ground Round was a family-oriented ribs, steak and burger place, which offered free popcorn and peanuts, didn't mind if you swept your peanut shells off the table and onto the floor, showed silent movies in the bar, and had reasonable drink prices. The burgers and fries were good. On Friday nights there was an all-you-could eat fish fry. It was the place to be in the late 70s.
There used to be Sizzlers here but I haven't seen any in about a decade so I just figured they went out of business.
Last time I ate at Outback was a little over a year ago (gift card from Christmas). We got loaded steak fries. The fries were soggy, ridiculously salty, and there was enough cheese and bacon for maybe 1/5th of the fries. I ordered prime rib and what they gave me looked like a piece of 3-day old opossum they picked up from the side of the road. It was extremely tough and had no flavor at all. I was pretty grossed out and wasn't eating it, so they asked me if I wanted a porterhouse instead. I said sure, so they brought me a porterhouse. It had a rancid off taste so I didn't eat much of it. I was kind of worried about getting food poisoning at that point. Vegetables had a chemical aftertaste. Girlfriend had the exact same vegetables and I tried hers and they tasted fine, not at all like mine. I tried her lobster and it was chewy and tasted old. Like a pre-cooked lobster from the freezer that they thawed and microwaved. It was so bad that I still remember every detail of the meal like it was yesterday. Kind of a tramautic experience really. She still gives me crap about it.
Other experiences there weren't nearly as bad, but when I look at their menu it's really a struggle to come up with something that sounds good.
Last time I ate at Friday's was probably 6 months ago. I go there every once in a while because I have friends who are always wanting to go, mostly for drinks and because they get a discount. Last time I had a flat iron steak that was surprisingly good, with some kind of Bearnaise-style sauce on top. Along with some ginger-lime coleslaw and mashed potatoes that were decent. At least they make an attempt to keep the menu somewhat contemporary and aren't stuck in a time warp. Their food isn't great but it's also never terribly bad and I don't leave their feeling like I got robbed.
I agree with the contemporary part, but that is what makes Outback a little better in my estimation: the menu is rather simple and what they do, most of the time is tasty. I didn't say great or even 4 star (I don't expect that from a chain) but it sounds like you just got a really bad meal that time. If it had been me and it was as bad as you say, I certainly would have said something. I know food is subjective. We all have our favorites. I am really not much of chain restaurant lover period. It is just, so often we really don't have a choice.
Ground Round was a family-oriented ribs, steak and burger place, which offered free popcorn and peanuts, didn't mind if you swept your peanut shells off the table and onto the floor, showed silent movies in the bar, and had reasonable drink prices. The burgers and fries were good. On Friday nights there was an all-you-could eat fish fry. It was the place to be in the late 70s.
I didn't know the chain was still around.
I mentioned the same thing last time we did a poll like this, about a year ago and was told, my many, they are still on the east coast, I think more No Atlantic.. As for how many are open I don't know. I had forgotten about the peanuts, but knew they did something like that. I do know, I loved to hang out there and was disappointed, on a trip back to Alexandria to see the place was gone and some large chain had taken over.
Outback has become stale and worn out in my opinion. It's desperately in need of a re-do and some fresh new items. It's been played out and there are rumblings a change is coming.
Ground Round was a family-oriented ribs, steak and burger place, which offered free popcorn and peanuts, didn't mind if you swept your peanut shells off the table and onto the floor, showed silent movies in the bar, and had reasonable drink prices. The burgers and fries were good. On Friday nights there was an all-you-could eat fish fry. It was the place to be in the late 70s.
I didn't know the chain was still around.
There are 24 locations in the Northwest and the Midwest. It was originated by Howard Johnson's.
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!
She still gives me crap about it.
