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I have tried Outback twice (different locations). Both times the food was sub-par. I won't try a third time.
My late MIL always wanted to eat at Red Lobster for her birthday. It was really poor quality food (and not very clean either). No more for me.
All the chain restaurants that we used to go to, have gone so far downhill in the past 10 years that we just never go any more. Olive Garden, Chili's, TGI Friday's, Claim Jumper, Outback Steakhouse, Sizzler--they're all horrible. I've only been to an Applebee's once (my 93-year-old father wanted to go there), and I thought it was horrible too. Incidentally, I think I was the only person there under 60.
As far as fast food goes, I've never been a huge fan, but used to enjoy Taco Bell and Burger King in my younger days. Not any more; haven't been to either in many years. Nowadays, if one of my kids wants to get fast food, we get either In-n-Out or Raising Cane's.
We avoid salad bars and buffets. In recent years Domino’s Pizza has really gone downhill. We tried pizzas several times there this year, and frozen pizzas were better.
What are your absolute, will-not-eat-at restaurants?
Panera. The Fifth Avenue location in Manhattan is so egregiously awful that I will never, ever spend a cent at a Panera. A company that knowingly treats its customers like garbage won't get my business. Ever.
When Arby's first opened their food was good. The last time I ate there is the last time I will eat there. The quality of the food has gone downhill.
The town I live in used to have a number of privately owned fine dining establishments and Ma and Pa cafes. We have four colleges here and now the fare is almost exclusively sport bars and fast food. Same menu in every place.
I don't mind a MacDonald's now and then and when traveling their whole meal salads are a good and inexpensive choice. In the south we'll eat at an occasional Waffle House (Oh, those potatoes!) or Subway.
But locally everything is out except the occasional MacDonald's or Culver's. They are both clean, quick and predictable.
Atmosphere and quality of food are my two highest requisites in choosing where to eat and the chains just don't fill the bill.
I think it's dismal that you can drive from coast to coast in this country and sleep in the same bedroom and eat the same meal every night and call it traveling. What are we thinking?
We avoid salad bars and buffets. In recent years Domino’s Pizza has really gone downhill. We tried pizzas several times there this year, and frozen pizzas were better.
That's too bad. Domino's in my small town is really good. I was very surprised. I had avoided them for many years.
I’m surprised at all the Outback haters. They have a wedge salad with steak, that is a favorite, and the bloomin onion is a once a year treat.
Red Lobster is awful, and I don’t like a Olive Garden at all.
Joes Crab Shack has not been good the two times Ive been there.
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