Do you prefer local restaurants over restaurant chains?? (restaurant, fast food, frozen)

[DAP443]

In my opinion, it all depends.

[sav858]

I definitely prefer local restaurants over national chains BUT there are some exceptions I make of course, such as Chick-Fil-A, In-n-Out, and Daphne's. But as far as sit down, I almost always prefer a local restaurant to a sit-down chain.

I just find those national chain sit down restaurants to be all the same with the same tasting, previously frozen food. Much of their popularity is owed to stupid gimmicks like themes (Claim Jumper, Outback Steakhouse) or variety and large portions (The Cheesecake Factory). I just cannot stand places like that anymore; Red Lobster, TJI Fridays, Chili's, etc..are all just the same blandness. It's better for your local economy and community to support local businesses too.

[pureistheword]

usually locals but some of the chains can be pretty good

[HighPlainsDrifter73]

When I'm on the road, I prefer chain restaurants. They're more predictable and familiar. Around where I live, I patronize both.

[cpg35223]

I try to eat locally wherever I go. There's no better place to learn about the community you're visiting than the local restaurant. And, quite frankly, every town has a few good restaurants. In fact, one of the best meals of my life was in a little place in Tupelo, Mississippi. All you have to do is ask a local or two, "Hey, if you were taking somebody from out of town to a local joint to eat, where would you go?"

[deerislesmile]

I have to drive 2 hours to get to any real chain restaurant, so I think I'll go with with the local option.

[noid_1985]

Chicago's local chicken chain (Harold's) is better than any KFC, Popeye's, Church's, etc

[18Montclair]

Definitely prefer local restaurants.

[2Adam29]

I prefer local fancy expensive resteraunts, and national chains for fast food options.

[lammius]

I always prefer local. When I travel I want to sample what the locals eat. I'll either do the research before leaving (city-data is good for that), or ask around when I'm there.

When I'm at home, I still prefer local. In my neighborhood I know the best place to get a slice, the best thai take-out, the best falafel place, the good curry carts, the best places to take a date. Around my office, I am always trying new places and revisiting the best ones I find.

I always want to find the best ____ in _____.

I like to take risks. They almost always pay off. Chains may be "safe" because they're consistent, mostly, but they're consistently mediocre, IMO. With a local spot, they're almost always better. And if not, they're rarely less mediocre than the chain you would've gone to otherwise.

I could've gone to the sandwich place at Newark Penn Station, but instead I walked a couple blocks to the Ironbound and found a whole neighborhood filled with Brazilian churrascarias! I could've gone to KFC while driving through Bluffton, SC, but instead I found this little roadside shack with excellent pork barbecue. I could've gone to Applebees in San Fran, but we found a really good Vietnamese pho place instead.