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its funny to see how silly anti-chain restaurant people are. i enjoy my meal at chevys everytime. its not fancy but neither are most of the independent mexican places. people just want to find some hole in the wall and pretend its so authentic and wonderful.
its funny to see how silly anti-chain restaurant people are. i enjoy my meal at chevys everytime. its not fancy but neither are most of the independent mexican places. people just want to find some hole in the wall and pretend its so authentic and wonderful.
Well, in NJ, why settle for anything LESS than authentic? Everywhere you go in NJ, there are authentic Italian, authentic Mexican, authentic German, authentic Cuban, etc etc etc restaurants, and they are mostly in the same price range as any chain/franchise. This is what separates NJ from many other states...we have EVERY kind of restaurant, and many of them are truly authentic. I am travelling to Ohio tomorrow to have lunch with a client, and I shudder at the thought of where we will be having lunch
Franchise restaurants are corporate marketing machines. The only way they exist is because they pump MILLIONS of dollars into TV commercials, etc, so they brand themselves really well to a mass audience, so that when you see one of these franchises in a strip mall, or on a highway, you recognize the name (the "brand"), and you stop. Franchise restaurants are marketing companies, not restaurants! And your money goes towards fueling a corporation, rather than helping out the small mom and pop restaurants.
Lord knows that you can get a much better meal at the local bar/grill than at a TGI Friday's which may be a mile away, and it'd be the same price...so why is the TGI Friday's always packed? Because people see the commercials and want it...they recognize the brand. I'll never understand how chain restaurants exist in NJ, and do well. And don't even get me started on the Olive Gardens in MANHATTAN, of all places.
Well, in NJ, why settle for anything LESS than authentic? Everywhere you go in NJ, there are authentic Italian, authentic Mexican, authentic German, authentic Cuban, etc etc etc restaurants, and they are mostly in the same price range as any chain/franchise. This is what separates NJ from many other states...we have EVERY kind of restaurant, and many of them are truly authentic. I am travelling to Ohio tomorrow to have lunch with a client, and I shudder at the thought of where we will be having lunch
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Maybe you'll be in the Akron area, Tommy. Many years ago, I had relatives who lived there. It was there I had the tastiest fried chicken I've ever had (outside of Kansas City anyway), Barberton Chicken:
Maybe you'll be in the Akron area, Tommy. Many years ago, I had relatives who lived there. It was there I had the tastiest fried chicken I've ever had (outside of Kansas City anyway), Barberton Chicken:
Thanks for the heads up Mike...but I'll actually be lunching in Columbus. Then heading to Dayton for another meeting. Then flying back to La Guardia, all in one day ... fun times! I hear that Columbus is the fast food capital of the world. How....exciting!
its funny to see how silly anti-chain restaurant people are. i enjoy my meal at chevys everytime. its not fancy but neither are most of the independent mexican places. people just want to find some hole in the wall and pretend its so authentic and wonderful.
Believe me, if a chain serves good food that actually tastes great, then I am going.
I lived in SC for years, and outside of BBQ, you have to go to the chains for everything else, and they all taste the same. There are a LOT of mom and pop places I refuse to eat in NJ (specifically, Hudson Co.) that people rave to no end about.
And El Aguila? Gorditas, homemade guacamole dip, and huge enchiladas all for under 19 dollars, and the taste? Spectacular.
Downton JC, have you tried Taqueria yet? It's on the corner of Grove & Grand. Delicious!
I live right next to Taqueria, and I must say, that place is very overrated with atrocious service. I asked for an extra radish on my tacos and the guy behind the counter looked at me like I just asked to sleep with his wife.
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