Chuy/s Tex-Mex Restaurant Grand Opening 04/26/16 Cascades Overlook, Sterling, VA (price, vs)

[MedvedActual]

Originally Posted by gomason

Just be happy the restaurant doesn't smell like urine like the one in Manassas. I went there once in 12 years I've lived in NOVA and will never go again.

Haha, good point. I usually try to avoid restaurants that smell like urine; but I suppose when one is really really hungry...

[spencgr]

Originally Posted by MedvedActual

Since we are on the Mexican food topic... Went to Don Pablo's in Alexandria a while back and will definitely never return again; that food lacked taste, period. Uncle Julio's compared to that spot is a 5 star restaurant. Just saying.

DonPablo's, Chi-Chis, On the Border, Chuys....they all taste the same. Should have saved a few bucks and gone through the Taco Bell drive-through to get the refried beans out of a can taste.

[MedvedActual]

Originally Posted by spencgr

DonPablo's, Chi-Chis, On the Border, Chuys....they all taste the same. Should have saved a few bucks and gone through the Taco Bell drive-through to get the refried beans out of a can taste.

Yeah, I know; hindsight is 20/20. Was really hungry and have not been to Don Pablo's at that point and knew nothing about it. On the same topic, been to District Taco once and was not impressed. While the prices are low, the food tastes pretty bland. Just my opinion.

[Old Guard]

Originally Posted by tgbwc

I hope the experience there is better than the one we had at Springfield Mall. We tried Chuy's once and haven't gone back. The food was way too salty. It was so loud inside my wife and I had a difficult time conversing and from the time we sat down we felt rushed. It was a "get them in, get them out" type of feeling.

I ate at Chuy's in Houston and liked it. It is what it is. If you did not know what it is going in that is on you. I mean you can see from the "pieces of flair" exactly what you are getting into as soon as you open the door, if you could not tell from across 4 lanes of traffic.

"I went there so my friends would know how superior I am when I voice my disappointment".

Originally Posted by spencgr

Real "foodies" want nothing to do with your national chain recommendations.

I consider myself a foodie and I have no problems with national chains or a non-trendy food truck. I look for food I like no matter the location. I feel just at comfortable eating Tuna Sashimi at Wild Ginger in Seattle as I do eating out taco's from the Comida Latina Express truck in Arlington.

One of my surprise favorite foods was a hot dog, that I now call a Paris Dog, in Paris that was shoved into a baguette with cheese and mustard. It was from something like a drug store in Paris.

Originally Posted by spencgr

ok, to each their own...but don't say "Hi, Fellow Foodies"

......she isn't a Foodie (which, for the record, is not someone who only eats at fancy places)..she's someone who relished free tacos at a chain Mexican place.

I am not sure why taco's, free and relished do not go along with foodie?

Originally Posted by car54

If one had to describe the obnoxious snobbery of "foodies" in one sentence, the above is a masterpiece.

Bravo.

This. So much this. Self labeling does not make a person better than anyone else.

I roll my eyes at the people who say chili does not have beans. Well my chili does (sometimes) and to real chili purists if you have anything but chili and water and seasoning it is not chili at all.

[spencgr]

Originally Posted by Old Guard

I consider myself a foodie and I have no problems with national chains or a non-trendy food truck. I look for food I like no matter the location. I feel just at comfortable eating Tuna Sashimi at Wild Ginger in Seattle as I do eating out taco's from the Comida Latina Express truck in Arlington.

I think you are making my point. You didn't say you enjoy eating tacos at Taco Bell or Don Pablos.


I don't look for trendy, I just look for good. I've had some freakin' delicious Latin food at a joint on Rt 50 in Loudoun that may (or may not) have been actively licensed to serve food. I risked it and enjoyed it immensely. I still adamantly maintain that the best PoBoy in New Orleans (at least in the 90s) was from a hole in the wall convenience store in Uptown. Nothing expensive, certainly not trendy.


As I said I look for good. Have I eaten at the Ruby Tuesdays, Chuys, and Olive Gardens of the world? Yup, many times, and I'm sure I will in the future. But I will never classify it as "good" food. Sure, it generally isn't "bad" food, but it's generally just average. And the offer of "free" average food will not make me more or less likely to go.

[gomason]

Originally Posted by spencgr

I think you are making my point. You didn't say you enjoy eating tacos at Taco Bell or Don Pablos.


I don't look for trendy, I just look for good. I've had some freakin' delicious Latin food at a joint on Rt 50 in Loudoun that may (or may not) have been actively licensed to serve food. I risked it and enjoyed it immensely. I still adamantly maintain that the best PoBoy in New Orleans (at least in the 90s) was from a hole in the wall convenience store in Uptown. Nothing expensive, certainly not trendy.


As I said I look for good. Have I eaten at the Ruby Tuesdays, Chuys, and Olive Gardens of the world? Yup, many times, and I'm sure I will in the future. But I will never classify it as "good" food. Sure, it generally isn't "bad" food, but it's generally just average. And the offer of "free" average food will not make me more or less likely to go.

I completely agree with this. Nothing against those chains but they simply aren't the best in their respective cuisines.

However, there are some local chains that I think are great and would recommend to anyone like Great American Restaurants, the group that owns Rustico, Bluejacket, Churchkey, etc, and the group that owns Ted's Bulletin, Matchbox, etc. I guess if you like Mike Isabella's restaurants you could add that too but I'm not a big fan of his.

The only difference? Those local chains actually do have some of the best food in their respective cuisines. And you know that you will get excellent service at any of their restaurants.

[spencgr]

Originally Posted by gomason

I completely agree with this. Nothing against those chains but they simply aren't the best in their respective cuisines.

However, there are some local chains that I think are great and would recommend to anyone like Great American Restaurants, the group that owns Rustico, Bluejacket, Churchkey, etc, and the group that owns Ted's Bulletin, Matchbox, etc. I guess if you like Mike Isabella's restaurants you could add that too but I'm not a big fan of his.

The only difference? Those local chains actually do have some of the best food in their respective cuisines. And you know that you will get excellent service at any of their restaurants.

Agreed. The Black restaurants are also excellent, as well as the Tuscarora Mill, Magnolia, Fireworks chain.

[Old Guard]

Originally Posted by spencgr

I think you are making my point. You didn't say you enjoy eating tacos at Taco Bell or Don Pablos.

I like both Taco Bell and Don Pablo's. Taco Bell used to be a sleazy little treat for me. I usually eat their taco's and bean burrito's when I go. I still eat there but when they bumped the price of their bean burrito up to $1.19 from 89¢ they pissed me off. I have not eaten at Don Pablo's for years because I am rarely around one. I am not sure I have ever ordered a taco from Don Pablo's though. Usually I get something else from there.

Originally Posted by spencgr

I don't look for trendy, I just look for good. I've had some freakin' delicious Latin food at a joint on Rt 50 in Loudoun that may (or may not) have been actively licensed to serve food. I risked it and enjoyed it immensely. I still adamantly maintain that the best PoBoy in New Orleans (at least in the 90s) was from a hole in the wall convenience store in Uptown. Nothing expensive, certainly not trendy.


As I said I look for good. Have I eaten at the Ruby Tuesdays, Chuys, and Olive Gardens of the world? Yup, many times, and I'm sure I will in the future. But I will never classify it as "good" food. Sure, it generally isn't "bad" food, but it's generally just average. And the offer of "free" average food will not make me more or less likely to go.

I am not about free food or generally buffets. But cheap has its place as well. People can slam Olive Garden and Ruby Tuesdays all they want but they are not successful because they sell bad food. People like them. I am not a better person for what I eat or don't eat and I find it hard to judge others by such an arbitrary and non-nonsensical standard.

[spencgr]

Originally Posted by Old Guard

I am not a better person for what I eat or don't eat and I find it hard to judge others by such an arbitrary and non-nonsensical standard.

You may find it hard to judge others, but your eyes find it easy.

Originally Posted by Old Guard

I roll my eyes at the people who say chili does not have beans. Well my chili does (sometimes) and to real chili purists if you have anything but chili and water and seasoning it is not chili at all.

[Ffxdata]

The problem I have with talks like this is that it's thinly veiled classist bull ****.

I had a chef tell me one time, people don't go to McDonald's for quality. They go for consistency. It's the same with chain restaurants. When you can afford o go out twice a year, you don't want to risk that money on a place that might totally suck (or just not be your taste). It's easy to be open and exploratory like I am when I've got time and money to spend at places like Clarity or the new donut place or this popular taco joint.

For that couple at Ruby Tuesdays, this may be an anniversary dinner where they know they can get an okay steak for a good price and service with a smile.