Corner Bakery Cafe and Smoothie King entering Pittsburgh market (McDonald: restaurant, club)

[SteelCityRising]

Say what you will, but I've loved Burgatory for years, and even if they do become a "dreaded chain" beyond just their current few nearby locations, as they are anticipating, I'm still going to patronize them as long as their food quality and hospitality don't suffer in the process.

How many of you on here heap loads of praise on Lidia's? Did you know that's a chain, too?

[RogersParkTransplant]

If we're going to talk about Pittsburgh chains, I have no real problem with Crazy Mocha, FWIW. Not the greatest coffee ever, but not the worst either, and here on the North side they provide a clean, well-lighted place for a community that needs it.

[sskink]

Originally Posted by SteelCityRising

Say what you will, but I've loved Burgatory for years, and even if they do become a "dreaded chain" beyond just their current few nearby locations, as they are anticipating, I'm still going to patronize them as long as their food quality and hospitality don't suffer in the process.

How many of you on here heap loads of praise on Lidia's? Did you know that's a chain, too?

I think the original objection was that Pittsburgh hasn't suffered the proliferation of chains to the virtual exclusion of almost all else that you'll find in a growing number of small-to-mid sized midwestern/Sun Belt cities.

Anyway, to me the jumping the shark moment comes when the restaurant (or ownership group) become publicly traded. Because at that point the diner's interests become secondary to those of the stockholders.

Lidia's is not a great example as the ownership group does not roll out cookie-cutter experiences. Lidia's is not Babbo's nor Eataly nor Del Posto, etc. Nor is it publicly traded.

[jay5835]

Originally Posted by SteelCityRising

How many of you on here heap loads of praise on Lidia's? Did you know that's a chain, too?

Lidia's restaurants are mostly different from each other, as kink specifies above, and food is prepared freshly (and usually deliciously) at each location. You would really compare Lidia's to Applebee's or Olive Garden?

My favorite restaurant in Philadelphia is also a chain. It's the Vetri Family of restaurants, which range from pizza to $150 prix fixe. I've enjoyed meals at Amis and Lo Spiedo, and recommend them to anyone who likes good, fresh Italian food. I can't wait to try all of them.

Home - Vetri Family

There are chains, and then there are chains.

[tclifton]

Originally Posted by jay5835

There are chains, and then there are chains.

Or, there are good restaurants and bad...independent of how many other buildings they may own...

[erieguy]

Very true^^^^^

It's always interesting as to Olive Garden being mentioned on a regular basis, yet I don't recall anybody saying anything good about it, here. A quick search shows OG and Applebee's have 2700+ locations combined. Obviously many people like them and they employ a lot of people. While I'm not a big fan of either, the more the merrier. Doesn't mean you have to eat there.

[I_Like_Spam]

In this era of people eating out all of the time, and engaging in a lot of travel, chain restaurants are a great idea.

In a well-run chain, the diner can expect the same menu to taste the same way, whether they are in Pittsburgh, in Altoona or down in North Charleston.


It might not be haute cuisine, but there will be no surprises in a good chain.


As far as spending $100 for a dinner and no drinks, I just can't see parting with that kind of scratch. Eat n Park has some good things on the menu, you can eat for a lot less, this isn't New York.

[doo dah]

I don't understand why someone would go to Eat 'n Park when they could be fed just as well at McDonalds. Better yet, cook at home and really save.

[erieguy]

Originally Posted by doo dah

I don't understand why someone would go to Eat 'n Park when they could be fed just as well at McDonalds. Better yet, cook at home and really save.

When were you last at Eat n Park?

[sskink]

Originally Posted by doo dah

I don't understand why someone would go to Eat 'n Park when they could be fed just as well at McDonalds. Better yet, cook at home and really save.

McD's doesn't make turkey club sandwiches at midnight.