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When it comes to chain restaurants (non fast food) I think they are hit or miss. I hate Applebees but I love Chili's. The reason for this thread is I ate at the Outback last night for the first time. Lord it was so bad.
I got an over cooked beef skewer with 4 tiny pieces of beef on it for 12 bucks that tasted like nothing but salt. The green beens were good at first but were drenched in butter substitute and started to get greasy and salty after a while. Worst of all it was $50 for two people. For $50 I could have gone to a real mid-range restaurant.
Outback is now on my list of shitty chains. The only two that come to mind that I can tolerate are Fridays and Chillis.
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This is a good topic:
I think it really depends on what part of the country you are in, as I am finding out after living in various areas.
I think the Outback is very good, for the most part, in most areas. I think the 99 is awesome in MA and CT, but not so hot in Philly where it's fairly new.
You can get a great Cheesesteak in Philly, but maybe not so much in most other places.
You get the idea
There's no crying in baseball
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Good thread idea.
I'm on the same page as you pretty much, with the exception to Outback, which has been good to me. Unfortunately, Fridays and Chilis are nowhere convenient to me. I think the closest may be in Delaware for each, and if I have to go to those lengths, I pick a better place. Ruby Tuesdays isn't bad if you have those in your neck of the woods.
The wife and son do like CRapplebees and it is only a few minutes away, so it has become the default for that level of chain restaurant for me.
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Gator Wrote:I think the 99 is awesome in MA and CT, but not so hot in Philly where it's fairly new
That is surprising because they do rock around here. The steak tips are amazing. I will have to add 99 to the list of chains I like. I also like the open concept kitchens in the 99s, I always feel better eating in a place with an open kitchen. 99s typically also have great bars.
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I like Carrabas too. The closest one was shut down a few times for rodent issues though. Is that a problem?
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I'm a big fan of Ruby Tuesday's and Olive Garden, which I know they don't have up North. You're missing out on that one. Great Italian food.
I like Red Robin too, as far as burgers go, you can't get much better. I don't know how far north they go.
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Gator Wrote:I'm a big fan of Ruby Tuesday's and Olive Garden, which I know they don't have up North. You're missing out on that one. Great Italian food.
I like Red Robin too, as far as burgers go, you can't get much better. I don't know how far north they go.
The wife likes Ruby Tuesday's and my daughter likes Olive Garden. I can live without either one. Red Robin burgers are the bomb I love them.
I looked up Carrabas there is one down the road from me I hever heard of them. I will have to check it out.
LongHorn Steakhouse also gets decent marks from me. Great burgers and OK steaks. I see you have a ton of them in PA.
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Red Robin gets a vote from me, but again, Delaware is the closest.
I nominate Famous Dave's BBQ too.
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I'm one of those assholes who never goes out to eat, yeah..I'm weird.
I was thinking about the last time I went to a restaurant and it had to have been when my Dad took me out for my Birthday, I want to say it was 2003. I do remember it was The Outback and I had some grilled shrimp that really sucked.