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Posted
LOL...just drink enough to not notice the taste.

 

That doesn't prevent getting sick from MSG and too much sodium.

 

Why not consider that some people aren't accustomed to chain restaurant food, and it makes them ill? Assuming pretentiousness is your projection.

  • Like 2
Posted

A friend of mine knows someone who said that chain restaurants are ok for dates , as he said that some chain restaurants are really nice and classy, others not so much. He says that it depends on the quality of food and ambiance. Mind you, another friend of mine has a cousin who thinks that avoiding chain restaurants doesn't necessarily make someone pretentious.

Posted

The one chain I like is The Cheesecake Factory. The menu is so versatile and has anything you could want on it. Plus, with all the different cheesecake types, etc.. It's funny because cheesecake always seems to be like an aphrodisiac with women. It's the same reason they always ask about my "ice cream test".

  • Like 1
Posted (edited)

I actually like a couple of chain 'restaurants' that originated from various parts of Asia. Taiwan especially has a few that started out as a local restaurant, then business boomed and they eventually started franchising all over the world - Din Tai Fung for example is pretty amazing, and very authentic. Seems like you guys over in the USA have it too! http://dintaifungusa.com/

 

But yeah, IMO the majority of chain restaurant food is pretty crappy. I'll eat it if everyone else in the group wants to, and won't throw a fuss, but it's really not something I'd choose.

Edited by Elswyth
Posted

I believe in supporting your local. And no, Olive Garden isn't good.

Posted
I come from a place where you either eat at a chain, or you eat at home.

 

How is Texas these days? ;-)

 

I avoid chain restaurants like the plague. Bad food and I like to vote with my money.

 

Unless it is Panda Express. Love me some Panda!

  • Like 1
Posted

Oh, I lied. I like Chipotle and I have gone to Starbucks I confess.

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Posted

Grew up in restaurants, let someone else be the Red Lobster crash test dummy. Better service from just about any independent. Coporate policy isn't going to allow them to bring me something free off the menu just to try. They are not going to give my date a unique perk if whisper it's her birthday. They are not going to treat me like family and make date feel comfortable. They are not going to have my back in general.

 

Breakfast food about all would go to a chain for. Yet even then there are smaller options.

  • Like 1
Posted (edited)

^^^^ Ha ha.. Red Lobster

 

Tried that exactly once too.

 

They served a baitfish called Tilapia, mostly raised in captivity in China and tried to pretend it was something good.

 

Being from the northeast originally, fresh, unfrozen haddock less than a day off the boat is what I'm accustomed to as good fish. Couldn't believe the garbage they were selling at Red Lobster. Really., really gross.

 

If you're ever in the Portland, Maine area and want real fish at lower than Red Lobster prices, aside from the actual fish markets, try Captain Mike's in Brunswick. Place is unreal and not about atmosphere. It looks like it's in an abandoned pizza hut. It's about good, simply prepared fish and low prices. My favorite seafood restaurant in the country. Beats any fancy place, hands down.

 

If you're 50, you'll be the youngest person in there. Nobody knows how to sniff out good deals on good seafood like old people who live in fishing communities. ha ha

Edited by loveweary11
  • Like 3
Posted
His response was that only the pretentious types would think such things and one should attend a restaurant, chain or not, as long one thinks the food is good regardless of it's type.

 

To avoid a restaurant because it's a chain is pretentious. To avoid a restaurant because the food is lousy, the place too noisy, the service is non-existent & the prices obnoxious for what you get (you are paying for the commercials) is a perfectly rational decision.

 

I can tolerate Outback because at least I know my steak will be cooked to order. In certain parts of middle America I will take a chain because at least I know I can get a glass of drinkable wine but even that is changing as local vineyards & microbrew pubs become more popular.

 

DH & I ate in some chain, can't remember the name but it's a West Coast thing, in Long Beach last summer but only because it had the most comfortable looking outside deck furniture & offered the best view of the Queen Mary. A chain was probably the only type of restaurant that could have afforded that prime real estate location because say what you will about the ever decreasing quality, the business model is sound.

  • Like 3
Posted

Most chain restaurants don't have enough options for me to eat for me to want to bother. Half of them serve frozen Boca burgers as their vegetarian option! Once I went to Chilis and ordered a black bean burger and she said "whats that? the turkey burger?" I'm like...it's on your menu...vegetarian. Then she brought it to me with bacon :confused:

 

Local, smaller restaurants are much more willing and CAPABLE of being flexible with the menu and your dietary needs. Most chain restaurant chefs aren't chefs....they may not even know how to cook beyond the basics!

  • Like 2
Posted
Oh, I lied. I like Chipotle and I have gone to Starbucks I confess.

I'm a chipotle addict. I eat Chipotle almost every day.

  • Like 2
Posted

OK, so I'm more of a snob but after searching for a boyfriend online for what it seemed to be the longest time, I "settled" for someone who does take me to chain restaurants. The eff, if that's the worst that will happen to me in this relationship then I'm happy. I cook for us three times a week and that takes care of some of the problem.

  • Like 5
Posted
^^^^ Ha ha.. Red Lobster

 

Tried that exactly once too.

 

They served a baitfish called Tilapia, mostly raised in captivity in China and tried to pretend it was something good.

 

Being from the northeast originally, fresh, unfrozen haddock less than a day off the boat is what I'm accustomed to as good fish. Couldn't believe the garbage they were selling at Red Lobster. Really., really gross.

 

Actually, tilapia is really quite popular in Asian countries, and can taste amazing if properly prepared. You're just used to haddock because that's more common in Caucasian countries.

 

But yeah, if they were flying it all the way in from China, it'd probably taste terrible after being frozen. Also, never tried Red Lobster, so it's possible/likely that they do suck.

Posted

I like Phillips and Boston Market if I'm on the road and need to grab lunch and I've eaten at Bull on the Beach. I'm not sure if that's a chain but that place is really good.

 

If I can't find a place I trust there is always BK onion rings with zesty sauce.

Posted

I live in a major city, so I have endless non-chain restaurant options. For dinner, it wouldn't even occur to me to go to a chain restaurant because there are so many other better options. I would think it was a little strange if I went out on a date with a guy and he chose to take me to Friday's or Chili's, just given where I live. For lunch, I have no problem hitting a chain like Chipotle, Cosi, etc.

 

I think it's pretentious to judge other people for liking chain restaurants. Those places become chains for a reason. And not everyone lives in an area where they have a lot of non-chain options. As Phoe mentioned, for some people those are the only options. My mom lives in a suburban area and her closest restaurant options are chains -- places like J. Alexander, Bahama Breeze, Fleming's, Granite City, Champps, etc. I have no problem eating at those places when I visit her and I don't think the food is horrendous at all. If I lived where she lives, I'd probably go to those places as well from time to time. Do I prefer them? No, I don't. It's much healthier and usually better tasting at a non-chain, but sometimes you just don't have the options.

 

And chains are very nice when you are traveling because you know what you are going to get. I think it's great to be able to pull off an exit at night and go to a chain restaurant when you are in a new place and starving, so you don't have to fumble around with reading Yelp reviews and trying to find a place that isn't a chain but is still good. (There are a lot of really crappy non-chain places.) My husband and I actually stopped at an Outback Steakhouse during a road trip last fall and were pleasantly surprised at how good (and cheap) our meal was. No, it wasn't the best meal I ever had, but it was perfectly acceptable and filled our bellies for the rest of the driving.

  • Like 4
Posted
I live in a major city, so I have endless non-chain restaurant options. For dinner, it wouldn't even occur to me to go to a chain restaurant because there are so many other better options. I would think it was a little strange if I went out on a date with a guy and he chose to take me to Friday's or Chili's, just given where I live. For lunch, I have no problem hitting a chain like Chipotle, Cosi, etc.

 

I think it's pretentious to judge other people for liking chain restaurants. Those places become chains for a reason. And not everyone lives in an area where they have a lot of non-chain options.

 

I grew up in a place where it was mostly chains, with a few exceptions, and the town was small enough that there weren't a lot of fancy options. Mom is an amazing cook, but sometimes she wants a break and the situation promotes a restaurant meal. I'm not that picky. A person can have taste and preferences without being a food snob.

 

If any of you are ever near Culver City, try George Petrelli, I'm sure it's not up to food snob standards but I've been enjoying the joint since I've been working here.

Posted

Totally spaced, I forgot there ARE two restuarants here that are not chains. One has been here since I was a little girl, and it's definitely got a good following keeping it open. It's an easy going Mexican restaurant.

 

The other is a little asian place that I like, but I think it's too niche for this area. The asian place that was there before it closed down, nobody ate there.

 

I hate to talk badly about the people, but this is the place that my mom always referred to as "white bread". Really poor, low standards of living, often some bit of inbreeding and genetic deformity, "trailer trash" hick types.

 

You will NOT see them at an authentic asian place. So I know the place won't last long even though it's good.

 

Otherwise you're looking at mcdonalds, jack in the box, del taco, denny's... you've gotta drive a couple towns over for an olive garden. I'll admit I've never even heard of a good chunk of the chain's that got mentioned in this thread. Picking's are THAT slim here...

Posted
Actually, tilapia is really quite popular in Asian countries, and can taste amazing if properly prepared. You're just used to haddock because that's more common in Caucasian countries.

Actually a lot of tilapia is farmed in the US now, it is one of the few fishes that can be raised at home and it's popular with the big self sufficient and sustainable movement!! Just don't buy the tilapia that came from far away try to be more of a locavore!
  • Like 1
Posted (edited)
Me and a friend discussed restaurants and I talked about how I have met a lot of people and women when it comes to dating, that avoid chain restaurants like the plague.

 

His response was that only the pretentious types would think such things and one should attend a restaurant, chain or not, as long one thinks the food is good regardless of it's type.

 

Anyone?

 

 

Different people have different food standards. Just like music or any other thing. If you're really into something chances are you have higher standards for it and also make it a habit to focus on quality. Example: one guy I dated was a musician. He graduated from a prominent music college, taught music at the same college later and also is a performing artist himself. That said, he knew way more than the average person about music, instruments, good audio quality, his speakers, sound system and headphones were all state of the art meanwhile I was quite happy with my little $20 ear buds. Although, he did get me some amazing expensive headphones that I had to admit made a huge difference, and I totally understood that for him and his interest and expertise he could tell a difference, quality mattered and it wasn't just him being a snob. Meanwhile, I didn't really care all that much, although being with him did up my game a little bit. I see food in the same way. If you're into it you will have different standards and it's not necessarily because you're trying to be pretentious.

 

Admittedly, I'm more of a foodie type. I don't think I'm pretentious but I like good food. I do go to chain restaurants casually but for dating I try to avoid doing that. Fortunately, where I live doesn't have that many chains. Just because something isn't a chain doesn't mean the food is good but often times with chains the food is not that spectacular and the ambiance isn't all that either. Some chains are also better than others. A man with good taste in food is a turn on for me.

 

If a woman is really into food and eating out at nice restaurants and you find it pretentious, naturally you all just aren't a match and she can find some other guy who feels the same. But to judge that it's pretentious is a bit much to me.

Edited by MissBee
Posted

Yes, guys, take her to Starbucks, the chain restaurants, Pizza slut, the frugal places for the first 2 months until she proves her love... it will naturally weed out the goddiggers, they hate that! Plus, you save money.

 

But not fast food, no happy-meals... you need to be a little bit classier than that! :laugh:

 

If you can afford it, after a couple months, you can ease up on this and take her to the expensive places and shows.

 

Money can't buy you love.

  • Like 1
Posted (edited)
Yes, guys, take her to Starbucks, the chain restaurants, Pizza slut, the frugal places for the first 2 months until she proves her love... it will naturally weed out the goddiggers, they hate that! Plus, you save money.

 

But not fast food, no happy-meals... you need to be a little bit classier than that! :laugh:

 

If you can afford it, after a couple months, you can ease up on this and take her to the expensive places and shows.

 

Money can't buy you love.

 

This is absurd.

 

Men who think that gold diggers are women who don't want to eat at chains or dig for dinner make me aware that they haven't the foggiest clue what gold digging means.

 

In any case, what I will say is that, when I am single I take myself to nice restaurants all the time. When my gfs and I do lunch, dinner, brunch or someone's birthday, we go to fairly nice places. Sometimes we do a casual chain on the fly, but my regular ol' everyday standard of living when I am a single woman is such that I go to nice restaurants. That said, when I meet a man, my eyes don't light up with the thought that I can now "gold dig" a what $50 meal from him or some such :rolleyes: LMAO! Like really? I can pay for that myself and do it all the time. So sorry...if I were to gold dig, it would be for a Maserati, an Audemars watch, five star luxury vacations or something actually lavish and not dinners that I buy myself on the regular anyway lmaoo!:laugh:

 

At minimum, I expect that we have similar tastes and what I consider standard is what you consider the same. Suffice it to say, if a man felt he needed to go to Pizza Hut to test if I were a gold digger before upgrading to what? Red Lobster? We'd be on VERY different wavelengths. A woman expecting what she normally has when with a man is far from gold digging and I wish people would refrain from using gold digging in the same sentence as buying dinner as that's hardly gold digging.

Edited by MissBee
  • Like 2
Posted

Wasn't that a joke?

 

I think it was. I has a good laugh and hit "like."

 

This is absurd.

 

Men who think that gold diggers are women who don't want to eat at chains or dig for dinner make me aware that they haven't the foggiest clue what gold digging means.

 

In any case, what I will say is that, when I am single I take myself to nice restaurants all the time. When my gfs and I do lunch, dinner, brunch or someone's birthday, we go to fairly nice places. Sometimes we do a casual chain on the fly, but my regular ol' everyday standard of living when I am a single woman is such that I go to nice restaurants. That said, when I meet a man, my eyes don't light up with the thought that I can now "gold dig" a what $50 meal from him or some such :rolleyes: LMAO! Like really? I can pay for that myself and do it all the time. So sorry...if I were to gold dig, it would be for a Maserati, an Audemars watch, five star luxury vacations or something actually lavish and not dinners that I buy myself on the regular anyway lmaoo!:laugh:

 

At minimum, I expect that we have similar tastes and what I consider standard is what you consider the same. Suffice it to say, if a man felt he needed to go to Pizza Hut to test if I were a gold digger before upgrading to what? Red Lobster? We'd be on VERY different wavelengths. A woman expecting what she normally has when with a man is far from gold digging and I wish people would refrain from using gold digging in the same sentence as buying dinner as that's hardly gold digging.

Posted
Totally spaced, I forgot there ARE two restuarants here that are not chains. One has been here since I was a little girl, and it's definitely got a good following keeping it open. It's an easy going Mexican restaurant.

 

Mexican restaurants in CA!! :love: :love: :love:

 

Best i ever had was some shack with picnic tables and a line of Mexicans out the door and around the corner in San Diego near the border.

 

I'll never forget how good that Mexican food was. We try on the east coast, but... i don't think we quite get it.

Posted
I'm a chipotle addict. I eat Chipotle almost every day.

 

I do quite like Chipotle, there's one near my work, but it's far too expensive for me to eat more than maybe once every couple of months.

 

It's a bit of a treat for me though! :)

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