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Message
Just shoot me....I like some Chain Restaurants
Posted on 4/26/09 at 5:46 pm
Posted on 4/26/09 at 5:46 pm
Someone will have to explain to me the utter dislike of a restaurant just because it is a chain. Is it because one wants to feel "original" in ones choice of an eating establishment? Does it make a person feel a little to much one of the sheepoeople in America?
The reason a company is able to build a brand name, like Chili's, is because they do alot of things right. Name recongnition does not happen because you simply spend millions on advertising. There has to be some quality there or no one would ever return.
When traveling I will look for a local Mom and Pop restaurant over a chain if necessary. Although there have been bad experiences at these establishment just as in some chains.
The reason a company is able to build a brand name, like Chili's, is because they do alot of things right. Name recongnition does not happen because you simply spend millions on advertising. There has to be some quality there or no one would ever return.
When traveling I will look for a local Mom and Pop restaurant over a chain if necessary. Although there have been bad experiences at these establishment just as in some chains.
6
Posted on 4/26/09 at 6:02 pm to Daygo85
the bashing of chains does get out of hand but, with that said, there are lots of reasons to prefer local establishments:
1) i like supporting local businesses over national corporations.
2) i can go in a Chili's anywhere in the country/world and get the same food. local places give me a window into the unique regional/local culture.
3) ingredients are often fresher from locally owned places. national chain restaurants often get their goods from a centralized distribution system, whereas locally owned places are free to buy in the area; thus, not only is it fresher but i'm helping the restaurant support other local businesses.
4) local places are more likely to make things from scratch and not used so much pre-processed stuff.
5) i tend to like chef owned/operated restaurants; can't get that with a national chain.
6) i think local places tend to take more pride in what they do and are more integrated into the community.
these aren't always going to be the case but i think in general these tend to be true.
ETA: you can definitely have, and i have had, bad meals at both types of places. but the best/most interesting meals i've had all are from locally owned/operated places.
1) i like supporting local businesses over national corporations.
2) i can go in a Chili's anywhere in the country/world and get the same food. local places give me a window into the unique regional/local culture.
3) ingredients are often fresher from locally owned places. national chain restaurants often get their goods from a centralized distribution system, whereas locally owned places are free to buy in the area; thus, not only is it fresher but i'm helping the restaurant support other local businesses.
4) local places are more likely to make things from scratch and not used so much pre-processed stuff.
5) i tend to like chef owned/operated restaurants; can't get that with a national chain.
6) i think local places tend to take more pride in what they do and are more integrated into the community.
these aren't always going to be the case but i think in general these tend to be true.
ETA: you can definitely have, and i have had, bad meals at both types of places. but the best/most interesting meals i've had all are from locally owned/operated places.
This post was edited on 4/26/09 at 6:09 pm
Posted on 4/26/09 at 6:09 pm to Eddie Vedder
The wife and I used to always frequent Chili's but I think they have fallen off the wagon recently. We have replaced Chili's with BJ's. We also go to Outback a good bit. I am not against chains in general, just specific ones. I have never had a good meal at Applebee's, for example. Maybe I'm just picking the wrong stuff.
Also, I'm a firm believer that you should take chain restaurants for what they are worth. Of all the times I've gone to Chili's, I have never once ordered a steak. I think it's a place to go get a burger or something of the like.
Also, I'm a firm believer that you should take chain restaurants for what they are worth. Of all the times I've gone to Chili's, I have never once ordered a steak. I think it's a place to go get a burger or something of the like.
Posted on 4/26/09 at 6:13 pm to Dalai Lama
quote:
Also, I'm a firm believer that you should take chain restaurants for what they are worth.
+1; i think this key.
Posted on 4/26/09 at 6:50 pm to Eddie Vedder
It's also important to remember that a lot of chain restaurants are locally owned.
Posted on 4/26/09 at 6:57 pm to Lsupimp
quote:
It's also important to remember that a lot of chain restaurants are locally owned.
and all employees are local as well
Posted on 4/26/09 at 7:22 pm to ksayetiger
Chain restaurants are successful because they fill a need. In a large part of the country, chains have the best food in town, period. I usually like to hunt down local places if I'm going to be in a town more than one night, I have had some excellent meals that way, but if I'm just passing through, even an Outback looks good.
In south Louisiana and in major metropolitan areas, not so much. If I'm in Miami for just one night, I'm not eating at Chili's, no way in hell. Now if you live here and can choose every day, suit yourself, but I just have a hard time passing up Pokie's, Dempsey's, Opie's for Applebee's and I just hate Chili's.
If you closed all the NASDAQ chains in Baton Rouge tomorrow, where would all those people eat? If they think Olive Garden is good Italian food, then that is where they belong.
In south Louisiana and in major metropolitan areas, not so much. If I'm in Miami for just one night, I'm not eating at Chili's, no way in hell. Now if you live here and can choose every day, suit yourself, but I just have a hard time passing up Pokie's, Dempsey's, Opie's for Applebee's and I just hate Chili's.
If you closed all the NASDAQ chains in Baton Rouge tomorrow, where would all those people eat? If they think Olive Garden is good Italian food, then that is where they belong.
Posted on 4/26/09 at 7:26 pm to andouille
quote:
If I'm in Miami for just one night, I'm not eating at Chili's, no way in hell.
This is a change in topic. I don't know if you were just using Miami as an example, but has anyone tried Big Pink in South Beach. We went there probably 3 times when we were there last year. Unbelievable food.
Posted on 4/26/09 at 7:49 pm to Dalai Lama
quote:
It's also important to remember that a lot of chain restaurants are locally owned.
True, I know the owner of the Covington Outback well.
Sometimes the chain bashing on here does go overboard, but to each his own, it's your money.
Posted on 4/26/09 at 7:59 pm to LSU Tammany Tiger
quote:
It's also important to remember that a lot of chain restaurants are locally owned.
Yes they are, but the owner has little or no control over the menu or method of preparation. The whole idea is that it is exactly like the same place 1000 miles away. Is Charlie Valuzzo a great businessman or a great restaurateur?
Posted on 4/26/09 at 8:27 pm to andouille
I like Chili's every now and then, but the one at Tanger has shitty service.
Posted on 4/26/09 at 8:35 pm to Daygo85
Eddie pretty much got it right.
There are some pretty good chain options out there...Zea's, Ruth's, Houston's (overpriced for what you get), etc....Chili's is not bad either.
There are some awful ones like Applebee's....99 out of 100 meals of mine are probably at local places for the aforementioned reasons.
I think there are plenty of better options in SLa, but often yhou will go to a town where Olive Garden is the best Italian around...so be it.
I have been bashed on here before for saying Chili's is a good chain option...sometime for me it is comforting walking in knowing exactly what you are going to get no matter where you are. For me that is not very often, but for others it may be more.
I would encourage someone to pursue their culinary journey beyond Olive Garden and Red Lobster if that is all they know, but I know some that have tried da Piero and Olive Garden...and prefer Olive Garden...so be it...at least they have tried both.
I search out good local places wherever I am so I can get a chance to find something unique and interesting...this has resulted is some great meals in some odd places and some awful ones. Food is important enough to me that I usually will take the risk...though it is less of a risk when trying local places in a city like NOLA and an area like SLa.
Who on here is completely anti-chain? TulaneLSU is the only one I can think of?
There are some pretty good chain options out there...Zea's, Ruth's, Houston's (overpriced for what you get), etc....Chili's is not bad either.
There are some awful ones like Applebee's....99 out of 100 meals of mine are probably at local places for the aforementioned reasons.
I think there are plenty of better options in SLa, but often yhou will go to a town where Olive Garden is the best Italian around...so be it.
I have been bashed on here before for saying Chili's is a good chain option...sometime for me it is comforting walking in knowing exactly what you are going to get no matter where you are. For me that is not very often, but for others it may be more.
I would encourage someone to pursue their culinary journey beyond Olive Garden and Red Lobster if that is all they know, but I know some that have tried da Piero and Olive Garden...and prefer Olive Garden...so be it...at least they have tried both.
I search out good local places wherever I am so I can get a chance to find something unique and interesting...this has resulted is some great meals in some odd places and some awful ones. Food is important enough to me that I usually will take the risk...though it is less of a risk when trying local places in a city like NOLA and an area like SLa.
Who on here is completely anti-chain? TulaneLSU is the only one I can think of?
Posted on 4/26/09 at 8:45 pm to Tiger Attorney
quote:
Applebees
Once Sam's Club opened, and people realized they could buy double- deep- fried- cheese- stuffed -jalapenos -in bulk, Applebees lost it's appeal...
Posted on 4/26/09 at 9:48 pm to Tiger Attorney
I used to love Dairy Queen when we had it around these parts - that little vanilla ice cream cone dipped in the chocolate.
Or maybe there is one around here, and I forgot about it?
One totally, totally, crappy chain would be this one:
Or maybe there is one around here, and I forgot about it?
One totally, totally, crappy chain would be this one:
This post was edited on 4/26/09 at 9:51 pm
Posted on 4/26/09 at 9:50 pm to BrockLanders
I still like a good Dairy Queen shake. It's a good place for dessert, but that's all.
Posted on 4/26/09 at 9:51 pm to Gris Gris
quote:
It's a good place for dessert, but that's all.
Word.
Posted on 4/26/09 at 9:53 pm to BrockLanders
Problem with chains is Your hard earned dollars go out of state to benefit someone else who in all honesty doesn't give a frick about LSU. Local joints give all of there donations straight to our wonderful uninversity. You make the call.
Posted on 4/26/09 at 9:56 pm to BrockLanders
There is a Dairy Queen on Airline by Airline Park Dr. There was at least a year or so ago at leat.
Posted on 4/26/09 at 10:18 pm to Tiger Attorney
quote:There is also a new one in Central off Hooper Road somewhere.
There is a Dairy Queen on Airline by Airline Park Dr. There was at least a year or so ago at leat.
Posted on 4/27/09 at 9:23 am to ZataBoy
quote:
Local joints give all of there donations straight to our wonderful uninversity
No they don't, you dolt.
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