Friend,

This competition reminds us all of TulaneLSU's Louisiana restaurant tournament of 2009, which occurred nearly 11 years ago to the day ( the original thread for that tournament, which would be interesting to repeat this year, if someone is willing to put in the work).

There are quite a number of omissions of good local sit down restaurants, like Houston's and Ruth's. And the inclusion of restaurants of which most of us have never heard. This must be a Boston or NY centric bracket. It really has no place on a Louisiana board. We have done this sort of thing for more than a decade, and the North continues to rob and plunder our ideas and goods.

Nonetheless, I will complete the bracket since you asked.

Bottom Left region:

Capitol Grill vs Bubba Gump
I've been to CG three times. It was pompous and they completed a difficult task: they made great ingredients taste pedestrian. I've had better steaks at Outback and Waffle House. I've never been to Bubba Gump, but the name alone is better than my experience at CG. No free passes for the overrated blue blood. Bubba Gump

Carrabba's vs Dan Evans
Carrabba's is about as bland an Italian restaurant can be. I've been there once and never again. How did this place become popular? It's expensive and even Olive Garden is better. Still, Dan Evan's? I've never heard of such a place. It's a terrible name. Two of the most boring names in the world. I have no desire to eat there with such a boring name. Is there even one within 1000 miles of New Orleans? Carrabbas

Seasons 52 vs Buca Di Beppi
Seasons52 rivals Mike Evans for worst restaurant name possible. Are they trying to be the restaurant companion to 4 Seasons? There are four seasons of the year. There certainly are not 52 worthwhile seasonings. The only thing I can think of correlating to 52 are the weeks in a year. And I guess Ray Lewis, but I read he killed someone or was that the guy at SMU who worked at ESPN? Bucco de Pepsi? Again, another restaurant to and of which I've never been much less heard. Its name is better. Bucks de Pepsi

TGI Friday vs Twin Peaks
Both restaurants are run by sinners. You have the first which uses God's name in vain and the second which encourage licentiousness and lechery. TGI Friday I've visited once and it was one of the worst meals of my life. Twin Peaks I've never and will never visit. Wasn't there a shootout involving that poster bicyclist Dark Vader from Auburn there? Both restaurants lose. Neither advances and both are disqualified.

Maggiano's vs Red Robin
I like Maggiano's. The food is pretty decent. The pasta never impressed me and do not compare to Impastato's. However, the chicken scallopini dish should be award winning, and I would rate it as among the best dishes served at any of the restaurants in the tournament. Red Robin didn't have a chance. Who was the moron who decided to take a bad fast food burger and turn it into a restaurant burger? A terrible idea that surely will not survive this economic downturn. Truthfully, how has it survived as long as it has? Maggiano's in an 80 point massacre.

Buffalo Wild Wings vs Melting Pot
When I ran the NOLA section of Urban Spoon, I was not supposed to write reviews. However, my experience at Buffalo Wild Wings was so bad, I risked my job to warn the public. Of all the bad meals in my life, this may have been the worst. I went to the one at the old Luther's location on Vets and Severn. The amount of dead food or animals on the ground was disgusting. I've never been back, nor will I. Melting Pot, on the other hand, gives the opportunity for refined dining. While I do not think the entrees are any good, I do believe going there for dessert with a special date after dinner elsewhere is not the worst way to spend an evening. Melting Pot

Cheddar's vs Ruby Tuesday
I have only once tried Cheddar's. It was a pleasant experience and the food reminded me of sit down chain food in the 1990s before quality was sacrificed to cut costs. Ruby Tuesday is exactly the type of chain that shifted from decent to terrible in the 2000s as it tried to copy Chick Fil A, expanding from the nice mall restaurant to the stand alone restaurant. Ruby Tuesday is terrible now. Cheddar's

Olive Garden vs Beef OBradys
Olive Garden's salad and breadsticks are acceptable food. There is not much more to say about Olive Garden, as its Italian options are terrible. I've never heard of Beef OBrady's, but reading the name leads me to believe it is horrible. Olive Garden