re: The 3 location rule when selecting a place to eat

I have been to Morton's twice and was very disappointed both times.

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not a silly rule but it is a decent guideline- most chain rests. have ongoing quality issues,

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I don't dispute that chains may have quality issues, but I think it's silly to use a "3 location" rule. I rarely eat at mid level chains, anyway, unless I'm out of town without other options,in which case getting a burger, club sandwich or salad isn't all that much of a risk and likely to be much better than McDonald's where I would not likely go for any reason.

I also like the occasional chicken at Popeye's, so I'd break the rule by eating there, as well.

I've had to eat at Outback twice in the past year by someone else's choice, which is more times than I've eaten there in the past 5 years. The blue cheese chopped salad was very good as was the pork tenderloin. Granted, maybe those items won't be good at another location, but I'm surely not going to invoke a RULE. Had I invoked it, I would have missed dinner with my young nieces who happen to like the place and if they pick Applebee's, I'll suck it up and eat there, too.

I've eaten at many Ruth's Chris restaurants in the US and Canada and not once have I noticed a problem with quality.

I think BR has 3 Serop's restaurants. I like Serop's, so again, the rule would be broken.

I'll stop here.

It's a silly rule.

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"If the food establishment has more than 3 locations the quality will not be consistent and do not eat there"

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False! Outback is consistently average everywhere and Chili's is consistently mediocre.

Ruth's Chris, Morton's, Palm, Nobu, Del Frisco's, Sullivan's, Wahoo's, Benihana, Roy's, Fleming's, etc..of the upper end.

Rubio's, In-N-Out, Sweet Tomato/Soup Plantation, Jamba Juice, etc.. of the lower end.

Johnny's Pizza is good no matter what you go. Only 1 here obviuosly, but tons in N LA and all pretty consistent

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What is the olive garden syndrome?

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Olive Garden Syndrome is what happens when restaurants franchise. The food becomes institutionalized, bland, uncreative. Dumbed down recipes, Sysco ingredients. You get consistency but lose taste.

It's the reason so many of us on FDB are anti-chain.

Best pizza - I remember when UNO's was local in Chicago- then they franchised -

Europes in BTR- had great pizza-

And fleur de lis- is it the pizza or the beer and the pizza?