re: Why do people eat at chain sit down restaurants like Texas Roadhouse, Olive Garden, etc

I Love TRH.

The food is very mediocre at the massive chains. Excessive use of seed oils and frozen pre-made items; basic Sysco/US Foods products; cooking in microwave ovens. Not even "premium mediocre" all in all.

Some consumers appreciate the value they receive for what they spend at these places, in terms of portion size. This is very important for the silent generation and older Boomers.

Some are very price conscious. A meal at the Olive Garden could be what you can afford as opposed to a more high end Italian restaurant.

Sometimes a chain restaurant (located in a giant strip center) is the only sit down option in the area.

Some are creatures of habit and/or do not subscribe the the urban/suburban obsession over haute cuisine/cults of personality involving celebrity chefs/instagrammable food or locations.

Texas Roadhouse isnt bad at all

Texas Roadhouse is fine. Maybe it depends on location, the Denham one is ok. Olive Garden, agree.

Olive Garden ain’t bad for lunch

Olive Garden sucks......but Texas Road House is probably my favorite chain as far as American (meat & potatoes ) food goes. I love their chicken fried steak. And you can get a great burger and fries from there for almost the same price as McD.

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I’d rather just eat McDonalds or cook at that point

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Why do people eat at McDonalds?

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didn't go to Olive Garden, they'd eventually crowd the Italian spots I like, so I have no issue with both existing.

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Have you been to Olive Garden recently? Something tells me if the one on Siegen shut down you wouldnt see an influx of their clientele at DiGiulio's or Gino's

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Funny enough, my friends and I went to OG as a novelty earlier this year, and it was the weirdest experience. I don't even remember the food, but I'm 99% sure our server was a serial killer.

I guess when the clientele is awful, you attract folks who would never get hired as servers elsewhere.

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I know right! My kids liked to go there when they were young so every once in while after a Target run I would give in and have lunch there. We were twice served by a someone that I legit could not tell their sex and the food is just awful. Like a lot of these old chains, the food used to be decent 20 years ago.