chain restaurants vs. local

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I fully admit I am very "stuck in a rut" when it comes to food. My refusal to try new things is rather ostrich-like in terms of sticking one's metaphorical head in the sand. And what's more, I *like* it like that. I see no reason to deviate from the same foods I eat all the time.

In some areas, it's necessity: I plan my NYC trips around baseball - I go whenever the concentration of Yankee and Met games is high - and so usually I end up eating ballpark food (which, cost aside, is pretty good out there) for dinner. Although on those occasions when I am free in the evenings in New York, I don't go to chains. There is a place down in Greenwich Village that has AWESOME burgers, and is definitely not a chain. Plus there are the pizza places I often talk about. Those aren't chains either. But now that I found those, I find that I don't really care for exploring.

 

[Captain Ice]

Then, sometimes there is the fear of finding something really GOOD, because if I'm in a city 150 miles from home for business the last thing I want is to learn a new taste that I will crave when I get home. I'd rather just eat at Chili's, knowing I can eat there again when at home. (I have made this mistake in the past, and now there are places we drive 2 hours both ways for on special occassions!)

Huh, what? I can't think of anything better than that, that's fucking perfect! I'm not a foodie by any stretch or whatever, but some of my best food memories are about restaurants in places I visited once and never again. Having the memory of a great meal forever is as good as it gets, why would you deny yourself that?

Quoted for motherfucking truth!

Amen and quoted again for it is the damned truth. I will drive 50 to 70 miles for a great meal.

Recently, while driving through Las Vegas, I drove clear across town to go to one particular restaurant (In VEGAS no less) .

 

[SmoothieX]

There's an aspect to all of this that I haven't seen anyone mention - the local chain. There's a absolutely awesome chain of 5 asian restaurants in Columbia, SC, called Miyo's. They strive to provide a consistent experience across all 5 of their locations. And there are several chains of Springfield-style cashew chicken joints in Springfield, MO, that maintain a common menu and experience in their locations. I would love to see any of these spread all over the country. But would that, then, make them somehow less "legitimate" or their food lesser than it is now? Are there national chains that exist now that came from beginnings like this anymore, or are they all Darden-esque corporate creations?

We've got a local Mexican restaurant chain in the greater Boston area called Acapulco's. Nice, casual sitdown kind of place. The menu is pretty standard from one to another, but you can still tell the ingredients are of a high quality rather than some pre-processed thing cooked up in a food science lab.

I rarely ever eat out, mostly just when traveling or the occasional lunch on the weekend. I always try to get the local flavor. When I was in the Keys, I ate conch. When I was in Alaska, I ate caribou and yak. Etc...

Really the only time I'll stop at a big chain is if I'm on the road and it's right off the off ramp, or if all the local places in town look sketchy. At least you know you are getting consistency and a meal that won't make you sick.

 

[Shatnertage]

Huh, what? I can't think of anything better than that, that's fucking perfect! I'm not a foodie by any stretch or whatever, but some of my best food memories are about restaurants in places I visited once and never again. Having the memory of a great meal forever is as good as it gets, why would you deny yourself that?

Quoted for motherfucking truth!

Amen and quoted again for it is the damned truth. I will drive 50 to 70 miles for a great meal.

Recently, while driving through Las Vegas, I drove clear across town to go to one particular restaurant (In VEGAS no less) .

Which restaurant?

 

[TrekkieMonster]

We've got a local Mexican restaurant chain in the greater Boston area called Acapulco's.

We do? There's one here in JP, but I didn't know there were more of them out in the hinterlands.

 

[Naira]

I don't really like chain restaurants but I live in Europe and, from my little experience, things here are very different that in the USA.

I have been in a couple of chain restaurants in the USA and even here in Greece (some friends took me to Applebees. I had no idea back then that it was a chain restaurant). I never liked the food. On the other hand, I've visited many local restaurants here, in Italy, France, New Zealand, Switzerland, Hong Kong and even in the USA. I've never had a bad meal.

I only occasionally visit restaurants of a specific fast-food chain (they belong to a local company though and are much better than McDonald's, Burger King or any other chain I've been too).

 

[SmoothieX]

We've got a local Mexican restaurant chain in the greater Boston area called Acapulco's.

We do? There's one here in JP, but I didn't know there were more of them out in the hinterlands.

I hit the one in Sudbury, and there's one in Framingham right on Rt 9.

 

[An Officer]

I'm not too judgemental about either. Both have their uses. Sometimes, you know you are just too tired/hungry/emotional to face disappointment or adapting to a new place. And at other times you want to experience something fresh and new. I play it 50/50, I'd say. I am however snobby about McDonald's and that ilk - that's never necessary. The only chain I use with any regularity is Nando's, because their mango and lime chicken wrap with cheese and pineapple is bliss on a plate. Plus they bring me my tropical green tea (in a silk pouch) in a tall glass to have with my meal when I ask - I am particular about drinking tea from glass. And more rarely, I might go to Pizza Express, but only if there's no better pizza joint in the vicinity.

I do love trawling the internet, some times for days on end, for particular places to eat, and have discovered some truly sublime tucked away little places which I love sharing with foodie friends. There is nothing quite like the feeling of trying something truly new and unknown for the first time and feeling that taste explosion. I am addicted to that feeling. And yes, I too have an addictive personality.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

I'll do a chain if I'm having a quick discussion meeting with people that I don't know - as mentioned, the consistency and familiarity of menu makes that whole process easier on people. Otherwise, I eat local. The Tastee Diner in Silver Spring is one of my favorite hangouts; I've been chatting with some of the same servers for twenty years.

 

[Sean Aaron]

The only chain I have any real love for is Chevy's: the one American chain restaurant I'd like to see in the UK (TGI Friday's can fucking die!). The food is pretty simple and quality - fresh made tortillas and tortilla chips are excellent - seriously why aren't other chain restaurants like that?

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

Chevy's isn't bad.

 

[PKTrekGirl]

I don't eat out all that often. But when I do, it sort of depends upon the occasion and/or how I'm feeling as to what I'll choose.

If I'm with friends, I'd prefer to try new things and local restaurants (although here in the South, you have to watch out for that because a large percentage of local restaurants/local cuisine includes a very high concentration of fried, buttered food that will clog your arteries even as you are sitting at the table).

But for business lunches or meals where focus on the conversation is essential and the meal itself is almost an afterthought, a chain is often easier. Usually, there is 'something for everyone' in those kinds of places and it's easy to order quickly and get right down to business. Not the best meal...but then, you are not focusing on the meal anyway.

I love trying local favorite places when traveling! That is part of the fun. I get what people said about craving a food later and not being able to get it, but that does not deter me from the trying stuff. My personal experience with this frustration - Ted Drewes Custard in St. Louis, Mo. (where it is doubtful I will ever return) is a little bit of heaven and a little bit of hell. Absolutely the best frozen desert on the PLANET and I'm so glad I had it a few times. But yeah....St. Louis is not exactly on my beaten track. It's been 18 years since I had Ted Drewes last...but it is still makes my mouth water, just thinking about it. Heaven in a cup.

 

[Sephiroth]

there are a ton of local places to eat in Albuquerque, so when I'm in town the only "chain" places I hit are Lotaburger or Bob's and Los Cuates

 

[Kira's Mom]

If I'm traveling, I get exhausted and don't care where my dinner comes from. Cracker Barrell and Ruby Tuesday are just fine, even though I have them at home.

When I'm at my destination, I eat local based on what I've read in guides. When I was in New Orleans last month, I couldn't walk a block without finding an amazing restaurant, famous and fancy (like K Paul's Louisiana Kitchen and The Commander's Palace), or a little hole in the wall that makes great po' boys. If I'm in a city I know well, like Louisville, I already have favorites like Lynn's Paradise Cafe.

At home, I don't mind going to a chain restaurant occasionally. I know I have plenty of time to visit the best local spots because I'm not moving away any time soon.

 

[Canadave]

fresh made tortillas and tortilla chips are excellent - seriously why aren't other chain restaurants like that?

We have a chain here in Ontario called Lone Star that does that. It's actually one of the better chains out there, ridiculously over-the-top Texas-themed decor aside. Their fajitas tend to be really good, with the toppings coming out sizzling and tasting like they're freshly grilled, not microwaved. This may because they're relatively small, though, I think they only have about 15 locations.

 

[sojourner]

Must be a different Lone Star than the one in the states, which is pretty interchangeable with Logan's, Longhorn and pretty much anything with "roadhouse" as part of the name.

 

[Canadave]

^ I assume so. This is our chain, but I can't find any references to the one you're referring to online.

 

[kimc]

My favourite local cafe/restaurant is already too busy at lunchtime; I'm all in favour of people choosing a chain instead.

Ditto!

I avoid chains as a rule. I'd rather eat at home.

 

[sojourner]

^ I assume so. This is our chain, but I can't find any references to the one you're referring to online.

Hmmm, site blocked in canada?


http://www.lonestarsteakhouse.com/files/home.aspx

 

[Canadave]

^ Just couldn't find it when I Googled, for some reason. Definitely different, though, as that Lone Star doesn't seem to feature fajitas at all, which is the specialty of Lone Star here.