Sarah

These are the following chain restaurants which have been voted as the best chain restaurants in their respective parts of the country. Personally I can't believe Red Lobster is in there, every time I've eaten there its been shite and I would never go back. I'm also glad to see Ruby Tuesdays isn't on the list, $8 for cheese fries always pisses me off!

Best Family/Casual Dining Restaurants:
Northeast
1. Outback Steakhouse
2. Olive Garden
3. Red Lobster
4. Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar
5. Bennigan's Irish American Restaurant & Pub
The worst: Friendly's

South
1. Carrabba's Italian Grill
2. Cracker Barrel Old Country Store
3. Outback Steakhouse
4. Romano's Macaroni Grill
5. Olive Garden
The worst: Chuck E. Cheese's

Midwest
1. Olive Garden
2. Cracker Barrel Old Country Store
3. Famous Dave's
4. Red Lobster
5. Lone Star Steakhouse & Saloon
The worst: Chuck E. Cheese's

West
1. Olive Garden
2. Romano's Macaroni Grill
3. Mimi's Café
4. California Pizza Kitchen
5. Outback Steakhouse
The worst: Denny's

ironporer

As I travel quite a bit, and of course eat out- I think the list is basically a bunch of crap, at least as far as where I go- the south, midwest and upper midwest...with the exception of Cracker Barrel and Outback, which are usually decent. I cant stand Olive Garden...food isn't too bad, but way overpriced for Pasta. I have never been pleased at a Red Lobster- shit food and service. I do like O'Charlies and Fudruckers- odd neither are on the list. And what about that great American icon- Waffle House?? Best coffee and bfast there is!!

Jess5377

My faves are definitely Cracker Barrel and Outback when it comes to chains. And also, Krystal's! There is nothing like a bite-size burger for $0.40!

Elvira

Chuck E. Cheese's - a restaurant ???!!!

I thought it was just a place where parents take kids under 10 when they are (a) celebrating a birthday or (b) are at the end of their rope (and can't think of what else to do...)

NC Penguin

Never been to:
Olive Garden, Red Lobster, Outback Steakhouse, Bennigan's, Famous Dave's (dunno about famous. Never even heard of it), Lone Star, Chuck E. Cheese, Mimi's Cafe.

California Pizza Kitchen is OK but mostly for its novelty value. Romano's Macaroni Grill is a notch above typical Italian American fare. Cracker Barrel is surprisingly good but it's not a place to eat at regularly 'cos it's Southern style fare (pretty calorific).




NC Penguin

NC Penguin

Fuddrucker's is good. Burgers cooked to order!

The quality of what you get at Waffle House will vary tremendously depending on the skills of the short order cook. Had an awful Waffle House experience locally but had one at the other end of the scale in High Point, NC.




NC Penguin

Bob

red lobster is a bit kack, but I don't think there in maine anymore...and olive garden is shite too....maraconi grill is slightly better for the price at least...hmmm....

outback isn't bad, but it's a bit to themey...if that's such a word

NC Penguin

I couldn't imagine that RL could do well in ME. The locals would recognize cack seafood dishes at 50 paces, I'm sure....




NC Penguin

anotherlimey

Fuddruckers should be on there somewhere, I've never had bad service or food there.

I don't think I've ever been to an Applebees; Olive Garden is OK, but overpriced.

I'm surprised Hooters isn't on the list.

NC Penguin

I've had bad service in Fuddruckers (they ran out of what I wanted to order. Also true for someone else in my party. This was in the evening). Despite this experience, I still eat at Fuddruckers because the food is above average.




NC Penguin

Pimpbot

I agree. They make a good burger which you can add all kinds of crap to at their salad bar.

Pimpbot

I also like Claimjumper.

TRPardoe

Carabba's is outstanding for a chain if you don't mind queueing for food, which I won't do. They park outside ours all the way to the grass by US41. The one in Fort Myers is the busiest in the chain and, I think, the first.

Cracker Barrel is excellent for a roadside stop.

Outback is just Outback but the steaks are good.

Macaroni Grill is appalling and my wife would leave me if I took her to Oilive Garden.

You can't beat a family owned place. Maybe that is why Carabba's is so good.

NC Penguin

It's IHOP to most people and I haven't been O'Charley's even though there's one within spitting distance of where I work (next door to a Macaroni Grill).



NC Penguin

woodsey

Olive Garden I am speechless, I would rather starve..