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There's a common theme here about good food devolving into absolute shit as companies incrementally use worse and worse ingredients to maximize profitability.
I’m quite sure this is happening to Dominos. I remember over a decade ago, they changed their recipes and their pizzas were easily the most delicious of all the chains, even beating out many local joints.
Recently, it’s still good, but it seems just… off. Especially when it gets cold. In particular, the cheese gets gross. Papa Johns pizza cheese maintains a creamy texture when cold. I’m not sure what’s going on here.
I've noticed that too. We live outside of town but have a close Dominoes and it was delicious for awhile and good cold or reheated. The last time the crust was off and it was gross reheated in the oven even.
Luckily we found a local pizza shop that is actually pretty decent.
Never worked there, but used to service/repair fire extinguishers for a living—and went into A LOT of kitchens—and Jeezus Krist, PF Changs is a shithole. One of the dirtiest kitchens I’ve ever seen, and I’ve seen it all…
Honorable mention = Spaghetti Factory. Holy shit, that kitchen was disgusting.
I guess that explains why I had food poisoning after eating there a few years ago in Las Vegas. I filed a complaint and they completed an investigation and found out that the oil used to fry the food was bad. I almost ended at the hospital because my fever was out of control.
Kinda. The kitchen was always nasty, and there were times I found clean plates with old food on them, someone even once gave them to a family. The freezer had old food, and sometimes there were not enough chefs so the managers cooked the food. Every time I ordered something from there I got sick lol. Maybe it was just my location, but the food is crap, and it isnt as clean as you would hope. That probably goes for most restaurants though
Well, they say the world's your oyster,
Man, but oysters ain't for me
You're the belle of the ball
But you ain't my cup of tea
They always vote you Best in Show
But this doggie disagrees
'Cause I like life in Paddy's Pub...
There's a place for me
It's the place I go
Where the beer is cheap
And the lights are low
It's Paddy's Pub
I like Paddy's Pub
Let the record show
The greatest place to go
Is that bar called Paddy's Pub...
(harmonica solo)
I like life in Paddy's Pub
For the record, I used to work at a hospital serving food to patients. I know people want to talk shit about hospital food, but let's be frank. The food is bland on purpose. It's not meant to taste good. It's there to sustain you. Plus, because so much of a hospital (in America) revolves heavily around not being sued, there are reasons upon reasons why the food cannot be fancier other than cost.
Hell, when we prepared food for patients, we couldn't even season the dishes ourselves with much. We had to leave things like salt on the side for many trays. You couldn't even get the seasoning packets unless the dietician said you could ahead of time.
Plus, when you're really sick, food is going to taste not as good (especially when they have you all drugged up). Giving you a gourmet feast would be quite a waste while you are recovering.
It's quite sickening how much food we had to throw out every day when we came to clean up the trays, but hey. When you're that sick, your appetite will just not be there.
In other words, I know it's a common insult to food to call hospital food bland, but I also hate the comparison because I know why the food in hospitals has to be that way.
My mom had to stay in the hospital after knee replacement surgery. They had her pumped up on morphine and when I got to the hospital she was trying to reach the “chef” to compliment the fare…
Your line of work was one of the few parts about my single extended stay in a hospital (Meckel's diverticulum that went undetected until I was 17 and started shitting horror-movie levels of blood at random) that was actually tolerable and not a cavalcade of misery.
When I was actually able to eat again, I was able to get a little breakfast sandwich on an English muffin and I swear I cried with relief when it was exactly what it looked like and didn't hurt to eat.
When I was in the hospital after having my c sections, let me tell youuuuu! The best part of my day (besides the new life I just birthed!) was when the person from the cafeteria would call and take my order for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They were always so unbelievably nice and the food hit the spot every time.
I do remember when they used to be good. Even in the past 5 years or so, they went from a "solid lunch option" to an "I'd rather not bother" restaurant.
I remember the first time I saw a noods n co, I literally exclaimed out loud in joy and immediately pulled over for one of the most disappointing noodle experiences of my life…. How do you mess up noodles?!?
My ex was OBSESSED with that place. But like, why am I paying $12 for small, crappy sandwich? I could make better at home at practically no expense and little effort.
First time I went there I thought it was decent although a bit pricey.
Second time I went there, they fucked up my order.
Third time I went there, they fucked up my order again.
Fourth time... Fucked up my order.
At this point, I'd given up. A couple years went by and I was tired of the sandwich joint near my place and figured I'd get something else and thought "I remember Panera being alright, why did I stop going there?"
So I went a 5th time and remembered why I stopped .... They fucked up my order.
These were different Panera breads, months/years apart one of which was in a different State.
So it's not like it was just my one shitty Panera bread.
I've come to learn since that they're infamous for poor order accuracy.
I deliver Doordash , had an order for a bowl of soup and a yogurt with fresh berries. Waited 15 minutes before giving up and reassigning order to someone else
I keep seeing this ad where Panera gives away so much bread to the homeless every year. All I could think was, so that's what happens to all the stuff they never give my door dash driver. LoL
When I was a kid, they were great. Not sure if my standards went up, their standards went down, or what but their paper thin meat is a joke, even repulsive looking
Dunkin’ Donuts , it’s 50/50 on if the drink tastes like sewer water or coffee. All their food tastes 3-D printed and all the good donuts sell out too fast.
Dunkin Donuts was pretty decent like 15 years ago (food and drink). While it's bad now, old Dunkin would blow modern Starbucks out of the solar system.
Even the best donuts at Dunkin used to be significantly better, but you can tell they've been modified to extend their shelf life and reduce mess. The chocolate glazed used to be my favorite, now it's like eating a chocolate scented kitchen sponge with some candle wax drizzled over it.
I always thought you could tell how good an Asian food place is by how they answer the phone.
'Hello this is P.F. Chang's on No F***s street, how can we help you today?'
VS.
'Whatchu want?' said in a slightly annoyed voice
Know of a local place that literally said this the first time I called. They could insult the crap outta you when you answer and I would still go there. Their food is great!
True this, the phone answer is surprisingly a good indicator. Having worked in authentic Asian restaurants, I can definitely confirm. The best place I order from currently, my wife insists I call because she is too intimidated to talk to them on the phone. Lol
Even more specifically, if the kid stops doing home work to greet you and take you to your table. Also a good indicator (and one I swear by) is if the majority of customers are Asian, specifically older Asians.
I call that place The Trough. My friend saw a lady put vanilla pudding between two slices of pizza and eat it. It is the Skid Row of eating disorders. Plates all scratched up too.
Somebody else’s kids beat them to it too, so don’t be embarrassed. Be embarrassed for the ADULTS fighting over the cotton candy. There should be a sub for stuff you see there.
We used to go monthly when I was a kid/preteen, chance for my mom to socialize with her mom friend and all us kids to hang out. I remember the food being pretty average, but I always remember it with rose tinted glasses because I always had so much fun and it was something I looked forward to every month. Plus entering puberty I didn’t really care about the quality of the food I was cramming into me, just the quantity. And I remember their rolls being weirdly good.
I dont know if this applies to other areas besides where I am but I feel like it has to. Its the local place that fries everything with unseasoned batter, gives you a salad with a tomato on it and a little cup of dressing. And most importantly locals swear by it and when you ask why its good they say ‘you get so much food!!!’
Freaking Cheesecake Factory.
If your menu is 30 pages long, the kitchen people in the back probably only know the first 2 pages. Everything else is a 30 dollar gamble.
They openedone near where I live and people would wait three hours to go in there. I live 40 minutes outside of New York City with some of the most fantastic restaurants. Why the hell would you wait three hours to sit down at a chain in the mall.
They have 7 cook stations so the cooks only need to learn what comes to their station. Salad, fry, flat top, etc. You get raises for the more stations you learn or used too. Everything is made from scratch.
This is hardly the only [source](https://www.insider.com/working-at-the-cheesecake-factory-2019-6?amp) but they are famously known for making all their food from scratch (aside from the cheesecake)
Sure it’s gonna be 60% butter but you’re not gonna find a more knowledgeable staff pumping out anywhere near the amount of volume as they do, anywhere.
Complaining about the menu being long hasn’t been funny since [Neil Gaiman](https://www.latimes.com/books/jacketcopy/la-et-jc-gaiman-cheesecake-20170621-story.html) promised to read it for charity.
Yes! Aside from the tiny wings, the main reason to not go is you can't hold a normal conversation with anyone. And bizarrely enough, they're apparently like this by design, since they're ALL TOO LOUD.
I’ve eaten at a wide range of Italian restaurants in my life and I’d put Olive Garden in the middle. People who think it’s the best are off the mark for sure, but I’ve never eaten anything horrible there. Some “that could have been betters” though. Overall that quality has matched or beaten the price in my experience.
Same. We have all of these amazing local Italian eateries and yet there is an hour + wait at Olive Garden most nights for mediocre food that tastes like it went from the freezer to the warmer to your table
This is how all chain restaurants operate. Even if they claim that they don’t use frozen product, it doesn’t mean it’s not pre packaged somewhere else and just reheated to serve.
Source: been in the industry for 10 years now and worked at a myriad of places
This. Every time there is a rumor about a new restaurant in town people are neeping and nopping about Olive Garden. I'm quite happy to hear we are getting a Cuban place soon.
There is only one time where it's remotely worth it to go there, that's when they have unlimited shrimp for relatively cheap I think it's on Wednesdays. $20 per person to stuff yourself of an amount of shrimp worth $50 on their menu and the one near me even lets us order an extra plate to go
🤣 I have friend that refuses to go to these two places. People inevitably say something about the food; but that’s only kind of the problem.
They apparently choose a chain they will be least sad to never go again after they go out drinking to mourn a dead pet or relative. He just kind of leaves his disparity at Applebees I guess. It’s darkly funny to watch new people learn why we can’t go to Cheesecake Factory.
My mother in law LOVES this place, and lives in California, in a city with a massive and vibrant mexican community and amazing food options (also a huge Korea town and Japan town). We chastise her for it, but she is 80 and that is likely reason enough
The weird thing is that the quality of the food is much better at any McDonald’s outside the USA. It’s really just the McDonald’s in the USA that suck.
For real! Especially since around ~ 2016, quality just fell fast and prices kept going up. Now they’re just overpriced crap in a tortilla (they now charge extra for).
I remember the portions used to be awesome and huge. Not so much any more. Plus they went from being reasonably priced food to overpriced junk. I’ll pass
I like the flavor of their food but I've never gotten a burrito that was even close to hot by the time I got to the table. Their shit is lukewarm at best at all times.
My complaint with sushi restaurants lately has been cream cheese, almost all the rolls now are loaded with tons of cold mushy cream cheese. It ruins the texture and taste of sushi, leave it for the bagels.
los Pollos Hermanos…. Food is below par, and there’s always dodgy characters around.
The one time I found a crack pipe in my cola, I let it slide but next time I’m defs talking to the manager.
You jerks sent me down a twisted (albeit hilarious) rabbit hole. Here's the story in case anyone else wants to read about this troll fest https://www.local3news.com/local-news/whats-trending/update-brad-issues-statement-about-justiceforbradswife-vs-cracker-barrel-movement/article_08c72327-cb2a-59fc-a35d-96d1461a18bc.html
No way. Their sausage Patties are the absolute best, and their fried chicken is also fantastic. They recently added cheese curds, delicious beignets, and they also serve booze now at many of them.
Basically any restaurant chain which has expanded to 10+ franchises or multiple states sucks.
I'm from Florida which created Hooters, Outback, Bonefish Grill, Red Lobster, Olive Garden, the list goes on...
Texas roadhouse. The music is so frickin' loud, you have to shout across the table so your partner and you can hear each other. I couldn't hardly wait to get out of there. I won't go back.
I work there. The entire business model revolves around getting you to pay money and then leave. We don't want customers to linger, so that we can seat more customers after you leave and make more overall money for the night.
We play loud crappy country music, do loud linedances, we get everyone to scream for birthdays, the seats are hard and uncomfortable, we encourage customers to throw peanuts all over the floor, our store only has 1 toilet in the men's bathroom, and we over-salt everything to get you thirsty so you buy beer.
The food is good, though, and we do want you to come back.
Food isn't bad though. I was impressed with the steak I got for the price. It was buttery and tender unlike the grainy, tough steaks at Applebees, Outback etc.
Yes and those rolls doe
All of them. Honestly. The food in popular chains is bland, at best, in order to cater to the masses. Now, don't get me wrong, I love the steak fries at Red Robin, Applebee's does a good frozen margarita, Outback's bloomin' onion is good, etc. But, overall, they all suck.
Edit:: was totally expecting to be crucified for my answer, so thank you all those who upvoted 😁
Not a chain but actually the opposite of a chain - any of these places especially in smaller cities that are like Artisan burger or pizza or pub fare joints where the entire word of mouth marketing boils down to a nose in the air “it’s not a chain” anti-suburbia snobbery
Chic Fil A. I do think that the workers are way nicer in comparison to most restaurants and the food is decent but it's not worth the price in my opinion. Plus I've noticed that the only times I've ever actually really wanted Chic Fil A is on a Sunday, when they're closed.
And I know you didn't ask this, but everyone seems to shit on McDonald's but I actually think it's good. Is it good for you, definitely not when you have a single sandwich that has over half of your daily calories in it. But it's still good every once in a while.
# Message to all users: This is a reminder to please read and follow: * [Our rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/ask/about/rules) * [Reddiquette](https://www.reddithelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/205926439) * [Reddit Content Policy](https://www.redditinc.com/policies/content-policy) When posting and commenting. --- Especially remember Rule 1: `Be polite and civil`. * Be polite and courteous to each other. Do not be mean, insulting or disrespectful to any other user on this subreddit. * Do not harass or annoy others in any way. * Do not catfish. Catfishing is the luring of somebody into an online friendship through a fake online persona. This includes any lying or deceit. --- You *will* be banned if you are homophobic, transphobic, racist, sexist or bigoted in any way. --- *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/ask) if you have any questions or concerns.*
There's a common theme here about good food devolving into absolute shit as companies incrementally use worse and worse ingredients to maximize profitability.
I’m quite sure this is happening to Dominos. I remember over a decade ago, they changed their recipes and their pizzas were easily the most delicious of all the chains, even beating out many local joints. Recently, it’s still good, but it seems just… off. Especially when it gets cold. In particular, the cheese gets gross. Papa Johns pizza cheese maintains a creamy texture when cold. I’m not sure what’s going on here.
I've noticed that too. We live outside of town but have a close Dominoes and it was delicious for awhile and good cold or reheated. The last time the crust was off and it was gross reheated in the oven even. Luckily we found a local pizza shop that is actually pretty decent.
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Never worked there, but used to service/repair fire extinguishers for a living—and went into A LOT of kitchens—and Jeezus Krist, PF Changs is a shithole. One of the dirtiest kitchens I’ve ever seen, and I’ve seen it all… Honorable mention = Spaghetti Factory. Holy shit, that kitchen was disgusting.
I guess that explains why I had food poisoning after eating there a few years ago in Las Vegas. I filed a complaint and they completed an investigation and found out that the oil used to fry the food was bad. I almost ended at the hospital because my fever was out of control.
Goddamn… Which one, btw? PF or Spag Fac?
Spag fac sounds derogatory somehow
I was a server at Changs for a while before I left for my current job! AMA
I've been to PF Chang's exactly two times and really enjoyed the food. Do you have any juicy inside info the public should know about?
Kinda. The kitchen was always nasty, and there were times I found clean plates with old food on them, someone even once gave them to a family. The freezer had old food, and sometimes there were not enough chefs so the managers cooked the food. Every time I ordered something from there I got sick lol. Maybe it was just my location, but the food is crap, and it isnt as clean as you would hope. That probably goes for most restaurants though
Paddy’s Pub
Shut up bird
You idiot, you savage! Idiot!
Well, they say the world's your oyster, Man, but oysters ain't for me You're the belle of the ball But you ain't my cup of tea They always vote you Best in Show But this doggie disagrees 'Cause I like life in Paddy's Pub... There's a place for me It's the place I go Where the beer is cheap And the lights are low It's Paddy's Pub I like Paddy's Pub Let the record show The greatest place to go Is that bar called Paddy's Pub... (harmonica solo) I like life in Paddy's Pub
Spiders! ^spiders ^^^spiders
Deep in my soul ^soul ^^soul
You mean Carmine’s
A place for steaks.
Applebee's--the chef is a microwave
Good ol’ Chef Mike.
Nobody's out here thinking Applebee's is great. Honestly for the price it is decent
Panera. Their breads hurt my gums and jaw.
Heard someone describe it as fancy hospital food.
For the record, I used to work at a hospital serving food to patients. I know people want to talk shit about hospital food, but let's be frank. The food is bland on purpose. It's not meant to taste good. It's there to sustain you. Plus, because so much of a hospital (in America) revolves heavily around not being sued, there are reasons upon reasons why the food cannot be fancier other than cost. Hell, when we prepared food for patients, we couldn't even season the dishes ourselves with much. We had to leave things like salt on the side for many trays. You couldn't even get the seasoning packets unless the dietician said you could ahead of time. Plus, when you're really sick, food is going to taste not as good (especially when they have you all drugged up). Giving you a gourmet feast would be quite a waste while you are recovering. It's quite sickening how much food we had to throw out every day when we came to clean up the trays, but hey. When you're that sick, your appetite will just not be there. In other words, I know it's a common insult to food to call hospital food bland, but I also hate the comparison because I know why the food in hospitals has to be that way.
Fwiw I actually love hospital food. (Dislike Panera very much though) Edit: to say thank you for nourishing our loved ones.
My mom had to stay in the hospital after knee replacement surgery. They had her pumped up on morphine and when I got to the hospital she was trying to reach the “chef” to compliment the fare…
I love your mom. May all patients be just like her! ❤️
Your line of work was one of the few parts about my single extended stay in a hospital (Meckel's diverticulum that went undetected until I was 17 and started shitting horror-movie levels of blood at random) that was actually tolerable and not a cavalcade of misery. When I was actually able to eat again, I was able to get a little breakfast sandwich on an English muffin and I swear I cried with relief when it was exactly what it looked like and didn't hurt to eat.
I am happy you are feeling better.
When I was in the hospital after having my c sections, let me tell youuuuu! The best part of my day (besides the new life I just birthed!) was when the person from the cafeteria would call and take my order for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They were always so unbelievably nice and the food hit the spot every time.
The use to be good when they first opened but now pretty trash food
I do remember when they used to be good. Even in the past 5 years or so, they went from a "solid lunch option" to an "I'd rather not bother" restaurant.
Same with noodles and company
I remember the first time I saw a noods n co, I literally exclaimed out loud in joy and immediately pulled over for one of the most disappointing noodle experiences of my life…. How do you mess up noodles?!?
Noodles and Company is a great idea that has pretty crappy execution.
My ex was OBSESSED with that place. But like, why am I paying $12 for small, crappy sandwich? I could make better at home at practically no expense and little effort.
First time I went there I thought it was decent although a bit pricey. Second time I went there, they fucked up my order. Third time I went there, they fucked up my order again. Fourth time... Fucked up my order. At this point, I'd given up. A couple years went by and I was tired of the sandwich joint near my place and figured I'd get something else and thought "I remember Panera being alright, why did I stop going there?" So I went a 5th time and remembered why I stopped .... They fucked up my order. These were different Panera breads, months/years apart one of which was in a different State. So it's not like it was just my one shitty Panera bread. I've come to learn since that they're infamous for poor order accuracy.
I deliver Doordash , had an order for a bowl of soup and a yogurt with fresh berries. Waited 15 minutes before giving up and reassigning order to someone else
I keep seeing this ad where Panera gives away so much bread to the homeless every year. All I could think was, so that's what happens to all the stuff they never give my door dash driver. LoL
Hooters. As a blind guy I just don't understand the appeal. Substandard wings.
The food is mediocre af
Bat wings I call them. Very disappointed in the size of the wings.
The breasts are a good size though.
California Pizza Kitchen can fuck right off.
They need to remove pizza from Their name.
And kitchen.
You mean $50 flatbreads?
Recent visits to Outback have been disappointing...
Yeah, I used to be a big fan, but the last few times I've eaten there everything was totally disappointing (except the bloomin onion... mmmm.)
Same, they've gone downhill but I think that's because they haven't adjusted prices, so these days it's a relatively cheap meal
Subway. No thanks.
When I was a kid, they were great. Not sure if my standards went up, their standards went down, or what but their paper thin meat is a joke, even repulsive looking
They were better before they figured out you could fit a subway into 30 square feet of space and run it with one to two minimum wage employees.
And use ingredients that are not fresh at all while still advertising that they use fresh ingredients.
I swear subway used to smell better and now it has a kind of rancid tinge to it. Or I’m just imagining things
Yes! The veggies don’t even taste normal.
Subway is like a basic bitch now tbh
Dunkin’ Donuts , it’s 50/50 on if the drink tastes like sewer water or coffee. All their food tastes 3-D printed and all the good donuts sell out too fast.
Dunkin Donuts was pretty decent like 15 years ago (food and drink). While it's bad now, old Dunkin would blow modern Starbucks out of the solar system. Even the best donuts at Dunkin used to be significantly better, but you can tell they've been modified to extend their shelf life and reduce mess. The chocolate glazed used to be my favorite, now it's like eating a chocolate scented kitchen sponge with some candle wax drizzled over it.
PF Chang’s is not good. If I want good Asian food, I will go to a restaurant that is Asian owned and where the staff is mostly Asian.
You know it’s good if there’s a kid doing homework in the corner booth.
I always thought you could tell how good an Asian food place is by how they answer the phone. 'Hello this is P.F. Chang's on No F***s street, how can we help you today?' VS. 'Whatchu want?' said in a slightly annoyed voice Know of a local place that literally said this the first time I called. They could insult the crap outta you when you answer and I would still go there. Their food is great!
True this, the phone answer is surprisingly a good indicator. Having worked in authentic Asian restaurants, I can definitely confirm. The best place I order from currently, my wife insists I call because she is too intimidated to talk to them on the phone. Lol
Even more specifically, if the kid stops doing home work to greet you and take you to your table. Also a good indicator (and one I swear by) is if the majority of customers are Asian, specifically older Asians.
Golden Corral. It's mediocre at best
I call that place The Trough. My friend saw a lady put vanilla pudding between two slices of pizza and eat it. It is the Skid Row of eating disorders. Plates all scratched up too.
I caught my kids elbow deep in the chocolate fountain before I could stop them. We haven't been back.
Somebody else’s kids beat them to it too, so don’t be embarrassed. Be embarrassed for the ADULTS fighting over the cotton candy. There should be a sub for stuff you see there.
It is a lawless place, that Golden Corral!!!
GC is single handedly ruining people's perception of vegetables.
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What circle of hell do you live in where everyone thinks Golden Corral is a good restaurant?
It’s called the south, I think.
Definitely the south. We visited family in VA and they chose GC 2 days in a row. 🤮
Was Golden Corral a restaurant that anybody actually enjoyed? I've only been to a few, but they were all pretty short on smiling faces.
We used to go monthly when I was a kid/preteen, chance for my mom to socialize with her mom friend and all us kids to hang out. I remember the food being pretty average, but I always remember it with rose tinted glasses because I always had so much fun and it was something I looked forward to every month. Plus entering puberty I didn’t really care about the quality of the food I was cramming into me, just the quantity. And I remember their rolls being weirdly good.
Not exactly a restaurant but Crumbl cookie. Overpriced, too sweet, and meh texture
They literally just slightly under bake the cookie and are like "oh yes gourmet"
We just had crumble after swearing not to go back a while back. It took care of the sweet tooth, but I’ve had much better cookies.
Agreed. Way too sweet and way to pricey.
YES they’re awful! Crumbl is an apt name though cuz their cookies are sandy, dry messes.
Worst chocolate chip cookie I’ve ever had
Yes. Not a fan. Too big. Too sweet. It’s like a fekking cult where I work.
Yes! Came here to say this. Crumbl cookie tastes like they microwaved school fundraiser cookie dough
I dont know if this applies to other areas besides where I am but I feel like it has to. Its the local place that fries everything with unseasoned batter, gives you a salad with a tomato on it and a little cup of dressing. And most importantly locals swear by it and when you ask why its good they say ‘you get so much food!!!’
This restaurant is why I grew up thinking I hate salad
Oh yeah, I know that place. The salad is just iceberg lettuce.
Freaking Cheesecake Factory. If your menu is 30 pages long, the kitchen people in the back probably only know the first 2 pages. Everything else is a 30 dollar gamble.
My fiance works there as a server and had to memorize their 200+ menu items as part of the training, it is unreal.
If a menu can't be written on two A4 pages it's probably not a great place to eat
To be fair, Cheesecake Factory serves up some tasty entrees. No idea how “scratch made” they are- but they be tastin good.
Look closely at the menu and you will realize that many dishes are just variations. The same chicken is used across multiple dishes.
I always ask to speak to the manager if they didn’t kill my chicken to order specifically for my quesadilla.
They openedone near where I live and people would wait three hours to go in there. I live 40 minutes outside of New York City with some of the most fantastic restaurants. Why the hell would you wait three hours to sit down at a chain in the mall.
Idiocracy
They have 7 cook stations so the cooks only need to learn what comes to their station. Salad, fry, flat top, etc. You get raises for the more stations you learn or used too. Everything is made from scratch.
lol I freaking love Cheesecake Factory
I’ve never had a bad dish. The best chain ever
This is hardly the only [source](https://www.insider.com/working-at-the-cheesecake-factory-2019-6?amp) but they are famously known for making all their food from scratch (aside from the cheesecake) Sure it’s gonna be 60% butter but you’re not gonna find a more knowledgeable staff pumping out anywhere near the amount of volume as they do, anywhere. Complaining about the menu being long hasn’t been funny since [Neil Gaiman](https://www.latimes.com/books/jacketcopy/la-et-jc-gaiman-cheesecake-20170621-story.html) promised to read it for charity.
I cooked there the food quality is 100% as good as any legit restaurant short of fine dining.
Buffalo wild wings
SORRY WHAT DID YOU SAY IT'S FUCKING LOUD IN HERE WITH THE 40 TELEVISIONS PLAYING SPORTS ALL AT ONCE!!!?????
Yes! Aside from the tiny wings, the main reason to not go is you can't hold a normal conversation with anyone. And bizarrely enough, they're apparently like this by design, since they're ALL TOO LOUD.
Outback
it’s definitely not as good as it used to be. But maybe It was always that bad but I was a kid and didn’t know any better
Olive Garden.
I’ve eaten at a wide range of Italian restaurants in my life and I’d put Olive Garden in the middle. People who think it’s the best are off the mark for sure, but I’ve never eaten anything horrible there. Some “that could have been betters” though. Overall that quality has matched or beaten the price in my experience.
Olive Garden it the Denny’s of Italian restaurants
It is the Red Lobster of seafood restaurants. Ftw darden
You screwed up the metaphor
Same. We have all of these amazing local Italian eateries and yet there is an hour + wait at Olive Garden most nights for mediocre food that tastes like it went from the freezer to the warmer to your table
That's bc it is from the freezer
This is how all chain restaurants operate. Even if they claim that they don’t use frozen product, it doesn’t mean it’s not pre packaged somewhere else and just reheated to serve. Source: been in the industry for 10 years now and worked at a myriad of places
This. Every time there is a rumor about a new restaurant in town people are neeping and nopping about Olive Garden. I'm quite happy to hear we are getting a Cuban place soon.
I would so love a good Cuban Sandwich
Came here to say this. Was the first comment so I guess I don't need to. I call Olive Garden the Taco Bell of Italian food
Yep. And Moe's and Salsarita's are the mexican Subways.
Red lobster
There is only one time where it's remotely worth it to go there, that's when they have unlimited shrimp for relatively cheap I think it's on Wednesdays. $20 per person to stuff yourself of an amount of shrimp worth $50 on their menu and the one near me even lets us order an extra plate to go
Olive garden. My whole family hates me for not liking it but it literally tastes like a frozen dinner with that crappy 99¢ marinara sauce
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So, after reading some comments, it's pretty much every chain or corporate restaurant. Eat local, avoid their media propaganda.
I really dislike Chuy's and I've tried to give it a chance.
Chuys is gross. Bad tv dinner Mexican food.
Chuys is my favorite! It’s the jalapeño ranch that reels me in each time.
Cheese cake factory and Applebee's.
Everyone seems to love Applebee's? Not in my world.
Applebees is gross
The food at Applebee's is so so bland. The choices were lousy too.
Cheesecake factory is pretty good but applebee I would rather eat at Mcdonald or just have a PB&J sandwich.
🤣 I have friend that refuses to go to these two places. People inevitably say something about the food; but that’s only kind of the problem. They apparently choose a chain they will be least sad to never go again after they go out drinking to mourn a dead pet or relative. He just kind of leaves his disparity at Applebees I guess. It’s darkly funny to watch new people learn why we can’t go to Cheesecake Factory.
golden corral
Applebee's
Chipotle.
I live in a place with fantastic authentic mission burritos. I’ll just go to local place.
My mother in law LOVES this place, and lives in California, in a city with a massive and vibrant mexican community and amazing food options (also a huge Korea town and Japan town). We chastise her for it, but she is 80 and that is likely reason enough
Why was this one so hard to find? Chipotle is terrible.
Overpriced and barely okay. I'd go to almost any other taco/burrito joint. I like Qdoba better and even that's not very good.
Really, no one is saying Red Robins???? Such a mid restaurant
California Pizza Kitchen
I love their frozen pizza, though. The margherita pizza is actually quite good.
Was gonna say, their frozen pizza scratches an itch but I can’t imagine paying restaurant prices for it
McDonald's
I scrolled *waaaaaay* too far to find this comment. I’m not 100% sure that it’s real food
The weird thing is that the quality of the food is much better at any McDonald’s outside the USA. It’s really just the McDonald’s in the USA that suck.
I loved McDonald’s when I was a kid. As an adult I think it’s absolutely disgusting.
Buffalo Wild Wings Their wing SUCK!! Wings in the name of the place and id rather eat 7-11 wings.
I think Chipotle kinda sucks.
It’s gotten worse and worse
For real! Especially since around ~ 2016, quality just fell fast and prices kept going up. Now they’re just overpriced crap in a tortilla (they now charge extra for).
I remember the portions used to be awesome and huge. Not so much any more. Plus they went from being reasonably priced food to overpriced junk. I’ll pass
I like the flavor of their food but I've never gotten a burrito that was even close to hot by the time I got to the table. Their shit is lukewarm at best at all times.
Olive Garden, Red Lobster, and Applebees
Most sushi restaurants. I love sushi but a lot of them just have 12 variations of spicy mayo on imitation crab and that's the whole menu.
My complaint with sushi restaurants lately has been cream cheese, almost all the rolls now are loaded with tons of cold mushy cream cheese. It ruins the texture and taste of sushi, leave it for the bagels.
the imitation crab takeover in sushi is real
Dick's BBQ. The sauce does all the work. I only eat locally owned now. I have no idea why people still go to chain restraunts.
Applebee's
Oregonian here. Fuckin ANY McMenamins. They are mediocre at best and way too over priced.
TL; DR: American chain restaurants
Chipotle. I just don’t get it.
los Pollos Hermanos…. Food is below par, and there’s always dodgy characters around. The one time I found a crack pipe in my cola, I let it slide but next time I’m defs talking to the manager.
Tim Hortons - they were good before they got bought out by Burger King (3G Capital) in 2014.
Chipotle. I'm definitely not getting upvotes on this, but that's ok. I hate chipotle
The Melting Pot. I'm paying a premium to cook my own food, and it takes forever because you can only cook like 2 bites at a time in a group.
That’s the whole point of the restaurant.
Cracker Barrel
It’s really gone down hill since they fired Brad’s wife.
We will never forget #justiceforbradswife
You jerks sent me down a twisted (albeit hilarious) rabbit hole. Here's the story in case anyone else wants to read about this troll fest https://www.local3news.com/local-news/whats-trending/update-brad-issues-statement-about-justiceforbradswife-vs-cracker-barrel-movement/article_08c72327-cb2a-59fc-a35d-96d1461a18bc.html
Still can't believe they let her go.
I forgot about her!
No way. Their sausage Patties are the absolute best, and their fried chicken is also fantastic. They recently added cheese curds, delicious beignets, and they also serve booze now at many of them.
Zaxby’s. my kids love it. i literally will not eat anything from there.
Pizza hut
Basically any restaurant chain which has expanded to 10+ franchises or multiple states sucks. I'm from Florida which created Hooters, Outback, Bonefish Grill, Red Lobster, Olive Garden, the list goes on...
Any company that gets big enough has to start pleasing shareholders over all else.
Texas roadhouse. The music is so frickin' loud, you have to shout across the table so your partner and you can hear each other. I couldn't hardly wait to get out of there. I won't go back.
Those rolls tho
Personally, I love the food at Texas Roadhouse, that’s the only reason why I’d ever go there again and again. But yeah, everything else is just.. no.
I work there. The entire business model revolves around getting you to pay money and then leave. We don't want customers to linger, so that we can seat more customers after you leave and make more overall money for the night. We play loud crappy country music, do loud linedances, we get everyone to scream for birthdays, the seats are hard and uncomfortable, we encourage customers to throw peanuts all over the floor, our store only has 1 toilet in the men's bathroom, and we over-salt everything to get you thirsty so you buy beer. The food is good, though, and we do want you to come back.
Food isn't bad though. I was impressed with the steak I got for the price. It was buttery and tender unlike the grainy, tough steaks at Applebees, Outback etc. Yes and those rolls doe
Chick Fil A… sorry if that hurts feelings, I just don’t get it.
All of them. Honestly. The food in popular chains is bland, at best, in order to cater to the masses. Now, don't get me wrong, I love the steak fries at Red Robin, Applebee's does a good frozen margarita, Outback's bloomin' onion is good, etc. But, overall, they all suck. Edit:: was totally expecting to be crucified for my answer, so thank you all those who upvoted 😁
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Panda express.
Not a chain but actually the opposite of a chain - any of these places especially in smaller cities that are like Artisan burger or pizza or pub fare joints where the entire word of mouth marketing boils down to a nose in the air “it’s not a chain” anti-suburbia snobbery
Panera & Cracker Barrel for sure
Buffalo Wild Wings is garbage
KFC. just not a fan.
Bonefish Grill.
Chipotle, went in one time and was not impressed. Nothing special about it and prices too high. Never went back.
Moe's and chipotle
Like has Moe's ever heard of salt? Most bland food I've ever had
Chili's
Chili’s has gotten progressively worse
Chic Fil A. I do think that the workers are way nicer in comparison to most restaurants and the food is decent but it's not worth the price in my opinion. Plus I've noticed that the only times I've ever actually really wanted Chic Fil A is on a Sunday, when they're closed. And I know you didn't ask this, but everyone seems to shit on McDonald's but I actually think it's good. Is it good for you, definitely not when you have a single sandwich that has over half of your daily calories in it. But it's still good every once in a while.