While eating out, do you prefer chains or local places? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

4starcashier · 09-11-2011, 10:28 AM

Okay, due to my job schedules, I tend to eat out a lot. I like all kinds of food but at the hotel I work at, guests generally favor the local places rather than the chains.

I beg to differ.

When I travel, I am sort of consistent. I like to know that I can travel from one part of the country to another and know that a Cheesecake Factory will be there waiting for me if I choose to go there. It's not available in Des Moines, Iowa, but I love Maggiano's Little Italy, and when Minneapolis' location closed, that's the first thing I wanted to eat at when I went to Indianapolis on business a few months ago (the bf was jealous)!

There are times when I'll consider the local places. Me and my boyfriend were in Chicago back in March and he wanted to try an authentic pizza place. Giordano's was a very nice place (they made us shrimp, sausage and onion pizza with extra cheese!), and was very affordable, as well! But without him, I probably would have stuck with the chains (we did, actually, eat at chains every other time, Grand Lux Cafe (you don't get to go there very often), Cheesecake Factory, PF Chang's, Qdoba and Hard Rock Cafe.)

But I keep hearing about everyone bashing chains because all of their food is nuked and processed and Americanized. I know it's true, but consider this: WE LIVE IN AMERICA! Of course other types of ethnic food (Chinese, Mexican, Italian) is going to be altered to satisfy our tastes! It's like McDonald's and other fast food restaurants modifying their food to appeal to other countries! I don't understand why the snobbiest of people think they have to spend $$$ on a slightly more authentic italian restaurant when they can go down the street and get it for a fraction of the cost (not always the case due to food availability).

But sorry for the rambling, but which do you prefer and why?

MickeyMac · 09-11-2011, 12:39 PM

Dont matter to me, either one. Just as long as the food is good.

steevo · 09-11-2011, 01:41 PM

I prefer local places to chains myself. In a few local places in my area, there is one pizza/Italian place where the hosts like to actually chat with the customers and give them a free beer at the delivery area while waiting for their food. Its the kind of personal touch that I like and you seem to get only from local places. Contrast this to, say, McDonald's, where everything is off an assembly line and more often than not, you get someone who either doesn't listen or care or is just rude. Of course, it depends also on what you are in the mood for at the time.

Janice · 09-11-2011, 09:27 PM

Chains like Applebee's, TGIF and the 99 are okay in the sense that it's usually the same meal every time. It's portion and quality control. I do like Outback, Cheesecake Factory and Legal Seafood. Even though they're chain restaurants, they're better than the lower priced chains.

When you go to a local restaurant, the food is different because they have specials and the chefs are given more liberty to cook the way they want. A few years back, Lou and I used to go to a local Italian restaurant called Lucia's. The food was great. Boston has some very nice privately owned or local places.

catlover79 · 09-11-2011, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MickeyMac

Dont matter to me, either one. Just as long as the food is good.

Ditto!

JamesG · 09-11-2011, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janice

Boston has some very nice privately owned or local places.

Have you eaten at Boston Beer Works? I believe Boston has two of them.

I went to Boston about 4 years ago and loved that place.

Faneuil Hall has some great places too.

JamesG · 09-11-2011, 10:33 PM

Some chains are better than others. I rarely eat fast food.

When I'm in the city I may go to Sbarro which is an Italian-American cuisine chain specializing in pizza.

One chain that I do not like is The Olive Garden.

Most of the time I eat at the local diners and the Japanese/Sushi places around here because I love that type of food.

Family Ties Forever! · 09-11-2011, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janice

Chains like Applebee's, TGIF and the 99 are okay in the sense that it's usually the same meal every time. It's portion and quality control. I do like Outback, Cheesecake Factory and Legal Seafood. Even though they're chain restaurants, they're better than the lower priced chains.

What is the 99 again? Sorry, I know you told me, but I forgot.

Janice · 09-12-2011, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Family Ties Forever!

What is the 99 again? Sorry, I know you told me, but I forgot.

It's a popular chain in New England. I just pulled their site up, and turns out they've been around since 1952. We'll go there when you visit. I even have a gift card for it.

http://www.99restaurants.com/about/

Janice · 09-12-2011, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamesG

Have you eaten at Boston Beer Works? I believe Boston has two of them.

I went to Boston about 4 years ago and loved that place.

Faneuil Hall has some great places too.

I've been there a couple of times. It's near Fenway Park. They do an incredible business. They must have hundreds of various kinds of beers. I hope to get into Faneuil Hall when Jenny visits next month.

MrCleveland · 09-12-2011, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

Ditto!

Same here.

If I ever go to a place where the food sucks...I'm informing Gordon Ramsey about it!

Family Ties Forever! · 09-12-2011, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janice

It's a popular chain in New England. I just pulled their site up, and turns out they've been around since 1952. We'll go there when you visit. I even have a gift card for it.

http://www.99restaurants.com/about/

Wow, they have been open for 59 years. Thanks for the link Janice.

Brad Russ · 09-13-2011, 04:24 AM

I really don't have much of a preference. One week I like local places best, the next week it's the total opposite. We have way more local places in my neighborhood than Nationwide chains, mexican restaurants mostly. Probably have anywhere from 15 to 20 of them in my neighborhood. I actually don't eat out much anymore, because of this economy. We are more concerned about more important things like paying rent, electricity, cable, and internet. All of which we've lost at some point in the last month. Funny thing is, I have no desire to go out to eat anymore. Went to Wendy's a couple weeks ago, and took a bite, and almost threw up. The fat and the grease was vile, and disgusting!!! Just plain nasty, so I gave it to my roomate. lol

Tubehead · 09-13-2011, 12:06 PM

mytwofavrotie ar firehouse sub and five guys. ilove both resrun for fast food i like krystles and mcdonles. i like zackbys al ot i love ther chicken.. central park use to be my favoitethey went outbussines so did backyad buger me andm ym om wouldgo thier almost every week

OH Nuts! · 09-13-2011, 01:44 PM

Local place(s). Most chains tend to have calorie, fat, sodium laden courses as standard fare. And we won't even discuss the carbs and corn syrup lurking in the background.

Mostly, I eat at a local vegetarian restaurant every other week (they're very good but a little pricey - a nice fish meal runs about $30). If I do Chinese, which isn't that often, I get something steamed and use the soy sauce very sparingly.

09-11-2011, 10:28 AM	#1
4starcashier Cingular rules! Occasional Poster Join Date: May 04, 2007 Location: Churdan, Iowa USA Posts: 56	While eating out, do you prefer chains or local places? Okay, due to my job schedules, I tend to eat out a lot. I like all kinds of food but at the hotel I work at, guests generally favor the local places rather than the chains. I beg to differ. When I travel, I am sort of consistent. I like to know that I can travel from one part of the country to another and know that a Cheesecake Factory will be there waiting for me if I choose to go there. It's not available in Des Moines, Iowa, but I love Maggiano's Little Italy, and when Minneapolis' location closed, that's the first thing I wanted to eat at when I went to Indianapolis on business a few months ago (the bf was jealous)! There are times when I'll consider the local places. Me and my boyfriend were in Chicago back in March and he wanted to try an authentic pizza place. Giordano's was a very nice place (they made us shrimp, sausage and onion pizza with extra cheese!), and was very affordable, as well! But without him, I probably would have stuck with the chains (we did, actually, eat at chains every other time, Grand Lux Cafe (you don't get to go there very often), Cheesecake Factory, PF Chang's, Qdoba and Hard Rock Cafe.) But I keep hearing about everyone bashing chains because all of their food is nuked and processed and Americanized. I know it's true, but consider this: WE LIVE IN AMERICA! Of course other types of ethnic food (Chinese, Mexican, Italian) is going to be altered to satisfy our tastes! It's like McDonald's and other fast food restaurants modifying their food to appeal to other countries! I don't understand why the snobbiest of people think they have to spend $$$ on a slightly more authentic italian restaurant when they can go down the street and get it for a fraction of the cost (not always the case due to food availability). But sorry for the rambling, but which do you prefer and why?

09-11-2011, 01:41 PM	#3
steevo It is Green Senior Member Join Date: Dec 28, 2008 Location: Connecticut Posts: 1,474	I prefer local places to chains myself. In a few local places in my area, there is one pizza/Italian place where the hosts like to actually chat with the customers and give them a free beer at the delivery area while waiting for their food. Its the kind of personal touch that I like and you seem to get only from local places. Contrast this to, say, McDonald's, where everything is off an assembly line and more often than not, you get someone who either doesn't listen or care or is just rude. Of course, it depends also on what you are in the mood for at the time.
	__________________ "God be gracious to us and bless us..." Psalm 67:1

09-13-2011, 04:24 AM	#13
Brad Russ Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 17, 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 10,085	I really don't have much of a preference. One week I like local places best, the next week it's the total opposite. We have way more local places in my neighborhood than Nationwide chains, mexican restaurants mostly. Probably have anywhere from 15 to 20 of them in my neighborhood. I actually don't eat out much anymore, because of this economy. We are more concerned about more important things like paying rent, electricity, cable, and internet. All of which we've lost at some point in the last month. Funny thing is, I have no desire to go out to eat anymore. Went to Wendy's a couple weeks ago, and took a bite, and almost threw up. The fat and the grease was vile, and disgusting!!! Just plain nasty, so I gave it to my roomate. lol
	__________________ St. John 15:13 - Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." Currently my favorite song.

09-11-2011, 12:39 PM	#2
MickeyMac Member Forum Star Join Date: Jun 18, 2008 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan Posts: 19,004	Dont matter to me, either one. Just as long as the food is good.

09-11-2011, 09:27 PM	#4
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	Chains like Applebee's, TGIF and the 99 are okay in the sense that it's usually the same meal every time. It's portion and quality control. I do like Outback, Cheesecake Factory and Legal Seafood. Even though they're chain restaurants, they're better than the lower priced chains. When you go to a local restaurant, the food is different because they have specials and the chefs are given more liberty to cook the way they want. A few years back, Lou and I used to go to a local Italian restaurant called Lucia's. The food was great. Boston has some very nice privately owned or local places.

09-11-2011, 10:33 PM	#7
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,058	Some chains are better than others. I rarely eat fast food. When I'm in the city I may go to Sbarro which is an Italian-American cuisine chain specializing in pizza. One chain that I do not like is The Olive Garden. Most of the time I eat at the local diners and the Japanese/Sushi places around here because I love that type of food.

09-13-2011, 12:06 PM	#14
Tubehead Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 12, 2007 Location: chattanooga.tn Posts: 5,139	mytwofavrotie ar firehouse sub and five guys. ilove both resrun for fast food i like krystles and mcdonles. i like zackbys al ot i love ther chicken.. central park use to be my favoitethey went outbussines so did backyad buger me andm ym om wouldgo thier almost every week

09-13-2011, 01:44 PM	#15
OH Nuts! Member Forum King Join Date: Feb 15, 2005 Posts: 133,383	Local place(s). Most chains tend to have calorie, fat, sodium laden courses as standard fare. And we won't even discuss the carbs and corn syrup lurking in the background. Mostly, I eat at a local vegetarian restaurant every other week (they're very good but a little pricey - a nice fish meal runs about $30). If I do Chinese, which isn't that often, I get something steamed and use the soy sauce very sparingly.