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What's your favorite (non fast food) American chain restaurant?

ponzies

Member
Oct 28, 2017
1,317
I've only been to Texas Roadhouse once but I think it tops the list. The reason I haven't been back is because of the wait, I did the preseating thingy but we still had to wait outside for like 35 minutes and the place had trash all over the floor but the steak was really tasty and our bill was only like $100 for a family of 5 and that's with me ordering a $32.99 porterhouse.

I used to work at the cheesecake factory but that was many years ago but I'm about to take my kids there for the first time since two of them really like cheesecake.
 
OP
OP

ponzies

Member
Oct 28, 2017
1,317
rawr its ry said:
Does Shake Shack count? If it counts - I enjoy Shake Shack (only tried it in Asia though)
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I consider that fast food though maybe it's not?

I went to the Shake Shack in the Denver airport and even though you went up to order it was almost like a restaurant and there was a tip prompt and they had seating. The Shake Shack in the Atlanta airport was pretty much fast food as there was no seats in the establishment and no tip prompt.
 
LossAversion

LossAversion

The Merchant of ERA
Member
Oct 28, 2017
10,864
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jonjonaug

jonjonaug

Member
Oct 25, 2017
5,751
The Texas Roadhouse near me is good quality. KPOT isn't "great" Korean BBQ/hot pot but it's reasonably solid.
 
jiggle

jiggle

Member
Dec 23, 2017
4,581
I love me some olive garden salad and breadstick. Their chicken and shrimp carbonara is really delicious too but I'm always too full to eat much of it

And the bacon bacon cheeseburger from cheesecake, YUM!
 
dedhead54

dedhead54

Member
Oct 28, 2017
3,085
I don't really eat at non fast food national chains, but I recently went to Longhorn Steakhouse a couple of times and thought it was honestly kind of good.
 
Kitsunebaby

Kitsunebaby

Member
Oct 27, 2017
3,743
Annapolis, Maryland
Carrabba's is probably the best of the larger, full-service chains I've been to. The food is good quality and the prices are pretty dang reasonable compared to other restaurants. The have some of the best steak and veal that I've had. Better than Outback, which is their sister restaurant.
 
dphrygian

dphrygian

Member
Oct 28, 2017
333
Texas
Texas Roadhouse is good. There's one just a couple of miles from my home but I almost never eat out these days so I haven't taken advantage of it.

Brio Italian Grille isn't a huge chain (32 locations) but it's so much better than Olive Garden, definitely worth going if you've got one around.

BJ's is like Applebee's if Applebee's were good. Huge menu but I've never been disappointed.

My one experience at Fogo de Chão was slightly underwhelming; it's extremely popular and crowded, and while they ostensibly have a dozen cuts on the churrasco menu, they sure did keep coming by with mostly picanha.
 
AgeEighty

AgeEighty

Member
Oct 25, 2017
12,007
Probably Cheesecake Factory. I don't know how they have such a huge menu and yet manage to make it all tasty.

I remember when Outback first spread across the country and had 2 hour waits at the one near me. Now it's rare that I go in there and don't see just a sea of empty tables. I don't know how they stay in business.
 
Pirate Bae

Pirate Bae

Edelgard Feet Appreciator
The Fallen
Oct 25, 2017
6,871
??
Sometimes I think about the Cheesecake Factory and I need to take a moment alone to myself.
 
Avitus

Avitus

Member
Oct 25, 2017
12,975
TylerD

TylerD

Member
Oct 25, 2017
2,168
Whiskey Cake Kitchen & Bar is mine. Been to 4 different ones and have had nothing but great experiences and food everytime.
 
TheDestructiveSquirrel

TheDestructiveSquirrel

Member
Oct 25, 2017
28,737
I haven't been to the US in years but back then it was always TGI Fridays but I've read it's gone down big time, so maybe Outback?

But for US chains that exist in Canada I'd say Cheesecake Factory
 
erlim

erlim

Member
Oct 26, 2017
5,558
London
does Red Robin still exist? That one seemed great in the fabric of the United States chain restaurants pantheon.
 
MyDudeMango

MyDudeMango

Member
Jul 17, 2021
1,876
Canada
A&W

It reminds me of how much better things tend to be in Canada. 😏
(I jest I jest lol)

Jokes aside... Popeyes is pretty alright? Little Caesars is a lifesaver for cheap impromptu get togethers and such. I'm realizing quickly that I don't really got to many chain restaurants anymore, American or otherwise. Shit's gotten too expensive to where I just shell out a few extra bucks and support local.
 
MOTHGOD

MOTHGOD

Avenger
Dec 8, 2017
1,057
Buttfuck Nowhere
I would say Longhorn Steakhouse or Texas Roadhouse. Only because i have never been to a Cheesecake Factory and a ton of people said Cheesecake Factory so i wanna try it.
But really i have never had a bad experience at these places and the food is good. My go to at Longhorn is the New York strip, Chili Cheese Fries with chorizo, parmesan fried asparagus and ginger peach tea.
 
pioneer

pioneer

Member
May 31, 2022
4,527
Cheesecake Factory is trash. My family loves it and I always have to go when I visit them. Barf
 
Why would you do that?

Why would you do that?

Member
Oct 25, 2017
4,863
New York City
Honestly, it's IHOP for me.

Though I've also never been to a Waffle House or a Cracker Barrel, and I know a lot of people rave about the two of them.

Bonchon is also a very good pick, though I never ate at one; I always treat it as fast food.
 
beat

beat

Member
Oct 28, 2017
2,826
I wish I was rich enough to say Nobu. (I can't believe they have 55 restaurants. What the hell, man.)

Does Pho Hoa count? It's based in California.
 
mopinks

mopinks

Member
Oct 27, 2017
30,762
Mimi's Cafe on the strength of the french onion soup alone

I also loved Souplantation. rip in peace
 
Cerun

Cerun

Member
Jun 9, 2020
112
For me I would say Texas Roadhouse being one of the better chains and they are still expanding.
 
Isilia

Isilia

Member
Mar 11, 2019
5,995
US: PA
Texas Roadhouse here is good. Inexpensive compared to all the other chains around here.

It's just loud, so my migraines dislike the blaring audio
 
wallmeat

wallmeat

Member
Oct 28, 2017
1,287
Texas Roadhouse isn't amazing but it's outstandingly consistent.

Red Robin is pretty good too.
 
Caeda

Caeda

Member
Oct 25, 2017
1,952
Danbury, CT
I like Red Robin a lot, their fries+garlic aioli is to die for.
jonjonaug said:
The Texas Roadhouse near me is good quality. KPOT isn't "great" Korean BBQ/hot pot but it's reasonably solid.
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I've been wanting to try KPOT because I don't have a hell of a lot of options in my vicinity, but I haven't gotten around to it because it's so damned expensive.
 
SwampBastard

SwampBastard

The Fallen
Nov 1, 2017
11,335
Pleasantly surprised to see all the positive comments about Texas Roadhouse. It's not amazing, but I would rather go there than a place like Ruth's Chris.

kowhite said:
I go to Sugarfish a lot.
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Man I just went there for the first time ever in December while visiting some family in L.A. I think about the crab hand roll a lot.
 
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