Restaurants: Chain or Family Owned Establishments

[fluffernutter]

So which is it. My instincts first say family owned cause I know I am getting something that is a bit original and possibly even a passed down family recipe. Especially when it comes to Italian Restaurants.

Most of the time when it comes to Chain Restaurants, I only can really tolerate Bennigan's, Famous Dave's, Lone Star, Longhorn and Uno's. I don't know how but Uno's has the best New England Clam Chowder I have ever tasted. The flash in the pan burger places like Friday's (vomit) and Ruby Tuesday's just don't do it for me as I just find them very bland. Maybe I just got spoiled by this one place back home called Bubba's. Unfortunately no website but just the best burgers I have ever had. I usually get the British Burger which has a TON of sauteed onions and sharp cheddar on it. Throw some Kelchner's Hot Mustard and Horseadish and DAMN is that a burger. They also have some pretty insane French Onion Soup.

Then there is the Steakhouse contingent. The Outback I just don't understand. I can't see that people go there for the food. It just seems to be a big trend. The Lone Star and Longhorn aren't bad and when I really need a steak, I will go there. It is tolerable for me but I would rather the small town Inn that has an amazing slow cooked Prime Rib or Sirloin. Pricy but when you compare to the chains, I bet you get something just as good for your money.

Maybe cause they are spread out a little bit and not all that common but Famous Dave's is the shit for the ribs and BBQ. Pretty much any place I go for ribs HAS to have an amazing Cole Slaw. if the Slaw is good, most times the rest of the food will be good. It is usually a toss up between Famous Dave's or Big Ed's in Old Bridge or Burlington, NJ. That place SLAYS! Actually, Bubba's has some damn good ribs there too. First place where I didn't get my hands dirty cause the meat falls right off the bone. I recently perfected my own Baby Back Rib's with my own dry rub that turns out almost as good but no where close to the above places. Of course, only so much you can do with a crock pot.

When it comes to Italian, I seriously can't comprehend the Olive Garden. What is that shit? Seriosuly. Now the Macaroni Grill is decent but nowhere close to any of the family run Italian places I have been to. I haven't been to many in NYC but some of the ones I was at in South Philly in the Italian Market are quite amazing. Made me feel like I was in a mob film just being in some of these places. Actually, if anyone knows of any good Italian places in NYC, let me know.

Sandwiches? That's a whole other story.

Oh yeah, can we get a food forum here on the board? I know I'm irrelevant here but I figured I would ask.

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[A.J.]

Being down here, I can't undertstand why anybody in the Tristate area would even patronize a chain pizza place or an Olive Garden. You have the best pizza and Italian restaurants in the world up there! I miss them!

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[JPMNICK]

I agree with AJ, there is no way to live in the NY/NJ area and eat at any of these places.

I can not think of a time where a chain is better than a family owned place, besides steak just because Places liek Ruth Chris and Mortons are chains.

Even for a burger and a beer, rather than go to fridays there is def. a local place in your area with a dingy bar and just an awesome burger to eat.

And my local Deli will put to shame ANY place that is a chain.

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[MHasegawa]

Fuck the olive garden. I'd rather head down to pathmark and get some spaghetti-o's....that's more Italian.

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[FUNKMAN]

i hit alot of the family owned italian places but don't ever think you're too good for the Olive Garden... i had a good meal there


then there's nothing better than a good cigar afterwards in an Octopus's Garden, it's a real joy

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[mdr55]

I ate at the Olive Garden (the one near Justice's house) a couple of weeks ago with 2 former co-workers cuz they love it. I freaking don't know why. One of them ordered I guess Ravioli (cuz that what it looked like)--it was mayvw 3 or 4 ravioli's on a plate with some sauce and I'm saying that sparingly. I ordered the eggplant parmagiani with pasta--when my plate came it was 3 thinly sliced eggplants, maybe 3 strands of pasta and some sauce for $10 bucks I think. Oh....but you get to get salad too. Whoopee!! I order eggplant parmaiani from my local pizza joint (Larry and Joe's on Newark Ave--ever been there Funk?) all the time and it's 100 times better and cheaper than the piece of crap they sell at the Olive Garden. Eating at the Olive Garden is worse than Chinese food. At least with Chinese food you get full but hungry an hour later. With the Olive Garden, you don't get full for what you pay and you'll still be hungry when you leave.
Thank goodness my friend had some good Jaimacan food at her house.

I don't get the deal with the Outback too. I mean the food is alright but isn't as great as people play it up to be.

[Crippler]

Maybe I just got spoiled by this one place back home called Bubba's.
Is that Bubba's Pot Belly Stove?...or something like that? I used to pass that place driving up & down Rt 309, but never went in. Looked like a small place, but sometimes those are the best.

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[FUNKMAN]

MDR just proved why more than half of americans have big fat asses...

if people tried to just 'have enough' and not overstuff themselves so they have a comfort level that they got their money's worth then maybe we wouldn't have so many fat asses walking the country

including myself

the name Larry and Joes sounds familiar... try Sonny's on Sterling Ave or head up to Patsy's in Fairview on Bergen Blvd

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[SatCam]

I don't think I've ever been to a chain restaurant besides Friendly's and TGI Friday's (once in NYC). I just don't get why anyone would want to go to one if they have a local restaurant right around the corner.

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[furie]

i try to support the little guy when ever i can.


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[badorties]

the only time i ever go to a chain is with my great aunt, and it's applebee's and it's dreadfully horrid -- even the beer is stale and wretched ...

there are so many great resaurants/bars to choose from in brooklyn and/or queens, it's never really an option to visit a friday's ...

i'm not shocked that there's an olive garden in times square, but the one in brooklyn amazes me ... there are easily a half-dozen great italian places within a mile ...



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[Doctor Manhattan]

The only chain of restaurants I like around the DC area is the "Great American Restaurants" chain: Mike's American Grill, Artie's, Silverado, Sweet Water Tavern, etc.

Sweet Water Tavern brew their own beer, it's very good.

Otherwise it's all Family Owned for me.

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[fluffernutter]

Is that Bubba's Pot Belly Stove?


Damn straight!

By far my favorite restaurant. Any of you guys ever want to go, let me know. I could make reservations for a table of 8 and prepare to get your asses stuffed. The food is just so damn good there. Knife and fork burgers. Amazing omelettes! Did I mention the French Onion Soup with its sugarry sauteed oniny goodness? The Baby Back Ribs! The seafood selection! The Steak Fries WELL DONE!

Damn, get me there NOW!

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[Freakshow]

Are none of you people from the 'burbs? Cause chain restaurants are all we have out there. We can't go to the 'restaurant around the corner' because there is no restaurant around the corner.

And the chains are good for tourists--expains why there is one in Times Square. You don't know anything, just visiting, at least you know what you get with the Olive Garden.



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[WRESTLINGFAN]

Im italian-american and have never been or have any interest to go to Macaroni Grill or Olive Garden

I dont care, I just don't care, I really dont care. F U Howard Stern!!!!!

[HBox]

I generally go to local non-chain restaurants, but I love Chili's.

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[DeltaPin]

And the chains are good for tourists--expains why there is one in Times Square. You don't know anything, just visiting, at least you know what you get with the Olive Garden.


That's something I just can't fathom. People go on vacation, but instead of fully enjoying the culture of the place their visiting, they just go to the same restaurants they would go to if they were home.

When I'm travelling, whether vacation or business, I always try to find some good local place just to experience something different.
Though if iI visit places frequently, I do find myself going to Cheesecake Factory's if they're around.

This message was edited by DeltaPin on 2-4-05 @ 11:56 PM

[Snoogans]

Chili's, Macaroni Grill, Old Homestead, and River Palm are the only "chain" restaurants, and i dont know how chain the last 2 are. i know there is at least 2 of them

everything else is local places unless im stopping for fast food, then its white castle or wendy's

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[TheMojoPin]

Macaroni Grill is about the only chain I'll tolerate.

Well, outside of "The Chains of Love," of course.

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This message was edited by TheMojoPin on 2-5-05 @ 6:30 AM

[sr71blackbird]

I only tolerate Uno's, Chili's, Outback as chain resturants, but there is a resturant that seem to be trying to become a chain called Mama Theresa's out here on the Island and I love them. Always great food and the price is very reasonable and I find the quality to be surpassing many big name resturants for Italian food. They have like 4 of them I think. Umberto's of New Hyde Park used to be amazing, but I think Sbarro's bought them out and tried to capitalise on the name and made a dozen or so around the Island but I think they really stink in comparison. I went to the Macaroni Grill once...Once!

What about Chinese places? There is a chain called ToFu that I find to be very good.

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[grlNIN]

Being Italian and eating at the Olive Garden is grounds for excommunication.

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[walking joint]

my town has no chain restraunts other then Burger King. its a good half hour drive to one. so mine are family owned.

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[HBox]

My Mom is ultra-Italian; born and raised in Sicily. She's also been to the Olive Garden a couple of times and enjoyed it. It is the single most puzzling mystery in my life, one I know I shall take to my grave.

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This message was edited by HBox on 2-5-05 @ 9:36 PM

[fluffernutter]

Being Italian and eating at the Olive Garden is grounds for excommunication.


AMEN!

I thought I was totally off base with my Olive Garden hating but I guess I was wrong.

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