Roland
Clintonville
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This is a spin-off from the Cheesecake Factory discussion.
When your in unfamiliar territory and have only brand recognition and hunger to go by, what chain based restaurant do choose? Everyone's got a favorite chain. Maybe you pick a random place that looks local, which is a good option but not a viable answer here!
Cracker Barrel is the place for me. I'll get breakfast there anytime. There's always one in the middle of nowhere.
vestanpance
Harrison West/at work OSU
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I've been liking the santa fe burger from red robbin lately.
Oh and I eat A LOT of panera.
KSquared
Literally Hell
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I am such a spaz that I will go online and research the best local restaurants before I go anywhere, complete with menus. If they don't have a website I ask them to fax me one. I am a loser.
But, to play along, it would depend on where I am. If it is on the west coast, In-N-Out Burger for sure! Otherwise, maybe Chili's or Panera.
michaelcoyote
!seabus
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Ndcent wrote La Fogata. For me to poop on!
Fixed Your Post
michaelcoyote
!seabus
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KSquared wrote If it is on the west coast, In-N-Out Burger for sure!
Oh yeah baby! I'll always stop at the one by LAX when I fly to LA.
When I'm in Seattle, I stop at Dick's Drive-In
I tend to try and find local chains and eat there.. There are a few Chicken and BBQ places like that in the South.
For me traveling I'll stop at Panera and get a soup and a sandwich and do paperwork after work.. It's ....OK... I guess. Sometimes I'll do Chipolte; They have good food, but in general the portions are too big.
hazy stars
The Brauhaus
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Panera or Sparros -- (but not when I'm in NY)
catnfiddle
Giant Corncob District
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Wendy's for fast food, usually Appleby's for a sit-down meal.
It's funny you mention this, considering Rockmastermike and I were in Philly last weekend visiting my parents. They offered to take us to any number of chain restaurants on the way back from the airport, but we so rarely eat at them, we had no clue what to suggest. Fortunately, the parents saw our logic and we had a lovely late dinner at a local establishment.
lifeliberty
Here
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chipolte
Arby's
McDs when on the road for breakfast(only)
Angel
Grandview
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we had one chain restaurant in my town growing up, friendly's, so when i used to visit my dad here, that's all i'd want to go to. i loved damon's.
i go through phases now though. i've been obsessed with baja fresh lately. mainly because of black beans and their pico de gallo (sp?)
i love outback too
whopper jr
saint louis
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First Watch and Chipotle are located directly below my office.
I don't think I could choose two better chains to have downstairs.
vestanpance
Harrison West/at work OSU
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whopper jr wrote First Watch and Chipotle are located directly below my office.I don't think I could choose two better chains to have downstairs.
<-------points at your name and laughs
somertimeoh
Harrison West
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This is one thing I'm grateful to the tubes for. It's rare that you have to go anywhere and pray for something recognizable. You can pretty much get good scoops on where to dine in any city nowdays.
Chains I like though - Johnny Carino's in the south, El Torito in the west, and yep Cracker Barrell is the shiznit anywhere, any time. And I can't leave without getting a new Burt's Bee's chapstick every time :)
dru
IV
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i travel 100+ days a year, so chains are an unfortunate necessity. after 8 years, i know my route pretty well and have slowly figured out how to avoid them when good local alternatives exist. some i avoid altogether - i have actually never set foot in a Cracker Barrel or Olive Garden but i do have a list of the ones I appreciate being in sight of my Hampton Inn:
- Noodles & Co. - i've only gone to the Grandview one once, but I eat the Japanese Pan Noodles all the time on the road
- Panera - soup, salad, coffee, free wi-fi
- Chipotle - mostly to break up the Noodles & Co/Panera rut
- Boston Market - chicken carver combo w. two veggie sides
- Chili's - for chicken soft tacos only. some don't even list it on the menu anymore, but they can always make them for about $8.99. Three soft shell flour tortillas, chicken, l&t and guac.
gramarye
In Exile
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I usually go by whatever I've got the best coupons for at the moment. :D
Panera, Damon's, East of Chicago, Domino's, Gionino's (local pizza chain), Aunt Mary Ann Donuts (local donut chain), Burger King, and KFC have all gotten business from me in recent months. I have to say "months" because, much as I like to talk about eating out, I don't do it that much.
When I was on campus, Subway, Domino's, Wingslingers, and Pita Pit were staples.
I think my favorite large-area chain is probably Pita Pit, based on the scientific method of asking myself "if any major chain restaurant were to set up shop on the first floor of my building, what would I want down there most?"
And of course, if anything that has more than one location is a chain, I might have to go with Cap City Fine Diner. But that feels like cheating on this question somehow.
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