Favorite Chain restaurant (Page 3)

Yep I've seen pretty much every chain restaurants allergen guides. The trick for me is finding dishes BOTH gluten free AND vegetarian.

At Chilis my choices are limited to salads (without the chicken) and 3 or 4 side items.

The main problem at chain restaurants for gluten free folks is that they fry everything in the same fryer. So while normally corn chips or french fries would be okay, they are likely contaminated with gluten, which is why they won't list them on the gluten free menu. Also, probably 95% of sauces that would normall be okay (like salsa) are made from a "base" in restaurants, which contains wheat. 

I don't eat out a lot

 

Edited by lisac957 2010-11-05 10:38 AM

I bet, that must be difficult to find good options.

We don't have a Logan's - so I can't comment. 

I do believe I would be outvoted though, as I have daughters that are 16 and 17 and Texas Roadhouse has "the cutest waiterts".  I just have to let them know that I own a gun and I am a very good shot. 

Chipotle for takeout. Cheesecake factory or PF Cheng's if I'm on the road for work.

I think 5 guys is overrated as he!!. I don't find their burgers to be much better than the average burger deluxe at most diners. Their fries are good though.

Yep, it's bad fast food that I like mucho grande! (I worked at one in college)   BUT, they are SEASONED tater tots!  DUDE!  SEASONED tater tots!

But where does the seasoning come from? Or can you not tell us?

Yet another reason to go to Chili's

That's kinda like the Colonel's recipe, ya know.  I'd have to kill ya after tellin' ya.

Mucho grande? Yes, we can tell where you worked. And I would say you've been premanently scarred by the experience. You even admit its bad fast food.

Only mentally.

*someone who didn't see my post finally mentions it*

actually, i cant really say much about Hooters.  i was only there once, and it was because my wife made me.  i HAD to listen to her.

x2 on Taco Cabana.  Best fast Mexican/TexMex food around! 

For a steak, I have to go with Sullivan's.  It's pricey but the steaks are incredible and they have the best creme brulee around!

While this is a chain restaurant, I will say that they make everything in house. The salad dressing, french fries, etc. I was impressed at how much they do on site, versus having it shipped in frozen. Whereas at Applebee's, even the soup comes frozen in a plastic bag that gets reheated.

I thought of another one - La Madeleine.

How can you be outvoted on YOUR birthday?!!?

ETA: Should've read further...little girl's pleases and hugs can't be denied :-D

Edited by lkc01234 2010-11-05 1:32 PM

I miss Logan's!!  I think it was sentimental reasons...but there food is good!!

I think you and I could definitely go out to dinner sometime.

 Friends RAVED about five guys...I should've skipped the burger and just ate the fries...I would've been much more impressed.

I like this thread...It reminds me of a story.  My mom and I were driving down to visit my first place of employment after college.  Going from central Illinois to Tennessee.  And we'd see a place along the highway and I'd say - oh they are good! Or they are not good...And she says...you sure do eat a lot!  And then she realized what she said...I think she just meant that she was surprised at all the places I'd gone to.

But I went to school in Dayton, OH.  I co-oped (every other semester) either in Lexington, KY or Northern KY (south cincy).  I had a boyfriend who went to school north of Detroit.  In those few years I traveled a bit!  Since then I've lived in central Tennessee, southern Indiana, Chicago burbs and now Seattle-Tacoma area.  Like others said you don't always know what you're getting at a local place, so unless someone has suggested it or I've looked it up online...then I tend to stay with chain places.

I'll definitely agree with you on the selection of Joy Yee Noodle smoothies! They are all quite tasty and there are way too many to choose from. But somehow I almost always end up getting the same few.

Otherwise I like Outback (my parents used to let us choose where we wanted to go out to eat as kids and I almost always chose Outback), Moe's for quick Mexican (I miss it), and Bravo for Italian.

Yup - I worked at an Outback for a few years in college. They boasted that there were only 2 items they did NOT make in house... the bread loafs and the ice cream I think. Even the whipped cream was hand-made. Good stuff - HIGH focus on quality and customer service. 
 
 

Weird. Ours is very mediocre to poor. Too expensive for the mediocre quality you get there. Longhorn is significantly avergae too.

As chains go, I'm a fan of:
Chipotle
Qdoba
Chick-Fil-A
Carl's Jr.
Five Guys

Now: My favorite is Morton's of Chicago, but one doesn't always drop a C-note for dinner at a chain do they?

LOL! Me too. That's a good reason to become vegetarian...