Bad restaurant

sucks2beme

Applebee's
Traveling up North and got into Columbus late.
Stopped at Applebee's. 1st time in a decade. Last time in my life.
Food wasn't good. Then someone cleaning a table close by
Spattered ranch dressing all over. Yes, of course I was in
range. Got a big splash in my hair. Girl was very apologetic.
My hair is short enough I cleaned it off with napkins.
10 minutes later manager offered me a desert. No thanks,
burger was bad enough. Left. For good. I really don't like
most chains. Never did think much of these guys.

Jstas

We call them Crapplebee's for a reason

txcoastal1

Chains went downhill about 8 years ago

I know Chili's uses a boil in bag meal process for most entree's
Gotten to the point you almost have to cook at home for a cost effective ....and a quality meal

Fast food prices are no longer competitive to a home cooked meal....cook at home, even a pre-prep at home is going to be better and cost effective.

My vacuum saver has doubled in usage over the last several months for pre-prepped meals. Better flavor, better price.

TroyD

You’ve always been able to eat at home cheaper than you can eat out......and the folks working in food and beverage? They are all understaffed and overworked...so a little grace and empathy goes a long way.

The business is tough right now, cost of goods is astronomical and employees are in very short supply....

sucks2beme

I never liked Aplebee's. Just surprised how it dived.
I ate a chicken sandwich at Hardy's in Bowling Green.
That was pretty tasty. So much is directly related to
where and who's working there. Fast food around Memphis
Is non-edible. For a little more money there are places that
serve up pretty good chow. I get curry at a small place in
Germantown that's perfect. And you better be hungry.
There's a Chinese place that's solid as well.
But for the most part, we don't go out much. The wife
can whip up something good for not a lot of money.
All that time watching cooking shows pays off I guess.
We seldom eat beef anymore. But you could buy a couple
of steaks and cook them on the grill and still spend a lot
less than eating out. I'm thinking the current economic
downturn is going to be brutal to a lot of fast food and
restaurants. They have been tossing them up all over
the last 20 years. That trend about to collapse.

sucks2beme

Today I went to Kelly's fruit farm in Hilton NY.
Got a freshly made jug of apple cider and a $20
apple pie. It weighs twice as much as any pie you
Can buy anywhere else. And it tastes twice as good.
The cider is great as well. I haven't had their pie in
30 years. My son dived into both right away.

heiney9

I think a lot chain restaurants have raised their prices a lot and lowered the quality of food all in the name of keeping shareholders happy.

I always try and eat local if possible (I realize you were on the road), local seems to care more. As Troy said, the restaurant business (local or chains) have a very, very tough time right now.

All that said I don't eat at Chili's or Applebee's or Perkins, etc. Not my type of food. But how can you screw a up a burger!

H9

muncybob

We like to eat out about once per week. Honestly don't recall the last time we ate at a chain restaurant and hope to keep it that way.

rooftop59

We are fortunate to have lots of good to great local restaurants and food trucks in the area that we regularly partake in. Being the most visited place in the state of Texas helps with that…but man those good local places are NOT cheap. That’s why the crappy chains are still in business imho…

polrbehr

We try to keep to local establishments as well, though lately the cost of the food has risen dramatically and we find it a lot more cost-effective to just stay home. We usually visit a popular butcher shop once every month or two, and stock up the deep freezer. And while their prices have gone up as well, the quality is still excellent and worth the hour it takes to get there and back.

verb

There are a few local places we like, and frequent. Any of the chains it seems like for one reason or another, we're disappointed. Lot's of corporate pressure to meet profit goals, with chain establishments, instead of just a mom and pop place wanting to serve great food and make a little money at the same time.

newbie308

When I travel for work. Quite often, actually... I usually look for the local diner with the most cars in the parking lot. That's usually a good indicator. I say usually because there are always exceptions. I went to one diner in western PA where the lot was full, but the food was not. Apparently, they make really good martinis. Unfortunately I had to get back on the road, so I couldn't imbibe. Maybe the food would have tasted better after a few.

machone

I agree that chains are going downhill. My wife and I used to love Outback. Very consistent on road trips. We refuse to eat there anymore. Our local one is the pits.

Irrenhaus

Hi,

I really dont do fast food places not a burger fan of them. All the time I travel for work I alwasy look for local places. Unless there is a Hooters to go for lunch, just for the wings. LOL

If you ever in Champaing IL. try https://www.watsonschicken.com/ ecxeclent fry chicken.

In Milwaukee if you want some Cuban food go for https://www.getbianchini.com/new-page Cubanitas great place.

Some good Japanese food in Houston go for Sage 400 really good.

Cheers

charley96

I'm an 1 1/2 hours from Champaign and occasionally go to Black Dog for bbq. Probably the best you'll find in Illinois. The best consistency for me has always been Texas Roadhouse as chains go.

Toolfan66

I like to eat out at least once a week as well..

sucks2beme

I might go out once every couple of weeks. No chains or fast food.
Hitting up nothing but local stuff in upstate while I'm here.
So far everythings been good. Some of the places have been in the same
family for generations.

muncybob

One of my faves is a small place in a small town near here. The Station House is a family owned old railroad building decorated with photos on the walls of the town's past(many in black & white). Background music is strictly 50's and 60's tunes w/o commercials.

Wife and I usually split an appetizer, each have our own meal of which the waitress just asks me if it's the usual. Mrs has an iced tea and I have water(no charge) we walk out the door full and under $40 including 20% tip. Only drawback is it's 15 miles away but it's a nice "country" ride.

Can't say the same about the prices at our other dinner spots but food is always good where we go.

tonyb

While I find most places cutting costs, and quality from their joints, I'm shocked to find the one place that isn't.....local bars. They've really kicked it up a few notches out by me. Go figure, bar food is getting better, regular restaraunt food worse.

nooshinjohn

I refuse to eat at Dahmer’s BBQ in Milwaukee.

Viking64

nooshinjohn wrote: »

I refuse to eat at Dahmer’s BBQ in Milwaukee.

Drive North to Plainfield and try Gein's Summer Kitchen.

rooftop59

tonyb wrote: »

While I find most places cutting costs, and quality from their joints, I'm shocked to find the one place that isn't.....local bars. They've really kicked it up a few notches out by me. Go figure, bar food is getting better, regular restaraunt food worse.

Bars have gotten better here as well…largely as a result of covid. Restaurants could be open in Texas, bars could not, restaurant was defined as 50% or more revenue from food, so several bars added some pretty darn good menus. It makes sense seeing as alcohol is a MUCH higher revenue item than food, so you can take a little bit on the food…

TroyD

Want to know why bar food is improving?

Because their margins on alcohol gives them the flexibility and the gap between prefab garbage and higher quality products is narrowing so why not take advantage?

You’ll also notice lots of places that traditionally haven’t done so exploiting alcohol sales.....because there isn’t much profit in food right now...

sucks2beme

Stopped at a deli in my old neighborhood. Huge subs for $12.95.
I traded my son half of my Italian assorted for half of his meatball.
The meatball was fantastic. Saved the assorted half for later.
At 2:30p.m. place was hopping. That was a good hint it wad
going to be good.

kevhed72

I recall a time when Chili’s or even Fudruckers was pretty, pretty good.
But I agree with the consensus….as the Descendants song goes, “Everything Sucks Today”.

daddyjt

The wife and I went to Ruth's Chris a few days ago for our 32nd anniversary. Never been there before, but I will definitely be back, although not soon, as the price is quite high. That said, the meal was worth every penny - best rib steak I've ever had, and I've had my share. Fantastic service to boot - a true class act.

newbie308

daddyjt wrote: »

The wife and I went to Ruth's Chris a few days ago for our 32nd anniversary. Never been there before, but I will definitely be back, although not soon, as the price is quite high. That said, the meal was worth every penny - best rib steak I've ever had, and I've had my share. Fantastic service to boot - a true class act.

I like Ruth Chris, but if you have a Fleming's Prime steakhouse nearby, I like it significantly more than Ruth Chris. Similar prices though.

Toolfan66

A few days ago the wife, our daughter, and I went to Outback for dinner, service was the worst we have ever had, I was quite upset by the end of it all.
First it was super slow just getting water, and or drinks, and after we ordered they brought out our salads, as I was eating mine there was a long hair in it, of course I asked for a new salad without the extra add on.
I had ordered salmon, and a sweet potato loaded, when my dinner came the sweet potato was about the size of a hand ball maybe a little smaller, as I broke it open you could smell it was burnt on the bottom, and hard in that area, when the kid came back by I told him to take it away that I can't eat that plate.

Well time kept going by thinking I was getting a new plate, when he finally came back by I asked about it, I was told the manager would be by to talk to me and that I need to have patience, keep in mind the family was just about done eating their dinner, at that time I snapped on the kid about having patience, and asked if I was getting a new plate so I could eat dinner as well, he did continue to tell me that she would be by, and that yes I need to have patience, I was pretty upset/pi$$ed at this point.

The manager was just as useless and acted all confused on whether or not I want a new plate, I told her yes that is the reason we are here, and how it was a very long day. I told her to just make it to go as I was done sitting in this place.

Well she brings out my dinner to go,and the bill, of course she took off my dinner, but when I looked at my dinner to go it was the same piece of salmon that was on my plate I could see the one bite I had taken out of it earlier when this all started.

I looked at my wife and told her I can't pay for any of this, that I am too upset, and giving this place any money will just pi$$ me off more, she asked what we are going to do, I told her we are going to walk out of here and go home, and that is what we did.

My wife called Longhorn up, and ordered me takeout so I had dinner, I really wish I had taken pictures of the two dishes, as it was a night and day difference in quality..

Outback SU(/<S..

I tried to keep this story short as possible, it seriously was a complete cluster F. I have had bad service before but never to the point of this level of rude, and to the point of walking out, and not paying, I just could not give them one dime..

pitdogg2

Larry about 15yrs ago the ex-wife and I went to our Outback. Long story short our food was HORRIBLE. I asked to speak to the manage and politely expressed my displeasure, The manger accused us of just wanting a "free" meal, I was astonished yet he was not done. He told us we would be paying for the meal and in the future we should dine somewhere else. It was our very first time ever eating at Outback.
I told him how astonished and insulted we felt and I would not be paying for the meals. I also told him he had better get the police there to arrest us for theft. They actually did call the cops and tried to take our meals away from the table. We held on to them until the police arrived. They were incredulous, my medium rare steak was well past well done, my ex-wives lobster tail was so over cooked it was harder than a Goodyear tire. The police walked us out we didn't pay and have NEVER been back to one in ANY city or state.

SeleniumFalcon

My wife has a theory, the more a restaurant advertises on TV the worse the food will be.

pitdogg2

SeleniumFalcon wrote: »

My wife has a theory, the more a restaurant advertises on TV the worse the food will be.

I've been to restaurants that are so far off the beaten path that you would never find them driving around. Every one of them was excellent and not one of them spent a dime on marketing, not even a road sign.
I went to one in St. Louis Mo. I'm sure was mob owned. They kept bringing us out food and I was scared to stop eating. Top place I've ever ate. I couldn't find it again if my life depended on it.

Mama knew how to present food!

😁😁