When are people going to realize that chain restaurants are awful?

Question

Why would you spend good money on a lousy or average meal at Applebees or Olive Garden for example instead of patronizing a good locally run restaurant where the owners are right on site and take pride in their restaurant? With chain places the ownership is thousands of miles away and the employees couldn't care less.

Mind you, I'm not talking about the occasional stop at a fast food joint to grab a quick burger. I'm talking about going "out to dinner".

Answer 1

WHO CARES?

if someone wants to go  to olive garden go i

f they feel like going to a family owned restraunt their choice not yours

u oviously enjoy family owned so  go

let ppl enjoy the food that they like its up to them not you

Answer 2

I realized that a looong time ago. Quality of food is bad, service sucks. Luckily here in Gulf Coast, Alabama, we have lots of localy owned restaurants.

Answer 3

Sorry, but I've had just as much awful food and service....at both chain restaurants and mom & pop places.

Labeling a chain as "awful" is pretty stereotypical not to mention inaccurate.  I can appreciate what you're saying about supporting the little guy, but I do it for other reasons, besides sticking it to the man.

To say that people working in chain restaurants could "care less" is pretty lame.  It's a job....and guess what, employees at a mom & pop dive likely "care less" as well.  They still get paid the same, and unless they hold the key and the deed to the place, they aren't taking home anything from the register.

Answer 4

I  agree 100%. I would rather not eat then go to olive garden. Yuck!!!

Answer 5

People like chain restaurants for one reason, consistency.  They know what is one the menu, they know that the health rating will be good because the corporate oversight.  Local restaurants are usually better overall but they are unknown.  Where are they, is the food good, is it clean, what’s on the menu?  Local restaurants that are good are hard to find.  A lot of local restaurants are dirty (Chinese anyone?), the food is bad, and the owners cut corners.  When people are hungry they want to know that the restaurant is o.k.  A lot of people don’t feel like experimenting with what they eat.

Answer 6

I personally love to travel, and that is when I eat at restaurants the most (it really is kind of difficult to prepare a decent meal in a hotel room).  You are completely right- visiting locally owned restaurants really allows an individual to "experience" the whole package.  I once spent the weekend at a beach in south Florida, where the restaurant had outdoor seating (tables and chairs) on the sand- the environment was amazing, and the food was from that day's catch, so of course was extremely fresh/delicious.  The prices were less than a "chain" restaurant as well, although the environment was more upscale.  No lie- I also ate a local trucker's diner in Alabama (I was traveling through the area), and I had some of the best BBQ that I have ever had in my life!

Answer 7

not everyone has the time or interest in research while traveling...  and not all chains are awful..  although it is possible to get awful service and quality on occasion at any restaurant...  I agree completely that applebee's and olive garden are awful..  

but in defense of these places, some people are drawn to places by their marketing concepts..  maybe you are trying to eat healthy or just started a diet and are unsire of what you can eat out and stay reasonable..  well then applebee's WW menu seems like a good choice..  or what if you love to watch food network, maybe you would want to go to friday's to try their new nemu items inspired by the food network show..

Answer 8

Sorry, but most people are goons. They like the feeling of security/familiarity that these chains offer. They can't appreciate a truly fine meal, nor differentiate between 'real' food and c**p.

Hope this helps, sad but true.

Answer 9

probably the comfort factor of knowing what to expect.  not all locally run restauants can afford to have the same size of menu choices.

Answer 10

ifthey ever  get food poisonuing i did :(