Why do chain restaurants suck so bad, but yet people go there?

Question

Like Olive Garden, Red Lobster, etc.

Answer 1

usually convienant

Answer 2

I am not sure why you believe these places "suck", but I am a terrible cook, and I work a lot of hours at a place where I have a certain amount of time to wolf down my lunch out of a cooler. Therefore it is nice to go somewhere and sit down with a hot plate of food.

Answer 3

BAAAAAAAAAA BAAAAAAAAAA They are sheep....

Answer 4

Laziness. People say they don't have time to cook, which clearly isn't true if you look at the amount of time people spend obtaining and consuming food from restaurants and fast-food places.

Also, people eat crappy food because they simply don't have discriminating palates. That's why most people eat everything with cheese gloop poured on, or covered in butter, or just made from inferior ingredients; why people eat c**p like cool-whip and bisquick and junk out of a can, why Taco Bell is still in business even though nothing they make tastes anything like real Mexican food, and everything they make smells like dog food; why people don't eat vegetables because they say vegetables "taste bad;" why if you invite someone over for a scratch-made dinner at your home, they ask for ketchup and salt to pour on it before they even taste it.

There are plenty of small, privately-owned restaurants that are less expensive then Olive Garden, Applebee's and the like yet people do not patronize those establishments. They do not want to try new and potentially delicious culinary creations. They want to order the number 11 with extra cheese.

Answer 5

people are creatures of habit. The menu and food doesn't change too often.

Answer 6

I don't think they suck.  That is why I go there.

Answer 7

because chain restaurants, like fast food, rely heavily on premade stuff that is LOADED with c**p like MSG (monosodium glutamate) that people get addicted to and crave.

Answer 8

Consistency, familiarity, and to some extent ignorance perhaps...

Good or bad, you don't have to wonder too hard when you pick a chain restaurant.  You kind of know what to expect.  When I'm unsure, I'd rather spend $15 at a chain that I know and kind of like than an unknown only to walk out having not enjoyed my experience.  Now, when I can get reviews and local info. I do love to go local if I can expect good food, good service and a standard of cleanliness.

The only truly negative reason that I can think of is ignorance.  I do wish that we, as a society, were more inclined to patronize local businesses and to appreciate "real" food cooked fresh and even entertained at home more.  But hey, to each their own.

Oh and rather or not anything "sucks" is pretty much a matter of taste and perspective.  I know some people, for whom, Red Lobster is the ONLY seafood place they've been and they actually think it's kind of good.  Why?  Well, by comparison to other sea food they have had; IT IS GOOD. So, they don't know it sucks in comparison to a place in Maine that gets it's sea food fresh and prepares it right on the spot daily.

Answer 9

Because sometimes mom and pop places are just too pricey and it doesn't always mean quality.  Many mom and pop places charge you for refills and to make a profit cut corners on quality products to turn a profit.   I prefer going to a chain place since there is a brand behind the restaurant and I know that they are going to do everything by the book and not cut the corners or quality.

Answer 10

Customers rely on the predictability from location to location.

The Muse

Answer 11

I suppose that restaurants sucking is a matter of opinion. But they do seem to have somewhat lower quality and cookie-cutter food. People go because name recognition goes a LONG WAY. That's why local politicians only do well when they put up a bunch of signs everywhere.

Answer 12

I agree they suck! I think there are two reasons : 1-price 2- quantity. People like to get the most "bang" for their buck. People don't want to spend a lot of money but want a lot of food. Places like chain restaurants offer this because they don't use quality ingredients. Ever notice how they serve too much food? Also in the case of large families it would be a lot cheaper to eat at a chain restaurant. I know a lady with 4 kids! I doubt it would be feasible for them to go to a French restaurant, but they are able to go to Denny's every Sunday.I would rather eat out once a month at a nice restaurant than once a week at these chain restaurants.