Why do people eat at Olive Garden or TGIFridays when in NYC?

Question

NYC has some of the best restaurants in the world with truly authentic ethnic fare, so why eat at a cookie-cutter chain?

Answer 1

Oddly enough I too agree with most of the answers. People are afraid of change. There are so many rituals that we all have when we travel; some stay on the beaten path  then there are the ones that march to the drum of a different beat. That's where I fit in; Dare to be different. I also noticed that most tourist visiting  New Yorkers always stay at the chain hotels; I prefer the little quaint boutique & intimate hotels; without the hustle and bustle...and same goes for dining out...I would prefer a small cafe, diner & there is nothing like a slice of NY pizza.

Answer 2

I hate to say it, but I went to NYC last summer and ate at both of those places. :)  I guess maybe I was afraid to try something new and just wanted to be somewere that felt familiar.  I also did go to Bubba Gump's in Times Square and it was awesome!! :)

Answer 3

Most of those people are tourists aka people with lower IQ's than New Yorkers

Answer 4

Because some of the restaurants are just too expensive and the food they serve are unpredictable.  If you eat in the chains, at least you can have some control of the prices or some idea as how the food should taste like.

Answer 5

Because they were born in a barn and don't know any better?

Answer 6

Because (most) people are clueless to what good food is

Answer 7

cause they are expensive

Answer 8

cheaper  so they can spend more money shopping or buying show tickets.

They know that they like the food from the chain

authentic ethnic fare?   NY Pizza   street vendor Hot-Rat  

  I'd take olive garden over those any day

Answer 9

thats a great question.. the correct answer is that people are very very cheap... even in nyc..... its a sad fact ... i always avoid chain restaurants whenever possible.

Answer 10

I would say, so they don't have to listen to elitist new yorkers!

Answer 11

I agree with meowcat, some people are afraid of anything new or different even though they travelled somewhere.  There are people that go to other countries and will only go to the Hard Rock Cafe or McDonalds the whole time they are there.  They miss one of the great benefits of travel, sampling new cuisines.  A bit closed-minded, but that is their right.

Answer 12

I agree! I would never go to a chain when in New York.

Answer 13

Oh my gosh i know. You can eat those places anywhere. why not have some delicious new york pizza. yummy! one slice fills me up because there so big!

Answer 14

For the same reason people drink Corona or Budweiser when there are so many good beers they could drink instead. People like what is familiar even if it is not what is better.  Its the flock mentality.  Look at Starbuck's,  mediocre coffee, but everybody and their brother line up to pay four bucks for a simple cup of coffee.

Answer 15

It is funny that people think that chain restaurants are cheap - they are actually much more higher priced here because they are in very visible, high traffic and high rent locations.  You are not saving any money eating at TGIF!

The bottom line is that people who are visiting here just want to go someplace that is familiar to them and that they don't have to think about.

There are so many restaurants here, I think it gets a little overwhelming for people that are used to only having chain restaurants/Italian/Chinese food to choose from!

It's comfort.  The average tourist from middle America is probably not looking to go eat Eithopian or Indian and get a great tasting inexpensive meal.  Kind of like the reason people go ride the "Its A Small World" ride at Disney instead of traveling internationally!

Answer 16

are you crazy tgif fridays and olive garden have the best food.the thing is that they they have good customer service and their food has flavor non like other resteraunts.newyorkers love them.they are the best you could find.

Answer 17

It's mostly tourists and they are not always the most adventuresome types, and also (as you can see by some of the answers) not very knowledgeable about NYC restaurants. Also, I am amazed at the number of people who come here without getting a guidebook or doing a little research.

They don't realize there are so many relatively inexpensive places to eat that are better than the chains.

Answer 18

Because people outside of NY are smart enough not to pay triple the price because a restaurant has a fancy Italian name when the food isn't any better. If you want authentic fare you certainly do not go to New York unless you want to get mugged before you reach the entrance. The best authentic food is actually found in California.