Current Events > All chain restaurants suck. Always go to local establishments

(+) Yeah! (+)

Seriously.

Idk how people eat at these garbage ass chain restaurants, whether its fast food or a sit down place. Quality of the food is always worse, and service isnt usually any better.

it always blows my mind when people go on trips or vacations only to eat at the same crappy chain restaurants they have in their own town

confirm or confirm?

No

I think generally you're right that there are better local options but I've been to a bunch of crappy diners/mid generic restaurants in my time.

Anteaterking posted...

I think generally you're right that there are better local options but I've been to a bunch of crappy diners/mid generic restaurants in my time.

id rather support a local crappy diner than give money to a chain corporation

Nah

What about local chains?

In my experience, chains are rarely "garbage", at least in terms of taste.

I prefer going to places I already know I like. Chains make that easy when you move every few years.

uwnim posted...

What about local chains?

Came in to post this. Some of the local chains here are great.

uwnim posted...

What about local chains?

depends on who the owner is and where theyre located. I dont have a problem with local chains as long as they dont get too big.

prime example Torchys Tacos. 10 years ago only a handful existed in Texas and the place was wildly popular. As they expanded, quality declined significantly and now they have hundreds of locations.

MFBKBass5 posted...

id rather support a local crappy diner than give money to a chain corporation

Who you should support with your money is a different matter than

MFBKBass5 posted...

Quality of the food is always worse

I never eat at national chains when I travel. I may hit up a local chain, like when I was in vegas I went to Tacos El Gordo, which was awesome, and I hit it up again when I went to San Diego. But for the most part I try to either hit up local spots or local flare. So if somewhere is famous for X, I try to hit up something like that. Like in Chicago I went to two different places for an Italian Beef and deep dish.

Basically when I travel I try to experience the city or area.

ClayGuida posted...

I never eat at national chains when I travel. I may hit up a local chain, like when I was in vegas I went to Tacos El Gordo, which was awesome, and I hit it up again when I went to San Diego. But for the most part I try to either hit up local spots or local flare. So if somewhere is famous for X, I try to hit up something like that. Like in Chicago I went to two different places for an Italian Beef and deep dish.

Basically when I travel I try to experience the city or area.

Agreed, thats how I am. I like to try places I cant get back home

There are a handful of chains that are ok.

But even those are generally like 50 locations in 10 states or so.

if i want to go to applebees with my pals im gonna go to applebees with my pals.

But honestly, the side of this sentiment that I take more issue with is the idea that local places are all good.

Maybe it's true in culinary hotspots, but in MANY places, that local meat n three is there because Granny Jean cooked for eight children for thirty years and they all assumed it was good because they didn't know anything else, so she opened up a diner that will literally choke you to death but it stays in business because of people like TC.

MFBKBass5 posted...

depends on who the owner is and where theyre located. I dont have a problem with local chains as long as they dont get too big.

prime example Torchys Tacos. 10 years ago only a handful existed in Texas and the place was wildly popular. As they expanded, quality declined significantly and now they have hundreds of locations.

So do you care more about the quality of the food or the size of the chain?

Damn_Underscore posted...

So do you care more about the quality of the food or the size of the chain?

Quality of food for large chains is never good

What are you on about? Taco Bell is the fucking best

RetuenOfDevsman posted...

But honestly, the side of this sentiment that I take more issue with is the idea that local places are all good.

Maybe it's true in culinary hotspots, but in MANY places, that local meat n three is there because Granny Jean cooked for eight children for thirty years and they all assumed it was good because they didn't know anything else, so she opened up a diner that will literally choke you to death but it stays in business because of people like TC.

There are definitely bad independent places wherever you go.

MFBKBass5 posted...

Quality of food for large chains is never good

You didn't answer the question, but that just tells me I shouldn't take this topic seriously

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]


local places can suck too, but chains are basically guaranteed to be shit holes

Some are good. Too much hipster bs at a lot of local places.

No

Ill get my chicken sandwich from the place down the street tomorrow, and next time I drive far enough south Im having Waffle House.

ablegator posted...

Ill get my chicken sandwich from the place down the street tomorrow, and next time I drive far enough south Im having Waffle House.

Waffle house is the epitome of trash

too poor to afford local

Corbenik posted...

too poor to afford local

Then you should just be making your own food so you can save the most money. Chains are still overpriced and more expensive than cooking at home

MFBKBass5 posted...

Waffle house is the epitome of trash

They havent fucked up a waffle or hash browns yet. I dont go there for Michelin star experience. Its a quick in and out place that has become kind of a tradition when we drive to visit my brother in law in North Carolina. The first time I ate there was after a thirteen hour bus ride in the late 90s. They were literally the only place open, it was good for what it was and so have been happy to go there since.

I agree with this. Any restaurant that relies on returning customers typically provides better food and experience than a chain would.

chains rule. i get the caloric info laid out right there for me

I went to a local Greek place yesterday and it was awful

Euripides posted...

I went to a local Greek place yesterday and it was awful

Then dont go there again

MFBKBass5 posted...

Then you should just be making your own food so you can save the most money. Chains are still overpriced and more expensive than cooking at home

cooking cost time
i dont have that luxury

Taco Bell is a gift from the gods and I will die on that hill

Euripides posted...

I went to a local Greek place yesterday and it was awful

Used to go to a Greek place along with a Tigers game each year for the first handful of years Comerica Park opened. Was always really good.

MFBKBass5 posted...

Quality of food for large chains is never good

How would you know, you never eat there.

bluezero posted...

How would you know, you never eat there.

Not anymore

MFBKBass5 posted...

confirm or confirm?

Confirm, I honestly don't even know how chains survive in the town, unless they are considered Lose Leaders, for marketing purposes. Having said that, there are really only a few. With tons of other options.

This topic reminds me of going on a business trip with my boss once to Savannah, GA. We were staying downtown and there's a ton of local shit. All sorts of seafood. Even local sports bars if you want that. This motherfucker is all excited to go to Moe's because he's never been there. There's like 3 within 15 minutes of our regular office.

Jiek_Fafn posted...

This topic reminds me of going on a business trip with my boss once to Savannah, GA. We were staying downtown and there's a ton of local shit. All sorts of seafood. Even local sports bars if you want that. This motherfucker is all excited to go to Moe's because he's never been there. There's like 3 within 15 minutes of our regular office.

Some people are just dumb lol

MFBKBass5 posted...

Idk how people eat at these garbage ass chain restaurants, whether its fast food or a sit down place. Quality of the food is always worse, and service isnt usually any better.

it always blows my mind when people go on trips or vacations only to eat at the same crappy chain restaurants they have in their own town

I TRY to go to local establishments as often as I can, but what typically happens is:
a) inconsistent food because of inconsistent food sourcing
Hard to get the same food at the same price when you can't negotiate food prices as a small business
b) inconsistent food because of labor. hard to train labor to do things consistently without a huge training program like chain restaurants do.
c) chain restaurants have deals and coupons that I take advantage of.