Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

Overrated chain restaurants

Discussion in 'The Water Cooler' started by Dan, Mar 20, 2014.

  1. BJE80

    BJE80 Legendary Woodsman

    Joined:
    Jan 2, 2009
    Posts:
    14,268
    Likes Received:
    279
    Dislikes Received:
    4
    Location:
    Central and Northern Wisconsin
    If Schafer doesn't do it I'll post in the morning from a PC. I'm not typing it out on my phone while watching bb.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  2. TAuth41

    TAuth41 Die Hard Bowhunter

    Joined:
    Sep 13, 2013
    Posts:
    1,368
    Likes Received:
    184
    Dislikes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Minnetonka, MN
    For everyone who likes Chipolte it is garbage. Qdoba is 100x better. Rocky Rocco is my favorite chain restaurant. Best pizza I have ever tasted.

    Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
     
  3. Dan

    Dan Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 25, 2008
    Posts:
    7,307
    Likes Received:
    5
    Dislikes Received:
    0
    Location:
    NW Wisconsin
    It's usually an older restaurant with quality cooked meals run by a couple. You walk in, grab a barstool next to some old blue hair, order a brandy old fashioned sweet, talk about the weather and the weirdo in the next town over that got caught screwing a cow, then go to your table, Flo comes and takes your order (prime rib a lot of times), you order another brandy old fashioned sweet, eat, have another old fashioned, brandy Alexander for desert, go back to the bar, order a brandy old fashioned or two, say goodbye to the old blue hairs sitting at the bar still, grab your jacket from the coat rack at the entrance of the place and leave.

    If I remember, I'll take a picture of one tomorrow about 1/2 mile from where I grew up and my parents still live.
     
  4. Oly44

    Oly44 Grizzled Veteran

    Joined:
    Dec 19, 2011
    Posts:
    5,659
    Likes Received:
    499
    Dislikes Received:
    2
    Location:
    Freeport, IL
    I may just have to go to one and see for myself. Im heading back north for spring break so maybe I will cross the boarder and find one.

    Anyone know of a "supper club" around SW Wisconsin ?
     
  5. Siman/OH

    Siman/OH Legendary Woodsman

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2008
    Posts:
    16,722
    Likes Received:
    1,974
    Dislikes Received:
    4
    Location:
    Ohio
    So a mixture of yuppie and local hob nob?

    Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
     
  6. Siman/OH

    Siman/OH Legendary Woodsman

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2008
    Posts:
    16,722
    Likes Received:
    1,974
    Dislikes Received:
    4
    Location:
    Ohio
    Chipotle is a major food group.

    Lately though...The quality has been going down. Never been to a freebirds or qdoba.

    Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
     
  7. BJE80

    BJE80 Legendary Woodsman

    Joined:
    Jan 2, 2009
    Posts:
    14,268
    Likes Received:
    279
    Dislikes Received:
    4
    Location:
    Central and Northern Wisconsin
    Couple things to add on to dans.


    You never go to a supper club in a hurry. Or complain about slow service. You typically get lots of hourderves plates and the meal is many courses including warm bread , etc.

    It's a experience where everyone is relaxed and in a vacation state of mind.


    They usually are only open a few days a week and only evenings with the exception of Sunday brunch.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  8. dnoodles

    dnoodles Legendary Woodsman

    Joined:
    Oct 13, 2012
    Posts:
    13,572
    Likes Received:
    21,058
    Dislikes Received:
    23
    Location:
    People's Republic of IL
    walleye's bigger and cooks more evenly. JMO. Flavor's about the same as perch.

    As far as sandwiches go, Potbelly's is pretty darn good.

    Can't believe it took 11 pages to mention, but Panera Bread SUCKS. With the exception of their Napa almond chicken salad sandwich, every sandwich they make is dry and bland. Their soup is decent and their coffee is great, but their "bread and butter" (hah!) is sandwiches and other than the chicken salad sandwich they're terrible.

    Corner Bakery is much better.
     
  9. Dan

    Dan Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 25, 2008
    Posts:
    7,307
    Likes Received:
    5
    Dislikes Received:
    0
    Location:
    NW Wisconsin
    Here's a picture of Connell's Supper Club that's close to my parents.

    [​IMG]
     
  10. Siman/OH

    Siman/OH Legendary Woodsman

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2008
    Posts:
    16,722
    Likes Received:
    1,974
    Dislikes Received:
    4
    Location:
    Ohio
    Panera is pretty yuppie, but it's not bad.

    Bob Evans sucks. TGI Fridays sucks.

    Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
     
  11. BJE80

    BJE80 Legendary Woodsman

    Joined:
    Jan 2, 2009
    Posts:
    14,268
    Likes Received:
    279
    Dislikes Received:
    4
    Location:
    Central and Northern Wisconsin
    Oh and the owners are almost always there and almost always tending bar. They are elbow deep in their restaurant and take great pride in it.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  12. BJE80

    BJE80 Legendary Woodsman

    Joined:
    Jan 2, 2009
    Posts:
    14,268
    Likes Received:
    279
    Dislikes Received:
    4
    Location:
    Central and Northern Wisconsin
    I want to go there. I don't need a menu.

    Prime rib med rare.
    French onion soup
    Brandy old fashion sweet.





    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  13. Oly44

    Oly44 Grizzled Veteran

    Joined:
    Dec 19, 2011
    Posts:
    5,659
    Likes Received:
    499
    Dislikes Received:
    2
    Location:
    Freeport, IL
    Last edited: Mar 20, 2014
  14. buttonbuckmaster

    buttonbuckmaster Grizzled Veteran

    Joined:
    Jul 25, 2008
    Posts:
    4,214
    Likes Received:
    1,094
    Dislikes Received:
    0
    Location:
    southern IL
    Thought someone would have mentioned Cracker Barrel by now.
     
  15. TAuth41

    TAuth41 Die Hard Bowhunter

    Joined:
    Sep 13, 2013
    Posts:
    1,368
    Likes Received:
    184
    Dislikes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Minnetonka, MN
    Panera has amazing bagels. The cinnamon crunch is to die for

    Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
     
  16. dnoodles

    dnoodles Legendary Woodsman

    Joined:
    Oct 13, 2012
    Posts:
    13,572
    Likes Received:
    21,058
    Dislikes Received:
    23
    Location:
    People's Republic of IL
    I'd never heard of a brandy old fashioned sweet. Googled it; now I'm debating if it's worth a run to wal mart just to buy the ingredients...on a Thursday.
     
  17. Dan

    Dan Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 25, 2008
    Posts:
    7,307
    Likes Received:
    5
    Dislikes Received:
    0
    Location:
    NW Wisconsin
    Gah....damn phone.
     
  18. Just Passin thru

    Just Passin thru Grizzled Veteran

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2012
    Posts:
    3,518
    Likes Received:
    205
    Dislikes Received:
    0
    Your life is not worth a run to walmart. Any other place will do. :tu:
     
  19. dnoodles

    dnoodles Legendary Woodsman

    Joined:
    Oct 13, 2012
    Posts:
    13,572
    Likes Received:
    21,058
    Dislikes Received:
    23
    Location:
    People's Republic of IL
    that may be true, but I don't count bagels as restaurant food. Dunkin Donuts has awesome donuts, but I don't consider them a restaurant (and their coffee blows, but that's a topic for another thread)
     
  20. Dan

    Dan Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 25, 2008
    Posts:
    7,307
    Likes Received:
    5
    Dislikes Received:
    0
    Location:
    NW Wisconsin
    I wouldn't say yuppie at all. Mostly just older locals, unless it's summer then there may be some tourists around.
     

Share This Page