Regular readers know I would always choose a Mom-and-Pop over a chain restaurant, but I wasn’t doing the choosing for a going away lunch for a respected colleague. His favorite place is Outback, so I went.
And it was good. The hefty burger was fine. The server was on the ball. It’s obviously a wildly popular, as we had to wait for a table to open up.
A friend teased: “You mean you like a chain?”
Again, it’s not that I don’t like chains. I applaud the framework that makes them work efficiently, and it’s encouraging to see some independents picking up on those corporate-style techniques. Still, I think the food and atmosphere is almost always more interesting at a small, unique place.
Anybody want to try and convince me otherwise?
Let's eat
Responses to “Lunch at a chain restaurant”
December 15th, 2005 at 3:32 pm
Outback is one of the better run chains, but the food is only OK. The service is usally better there. I think chains usually have better service because they have such large corporate programs in place to train their servers. The exceptions are Applebees and TGI Fridays and, to a lesser extent, Chilis. They’ll take anyone to be a waiter there. Local places usually have much better food, however, and thats why I favor them.
December 15th, 2005 at 8:22 pm
I find that bad service can be found anywhere but especially at chains. Applebee’s is the worst and while I wish ‘em the best, I can’t imagine the newly opened restaurants are better staffed than before. I frequent both locally owned restaurants and chains, with Outback being one of my fave chains, but prefer the locals because they really depend on our support moreso than a corporate-backed chain. So, I guess I cannot convince you otherwise…
December 16th, 2005 at 8:47 am
Outback’s secret is the ownership structure where the onsite manager receives a large share of the restaurant earnings. They also give them authority that other chain managers don’t have. They have copied this structure to Roy’s and a few other chains with success. It’s been years since I’ve eaten at an Outback though.
I can’t get over Houston’s ability to consistenly serve good food (some really good) and do a great job of service. I had a really good martini there (filled to the rim with a twist–even the good bartenders in Memphis don’t do this) with a fresh, cold glass halfway through. I was impressed. Don’t mention the wait–we won’t go if there is a wait.
December 16th, 2005 at 9:38 am
I’ve had good meals and service at Alexander’s out by Wolfchase…although I’m a little embarrased to admit it.
December 17th, 2005 at 4:45 pm
It’s a small chain, but we like Amerigo’s a lot. I’m not sure their food is really better than other places, but I’m so addicted to that bread and their chicken ravioli. We’ve always had good service there, and even on busy nights, can make it in and out quickly. Other than that, we pretty much stick to local places unless we’re not the ones choosing the restaurant.
December 19th, 2005 at 2:17 pm
For foodies, chain restaurants can indeed be a guilty pleasure. I’m attracted to them when I’m feeling low or stressed and need familiarity more than authenticity or artistry. On another note, I like PF Chang’s because I can have well-prepared, Asian inspired food without sitting under numbing fluorescent light at a glass-covered table listening to schmaltzy SE Asian elevator music after making a crap-shoot decision from a list of 20 Pho choices that all appear to be the same thing.
December 19th, 2005 at 4:16 pm
I have to admit I go to Outback quite often - I think part of me was just glad to see a chain of any kind locate in Midtown (similarly, even though you can’t find a hose in the middle of the summer at the HomeDepot in Midtown, I’ll still go there before driving to East Memphis - but of course, I’ll try Stewart Bros. first). I have to say that Outback does seem to have the steak-grilling thing down - if you order it medium, it comes medium.
I also must admit that I really like Houston’s, but I agree with the person who mentioned the wait - I simply can’t get over how long the wait is there. I really wish they would build a second one in Cordova or Collierville, so maybe it would take the heat off the one on Poplar.
December 20th, 2005 at 1:09 am
Speaking of chains, I tried to go to one of the new chains at the Avenue at Carriage Crossing. However, nothing at the mall was open for lunch. Most places haven’t opened at all. I guess they don’t like money, as many were wondering around looking for food. We left the mall in pursuit of a good meal, so we headed for the square. As we were waiting on the train, we looked over and saw a sign that read “Cafe Piazza by Pat Luchessi.” Although we don’t care for Luchessi’s, the Italian store/cafe, we decided to give it a try. I’m glad we did. They have beautifuly restored an old home in a fun and contemporary style. The restaurant also has a gorgeous view of the Collierville square. The lunch menu is dominated by paninis and gourmet pizzas. We tried the shrimp creole soup, which was very good, and two paninis. The blue crab panini was very different than the usual chain restaurant fare, and very tasty. Service was friendly and efficient. The food was served on what appeared to be designer plates (or a good imitation). All in all, it was a nice break from the usual chain fare. I’ll be back to try their pizzas and to sample the extensive moderately-priced wine list. By the way, the customer at the table next to us told the waiter that he had lived in the house as a child and fondly remembers rocking on the front porch watching storms come in. You just don’t get that at chains.
December 22nd, 2005 at 11:44 pm
There’s no better dessert in town than Key Lime Pie at Houstons. It’s almost worth the wait.
We used to frequent Outback for the rack of lamb but they took it off the menu this summer. $19 for a full rack (six-eight ribs)was too good to be true but it was darn good while it lasted. Haven’t been back since. Not a big steak eater and the pork chops are over cooked….If I want seafood I’ll go to Tsunami.
One chain you need to run from is Carrabera’s. Went there on recommendation of friends in Houston TX where the chain originated. It was worse that bad. They wrapped the pictures on the wall with Christmas wrapping paper from Dollar General and had half dead poinsettias sitting around and santa hats hanging from the holding area.
Don’t regret not being able to have lunch at The Avenue if that’s the only choice. The lentil soup had so much pepper in it my mouth has yet to recover and the antipasta platter came out just a bit warmer than room temperature. We sat at the bar because the wait was 20 minutes. I’d wait 20 days at Houstons before I’d wait 20 seconds at Carraberas.
December 27th, 2005 at 3:43 pm
I purchased Outback gift cards for one friend who goes there almost every Friday evening for dinner. They have good service & had the smarts to open a new location in Midtown, God love ‘em! I notice there is more than one Walkabout Soup, but I’m particularly fond of the creamy onion. They had a couple of new items on the takeout menu I picked up last week, incl. several versions of Alfredo pasta that sounded good. I also like their drive-up to-go service. I agree that Houston’s needs to build more than one location in a city the size of Memphis & its metropolitan area. The wait there can be just ridiculous at times. But I miss their old menu that had so many more items on it than the current one. Their salads are always so good & their servers are incredibly well trained. I find myself forgetting they are a chain. Sorry to hear the unfavorable comments about Carrabba’s, but I do enjoy P. F. Chang’s a lot. I suspect Amerigo gets some of their customers because P. F. Chang’s is too crowded, but Amerigo also has excellent food. Yes, that focaccia bread is addictive, & their salads are first-class. I also like the early-bird menu & that hot cheese & artichoke dip with toasted focaccia bread sticks is a must-have. One of my friends is a tiramisu addict, & she claims their version is the best anywhere.
December 28th, 2005 at 11:26 pm
i have to disagree with the food at Carrabba’s.
i have been to both locations here and one in houston. i’ll agree that the decor is lacking, but the items from the grill are marvelous! chains are usually an all time low in a lifetime of eating.. i stick to family owned and operated whenever possible…i’m not a fan of outback,bonefish,smokey bones,mamma fu,etc..My favorite places are La Tourelle, cafe 1912, washington street , india palace, and jarett’s.. happy new year…
December 30th, 2005 at 4:21 pm
Went to Flemings and thank goodness the company was paying. The soup was disgusting. The service was horrible and the rest of the food was uneventful.
Perhaps it was due to the fact that they had not been open long. I hope so or they are in big trouble.
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