T.G.I. Appletuesdays (or Ruby Fridaybee's)

FROM: Patrick
DATE: Friday December 7, 2001 -- 9:57:21AM

What bothers me more than the fact that the places are all the same is that someone, in fact many people, have to have been visiting these places on a regular basis to make that style of food production so popular that others would copy it.

FROM: Ryan
DATE: Friday December 7, 2001 -- 10:01:48AM

They tend to plant themselves conveniently close to "big spenders" that like to go out to lunch. "Let's go to Friday's!" becomes a frequent mantra, as they look for something familiar, scared to be even the slightest bit adventurous.

FROM: Paul
DATE: Friday December 7, 2001 -- 11:40:59AM

To wit, Ruby Tuesday's has the best veggie burger I've had in this type of restaurant; it's not just a Gardenburger. It's their own special blend of herbs and spices. Or something like that.

The Applebee's campaign bugs me, too. But then, a lot of neighborhoods are becoming homogenous, so maybe they're just being prophetic.

FROM: Robert
DATE: Friday December 7, 2001 -- 1:12:18PM

This reminds to to, again, damn the Silver Diner to HELL HELL HELL!!!

FROM: Ben Grimm
DATE: Friday December 7, 2001 -- 3:32:27PM

I, too, hate those types of restaurants. T.G.I. Friday's has been my least favorite for years.

FROM: fresh
DATE: Friday December 7, 2001 -- 4:50:00PM

fridays makes good drinks in those big glass jugs tho i recomend the mudslide

FROM: jk
DATE: Saturday December 8, 2001 -- 12:39:37AM

Applebee's has a dessert called Deadly Chocolate Sin (once in a while) that will amaze you. It is cake-like around the edges, and molten in the center. If they had it on their daily menu, I would be there daily.
May I say how much I don't like the Olive Garden? It is not real Italian food, no matter what anyone says.

FROM: Matt
DATE: Saturday December 8, 2001 -- 1:17:21AM

You know I stand on agreement on this issue. I like the mom and pops restaurants if possible.

FROM: Mike B.
DATE: Thursday July 4, 2002 -- 11:48:46 am

I used to like the Applebees slow-smoked ribs...until the jerks got rid of 'em. Chili's St. Louis ribs are better anyway.

FROM: King Random
DATE: Sunday July 7, 2002 -- 10:08:34 pm

Home cooked food is the best, period. And usually, much less expensive. So if you are going to eat, don't go to a mom and pop restaurant, go to your mom and pop. My parents are always willing to cook me a good meal if I want one. And it is always good.

FROM: Robert [E-Mail]
DATE: Monday July 8, 2002 -- 4:22:52 pm

My parents can and will fry or grill half a dozen chickens with a mere request. Damn, now I'm hungry again!

FROM: C.B.
DATE: Sunday August 31, 2003 -- 12:24:23 pm

I have to agree with jk about the Olive Garden. That food really bites the big one. As for the other retaurants mentioned they are all the same but the best mudslide I have ever had was in Applebee's in Cleveland, TN. Excellent and so was the chicken.

FROM: jk
DATE: Sunday August 31, 2003 -- 1:09:46 pm

I strongly recommed TGIF's pecan crusted chicken salad. It includes mandarin oranges, bleu cheese, cranberries....almond slivers....it's got a nice zing to it, and it's generally very good!

No, I do not work there.

FROM: Dave Walls [E-Mail]
DATE: Sunday August 31, 2003 -- 4:49:40 pm

I like Chotchkie's..except they make their waitresses wear a minimum of 15 pieces of flair.

On a real note, the only place I like, chain wise, is Damon's. I could eat BBQ ribs all night long.

FROM: Alicia [E-Mail]
DATE: Sunday April 3, 2005 -- 1:36:51 pm

Forgive me if I must defend my place of employment. Friday's is in fact the original casual themed restaurant with the artifacts on the walls...the inventor of potato skins...they have been around since March 13, 1965. All the rest of the restaurants mentioned above are copies of Friday's....especially Ruby Tuesdays which was started by two college students who had worked at a Friday's restaurant. OK I'm done now. :-P

FROM: Joseph
DATE: Tuesday April 5, 2005 -- 7:50:10 am

Red Robin, Chili's, 99, Friendly's even the Mexican themed ones like Chi Chi's and South of the Border--these sit down fast food places offer what people want to eat, which is mainly lots and lots of salt.

I avoid them as much as possible. There is always a price to pay--the sodium hangover. You know you have it when you wake up in the middle of the night totally parched and sucking straight from the bathroom sink faucet.