Restaurant chains you wish you had near you

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bobdole369

Diamond Member
Dec 15, 2004
4,504
2
0
I would like a Waffle House.
And a Chik-Fil-A.
Arby's too.

Long Island is deprived of these fine dining establishments.

My brother lives in Key West - he is similarly deprived. I always bring him a sack of beef n cheddars when I make the drive down.
 

SP33Demon

Lifer
Jun 22, 2001
27,928
142
106
For reference, Northern VA. So if anyone knows where I can find one of these close by, let me know:

Church's Chicken. The last time I had it was in Pennsauken, NJ, years ago. It shared space with a White Castle. Sadly, neither place is still there. The honey biscuits are just too damn good.

In-N-Out. I don't visit San Diego or Phoenix without going.

Come to think of it, those are the only 2. We have a lot of the chains here, and I don't really eat a ton of chain/fast food anyway.

EDIT: OMG. There is a Church's at Ft. Belvoir. I might need to go.

Yup there's one at Belvoir.

Let's see, Sonic (1.5 south is too far), In and Out, BW3, Waffle House, and White Castle for me.
 

SP33Demon

Lifer
Jun 22, 2001
27,928
142
106
Are you really comparing Chipotle to Taco Bell? There is a reason why you can get a full meal at Taco Bell for under $2 bucks.

http://www.chipotle.com/en-US/fwi/animals/animals.aspx

You are paying for quality ingredients at Chipotle. God knows what the fuck is in the meat at Taco Bell. I bet Del Taco probably uses meat 1 step above dog food.

I agree that Chipotle is nowhere near authentic, but they still make a great tasting burrito IMO.

It's because he's a moron.
 

QueBert

Lifer
Jan 6, 2002
22,553
834
126
Are you really comparing Chipotle to Taco Bell? There is a reason why you can get a full meal at Taco Bell for under $2 bucks.

http://www.chipotle.com/en-US/fwi/animals/animals.aspx

You are paying for quality ingredients at Chipotle. God knows what the fuck is in the meat at Taco Bell. I bet Del Taco probably uses meat 1 step above dog food.

I agree that Chipotle is nowhere near authentic, but they still make a great tasting burrito IMO.

You mean a full meal for a 3 year old? When I eat there it ends up costing just as much as the OMG Chipotle. All you said here was your logic tells you since Chipotle costs more it must be better. That must mean PF Changs is good, I mean the Orange Chicken's like 16 bucks there! I'll eat a grilled stufft burrito from TB over Chipotle, that's just me though. But since I live in the mecca of good Messican food I rarely touch either, because both suck compared to even just a decent Mexican spot. Newsflash - Chipotle's burrito is honestly only worth the $2 you shitted on TB for. It's mostly rice (not even good rice at that) if you get it without rice it's super anemic. Albertos California Burrito is $3.50 and in a whole galaxy over Chipotle.

As for what the meat is as TB, the steak is.... steak (wow imagine that) Here's how to gauge how good a Mexican spot is, go inside and see how many Spanish people are eating there. You'll never see them eating at a Chipotle because they know better.
 
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Minjin

Platinum Member
Jan 18, 2003
2,208
1
81
Hungry Howie's Pizza

there is one across the bay, but its too far to be practical, their pizza is really good and $5 on Mondays
Are you talking about the pizza place from Florida with the different flavored crusts? OMG, I lived off of that when I was going to school in Orlando. Soooo good.
 

darkewaffle

Diamond Member
Oct 7, 2005
8,152
1
81
Bonefish Grill. Closest one is a few hours away but the one time I went to one was pretty fucking outstanding.
 

Anubis

No Lifer
Aug 31, 2001
78,712
427
126
tbqhwy.com
Are you really comparing Chipotle to Taco Bell? There is a reason why you can get a full meal at Taco Bell for under $2 bucks.

http://www.chipotle.com/en-US/fwi/animals/animals.aspx

You are paying for quality ingredients at Chipotle. God knows what the fuck is in the meat at Taco Bell. I bet Del Taco probably uses meat 1 step above dog food.

I agree that Chipotle is nowhere near authentic, but they still make a great tasting burrito IMO.

pretty sure meals at T bell are much more then 2$
 

Mr. Lennon

Diamond Member
Jul 2, 2004
3,492
1
81
You mean a full meal for a 3 year old? When I eat there it ends up costing just as much as the OMG Chipotle. All you said here was your logic tells you since Chipotle costs more it must be better. That must mean PF Changs is good, I mean the Orange Chicken's like 16 bucks there! I'll eat a grilled stufft burrito from TB over Chipotle, that's just me though. But since I live in the mecca of good Messican food I rarely touch either, because both suck compared to even just a decent Mexican spot. Newsflash - Chipotle's burrito is honestly only worth the $2 you shitted on TB for. It's mostly rice (not even good rice at that) if you get it without rice it's super anemic. Albertos California Burrito is $3.50 and in a whole galaxy over Chipotle.

As for what the meat is as TB, the steak is.... steak (wow imagine that) Here's how to gauge how good a Mexican spot is, go inside and see how many Spanish people are eating there. You'll never see them eating at a Chipotle because they know better.

I'm not saying higher priced food automatically equals quality. Chipotle actually uses quality ingredients, hence the reason for the price. You probably don't give a shit about eating meat packed with antibiotics, but many others do.

I have access to some of the best Mexican food around. While I go to these authentic places 99% of the time, I still like the occasional Chipotle burrito. I just ask them to go easy on the rice and add more meat/cheese. They rarely charge me extra.
 

novasatori

Diamond Member
Feb 27, 2003
3,851
1
0
Are you talking about the pizza place from Florida with the different flavored crusts? OMG, I lived off of that when I was going to school in Orlando. Soooo good.

Yea, their pizza is by far the best for a "fast food" pizza chain.

It really is delicious.
 

CZroe

Lifer
Jun 24, 2001
24,195
857
126
Ugg Chipotle seriously sucks.

Just because it isn't "authentic" or better than places that are, it "sucks?" Puh-leeze. Take your snobbery elsewhere. Show me a similar national chain selling better authentic Mexican food. I'm listening.
 

Mr. Lennon

Diamond Member
Jul 2, 2004
3,492
1
81
Its a better deal for the money. But after that article about Taco Bell using sawdust or whatever as meat fillers, the deal is kinda moot.

"Attorney Dee Miles said the meat mixture contained just 35 percent beef, with the remaining 65 percent containing water, wheat oats, soy lecithin, maltodrextrin, anti-dusting agent and modified corn starch."

According to QueBert, "Steak is...steak." :rolleyes:
 

Pantlegz

Diamond Member
Jun 6, 2007
4,627
4
81
joe's crab shack is about the only thing I can think of... I really don't eat out all that often.
 

ElFenix

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Mar 20, 2000
102,357
8,446
126
"Attorney Dee Miles said the meat mixture contained just 35 percent beef, with the remaining 65 percent containing water, wheat oats, soy lecithin, maltodrextrin, anti-dusting agent and modified corn starch."

According to QueBert, "Steak is...steak." :rolleyes:

cooked ground beef is 55% water. there's less filler in taco hell meat than i would expect. the stuff i make at home has more 'other' in it than that (my 'other' is onions and jalapenos though).
 

QueBert

Lifer
Jan 6, 2002
22,553
834
126
"Attorney Dee Miles said the meat mixture contained just 35 percent beef, with the remaining 65 percent containing water, wheat oats, soy lecithin, maltodrextrin, anti-dusting agent and modified corn starch."

According to QueBert, "Steak is...steak." :rolleyes:

No it's not, but the Carne Asada at Chipotle IS NOT high quality, is it higher quality than TB's? Sure, but it's a lot more expensive so that should be expected. It's not so much better the price difference is merited. I don't understand where people get this idea that Chipotle uses uber high quality ingredients, they're marginally better than TB but you pay out of the ass. They use less filler than TB, but it's still a meh quality cut of meat. And just so you know that shit you quoted is for taco meat, not steak. If the tacos you make are even close to 100% meat, I don't wanna eat them because they will horribly suck.

As for the person asking for a nation wide chain that has better Mexican food, Baja Fresh smokes Chipotle. As does Rubios.
 
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gorcorps

aka Brandon
Jul 18, 2004
30,739
452
126
Good Times

It's a Colorado based fast food place that hasn't spread very far outside of CO, so I miss it being in IN now. Almost everything else I love is out here but every once in a while I crave some Good Times and can't have it :(
 

gorcorps

aka Brandon
Jul 18, 2004
30,739
452
126
i posted earlier however i wish there was a White Castle around here so i could at least try it for once.

I tried it, didn't like it at all. Somebody asked if the frozen burgers taste anything like the real thing... I say 100% yes. And if I can replicate your flavor in my filthy microwave, something is wrong with your product.

White Castle is one of my biggest food letdowns. Geno's East tops that list though ... most overrated garbage I've ever eaten. :thumbsdown: