Text 19565, 86 rader
Skriven 2009-01-12 15:08:30 av DAVE SACERDOTE (1:123/140)
     Kommentar till en text av DALE SHIPP
Ärende: Chain Restaurants
=========================
DSh> Add to a list for comment (good or bad -- we've been to some, 
DSh> but not to all):  

DSh> Denny's

Quite a while ago, when Maryanne and I were both taking night courses
at a local Community College, we used to stop at Denny's on our way
home to get supper because it was the only place open that late.

Then one night I got spoiled gravy - and not just spoiled, this
stuff stunk of decay; I can't imagine anyone getting within three
feet of it and not smelling it immediately - and an attitude to
go with it.  That was enough to keep me from going back.  Later,
I enjoyed richly satisfying schadenfreude when the Denny's chain
came under fire for denying service to African-American customers.
It gave hundreds of thousands of people who _hadn't_ gotten spoiled
food at Denny's a reason all their own to boycott them.

DSh> Cracker Barrel

Maryanne and I tried Cracker Barrel a few times when the chain
first showed up around here.  I found them to be kind of mediocre
but really no worse than most other chains.  The thing I really
didn't like about them was the noise.  There seemed to be nothing
to deaden the sounds of everyone else in the place, and since
they park tables so close together, it was really annoying.

But the real reason we stopped going there was because of their
discriminatory treatment of employees and customers.  It took them
10 years to change an anti-gay employment policy that was so
blatantly discriminatory it disgusted me.  They've had to settle
multi-million dollar racial discrimination and sexual harrassment
lawsuits just within the past 2 years.  I won't give them a dime,
ever, no matter what new policies and reforms they institute.  
Their hateful attitudes are endemic and no amount of legally
enforced sign-posting or apologies will force a leopard to change
its spots.

DSh> Bob Evans

Never been, but I always buy Bob Evans sausage whenever I can
find it because I love it.

DSh> Applebee's

Was unimpressed when I was there a few years ago.  They're
owned by IHOP now, I wonder if they're any better.  But since
I hate the "talking apple" ads they're running now, I probably
won't be going there in a hurry.

DSh> Hard Rock Cafe

I bet the original was great.  Now that it's a huge corporation
that operates casinos and hotels and is as much about selling
logo-stamped merchandise as it is about peddling second-rate
overpriced food to worshippers of "Dad Rock" I'm not interested.

DSh> Ground Round

They were great back in the day.  A few years ago, though, the
franchise collapsed and a group of remaining franchisees bought
the name.  Whatever restaurants are left (I think there are less 
than 50 of them) are part of a "purchasing cooperative" and
they're facing some real problems going against places like
TGI Fridays.  I think they're not as kid- and family-friendly as
they used to be, either - more of what I call "watering hole"
restaurants now - but I can't be sure because all of the ones
in my area are closed down.  Like I said, though, I have fond
memories of them and would try them again, even if it were only
for auld lang syne.

DSh> TGI Friday's

Their ads repel me so thoroughly that I wouldn't eat there if I
were being held hostage by one of their hash slingers.



---
http://davescupboard.blogspot.com/ - Dave's Cupboard - Food and 
Restaurant Reviews; If I post it here in NCE, you'll find it 
blogged with photos at Dave's Cupboard.

http://bacon-labels.blogspot.com/ - A gallery of bacon package labels.
(The extra shelf in Dave's Cupboard.
 * Origin: Doc's Place BBS Fido Since 1991 docsplace.tzo.com (1:123/140)