Posts On The Way
Posted: December 7th, 2009 | Filed under: Media | 64 Comments »
Blog posts coming this week, assuming I can get to them:
– The longest post about SI’s Sportsman of the Year … guaranteed!
– The genius of the Verizon commercials.
– My best Hall of Fame case.
– Why one member on the Hall of Fame ballot drives me crazy … even though he should not.
– Winter meetings talk.
– Thoughts about my new favorite infomercial.
– How good teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers get bad.
– Ranking the fast food chains.
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Oddly most excited about your ranking of fast food chains.
How about ranking the casual dining chains (Applebee’s, Chili’s, Friday’s, etc)?
Cool. Thanks for letting us know. And now it’s time to play the waiting game. :<
Oh, and how awesome is it that Doug Harvey and Whitey Herzog made it into the Hall of Fame? Unfortunately, more will be made about the 1985 Cardinals than Herzog's career with the Royals.
@2 fishy: seconded. For some reason I’m usually fine with Friday’s and Chili’s but Applebee’s is consistently a mild disappointment, even though as far as I can tell there is virtually no difference between the three. I always wonder if this is specific to the particular franchises near me, or if it’s a national thing.
Am disappointed that Mr. K didn’t get into the Hall..
Oh, the waiting game sucks. Let’s play, Hungry, Hungry Hippos.
Joe’s new favorite infomercial – Any bets on what that could be? I’m guessing it’s for micro s’mores.
https://www.microsmores.net/?MID=686291
@CA (#4): Interestingly, I feel the same way. Friday’s, Chili’s, and Applebee’s are essentially the same place. Yet I’m always slightly underwhelmed by Applebee’s for some reason.
I have never had a meal at Applebee’s that wasn’t disappointing. And I’m talking real basic stuff here; it’s not like I went for the Coquille St.-Jacques. It takes a profound effort to make a cheeseburger a bad experience.
“Why one member on the Hall of Fame ballot drives me crazy … even though he should not.” Dale Murphy?
My top 5 Casual Dining Chains:
5. Chili’s
4. Macaroni Grill
3. PF Changs
2. Cheesecake Factory
1. Red Lobster*
Honorable mention: Fuddruckers, Charlie Browns, Fridays.
I completely agree about Applebee’s somehow just not as good as its competition.
* I always get made fun of for loving Red Lobster and i dont know why… I am never disappointed.
The Applebee’s phenomenon is amazing. When my girlfriend and I started dating she didn’t want to go there because she never had a positive experience. We’ve gone a handful of times (whereas Friday’s and Chili’s are staples of our eating out adventures), including yesterday, and it really is a distant third.
It just seems like something always goes a bit wrong. Either someone’s meal isn’t right or the service isn’t great, and inevitably someone goes “we should’ve gone to Friday’s.” But everybody here is right. They’re all basically the same place! Come on, Applebee’s. I’m calling you out. Step it up. Even your 2 for $20 was topped by Chili’s 2 for $20 that includes a dessert, and Friday’s Stripes gimmick has gotten us more free or discounted entrees than I can count.
Arob,
I wouldn’t include Red Lobster in the same category because their prices are a bit higher. I love the place, too, but as somebody who doesn’t have a ton of money to spend, I find I can hit Friday’s or Chili’s twice and the cost is the same as going to Red Lobster. Or maybe it’s closer to 1 1/2 Friday’s trips = 1 Red Lobster trip. Either way, Friday’s works whenever. Red Lobster is one of those “Hey, I worked a few extra hours this week and the paycheck was more” types of places.
When the producers approached Fridays’ leadership about their movie appearing in Office Space, they thought it was a great idea at first. Then, they read the script, and some made up chain was created….that looked a lot like Fridays.
sigh.
that should be:
“….about their restaraunt appearing in the movie…..”
I agree that Applebee’s is definitely behind the other two, but really, none of these chains should be supported. Find a place that supports your local economy! Your food will taste better and your dollars will go to a community neighbor that otherwise may go out of business. In these times, it’s so sad to see a good place go out of business due to the economy when the chains just go on shoving soulless food to the masses.
/end rant. Sorry about that.
Yeah, I could see going to Chili’s if I was traveling and it was right next to the hotel. But if you’re home there’s no excuse for going to these places. It cheered me up when the Chili’s in Westport closed.
Here is how long it has been since I visited any of the following restaurants.
Applebees- 12 months ago Someone I was meeting at Starbucks decided she was hungry so we went to the closest restaurant, which happened to be an Applebees. Last time I actually made plans to go to an Applebees and then followed through- 2005.
TGI Fridays-2007. Took my staff to a lunch there, they selected it. Last time I went and paid my own money- 2004
Chilis- Ate in the Chilis in O’hare in 2002.
Red Lobster-2008- using a gift card I won at work, last time I paid for a dinner there- 1995. I got tired of leaving hungry after paying $50 for a meal for 2 people.
Macaroni Grill- 2007, it was incredibly mediocre.
PF Changs- never been
Cheesecake Factory- 2008, once again it was a luncheon for work. I have never been there on my own accord, but probably the best of this sad bunch.
I agree with Man of Sand, not just because of supporting local business, but because the local choice is usually MUCH better than the chain alternative
interesting that the casual dining comment sparked such a conversation.
my preference (apparently i’m in the minority) is actually applebee’s. they’re a local KC company, so that kind of helps. seems like the food and the service is always ok to me…maybe i’m just too easy to please…
Back to the fast food. No top fast food list is complete without In N Out. Don’t forget it, Joe!
It’s still a chain, but Granite City Food & Brewery blow them all away. Great food, outstanding service, and pretty good beer. Spin Pizza is another of my favorites.
Hey Joe, any more local book signings??
Sadly, I’ve never had In N Out. Heard great things about them, but they aren’t out here on the East coast.
Look at it this way. Chili’s, Friday’s, Applebee’s et al all started as a single restaurant 30 – 50 years ago.
I enjoy them all. I feel like Homer Simpson the minute I sit down in almost any reastaurant. Give me enough fat and calories for a weeks worth of meals, and top it off with a volcano of cake with melted chocolate and ice cream oozing out.
I think I need to eat lunch.
I was hoping for a take on the BCS pitting the two non-Big-6 schools against one another, and how utterly predictable that was.
That pitting of the two unbeatens was chosen by the Bowl they are going to. They thought it would get higher ratings. Or, they were forced to in a massive conspiracy…
The problem is that you’re not likely to find a local place as cheap as the chains. Even a diner is more expensive.
Agreed on TCU vs. Boise St. being disappointing. They would both have more to gain by each getting another crack at BCS competition. I would have liked to see Boise St. vs. Georgia Tech and TCU vs. Iowa.
I would not touch the Cincy-Fla matchup though. Love that game. If Cincy wins it they are de facto national champions. Unbeaten in a BCS conference and then a win in the Sugar Bowl against a 1-loss Florida team that was ranked #1 all season? That’s championship material.
This year is going to come out very much like 2005 (I think that was the year) when USC trounced OK in the title game, but Auburn went undefeated and beat VaTech in the Sugar Bowl, and Utah thumped Pitt in the Fiesta. 1 title game winner, 1 other undefeated BCS school and BCS bowl game winner, and 1 undefeated non-BCS school and BCS bowl game winner.
And that year Boise St. could have been undefeated also, if memory serves, but lost a great Liberty Bowl matchup against Louisville.
@21 Alvin:
Yes! Just ate there last night, and going back tonight for Mug Club party. Unveiling the new Double Pale Ale tonight. 9% ABV.
I. Can. Not. Wait!
But in addition to Granite City (and the one in St. Cloud where I am from), places like Vals and Howies are what I love about going out.
By the way, has there ever been a restaurant with as consistently good service as Granite City?
TCU-Boise is disappointing, I agree. But if you go through the order in which the teams were selected it’s hard to fault any of the bowls for the choice they made.
To qualify as a fast-food chain, you must have a drive-thru window – none of this curbside pick-up nonsense – and your drinks must be served in waxy plastic cups.
I’ve had em all and I’m here to tell you that Rally’s is the king.
Mikey,
What then of NYC? Are there no fast-food chains?
Because McDonald’s, Burger King, KFC, etc. all have multiple locations in Manhattan but there are essentially no drive-thru windows at any “fast food” restaurant in Manhattan.
Taco Bell and McDonald’s are awesome, and anyone who says otherwise is living a lie.
Pretty boring College Football season, though if Texas lost it would have been interesting. Now we just hope for a miraculous bowl game and return to the USC/Texas glory days in our minds.
It’s official Joe, the Snuggie has gone global! I live in England and while watching TV earlier (free to air TV, not cable!) saw a commercial for the Snuggie. Apparently it is on sale at several stores including one of the large supermarket chains (Asda, owned by Walmart).
That’s not all though, as I have seen a rival product called the Slanket. It was in a free catalog that came through the post and is also available on-line. In the blurb explaining the product they even make the same reference to the TV remote loving it. Not only that but you too could look like a recently unmasked phantom off Scooby Doo (it really says this).
I’m not sure how long these products have been available over here (quite recent I think) but it has me thinking what great useless infomercial item is next?
As to Applebee’s, Chili’s, and Fridays:
O’Charley’s is better than all of them. For one thing, they serve bread. That really does make a difference.
My problem with A-bee’s is they are constantly changing the menu. I find something I like and then the next time I’m there, it’s not on the menu.
As to fast food: Chick-fil-A is my favorite and it’s not even close. Always have high quality experiences there. (Backyard Burgers is about as good although they are hard to find.)
Joe,
When you do the fast food ranking, please set some eligibility guidelines. If you don’t, your ranking of the fast food giants (McDonalds, Wendy’s, BK, etc) will be torn apart by comments that (In-and-Out, Culvers, Five Guys) are better. While true, it will destroy the list.
Maybe a better idea is to divide them up into leagues – big national chains are the majors, while the smaller regional chains are AAA.
It should be obvious by now, but I’m WAY too excited about this.
Ate at the In-N-Out this summer and wasn’t all that impressed. Five Guys is much better. But if the list doesn’t include Chick-Fill-A, it’s automatically invalid.
Fast food, not casual dining:
5. Taco Bueno
4. Five Guys Burgers (enough food to feed a small army in each order)
3. In and Out Burgers
2. Culvers (kids get a free frozen yogurt, that dad usually ends up eating)
1. LCs (is it still around north of the river in KC? Used to have the best pork tenderloins, oh to be 25 again…)
How the Steelers turn bad? Simple: Injuries and a brain-dead coach, who punts on 4th and 5 from the opposition 38 in overtime.
Man, I really hope that in addition to finding the Verizon ads genius, you also hate them. Because yes, they are very effective and very smart, but goddamn are they pretentious, misleading, potentially flat-out wrong, and just aggravating as hell. And AT&T hasn’t done itself any favors with those awful Luke Wilson ads.
I think AT&T filed a lawsuit against Verizon over the map commercials, claiming they were misleading. The fine print too fine, apparently.
Bill C @30:
Just because some locations don’t have drive-thru, the point he was making was that they normally do have drive-thru.
Of course, any definition of fast food which excludes Subway (I’ve never once seen a Subway drive-thru) is inherently flawed anyway…
Marco @35:
No, no, not AAA. That inherently implies a lesser level of quality.
More accurate perhaps, especially in our post-BCS selection euphoria, might be “BCS” and “non-AQ”.
Jon,
In NYC, it’s not just some locations. It’s every. There are 83 McDonald’s in Manhattan (per Super Size Me, might be different now). I believe every single one lacks a drive thru, though perhaps there are 1 or 2 on the edges. The same would be true of Burger King, Wendy’s etc.
The point being merely, as you recognized in re Subway, that a drive thru window or the lack thereof is not a definitive characteristic of a fast food chain.
Thanks for sticking up for me, Jon Morse. Although you’re right about Subway.
And there are too drive-thrus in NYC. Try leaving Manhattan or going above 110th street sometime Bill C
David @ 38 – You’re really going to rip Tomlin for that punt when the options were a 55 yard FG outdoors or a 4th and 5 with Charlie Batch at the controls?
I’m exasperated with this Steeler season too but just about the last thing I would suggest is replacing Mike Tomlin.
El Pollo Loco is the best fast food place I’ve ever been to.
Joe’s new favorite informercial?
It’s got to be the Shake Weight, right?
A little late to the “casual dining” conversation, but for my money Ruby Tuesday’s dominates over the Crapplebee’s-Chili’s-Friday’s trifecta.
For fast food, I second the El Pollo Loco suggestion, and would also add Whataburger and Jack in the Box to the mix. Man, I am hungry now, and realizing that New England has such a weak selection of fast food joints compared to my old stomping grounds of Texas!
Joe: You continue to be the biggest sports writing sensation on the internets. Forty-eight comments regarding your “To-Do” List
In the little Muncie, Indiana-sized towns of the world, where there is enough room for Subways to be standalone buildings, they all have drive-thrus.
Casual dining? A joke. Applebees, Chili’s, Fridays–all a waste of time and money. Does anyone ever go, “Oooh, *I* know where we should go tonight. Applebee’s! Who’s with me?”
And re: Whataburger–they have decent and cheap breakfast, I suppose. But do I give them a pass?
No no no.
There is NO EXCUSE. NONE. For saying “sure, we have mayonnaise” and then disappointing the customer (more like stabbing the customer in the tastebuds with a red-hot poker, really) when he/she finds out it’s actually Miracle Whip.
No.
Excuse.
Shelby @50: Yes, my kids do exactly that.
Wade @47: I definitely prefer Ruby Tuesday to the unholy trifecta of Applebee’s – Friday’s – Chili’s. Cracker Barrel is also superior to the unholy trifecta, and I’d even be willing to consider Red Robin is better, as long as what you want is a hamburger.
And yet, for some unknown reason, my kids love the unholy trifecta.
There is no genius to the Verizon commercials.
Come on, 50, don’t be a snob. There are millions of people in this country saying exactly that about Applebee’s, Chili’s, etc. If you want to take a family out for a sit-down meal on a budget they’re perfectly good options.
I don’t know if it really fits in this category but the best casual chain restaurant I’ve eaten at by a wide margin is Houston’s.
Mikey:
Yeah, you’re probably right. Apologies….it just sucks that local, BETTER restaurants miss out on the business due to corporate advertising. Of course, I’ve been through several towns where there just aren’t any local restaurants…Cracker Barrel at the exit ramp of Hwy 491, etc.
And I agree with your take on Houston’s. Pricier, I would think, than your typical casual chain. But I had a bloody prime rib sandwich there that made me rethink my life.
@42:
How about “general” and “boutique” fast food? Conveys both smaller and more select. Here’s my hamburger joint list:
General
———
Wendy’s
Carl’s Jr.
BK
McDonalds
Jack-in-the-box
Sonic
Boutique
———–
Five Guys
In-and-Out
Culver’s
If the fast food sub shops had fries, they’d clearly kick butt over any of the burger places. Subs are so much better tasting, and you can pretend they are healthy too.
As for our nation’s inability to support clearly superior local restaraunts, I have no good answer. The food is much better, usually, but it is also usually more expensive. That extra $20 does matter to people. Frankly, we eat at home more and more lately, as the food is usually better and cheapr. That’s the one I don’t get – why more people don’t eat at home, with home cooked meals.
But, to each their own. I refuse to judge another person’s decisions in this area as right or wrong.
I too am anxiously awaiting the fast food rankings (apparently Joe’s core demographic is fat guys who enjoy cheap foods of questionable quality).
In my poll, the ranking for McDonalds goes up dramatically whenever the McRib returns to the menu.
My favorite casual dining restaurant chain was Pizzeria Uno. Until I looked up the nutritional info. My favorite item for lunch was the Chicago Classic individual pizza, which was listed as 770 calories per serving. If you think an “individual” pizza consists of one serving, as I did for a while, then you’d be very wrong. An individual pizza is actually 3 servings, which amounts to 2310 calories in one Chicago classic lunch pizza. If you think that’s bad, the lunch special came with an individual pizza AND a side salad. Of course, I ate both.
Pizzeria Uno is the bomb; an incurable guilty pleasure for me.
I’m here in NYC – the greatest pizza city in the world – and yet every couple months I must go to Uno. Usually by myself because literally nobody will go there with me.
In fact, you know what? F it. I’m going there for lunch right now.
“Elliott P. said at 7:50 am on December 8th, 2009:
In the little Muncie, Indiana-sized towns of the world, where there is enough room for Subways to be standalone buildings, they all have drive-thrus.”
Hi, brother.
Don’t know if this is necessarily the best place to post this, but given Joe’s love of Snuggies, I couldn’t resist.
Dallas Stars are offering a free team logo Snuggy if you buy tickets to 3 games. They even have an ad with 2 cheerleaders squeezing into 1 Snuggy (which does make the Snuggy much more appealing)!
Bill C,
This adds nothing to the conversation, but just an FYI, the McDonald’s on the corner of 125th and Broadway has a drive-thru.
Mikey,
Again, not really adding much here, but just had to be pointed out. As a fellow New Yorker I concur on our fair city’s American pizza dominance. Worldwide, though, it would have to be #2 to Naples.
New York pizza is barely pizza. Sorry. That stuff is just not appealing at all.
As for going to a local place over a chain, I’ve been to a few around here. I never really care for them. I think it’s a total myth that local = better. I’m all for supporting the little guy, but only if the little guy’s product is good. In this case, it’s usually not.