.... don't bother with the >>NEW!<< Cheddar-Jack Macaroni & Cheese with
Chicken. My brother took us there yesterday. I figured how hard is it to
screw up mac & cheese? Not hard at all, as it turns out.

The grilled chicken strips on top of the (rigatoni) pasta were okay. The
pasta was totally devoid of flavour. Cheese? What cheese? They should
rename this dish Bland Pasta with Mediocre Chicken. This unremarkable dish
was accompanied by an equally unappealing clam chowder. Not recommended.

Jill

One time on Usenet, "jmcquown" > said:

> .... don't bother with the >>NEW!<< Cheddar-Jack Macaroni & Cheese with
> Chicken. My brother took us there yesterday. I figured how hard is it to
> screw up mac & cheese? Not hard at all, as it turns out.
>
> The grilled chicken strips on top of the (rigatoni) pasta were okay. The
> pasta was totally devoid of flavour. Cheese? What cheese? They should
> rename this dish Bland Pasta with Mediocre Chicken. This unremarkable dish
> was accompanied by an equally unappealing clam chowder. Not recommended.

Sounds like you had a day like mine, from a restaurant POV. I took
my stepmother to the local casino for dinner and slots last night.
We didn't care for the menu at the sit down place, so we had their
seafood buffet, which looked quite yummy. Looks are deceiving. When
a restaurant can ruin Dungeness crab, of all things, I'm sad...

--
Jani in WA

"Little Malice" > wrote in message
...
> One time on Usenet, "jmcquown" > said:
>
>> The grilled chicken strips on top of the (rigatoni) pasta were okay. The
>> pasta was totally devoid of flavour. Cheese? What cheese? They should
>> rename this dish Bland Pasta with Mediocre Chicken. This unremarkable
>> dish
>> was accompanied by an equally unappealing clam chowder. Not recommended.
>
> Sounds like you had a day like mine, from a restaurant POV. I took
> my stepmother to the local casino for dinner and slots last night.
> We didn't care for the menu at the sit down place, so we had their
> seafood buffet, which looked quite yummy. Looks are deceiving. When
> a restaurant can ruin Dungeness crab, of all things, I'm sad...
>
> --
> Jani in WA
>
Yikes, they destroyed Dungeness? Isn't there some kind of law against
that?!

Jill

In article >,
"jmcquown" > wrote:

> "Little Malice" > wrote in message
> ...
> > One time on Usenet, "jmcquown" > said:
> >
> >> The grilled chicken strips on top of the (rigatoni) pasta were okay. The
> >> pasta was totally devoid of flavour. Cheese? What cheese? They should
> >> rename this dish Bland Pasta with Mediocre Chicken. This unremarkable
> >> dish
> >> was accompanied by an equally unappealing clam chowder. Not recommended.
> >
> > Sounds like you had a day like mine, from a restaurant POV. I took
> > my stepmother to the local casino for dinner and slots last night.
> > We didn't care for the menu at the sit down place, so we had their
> > seafood buffet, which looked quite yummy. Looks are deceiving. When
> > a restaurant can ruin Dungeness crab, of all things, I'm sad...
> >
> > --
> > Jani in WA
> >
> Yikes, they destroyed Dungeness? Isn't there some kind of law against
> that?!
>
> Jill

There ought to be. Hmm, I wonder if we can get one through the WA
Legislature in the last 4 days of the session, Jani. If the Texas
Legislature could put through a food libel law, so can we.

The SO and I much avoid most of the chains of the Applebee's genre (TGI
Fridays, Outback, etc.) except under desperate conditions. Much of it
is corporatized, least common denominator chow.

Cindy

--
C.J. Fuller

Delete the obvious to email me

On Mar 9, 2:41*pm, Cindy Fuller >
wrote:
> In article >,
>
>
>
>
>
> *"jmcquown" > wrote:
> > "Little Malice" > wrote in message
> ...
> > > One time on Usenet, "jmcquown" > said:
>
> > >> The grilled chicken strips on top of the (rigatoni) pasta were okay. *The
> > >> pasta was totally devoid of flavour. *Cheese? *What cheese? * They should
> > >> rename this dish Bland Pasta with Mediocre Chicken. *This unremarkable
> > >> dish
> > >> was accompanied by an equally unappealing clam chowder. *Not recommended.
>
> > > Sounds like you had a day like mine, from a restaurant POV. I took
> > > my stepmother to the local casino for dinner and slots last night.
> > > We didn't care for the menu at the sit down place, so we had their
> > > seafood buffet, which looked quite yummy. Looks are deceiving. When
> > > a restaurant can ruin Dungeness crab, of all things, I'm sad...
>
> > > --
> > > Jani in WA
>
> > Yikes, they destroyed Dungeness? *Isn't there some kind of law against
> > that?!
>
> > Jill
>
> There ought to be. *Hmm, I wonder if we can get one through the WA
> Legislature in the last 4 days of the session, Jani. If the Texas
> Legislature could put through a food libel law, so can we.
>
> The SO and I much avoid most of the chains of the Applebee's genre (TGI
> Fridays, Outback, etc.) except under desperate conditions. *Much of it
> is corporatized, least common denominator chow.

I didn't thing that Outback was quite down there with Friday's or
Applebee's, but perhaps I have a prejudice in their favor, as I used
to run a cleaning crew that cleaned restaurant kitchens, and Outback's
was by far the cleanest, best smelling kitchen we did. I never
actually ate there. I have been dragged to Applebee's. Not a pretty
scene. When I get served bad food, I don't remain silent about it.

The very worst was a place called O'Charley's.
http://www.ocharleys.com/
>
> Cindy
>
> --
> C.J. Fuller

--Bryan

Bobo Bonobo® wrote:
> On Mar 9, 2:41 pm, Cindy Fuller >
> wrote:
>> In article >,
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> "jmcquown" > wrote:
>>> "Little Malice" > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>>> One time on Usenet, "jmcquown" > said:
>>>>> The grilled chicken strips on top of the (rigatoni) pasta were okay. The
>>>>> pasta was totally devoid of flavour. Cheese? What cheese? They should
>>>>> rename this dish Bland Pasta with Mediocre Chicken. This unremarkable
>>>>> dish
>>>>> was accompanied by an equally unappealing clam chowder. Not recommended.
>>>> Sounds like you had a day like mine, from a restaurant POV. I took
>>>> my stepmother to the local casino for dinner and slots last night.
>>>> We didn't care for the menu at the sit down place, so we had their
>>>> seafood buffet, which looked quite yummy. Looks are deceiving. When
>>>> a restaurant can ruin Dungeness crab, of all things, I'm sad...
>>>> --
>>>> Jani in WA
>>> Yikes, they destroyed Dungeness? Isn't there some kind of law against
>>> that?!
>>> Jill
>> There ought to be. Hmm, I wonder if we can get one through the WA
>> Legislature in the last 4 days of the session, Jani. If the Texas
>> Legislature could put through a food libel law, so can we.
>>
>> The SO and I much avoid most of the chains of the Applebee's genre (TGI
>> Fridays, Outback, etc.) except under desperate conditions. Much of it
>> is corporatized, least common denominator chow.
>
> I didn't thing that Outback was quite down there with Friday's or
> Applebee's, but perhaps I have a prejudice in their favor, as I used
> to run a cleaning crew that cleaned restaurant kitchens, and Outback's
> was by far the cleanest, best smelling kitchen we did. I never
> actually ate there. I have been dragged to Applebee's. Not a pretty
> scene. When I get served bad food, I don't remain silent about it.
>
> The very worst was a place called O'Charley's.
> http://www.ocharleys.com/

Most people never see beyond all of the marketing spin and don't realize
how crappy most of the big box places are. Someeone buys a franchise and
the companies really don't care about quality and cleanliness (except to
say they are wonderful)

My buddy owns a commercial refrigeration business and he does some of
the industrial big box places so he gets to see the back end. He
absolutely refuses to eat in most of those places.

He said of all them Wendy's is actually clean and well managed and he
will eat there.



>> Cindy
>>
>> --
>> C.J. Fuller
>
> --Bryan

Bobo Bonobo® wrote:
> On Mar 9, 2:41 pm, Cindy Fuller >
> wrote:
>> In article >,
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> "jmcquown" > wrote:
>>> "Little Malice" > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>>> One time on Usenet, "jmcquown" > said:
>>
>>>>> The grilled chicken strips on top of the (rigatoni) pasta were
>>>>> okay. The pasta was totally devoid of flavour. Cheese? What
>>>>> cheese? They should rename this dish Bland Pasta with Mediocre
>>>>> Chicken. This unremarkable dish
>>>>> was accompanied by an equally unappealing clam chowder. Not
>>>>> recommended.
>>
>>>> Sounds like you had a day like mine, from a restaurant POV. I took
>>>> my stepmother to the local casino for dinner and slots last night.
>>>> We didn't care for the menu at the sit down place, so we had their
>>>> seafood buffet, which looked quite yummy. Looks are deceiving. When
>>>> a restaurant can ruin Dungeness crab, of all things, I'm sad...
>>
>>>> --
>>>> Jani in WA
>>
>>> Yikes, they destroyed Dungeness? Isn't there some kind of law
>>> against that?!
>>
>>> Jill
>>
>> There ought to be. Hmm, I wonder if we can get one through the WA
>> Legislature in the last 4 days of the session, Jani. If the Texas
>> Legislature could put through a food libel law, so can we.
>>
>> The SO and I much avoid most of the chains of the Applebee's genre
>> (TGI Fridays, Outback, etc.) except under desperate conditions. Much
>> of it is corporatized, least common denominator chow.
>
> I didn't thing that Outback was quite down there with Friday's or
> Applebee's, but perhaps I have a prejudice in their favor, as I used
> to run a cleaning crew that cleaned restaurant kitchens, and Outback's
> was by far the cleanest, best smelling kitchen we did. I never
> actually ate there. I have been dragged to Applebee's. Not a pretty
> scene. When I get served bad food, I don't remain silent about it.
>
> The very worst was a place called O'Charley's.
> http://www.ocharleys.com/
>>
> --Bryan
>
LOL I worked at O'Charley's, hmmm, was it 1990? I was a hostess (primarily
on the lunch shift) and processed accounts receivable/payable and payroll.
I only ever saw the kitchen in full throes of operation so of course it
wasn't spotless then; after hours, dunno. I was rarely on a closing shift.
The food was pretty good back then and the service was always very good.

The one time I went there again, must have been around 1996, both the food
and the service had suffered greatly. In fact, the hostess, whose job it is
to know what tables have been bussed and wiped down, walked us to a table
still covered with dishes and glassware. She shoved the menus at me, said
there would be a busboy along shortly, and walked off. EXCUSE ME? I found
a manager who cajoled us into sticking around. The food wasn't worth the
wait and I let him know on the way out the door. (And no, I didn't raise
hell about getting the meal comped or anything like that. I just never
darkened their door again!)

Jill

On 2008-03-10, Bobo Bonobo® > wrote:

> I didn't thing that Outback was quite down there with Friday's or
> Applebee's, but perhaps I have a prejudice in their favor....

I'll agree with the first part, but have a different opinion on the second.
Outback is more than capable of destroying food. I've been twice. Same
place, same time of day and same day of week. First time was pretty darn
good. I was mildly surprised. Second time was horrible. Meat destroyed,
meal cold. That was the last time. Sorry, but 50% is not good enough.

> actually ate there. I have been dragged to Applebee's. Not a pretty
> scene.

Agreed. I'd have to BE dragged to Craplebee's. Friday's is even worse.

nb

In article
>
,
Cindy Fuller > wrote:

> The SO and I much avoid most of the chains of the Applebee's genre (TGI
> Fridays, Outback, etc.) except under desperate conditions. Much of it
> is corporatized, least common denominator chow.

Cindy and I are very fortunate to live in Seattle, where there are still
lots of high quality independently owned restaurants and cafes. From
our travels around the country, we know that there are many cities and
towns where almost all the eateries are outlets of the big corporate
chains.

It's really sad. When I was growing up (in the 50s and 60s), I used to
enjoy traveling with my parents and sampling the regional variations in
food. Now, it's often hard to find places that preserve those regional
cuisines. You have to hunt for them, away from the interstate highways
where the junk food chains dominate. When Cindy and I go on driving
vacations, we often do some advance research, and plan our stops to
visit restaurants that feature authentic local or ethnic specialties.

I went to an Applebee's only once, and ordered their "famous" ribs.
They served up a soggy pile of bones, covered with a super-sweet sauce.
There was probably more sauce than meat. Never again.

--
Julian Vrieslander

Julian Vrieslander wrote:
> In article
> >
> ,
> Cindy Fuller > wrote:
>
>> The SO and I much avoid most of the chains of the Applebee's genre (TGI
>> Fridays, Outback, etc.) except under desperate conditions. Much of it
>> is corporatized, least common denominator chow.
>
> Cindy and I are very fortunate to live in Seattle, where there are still
> lots of high quality independently owned restaurants and cafes. From
> our travels around the country, we know that there are many cities and
> towns where almost all the eateries are outlets of the big corporate
> chains.


Good places still exist. The problem is that the big box places have
such warchests that they can buy mindshare so people think there is
nothing else.

I mentioned this before. Some friends know that I know NYC pretty well.
I read that there are something like 16,000 restaurants there. I gave
them recommendations for places that fit their schedule and price range.
When they came back they announced that tjfridays called to them as soon
as they saw it.

>
> It's really sad. When I was growing up (in the 50s and 60s), I used to
> enjoy traveling with my parents and sampling the regional variations in
> food. Now, it's often hard to find places that preserve those regional
> cuisines. You have to hunt for them, away from the interstate highways
> where the junk food chains dominate. When Cindy and I go on driving
> vacations, we often do some advance research, and plan our stops to
> visit restaurants that feature authentic local or ethnic specialties.
>
> I went to an Applebee's only once, and ordered their "famous" ribs.
> They served up a soggy pile of bones, covered with a super-sweet sauce.
> There was probably more sauce than meat. Never again.
>

On Sat, 8 Mar 2008 14:48:53 -0500, "jmcquown" >
fired up random neurons and synapses to opine:

>... don't bother with the >>NEW!<< Cheddar-Jack Macaroni & Cheese with
>Chicken. My brother took us there yesterday. I figured how hard is it to
>screw up mac & cheese? Not hard at all, as it turns out.

<snippidy>

The DH and I went to Sandy Eggo yesterday to see "Dancing in the Dark"
at the Old Globe (very entertaining, headed for Broadway, won't last 6
months, but...very entertaining). We always stay overnight at a nearby
B&B and have dinner at a nearby restaurant that has always pleased.
Not last night. I ordered the cheese and broccoli soup and have never
in my life had such a nasty cup/bowl of soup. It tasted like the chef
had put everything into it but the cheese, broccoli, broth and
seasonings. First time I've ever tasted flour soup.

P.S. For San Diegans, it's the Gulf Coast Grill in the Hillcrest
District on Park. But everything else has been great! <shrug>

Terry "Squeaks" Pulliam Burd
--
"If the soup had been as hot as the claret, if the claret had been as
old as the bird, and if the bird's breasts had been as full as the
waitress's, it would have been a very good dinner."

-- Duncan Hines

To reply, replace "meatloaf" with "cox"