I like Arby's. The roast beef sandwich with their Arby's sauce, their beef and cheddar, even their chicken sandwiches. They are delicious. Their curly fries have no equal, and the potato cakes are great too.
I used to eat there a lot when they had the never ending riblets. Wouldn't be surprised if I am the reason they stopped doing that. On more than one occasion the manager gave me coupons for so much % off the next visit if I would leave.
Applebees started out under a different name. I had a friend who’s knew the owners who bought it. They had an Applebees bar in their basement. I never got to see it but that would be fun.
I remember in the 90’s people would want hours to eat there. I do remember their steak being a good value.
At the time almost everything was cooked fresh. I don’t think they do that anymore.
Pretty much every big national chain in America has followed the same trend line. Fridays, chilli's etc. They all rose.to popularity, spread all over and once they reached saturation started cheating out on ingredients and quality control to make more money.
A local chain in the midwest is lions choice for roast beef. It is pretty damn good. They use real beef and it looks and taste like beef.
I have no clue if it's true but many people point to 2008 as the decline of most of these places. I use to like outback but it's not very good nowadays.
I think the decline was evident before 2008, but it really excelerated the trend. I used to love macaroni grill. It went to complete shit not long after 2008 with new ownership and I haven't been to one in probably at least a decade.
I haven’t seen one in years but I do remember having a very good meal there once. A roasted pork shank and it was amazing. I think some have closed as I have even seen one in years
They were one of the only chains I enjoyed the food from. Macaroni Grill was a nice cross section of value and quality on the food. Then they got bought and it became basically olive garden quality really quickly. The first time I went after I got lasagne and it was like dorn room cafeteria quality. Then they supposedly realized they fucked up and brought some quality back at some point and I went back, still sucked. Went from somewhere I'd recommend some decent somewhat authentic Italian food on a budget to somewhere I'd silently judge anyone for enjoying.... It's like all the other big chains now, they're clearly throwing the equivalent of freezer isle meals in ovens.
It is surprising how much restaurant food is just reheated processed food. Back in high school I worked at a Mexican place. I have to say everything was cooked for the most part. Obviously the french fries were frozen. The tortilla we bought premade which is common but most everything else was cooked in house.
I can't figure out if people don't know it or are just that lazy. TGI Fridays and a few other places have the balls to sell it in the grocery store freezer isle. Yet somehow people still go pay for them to warm up a frozen dinner for them.