GM's thread about nothing (34 Viewers)

[Lomez]

HAS ANYONE SEEN SHUKE??

I think so. Kinda portly fellow. Likes to eat and shave in lakes.

 

[McJose]

HAS ANYONE SEEN SHUKE??

I think so. Kinda portly fellow. Likes to eat and shave in lakes.

awesome

 

[McJose]

I am in the non-hating chain restaurants camp. As long as you go in knowing what to expect you shouldn't be disappointed.

There's an Outback less than 2 blocks from my house but I bet I haven't been there more than 3 times in the last 7 years. I don't avoid it because I don't like it. It's because it's always packed.

One of these days I'm going to go over and put my name on the list and then take the coaster/pager thing with me. I want to see if that sucker has enough range to reach my house.

 

[Lomez]

I want to see if that sucker has enough range to reach my house.

Working a similar angle with the little tramp who lives at the end of our street.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

I would rather have my face surgically removed than eat at an Applebee's. If that makes me a snob, then so be it.

 

[-fish-]

You people that hate chain restaurants are all spoiled. I live in a town with like 5 restaurant choices and no chains. I wish we had a Fridays or Chilis or whatever.

 

[Exit 1]

Chain restaurants are great. You're not going there for 5 star dining. You're going there for consistency and value.

I bet if you took a lot of chain restaurant food and put it in restaurant that looked like a mom and pop restaurant, the chain haterz here would be all "OMG!!!1111 THIS IS GREAT FOOD!!!".

 

[McJose]

Chain restaurants are great. You're not going there for 5 star dining. You're going there for consistency and value. I bet if you took a lot of chain restaurant food and put it in restaurant that looked like a mom and pop restaurant, the chain haterz here would be all "OMG!!!1111 THIS IS GREAT FOOD!!!".

Yep.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Chain restaurants are great. You're not going there for 5 star dining. You're going there for consistency and value. I bet if you took a lot of chain restaurant food and put it in restaurant that looked like a mom and pop restaurant, the chain haterz here would be all "OMG!!!1111 THIS IS GREAT FOOD!!!".

Ever been to a Chevy's? Or an Applebee's? It ####### stinks.There are plenty of ####ty "Mom and Pop" restaurants that are terrible too. We went out to a new Japanese place in town last night. Casual, about the same prices as a chain, and it was delicious. Not going to earn any Michelin stars any time soon, but it was fine.Let's all stop pretending that TGI Friday's is a palatable excuse for food if you don't live in a civilized part of the country.

 

[General Malaise]

Getting absolutely loaded all weekend starting tomorrow afternoon. 3 days of camping, disc golf, great beer and lots-o-weed.

:drifter:

Living the dream, Hack!This would have been a great weekend to come to Portland as it's the North American Organic Brewers Festival and it's every bit as awesome as it sounds. Especially when your buddy Sean scores some special brownies and lollipops from his card carrying friend. Getting off work really early tomorrow and will be taking public transportation to and fro. Can't wait!

 

[urbanhack]

Getting absolutely loaded all weekend starting tomorrow afternoon. 3 days of camping, disc golf, great beer and lots-o-weed.

:drifter:

Living the dream, Hack!This would have been a great weekend to come to Portland as it's the North American Organic Brewers Festival and it's every bit as awesome as it sounds. Especially when your buddy Sean scores some special brownies and lollipops from his card carrying friend. Getting off work really early tomorrow and will be taking public transportation to and fro. Can't wait!

nice. that sounds awesome.

 

[Lomez]

I don't have a beef with chain places in general. They serve their purpose. It's not being a chain that causes Olive Garden and Applebees to suck out loud.

I am amused by the consistency comment, though. My biggest complaint about chains is their lack of consistency. Yes, you know what you're getting relative to walking into a local place you've never been. But you don't always know the quality you're getting. You find a local place that you know is good, and odds are you're going to get more consistent food from them than you are from the chains. I go into one Chili's and get a great, juicy burger, then go into the next and get something that's dryer than granny Lomez's nether regions. It's the same product, but different management and different staff = different results.

 

[General Malaise]

I am in the non-hating chain restaurants camp. As long as you go in knowing what to expect you shouldn't be disappointed. There's an Outback less than 2 blocks from my house but I bet I haven't been there more than 3 times in the last 7 years. I don't avoid it because I don't like it. It's because it's always packed. One of these days I'm going to go over and put my name on the list and then take the coaster/pager thing with me. I want to see if that sucker has enough range to reach my house.

 

[McJose]

I don't have a beef with chain places in general. They serve their purpose. It's not being a chain that causes Olive Garden and Applebees to suck out loud. I am amused by the consistency comment, though. My biggest complaint about chains is their lack of consistency. Yes, you know what you're getting relative to walking into a local place you've never been. But you don't always know the quality you're getting. You find a local place that you know is good, and odds are you're going to get more consistent food from them than you are from the chains. I go into one Chili's and get a great, juicy burger, then go into the next and get something that's dryer than granny Lomez's nether regions. It's the same product, but different management and different staff = different results.

Man, I can't disagree with this more. One of the reasons why chain places make bazillions is that they have created a marketable product and then insure that it is consistent. The requirements for franchises are usually very strict. My wife is in the chain restaurant business and it's given me the opportunity to sample food from different brands in many different cities. If anything they're consistent.

 

[General Malaise]

My oldest son LOVES Chilis. When they shut down in Portland/Beaverton, he was more depressed over it than he was the divorce or the dog dying (all three happened to him at the same time). When he saw one in an airport last year, he nearly forced us to miss our connecting flight so we could eat there. Not sure what he loves about it so much, but that kid loves him some Chilis.

Their firecracker Talapia is good eating.

 

[ODoyleRules]

I hate the food at chain restaurants, but I can't get enough of their decor. So there's that.

 

[McJose]

sorry

 

[guru_007]

I don't have a beef with chain places in general. They serve their purpose. It's not being a chain that causes Olive Garden and Applebees to suck out loud. I am amused by the consistency comment, though. My biggest complaint about chains is their lack of consistency. Yes, you know what you're getting relative to walking into a local place you've never been. But you don't always know the quality you're getting. You find a local place that you know is good, and odds are you're going to get more consistent food from them than you are from the chains. I go into one Chili's and get a great, juicy burger, then go into the next and get something that's dryer than granny Lomez's nether regions. It's the same product, but different management and different staff = different results.

Man, I can't disagree with this more. One of the reasons why chain places make bazillions is that they have created a marketable product and then insure that it is consistent. The requirements for franchises are usually very strict. My wife is in the chain restaurant business and it's given me the opportunity to sample food from different brands in many different cities. If anything they're consistent.

yupIf I go to Outback in Bakersfield, I know I can get a blooming onion. I know it will be a deep fried, battered onion mess. I know there will be some orangish yellow sauce with a slight kick served with it. I know it's gonna taste greasy and will be mildly satisfying and my arteries will tense up with each bite. I know this exact same thing will be in Portland, Youngstown, wherever I want to go and it will taste about the same. I'm also fairly certain that these restaurants have people checking up on their food preparation and kitchens so that they are meeting whatever the Outback standard is for fried goodness. I'm not saying it's great, but I know what I can get and what to expect.

 

[McJose]

I don't have a beef with chain places in general. They serve their purpose. It's not being a chain that causes Olive Garden and Applebees to suck out loud.

I am amused by the consistency comment, though. My biggest complaint about chains is their lack of consistency. Yes, you know what you're getting relative to walking into a local place you've never been. But you don't always know the quality you're getting. You find a local place that you know is good, and odds are you're going to get more consistent food from them than you are from the chains. I go into one Chili's and get a great, juicy burger, then go into the next and get something that's dryer than granny Lomez's nether regions. It's the same product, but different management and different staff = different results.

Man, I can't disagree with this more. One of the reasons why chain places make bazillions is that they have created a marketable product and then insure that it is consistent. The requirements for franchises are usually very strict. My wife is in the chain restaurant business and it's given me the opportunity to sample food from different brands in many different cities. If anything they're consistent.

yupIf I go to Outback in Bakersfield, I know I can get a blooming onion. I know it will be a deep fried, battered onion mess. I know there will be some orangish yellow sauce with a slight kick served with it. I know it's gonna taste greasy and will be mildly satisfying and my arteries will tense up with each bite. I know this exact same thing will be in Portland, Youngstown, wherever I want to go and it will taste about the same. I'm also fairly certain that these restaurants have people checking up on their food preparation and kitchens so that they are meeting whatever the Outback standard is for fried goodness. I'm not saying it's great, but I know what I can get and what to expect.

You just described Truck's personal version of hell.

 

[Tiger Fan]

I can't stand chain restaurants....but that's probably b/c there are so many great local restaurants in New Orleans that I never have to go to any.

From what I remember from college, Chili's and Outback were pretty good (for a chain) and and Applebees was god awful

 

[Lomez]

I don't have a beef with chain places in general. They serve their purpose. It's not being a chain that causes Olive Garden and Applebees to suck out loud. I am amused by the consistency comment, though. My biggest complaint about chains is their lack of consistency. Yes, you know what you're getting relative to walking into a local place you've never been. But you don't always know the quality you're getting. You find a local place that you know is good, and odds are you're going to get more consistent food from them than you are from the chains. I go into one Chili's and get a great, juicy burger, then go into the next and get something that's dryer than granny Lomez's nether regions. It's the same product, but different management and different staff = different results.

Man, I can't disagree with this more. One of the reasons why chain places make bazillions is that they have created a marketable product and then insure that it is consistent. The requirements for franchises are usually very strict. My wife is in the chain restaurant business and it's given me the opportunity to sample food from different brands in many different cities. If anything they're consistent.

I know that's what they strive for, but the hardest thing for restaurants to do is hire and keep good employees. I spent most of my youth waiting tables in a chain restaurant, and the servers knew the quality was going to vary based on who the cooks were that night. You spread that across multiple locations and multiple management teams, and the differences get amplified.

 

[urbanhack]

luckily i don't have to make that choice very often.

 

[Bogart]

I think I may just go to Chili's for lunch today.

Oldtimer with cheese and some of their chips and salsa sounds pretty tasty right now.

 

[guru_007]

I found out the other day that the pipes in my house are all galvanized steel. You know how I found this out? Well, because I noticed a nice water spot on the ceiling by one of my bathrooms. Okay I thought, maybe there was a leak, I'll go find it, fix it up and be on my way. Well, I couldn't find the leak, probably because the only thing I'm worse at than the internet is plumbing, so I called out a guy to hook me up, fix my leak. And the guy found the leak, and another leak, and another leak, and now all my pipes need to be replaced because the joints are all rusting out. So, that's pretty sweet.

Got a few estimates and work will commence shortly. To celebrate, I'll be going to Vegas for a long weekend in August with some of my buddies. Pretty sure my wife will have a voodoo doll out that weekend, poking sticks in it. Just thought you'd all be interested in knowing.

eta - HFFL draft in Vegas this year?

 

[Lomez]

I don't have a beef with chain places in general. They serve their purpose. It's not being a chain that causes Olive Garden and Applebees to suck out loud. I am amused by the consistency comment, though. My biggest complaint about chains is their lack of consistency. Yes, you know what you're getting relative to walking into a local place you've never been. But you don't always know the quality you're getting. You find a local place that you know is good, and odds are you're going to get more consistent food from them than you are from the chains. I go into one Chili's and get a great, juicy burger, then go into the next and get something that's dryer than granny Lomez's nether regions. It's the same product, but different management and different staff = different results.

Man, I can't disagree with this more. One of the reasons why chain places make bazillions is that they have created a marketable product and then insure that it is consistent. The requirements for franchises are usually very strict. My wife is in the chain restaurant business and it's given me the opportunity to sample food from different brands in many different cities. If anything they're consistent.

yupIf I go to Outback in Bakersfield, I know I can get a blooming onion. I know it will be a deep fried, battered onion mess. I know there will be some orangish yellow sauce with a slight kick served with it. I know it's gonna taste greasy and will be mildly satisfying and my arteries will tense up with each bite. I know this exact same thing will be in Portland, Youngstown, wherever I want to go and it will taste about the same.

On this part I agree. Like I said, you know what you're getting relative to walking into a local place you've never been.

I'm also fairly certain that these restaurants have people checking up on their food preparation and kitchens so that they are meeting whatever the Outback standard is for fried goodness.

It's this part where I strongly disagree. I think as you move up the chain food chain from an Applebees to a Chilis to an Outback to a Flemings, you get more of this. But the QC at many of these chains, particularly the lower-end ones, is not quite like that. There's no corporate-trained stooge standing at the pass-through window at 9:00 on a Wednesday night making sure his cook didn't come into work with a buzz from happy hour and pass along to the customer something that's been sitting under a heat lamp for 15 minutes and turned to crap.

 

[guru_007]

everyone knows that cooks get the best dope....even tipsy mcchain hater could agree on that

 

[General Malaise]

sorry

 

[Lomez]

lfl

 

[Drifter]

You people that hate chain restaurants are all spoiled. I live in a town with like 5 restaurant choices and no chains. I wish we had a Fridays or Chilis or whatever.

Seattle in general seems very anti-chain, anti-fast food. Maybe it's different as you get more into the burbs but it certainly seems that way in my little world.

 

[Keys Myaths]

So, I'm headed to Manchester, New Hampshire next week. Anything to do there?

 

[Idiot Boxer]

You people that hate chain restaurants are all spoiled. I live in a town with like 5 restaurant choices and no chains. I wish we had a Fridays or Chilis or whatever.

Seattle in general seems very anti-chain, anti-fast food. Maybe it's different as you get more into the burbs but it certainly seems that way in my little world.

Yeah. They prefer those Mom & Pops, like Starbucks...and Nike...and Microsoft.

 

[Disco Stu]

My oldest son LOVES Chilis. When they shut down in Portland/Beaverton, he was more depressed over it than he was the divorce or the dog dying (all three happened to him at the same time). When he saw one in an airport last year, he nearly forced us to miss our connecting flight so we could eat there. Not sure what he loves about it so much, but that kid loves him some Chilis.

Their firecracker Talapia is good eating.

I went to an Applebee's a year or two ago and risked the Cajun Lime Tilapia. It was surprisingly good. And they had $1 Miller High Life drafts. Not sure why I haven't been back. I think the key at Chili's and Applebee's is to find one or two things you like alright and make those your go-to items on the rare occasion you find yourself there. At Chili's that's chicken fried steak, chicken tenders, or southwestern eggrolls.

I'd never order a steak or ribs at these places. Just begging to be disappointed.

 

[Lieutenant Dan]

My oldest son LOVES Chilis. When they shut down in Portland/Beaverton, he was more depressed over it than he was the divorce or the dog dying (all three happened to him at the same time). When he saw one in an airport last year, he nearly forced us to miss our connecting flight so we could eat there. Not sure what he loves about it so much, but that kid loves him some Chilis.

Their firecracker Talapia is good eating.

I went to an Applebee's a year or two ago and risked the Cajun Lime Tilapia. It was surprisingly good. And they had $1 Miller High Life drafts. Not sure why I haven't been back. I think the key at Chili's and Applebee's is to find one or two things you like alright and make those your go-to items on the rare occasion you find yourself there. At Chili's that's chicken fried steak, chicken tenders, or southwestern eggrolls.

I'd never order a steak or ribs at these places. Just begging to be disappointed.

The ribs are actually pretty good sometimes

 

[Mr. Pickles]

The last time I ate at an Outback, the filet was horribly overcooked and the shrimp inedible. It was the furthest thing from consistent as that's usually at least something I can choke down there.

The menu is consistent in its offering, but I don't understand this claim that the food prep is in any way consistent.

The worst food I've eaten in recent memory was at a small mom and pop place. They're hardly immune.

 

[General Malaise]

You people that hate chain restaurants are all spoiled. I live in a town with like 5 restaurant choices and no chains. I wish we had a Fridays or Chilis or whatever.

Seattle in general seems very anti-chain, anti-fast food. Maybe it's different as you get more into the burbs but it certainly seems that way in my little world.

Yeah. They prefer those Mom & Pops, like Starbucks...and Nike...and Microsoft.

That's Portland/Beaverton, GB.

 

[Idiot Boxer]

You people that hate chain restaurants are all spoiled. I live in a town with like 5 restaurant choices and no chains. I wish we had a Fridays or Chilis or whatever.

Seattle in general seems very anti-chain, anti-fast food. Maybe it's different as you get more into the burbs but it certainly seems that way in my little world.

Yeah. They prefer those Mom & Pops, like Starbucks...and Nike...and Microsoft.

That's Portland/Beaverton, GB.

Tanner schtick? 2 outta 3 anyways.

 

[Buck Bradcanon]

As long as we are talking about it, how do you find the good local joints either where I live or if we are travelling? Like "just ask the locals" or what websites do i look on?

Help me be an up and coming food snob.

Also, Hi everyone.

 

[General Malaise]

You people that hate chain restaurants are all spoiled. I live in a town with like 5 restaurant choices and no chains. I wish we had a Fridays or Chilis or whatever.

Seattle in general seems very anti-chain, anti-fast food. Maybe it's different as you get more into the burbs but it certainly seems that way in my little world.

Yeah. They prefer those Mom & Pops, like Starbucks...and Nike...and Microsoft.

That's Portland/Beaverton, GB.

Tanner schtick? 2 outta 3 anyways.

I'm pretty sure the rest of the country thinks Portland and Seattle are the same thing anyway.

 

[urbanhack]

As long as we are talking about it, how do you find the good local joints either where I live or if we are travelling? Like "just ask the locals" or what websites do i look on?

Help me be an up and coming food snob.

Also, Hi everyone.

Yelp is a huge help when I'm on the road. It's a good indicator of what is close and then you can skim the reviews to see what people are saying.

 

[General Malaise]

As long as we are talking about it, how do you find the good local joints either where I live or if we are travelling? Like "just ask the locals" or what websites do i look on? Help me be an up and coming food snob.Also, Hi everyone.

Trip advisor? Google? I just read reviews...

 

[General Malaise]

JASON MARQUIS PITCHING A NO-NO!!!

When did he turn into a good pitcher?

 

[Disco Stu]

As long as we are talking about it, how do you find the good local joints either where I live or if we are travelling? Like "just ask the locals" or what websites do i look on?

Help me be an up and coming food snob.

Also, Hi everyone.

Yelp is a huge help when I'm on the road. It's a good indicator of what is close and then you can skim the reviews to see what people are saying.

Install the iphone app GB.

 

[Chaos Commish]

GB of mine is going through a divorce. This has been coming (on his end, at least) for 10 years. They have made it official only just recently and this past Monday she made mention of this guy she has been seeing.I just spoke to him and he's a wreck because of that aspect. Crying, etc. They have been together for 24 years and the divorce is completely mutual... he is just suffering.Any thoughts?

Sex is the answer. It's been scientifically proven that is lessens the blow. Other than that, he needs to learn how to hate. We've all been in a relationship where it's meh and who cares. He needs to remember why he doesn't want to be with her anymore. Being with somebody for 24 years will #### with you. You'll remember the good times and think she's not so bad. What he has to do is every time he remembers one of those good times, he has to think of at least two of the bad times. How she embarrassed him in front of his friends. How she told the cop that she told him he was too drunk to drive. Let the hate penetrate into his very soul.

This seemed funnier/brutally honest last night after a few libations. I'm going to give myself a TO.

I was going to wait a couple more pages before bringing this up.

 

[Big Blue Wrecking Crew]

My oldest son LOVES Chilis. When they shut down in Portland/Beaverton, he was more depressed over it than he was the divorce or the dog dying (all three happened to him at the same time). When he saw one in an airport last year, he nearly forced us to miss our connecting flight so we could eat there. Not sure what he loves about it so much, but that kid loves him some Chilis.

Their firecracker Talapia is good eating.

I went to an Applebee's a year or two ago and risked the Cajun Lime Tilapia. It was surprisingly good. And they had $1 Miller High Life drafts. Not sure why I haven't been back. I think the key at Chili's and Applebee's is to find one or two things you like alright and make those your go-to items on the rare occasion you find yourself there. At Chili's that's chicken fried steak, chicken tenders, or southwestern eggrolls.

I'd never order a steak or ribs at these places. Just begging to be disappointed.

I always find the "stick to the basics" approach works best in these places. Tougher to f up a burger than it is a nice pasta dish/delicate piece of fish. One of my boys was on a tuna kick and ordered it (exact chain one escapes me) despite my warning. Cooked (and tasted) like some fine shoe leather. Needless to say, it is at least one piece of advice he'll follow from the old man...

 

[Gadzooks]

sorry

 

[Buck Bradcanon]

Yelp. Thanks guys.

 

[Drifter]

You people that hate chain restaurants are all spoiled. I live in a town with like 5 restaurant choices and no chains. I wish we had a Fridays or Chilis or whatever.

Seattle in general seems very anti-chain, anti-fast food. Maybe it's different as you get more into the burbs but it certainly seems that way in my little world.

Yeah. They prefer those Mom & Pops, like Starbucks...and Nike...and Microsoft.

That's Portland/Beaverton, GB.

Tanner schtick? 2 outta 3 anyways.

I've never eaten at Microsoft. Good?Seattle does love it's Starbucks but I would imagine that's because it's home grown. Try finding a Chili's or Applebee's anywhere in Seattle proper. There used to be an Outback. It shut down.

 

[Idiot Boxer]

You people that hate chain restaurants are all spoiled. I live in a town with like 5 restaurant choices and no chains. I wish we had a Fridays or Chilis or whatever.

Seattle in general seems very anti-chain, anti-fast food. Maybe it's different as you get more into the burbs but it certainly seems that way in my little world.

Yeah. They prefer those Mom & Pops, like Starbucks...and Nike...and Microsoft.

That's Portland/Beaverton, GB.

Tanner schtick? 2 outta 3 anyways.

I've never eaten at Microsoft. Good?Seattle does love it's Starbucks but I would imagine that's because it's home grown. Try finding a Chili's or Applebee's anywhere in Seattle proper. There used to be an Outback. It shut down.

Always good for a byte.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

So, I'm headed to Manchester, New Hampshire next week. Anything to do there?

Birthplace of Morrissey?

 

[McJose]

So, I'm headed to Manchester, New Hampshire next week. Anything to do there?

Birthplace of Morrissey?

I thought it was Dublin or maybe Dundee. Could be Humberside as well.