Author Topic: Is Olive Garden humankind's most accurate representation of hell? (Read 22982 times)

etiolate · « **Reply #60 on:** August 21, 2011, 06:30:42 PM »

I'm good with any burger diner joint. I think Red Robin falls under that.

ps: I'm pretty sure hell looks like an Old Navy commercial.

MrAngryFace · « **Reply #61 on:** August 21, 2011, 06:40:20 PM »

I know there's probably local places that do bugers better- but Red Robin does a good job. That said- I avoid Red Robins since eating burgers n fries or even their wraps isnt exactly great if youre a desk jockey.

My issue with Applebees was always how much their drinks cost- and how weak the drinks were. I dont drink anymore (would if I could) so it doesnt matter as much but now I avoid the place out of habit.

Great Rumbler · « **Reply #62 on:** August 21, 2011, 07:08:03 PM »

I've been trying out some different burger chains recently:

http://www.fiveguys.com/home.aspx
http://www.mooyah.com/

A bit on the pricey side [$11-$12 for burger, fries, and drink], but soooo good. They make all their fries on site from fresh potatoes and they have a ton of options for the burgers [which you simply pick from a list]. Still need to try out the new In-N-Out Burger that opened down in Allen, Texas.

Mr. Gundam · « **Reply #63 on:** August 21, 2011, 07:15:20 PM »

Quote from: tiesto on August 21, 2011, 05:15:36 PM

Never heard of Claim Jumper... Pacific NW thing?

Might be. Not sure where they're from, but they're in all the suburbs and exurbs around Seattle. Massive quantities of food.

Dan Savage actually talks about them in one of his books, here it is:

http://books.google.com/books?id=jjrS4RtW_LAC&pg=PT134&lpg=PT134&dq=dan+savage+claim+jumper&source=bl&ots=5rrufg9APf&sig=SS85CGuCK1-3OX53tyZ2XO7SS90&hl=en&ei=QZFRTqzdKOrKiAK34-2ZAQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CBYQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false

Quote from: Great Rumbler on August 21, 2011, 07:08:03 PM

I've been trying out some different burger chains recently:

http://www.fiveguys.com/home.aspx
http://www.mooyah.com/

A bit on the pricey side [$11-$12 for burger, fries, and drink], but soooo good. They make all their fries on site from fresh potatoes and they have a ton of options for the burgers [which you simply pick from a list]. Still need to try out the new In-N-Out Burger that opened down in Allen, Texas.

That's not pricey.

Pricey is Lunchbox Lab in Seattle. $50 for two burgers, two orders of fries and two Nutella shakes. OMG INCREDIBLE but expensive.

AdmiralViscen · « **Reply #64 on:** August 21, 2011, 07:36:51 PM »

~$100 for 5 dinners is overpriced? I need to move out of ny

ToxicAdam · « **Reply #65 on:** August 21, 2011, 07:40:42 PM »

Chicken Marsala at Olive Garden is god-tier. Everything else is pretty bad.

I think one of those buffets (Hometown, Golden Corral) would have to be the equivalent of Dining in Hades.

Mr. Gundam · « **Reply #66 on:** August 21, 2011, 07:44:16 PM »

Quote from: ToxicAdam on August 21, 2011, 07:40:42 PM

Chicken Marsala at Olive Garden is god-tier. Everything else is pretty bad.

I think one of those buffets (Hometown, Golden Corral) would have to be the equivalent of Dining in Hades.

The Land of And!!

Those places sound really scary.

Great Rumbler · « **Reply #67 on:** August 21, 2011, 07:59:32 PM »

Quote from: AdmiralViscen on August 21, 2011, 07:36:51 PM

~$100 for 5 dinners is overpriced? I need to move out of ny

Texas is cheap, cheap, cheap. Six people usually averages about $70-$80, sometimes even less than that.

Positive Touch · « **Reply #68 on:** August 22, 2011, 12:00:24 AM »

just came in to say fuck you cheesecake factory haters

annies favorite pasta + great wall chocolate cake = fucking amazing nite as long as u aint paying for it

oh also their avacado spring rolls are mind blowing

pilonv1 · « **Reply #69 on:** August 22, 2011, 12:02:42 AM »

Is it weird that when I visit the US I want to go to places like Cracker Barrel and Olive Garden? I hear about them all the time, I feel like I'm missing out

Positive Touch · « **Reply #70 on:** August 22, 2011, 12:09:29 AM »

thats like saying "man i wish i woulda got malaria on my trip to africa; i feel like i didnt experience it the way i should of"

pilonv1 · « **Reply #71 on:** August 22, 2011, 12:14:14 AM »

well how else would I know how bad it is?

Himu · « **Reply #72 on:** August 22, 2011, 12:15:45 AM »

i want to visit Thailand and come back with a case of oral herpes

Joe Molotov · « **Reply #73 on:** August 22, 2011, 12:17:58 AM »

When you come to America, you should eat at the Heart Attack Grill for a true American experience.

pilonv1 · « **Reply #74 on:** August 22, 2011, 12:19:52 AM »

I just want some more In N Out Burger. Haven't had any since I was in LA in 93

Great Rumbler · « **Reply #75 on:** August 22, 2011, 12:20:14 AM »

Golden Corral

Himu · « **Reply #76 on:** August 22, 2011, 12:21:57 AM »

I've NEVER had 5 Guys or In n Out.

Checkers

Positive Touch · « **Reply #77 on:** August 22, 2011, 12:22:12 AM »

Quote from: Joe Molotov® EDGE™ on August 22, 2011, 12:17:58 AM

When you come to America, you should eat at the Heart Attack Grill for a true American experience.

my mom was just telling me today about how the new trend at iowa state fairs is to eat deep-fried sticks of butter. no joke $:-\$

cool breeze · « **Reply #78 on:** August 22, 2011, 02:48:28 AM »

Quote from: pilonv1 on August 22, 2011, 12:02:42 AM

Is it weird that when I visit the US I want to go to places like Cracker Barrel and Olive Garden? I hear about them all the time, I feel like I'm missing out

If you find an Old Country Buffet and feel like punishing yourself, hit that up too.

Cormacaroni · « **Reply #79 on:** August 22, 2011, 02:53:13 AM »

American food is basically just not very good. More is not better. Sweeter is not better. Cheesier is not better. Jazzing up junk food doesn't make it gourmet. It's basically setting global cuisine back about 200 years.

MrAngryFace · « **Reply #80 on:** August 22, 2011, 02:59:32 AM »

Ill eat what I want when I want!

Cormacaroni · « **Reply #81 on:** August 22, 2011, 03:02:51 AM »

So will I

MrAngryFace · « **Reply #82 on:** August 22, 2011, 03:15:06 AM »

benjipwns · « **Reply #83 on:** August 22, 2011, 04:08:17 AM »

I like Noodles and Company, although I don't really get the italian foods there. Bangkok Curry and Thai Curry Soup plz.

I guess theoretically that's only tangentially related to this thread. But they're near each other in the only location in my home region.

Endless breadsticks and salad is why I'll go to Olive Garden with people.

To be fair, Olive Garden doesn't burn their entries like Fazoli's.

I'm realizing now that some of my friends like both Fazoli's and Olive Garden. I'm distressed.

Eel O'Brian · « **Reply #84 on:** August 22, 2011, 08:06:19 AM »

I don't know about the Golden Corrals where you guys live, but the ones here in town have gotten a lot better over the past couple of years. Their salad bar is nice, stuff like actual (not bagged) grilled and sliced steak/chicken/ham, deviled eggs, etc. Anything off their grill is generally decent. They have this stuff called Bourbon Street Chicken which is pretty good. I've always liked their sweet potato casserole. And their dessert/bakery section has always been great. They used to be total shit, true, but I was impressed with how much it had improved the last time I went. You just have to know what to stay away from - anything that looks like it came ready-made out of a bag or cardboard box probably is.

tiesto · « **Reply #85 on:** August 22, 2011, 08:12:12 AM »

Oh yeah, Old Country Buffet was the absolute most painful place I've ever eaten... ate there once or twice in college and it was nasty, made me wishing for the dorm cafeteria it was THAT bad.

Positive Touch · « **Reply #86 on:** August 22, 2011, 08:15:53 AM »

Quote from: Cormacaroni on August 22, 2011, 02:53:13 AM

American food is basically just not very good. More is not better. Sweeter is not better. Cheesier is not better. Jazzing up junk food doesn't make it gourmet. It's basically setting global cuisine back about 200 years.

terrible, terrible lies. adding cheese, sugar, hot sauce, butter, or some kind of creamy dressing makes everything taste ten million times better. also deep frying

really tho, american food is amazing, you just have to go to someplace that does it right, not one of these cheap chains that serves up shit imitaions.

Quote from: tiesto on August 22, 2011, 08:12:12 AM

Oh yeah, Old Country Buffet was the absolute most painful place I've ever eaten... ate there once or twice in college and it was nasty, made me wishing for the dorm cafeteria it was THAT bad.

ocb was the only place ive eaten at that gave me the shits for a straight week. never again

Brehvolution · « **Reply #87 on:** August 22, 2011, 08:53:35 AM »

Zupa Toscana and breadsticks

Diunx · « **Reply #88 on:** August 22, 2011, 08:58:27 AM »

I went to friday's on my birthday, was disappointed by the food tbh.

AdmiralViscen · « **Reply #89 on:** August 22, 2011, 09:24:52 AM »

Maybe by next year you will have saved up enough money to try applebees on your birthday

Mupepe · « **Reply #90 on:** August 22, 2011, 09:54:16 AM »

Yeah, wtf, cormac? Adding cheese to anything makes it better. And obviously even more cheese evens more better

Red Robin

The royal red robin burger is still one of the best burgers ever. And bottomless fries and drinks! wooooo!

Cracker Barrel is the definition of bland, shit food. Cheesecake Factory was good when I was younger and didn't know any better.

Denny's French Toast

Waffle House Everything

I don't really care for IHOP. I'll eat there and not complain but nothing is really amazing IMO.

I can usually be satisfied from something wherever I eat. I don't worry about "cheap food". I usually know what I'm getting into and if I can eat McDonalds and enjoy it, then I can pretty much go anywhere.

The first time I was ever stunned by shittiness was at Applebees. I got a quesadilla there and I saw that it had onions in it and I asked the lady if they could make it without onions. When she came back she told me "They couldn't take the onions out. Sorry" O.o

A cheddar's waitress also once tried to convince me that bbq sauce was their buffalo sauce. I would have blown up but I was at someone's retirement party from work and I felt like shit. So I rolled my eyes and said bullshit and ate it. Made sure not to ask for anything else though. I don't like spit.

Great Rumbler · « **Reply #91 on:** August 22, 2011, 09:56:32 AM »

I had the BBQ chicken tenders at Applebee's once and they were pure garbage. I don't mean that metaphorically, I mean that literally. It was literally a chunk of pure garbage covered in the juice that congealed at the bottom of the dumpster out back.

spoiler (click to show/hide)

Okay, maybe that's not true, but it certainly tasted like it.

[close]

Mupepe · « **Reply #92 on:** August 22, 2011, 09:57:59 AM »

Yeah Applebees is garbage. I mean, if I'm going somewhere with people and they wanna eat there, I'll go. But I'd never go from my own will.

I haven't been to Chili's in years, but I remember it being tolerable. Chips and queso wasn't bad at least. that's the only thing I remember. And 1 appetizer, 2 entrees and 2 desserts for 20 bucks isn't bad.

tiesto · « **Reply #93 on:** August 22, 2011, 10:12:30 AM »

Chili's uses waaaaay too much salt, and everything on the menu tastes nearly identical (probably from the excessive salt drowning out the taste). I'm soooo glad to live in an area with a lot of good mom/pop restaurants and hole in the wall restaurants... it's just so hard to get people to try what they are unfamiliar with, so we end up settling for the big chains a lot of times

Mupepe · « **Reply #94 on:** August 22, 2011, 10:12:41 AM »

Quote from: The Business on August 22, 2011, 10:04:53 AM

Chili's has gone to shit in the last five years as well. All of these chain restaurants have. It's a combination of the economy, rising food costs, and the increasing size of the restaurants groups that own them. The restaurants have no choice but to use the shittiest, cheapest ingredients possible, and make the cooking process so simple that any moron off the street that you pay $8/hr to will be able to make the menu items consistently and quickly so they can maintain their bottom line and deliver to stockholders. You end up with "food" that was made somewhere else and is basically just heated and assembled on the line. Stop eating at chain restaurants. You are wasting your money and destroying your body.

Obviously the Biz is telling me to eat at more taco trucks. I'll do that, sir.

Eel O'Brian · « **Reply #95 on:** August 22, 2011, 10:22:01 AM »

last time i went to applebee's i got this mozzarella-stuffed meatball pasta dish which only had three tiny meatballs in it and they were cold, paid ten bucks for that bullshit, so fuck applebee's forever

MrAngryFace · « **Reply #96 on:** August 22, 2011, 10:32:34 AM »

This really isn't about that for me. I think most people will agree that places run by local people have a higher chance of being decent, but EVERYONE has one or two chains they secretly like...and honestly if you don't- then going to local joints is part of whatever identity you're trying to craft.

MrAngryFace · « **Reply #97 on:** August 22, 2011, 10:48:16 AM »

I'm GONNA do what I want! *knocks over magazine rack filled with foodie magazines*

Great Rumbler · « **Reply #98 on:** August 22, 2011, 10:59:43 AM »

My biggest guilty pleasure is Taco Casa, all their food is drowned in cheese and grease but OOOOHHHH MAN is it so good.

http://www.tacocasatexas.com/

Mupepe · « **Reply #99 on:** August 22, 2011, 11:11:59 AM »

Quote from: Great Rumbler on August 22, 2011, 10:59:43 AM

My biggest guilty pleasure is Taco Casa, all their food is drowned in cheese and grease but OOOOHHHH MAN is it so good.

http://www.tacocasatexas.com/

reminds me of Chicos Tacos in El Paso.

MrAngryFace · « **Reply #100 on:** August 22, 2011, 12:07:09 PM »

Quote from: Spencer on August 22, 2011, 11:21:59 AM

There's some snooty ass people in this thread

People

I mean, I eat go downtown, get tapas, local food carts, etc. There's tons of awesome non-chain food in Portland. If you think you're too good for a chain once in awhile, you're just not.

truth bombs all over the place- take cover, Foodies!

Beezy · « **Reply #101 on:** August 22, 2011, 02:03:02 PM »

Quote from: Cormacaroni on August 22, 2011, 02:53:13 AM

American food is basically just not very good. More is not better. Sweeter is not better. Cheesier is not better. Jazzing up junk food doesn't make it gourmet. It's basically setting global cuisine back about 200 years.

YOU TAKE THAT BACK!

MrAngryFace · « **Reply #102 on:** August 22, 2011, 02:07:33 PM »

I just dont think you can say 'I only eat at local places' without sounding like one of THOSE people

Mr. Gundam · « **Reply #103 on:** August 22, 2011, 02:10:46 PM »

Quote from: MrAngryFace on August 22, 2011, 02:07:33 PM

I just dont think you can say 'I only eat at local places' without sounding like one of THOSE people

Aside from fast food, Red Robin and a couple abominations downtown, we don't have the big national chains in Seattle (no Applebees, no Chili's, no Olive Garden, not even Denny's anymore). Why would I drive outside the city to eat at one when I can walk a few blocks to Latona Pub, Pies and Pints, Judy Foo's Snappy Dragon or Rositas and get great food?

Dickie Dee · « **Reply #104 on:** August 22, 2011, 02:11:44 PM »

Quote from: AWESOM-O on August 22, 2011, 10:38:55 AM

Hooters is a pretty nice chain.

Their wings are less worse than alot of places I've been

spoiler (click to show/hide)

along with their breasts and thighs, wakka wakka

[close]

MrAngryFace · « **Reply #105 on:** August 22, 2011, 02:12:23 PM »

Im not talking about anyone in this thread specifically- I was just wondering to myself if anyone on this forum could say that in this thread and get away without looking a certain way.

Mr. Gundam · « **Reply #106 on:** August 22, 2011, 02:13:18 PM »

Quote from: MrAngryFace on August 22, 2011, 02:12:23 PM

Im not talking about anyone in this thread specifically- I was just wondering to myself if anyone on this forum could say that in this thread and get away without looking a certain way.

I'm a dirty liberal city dweller, I know that I couldn't even if it's the truth.

We do have a Tacos Guaymas (local Mexican chain) in the neighborhood, which I know Prole is fond of.

Dickie Dee · « **Reply #107 on:** August 22, 2011, 02:16:29 PM »

One thing I've noticed while I've been in Canada the last number of years is the number of upscale chains. Like you walk in and the waitress are all part-time model class, lot's of uber modern deco and the food is higher quality, with a nice variety. Prices are only a bit more than your family chain but certain dishes can be quite great.

Assume similar things in the US but haven't spent much time back in a few years.

Mupepe · « **Reply #108 on:** August 22, 2011, 02:19:09 PM »

From what I've seen here in Houston it's happening more with fast food chains. Regional chains are getting bigger by using better quality ingredients than the big boys (Five Guys, Mooyah, In n Out, etc).

MrAngryFace · « **Reply #109 on:** August 22, 2011, 02:19:32 PM »

Really id eat at more local places if I didnt have to FIND them first- there's a great indian place right next to me "Clay Pit" but thats about all I know of. The good italian place I know of ended up moving, and Jemmy's Wok was bought out by some generic thai place.

Mr. Gundam · « **Reply #110 on:** August 22, 2011, 02:24:13 PM »

Is Round Table Pizza still listed under "fine dining" for Mill Creek?

I've heard really good things about Elliot Bay Pizza out there. They've got an incredible rotating tap list of beers, too.

Dickie Dee · « **Reply #111 on:** August 22, 2011, 02:26:52 PM »

There's a spot near me that sells awesome burritos 2/5$, perfect refried beans, cilantro, great beef, fixin's...but it bills itself as a mexican PIZZA joint. Who the fuck wants to have a mexican pizza? I hadn't even tried looking for actual mexican until I stumbled on this place on the way home. I eat there probably 2-3 times a week.

MrAngryFace · « **Reply #112 on:** August 22, 2011, 02:28:33 PM »

Haha, i forgot about that- a few years ago they opened up a cool red-brick open air shopping mall near the central market in mill creek- lots of neat local places and a few local chains i think- its where both Clay Pit and Frost donuts are located- both won Best of the Northwest awards from King5

Mr. Gundam · « **Reply #113 on:** August 22, 2011, 02:29:12 PM »

Best Mexican in Western Washington is La Carta de Oaxaca over in the Ballard neighborhood. Absolutely amazing stuff.

Mr. Gundam · « **Reply #114 on:** August 22, 2011, 02:30:34 PM »

Quote from: MrAngryFace on August 22, 2011, 02:28:33 PM

Haha, i forgot about that- a few years ago they opened up a cool red-brick open air shopping mall near the central market in mill creek- lots of neat local places and a few local chains i think- its where both Clay Pit and Frost donuts are located- both won Best of the Northwest awards from King5

Central Markets are great grocery stores, and they have an incredible beer selection. I've never been to the one in Mill Creek, but the ones in Greenwood, Shoreline and Ballard are awesome.

MrAngryFace · « **Reply #115 on:** August 22, 2011, 02:32:35 PM »

Yeah I like it a lot- its pricey, an indication that im clearly upper middle class, but they have all the Dave's Bread I could ever want and still carry the Amy's Black Eyed Peas n Vegetable tv dinner I like.

MrAngryFace · « **Reply #116 on:** August 22, 2011, 02:33:21 PM »

Quote from: Mamacint on August 22, 2011, 02:26:52 PM

There's a spot near me that sells awesome burritos 2/5$, perfect refried beans, cilantro, great beef, fixin's...but it bills itself as a mexican PIZZA joint. Who the fuck wants to have a mexican pizza? I hadn't even tried looking for actual mexican until I stumbled on this place on the way home. I eat there probably 2-3 times a week.

Is it actual pizza, or mexican pizza in that grade school hot lunch menu kinda way where its a tostada with some beans on it?

Dickie Dee · « **Reply #117 on:** August 22, 2011, 02:39:49 PM »

Quote from: MrAngryFace on August 22, 2011, 02:33:21 PM

Quote from: Mamacint on August 22, 2011, 02:26:52 PM
There's a spot near me that sells awesome burritos 2/5$, perfect refried beans, cilantro, great beef, fixin's...but it bills itself as a mexican PIZZA joint. Who the fuck wants to have a mexican pizza? I hadn't even tried looking for actual mexican until I stumbled on this place on the way home. I eat there probably 2-3 times a week.

Is it actual pizza, or mexican pizza in that grade school hot lunch menu kinda way where its a tostada with some beans on it?

Most was normal pizza, which made advertising "Mexican Pizza" pointless. Don't let me get you wrong, this was a dive in the wall with great food. I've only had it by the slice, and maybe it was sitting out too long, but no, it was barely passable pizzaria pizza but there were probably 4 places in half a mile that did it miles better.

I did see him once making a mexican pizza, which was bascially pizza with heaps of refried beans, good beaf, and fixins that looked godly. He should of stuck with he knew with. He was also like a smiling mexican buddha that made me feel better every time I went in, hope he's still there $:-\$

Smooth Groove · « **Reply #118 on:** August 22, 2011, 02:41:32 PM »

Quote from: Mamacint on August 22, 2011, 02:26:52 PM

There's a spot near me that sells awesome burritos 2/5$, perfect refried beans, cilantro, great beef, fixin's...but it bills itself as a mexican PIZZA joint. Who the fuck wants to have a mexican pizza? I hadn't even tried looking for actual mexican until I stumbled on this place on the way home. I eat there probably 2-3 times a week.

Even Canadians eat Mexican?

Dickie Dee · « **Reply #119 on:** August 22, 2011, 02:42:27 PM »

Quote from: Smooth Groove on August 22, 2011, 02:41:32 PM

Quote from: Mamacint on August 22, 2011, 02:26:52 PM
There's a spot near me that sells awesome burritos 2/5$, perfect refried beans, cilantro, great beef, fixin's...but it bills itself as a mexican PIZZA joint. Who the fuck wants to have a mexican pizza? I hadn't even tried looking for actual mexican until I stumbled on this place on the way home. I eat there probably 2-3 times a week.

Even Canadians eat Mexican?

We gotta shit somehow

News:

Author Topic: Is Olive Garden humankind's most accurate representation of hell? (Read 22982 times)