A very unfortunate chain restaurant experience--is it just me?

[MorningGlow]

And no, I'm not talking about Olive Garden!

Went to the new Red Robin hamburger place near us last night for the first--and dear gods, I hope last--time. The food was atrocious. The burger might as well have come from a drive-thru--or it could have been replaced with a round piece of cardboard and I'd never have noticed. All I tasted was the toppings. (Actually, I read somewhere that's what McDonald's et al. do--pile on the toppings because the burger itself is tasteless.)

And I was sicker'n a dog afterward. Not food poisoning--more like food overload (and I can handle my burger and fries). I usually get that sick feeling when I've had too many calories or too much fat in one sitting, but I didn't even finish my meal because the fries were overdone. That makes me wonder how they prepare their food--the last bastion of trans fat?

So what the hell? Is it just me? The place was full for a frigid Wednesday night and everybody seemed happy enough.

:shrug:

[Spacemom]

1. We went once

Once.

Bad, overpriced food.

Everytime I drive by, I'm surprised they are still in business.

[Bunny]

2. Well, I've never experienced Red Robin, so I don't know if the

problem was with you or not. But I'm sorry you went through that, anyway.

I had a dreadful experience at Ruby Tuesday on my first and only visit. The hamburger I ordered was cooked to a crisp, and so was the bun it came in. The rest of the meal was drab as well, and the music was so loud I could barely hear my daughter sitting across the table from me. I didn't get sick, but it was awful, and not what I expected from them. Ugh.

[jobycom]

7. I've never had a good experience at Ruby Tuesday's, either. Or Applebees.

At both, the food seemed unimaginative and bland, and priced like a yuppie corporate chain (Chili's Bennigan's, etc). The service was so bad I figured it was a fluke, but every time I've gone to one, in different locals, I had the same bad experiences. Haven't been back in many years, though.

[DixieBlue]

21. Ruby Tuesday's makes me ill.

I get sick everytime I eat there.

[EvolveOrConvolve]

87. Me too!

Every time I eat there, I'm on the toilet for hours trying to expell the poisons I just ate.

[Rosemary2205]

11. One thing I hate is a LOUD restaurant. nt.

[MorningGlow]

33. Funny you should mention Ruby Tuesday

I called the Red Robin burger a Ruby Tuesday burger--they were practically identical. (And I do NOT like RT's food.) I think I was expecting more from RR because they advertise themselves as a "gourmet burger" place.

[BarenakedLady]

3. There is a Red Robin around here?

Where? I know someone who works at one in PA. Didn't realize we had one.

[MorningGlow]

31. Two in the Rochester suburbs

You round here, BNL?

If so, then you know the area suburbs--there's one in Webster, at that travesty of a Holt Road plaza that's so spread out you have to get back in your car and drive to each store (talk about environmental regressing). The new one (that we went to) is in Henrietta, on Jefferson Rd. a.k.a. Blacktopped-and-Chain-Store Hell.

[Zavulon]

35. I lived there for a couple of years, in Brighton, and I

stayed the hell out of Henrietta at all costs. That one mall they had (was it called Marketplace?) churned my stomach.

Of course, I heard they actually connected those two Greece malls with a third one, so apparently there are worse places than Henrietta. That whole strip of Ridge Road near those malls must be truly frightening.

[BarenakedLady]

39. Eastview mall is getting out of control as well

I'm about 10-15 minutes from there. It's a zoo. I hope Victor doesn't end up being the next Henrietta. :scared: So far I think we've won the war against a mega Wal-Mart on 96....just what we need. :eyes:

[Zavulon]

49. I'm not sure I remember that one.

Was Eastview around in the 1980s? It's in Victor?

The only times I ever visited places like Victor, Henrietta and Rush were for skeet and trap shooting, I have to admit.

[BarenakedLady]

53. I don't know

I moved to WNY (Penfield first) in 1994. Yes Eastview is in Victor.

[Wcross]

85. Hey former neighbor!!!!

I grew up in Perinton, it sure has changed in the 20 years since I moved. You don't know how lucky you are to have Wegmans in town. Every time I visit my folks I stop there and am amazed! The supermarkets down here in Tennessee are all like Tops used to be.

[MorningGlow]

43. Good call

Henrietta sold its soul. I hear tell that it was all apple orchards not too long ago--can you imagine? I sure can't.

Yeah, it's Marketplace Mall. Eesh.

The two Greece malls--what a strange thing--when we were kids, we always said it would be cool if they could join the two. Then they went and did it, and it's a disaster, because it's too much for people to walk, so they'd rather go to a more compact one like Marketplace. There's no pleasing people! :rofl:

Both West Ridge Road near the malls and Henrietta are truly evil places. And things just keep spreading. There are now TWO Applebees within a couple of miles of one another in Henrietta (well, I guess one is considered Brighton, but it's just down the road). And they've just added a Bed Bath and Beyond, Christmas Tree Shop, AC Moore craft store, Carrabba's (at least that's halfway decent food)...what's the saturation point for chains? And when Henrietta and West Ridge reach that saturation point, what happens? Do they turn into black holes? Inquiring minds want to know.

[Zavulon]

48. Well, since there's bound to be

at least two branches of the same chain merging, it'll end like Time Cop (did you see that movie?) did - two of the same matter occupying the same space and resulting in utter annihilation. Sort of like matter meeting antimatter. Not good.

[MorningGlow]

61. Snarf--utter annihilation of Henrietta might be a good thing!

We can level the place and start fresh! :hi:

[Zavulon]

62. I'd be happy to see Greece follow :)

Now that there is no longer a Maiden Lanes, I have no use for the place :)

:hi:

[MorningGlow]

64. OMG blast from the past!

Maiden Lanes! Egad I haven't thought about that place in years! :rofl:

[Zavulon]

66. I was up there last year, and

Maiden Lanes was gone, as was the Shell Station that was in front of it. Now it's some sort of Greek diner, a Tim Hortons, and a vacant building that used to house bowling lanes. I threw my first 200 game there, a 231, on lane 9.

The plaza next door only has its Wegmans left from the old days.

[BarenakedLady]

36. Yup

I'm out in the boonies of Victor. Now that I think of it, I may have met dh at the one in Webster (he works at Xerox up there).

"Blacktopped-and-Chain-Store Hell" :rofl: Ain't that the truth. I try to avoid going there as much as possible.

[MorningGlow]

40. Well, howdy, neighbor!

:hi:

We used to live near Honeoye Lake, and used to nip over to Victor once in a while for some noshes. We think we are the kiss of death for independent, halfway decent restaurants, though. Every time we latch onto one, it closes, even if it seems to be busy. One of the latest ones we killed was Houlihan's. :cry: I really loved their mashed cauliflower...

[BarenakedLady]

42. Wasn't that in the Border's Plaza by the Mall?

It's some Italian restaurant now. We tried it, not much vegetarian options for me though. I highly recommend Biggie's at the mall though. Also India House (if you like Indian further south of the mall, near the village of Victor). Are you in the city now?

[MorningGlow]

47. That's the one

We never made it to the Italian incarnation.

Thanks for the tip about Bigge's. When we were surprised Houlihan's was closed, we ended up at the sports bar in the mall (I forget the name) just because. But I'm not a big fan of that place. It's just okay. Serviceable.

We actually had a couple of bad experiences at the India House in Victor, but we like the one in the city. (That is, when DH is in the mood for ethnic food and we don't have Jr. with us--he's not too sure about Indian food yet.)

We're in Livingston County now--and we both work in the city--hence the default to Henrietta when we need to shop or eat.

Next time we want a hamburger, though, we're going to MacGregor's! No more national chain nonsense!

[BarenakedLady]

51. OMG!

McGregor's!!!!! Their Veggie Vice is to die for with sweet potato fries and a cold one = HEAVEN. I love that place.

We usually do India House take-out, since the kids aren't too fond of it (except for the nan). I misspelled Biaggi's and you went to Champ's I believe (which I have never been to, though dh took the kids there once).

[MorningGlow]

60. Too right

I love their steak fries too--always hot! And I had their cheddar cheese soup or some such specialty a couple of months ago--great stuff!

Okay--Biaggi's--noted for future reference! :) Yeah yeah--Champs (snarf I just typed Chaps--ummm no)--that's the one--it's okay, like I said. Not fantastic. And it can be a bit overwhelming with the giant TV screens and all the sports. I'm not a sports fan so that doesn't fascinate me.

[GenDem]

73. Have either of you guys been to Mario's?

I had a good meal there, but it was a couple of years ago.

Zeb's over at Lock de Ville had a pretty good burger.

I like Mykonos over on Winton-- I've been there a few times and the food is always good, and I'm sure they have some vegetarian entrees.

My daughter played volleyball in a club in Penfield...we drove out to Scribner for a few years for her practices.



:hi:

[BarenakedLady]

74. I think I went to Mario's once a long time ago

I remember that they had good bread.

I haven't been to the other places you mentioned.

:hi:

[MorningGlow]

77. Hey GenDem

I've had..."meh" experiences at Zebb's. Mykonos is good. Mario's was good but very expensive--a bit too expensive for what we got. (The old Mario's--the basic pasta and pizza place--of my youth was better. Red checked tablecloths and all!) Anyway, they recently changed the fancy Mario's to an "Italian steakhouse", whatever that is...

:hi:

[GenDem]

76. I live a stones throw away from the Livingston Co border

on the far western edge of Genesee County in LeRoy.:hi:

[MorningGlow]

78. Zoinks!

Caledonia here! You could throw a rock and hit my house! (But please don't--it's got enough problems as it is!) :hi:

[GenDem]

83. Double zoinks --Lime Rock here

and have plenty of friends in Caledonia. I used to work at Caledonia Antiques ( it was actually Curios Goods at the time), and daughter dated a Caledonia kid for three years -- they made the news during rivalry week (when the annual Cal-Mum -LeRoy football game was in full media blitz) Her boyfriend got a lot of attention after he received MVP in the state championship game a few years back, so they did a little puff piece about the two rivals being an item. Coach Monacelli said that if they marry and have children...he only hopes they chose Caledonia to live and not LeRoy.

It sure is a small world with these darn internets.

Haven't been to the Springbrook since it re-opened -- but I am never disappointed with the Village Inn -- there lunch buffet is very good. I also have gotten a very good lunch at the Cozy -- never tried there burgers, though.


When I say "hi neighbor" I truly mean it.




:hi:

[MorningGlow]

89. Small world indeed!

Yep, I can see you waving as I stand on Rt. 5! :hi:

We've only been in Caledonia for a year, so we're new to the whole close-knit community and football fever. It's quite astonishing from an "outsider's" point of view! I am really, REALLY impressed at how friendly everyone is. We've lived in small towns all over the Finger Lakes area, and you don't get that kind of cheerful openness everywhere. (When we first got here it was unnerving, even!)

Our favorite experience so far has been the guy who stands on the base of the monument on Christmas Eve afternoon, dressed as Santa, playing Christmas carols on his trumpet. Who is that guy?! We crack up every time!

We haven't been to the Springbrook since the new owners took over either. I have heard good things about both the Village Inn and the Cozy Kitchen but DH is skittish. Which is really weird, considering he willingly goes to disgusting chains like Red Robin! I'm going to keep on him, though. If not, MG Jr. and I will at least check out CK sometime. I'm a sucker for breakfast out.

PM me if you ever want to talk "blue" in our "red" counties!

[BarenakedLady]

92. Yes being "blue" in a "red" county

Sucks!!!! I can't believe that idiot Kuhl won again. Gaaaahhhh.

[MorningGlow]

93. Or Reynolds

:wtf:

[GenDem]

100. We worked very hard to try to unseat Reynolds...

and do you know that he voted against the minimum wage and against the 9/11 commisions bills? I haven't checked yet...cuz I just got home...but I would bet money he voted against the stem cell bill, too.

[GenDem]

101. I loved Eric Massa...

he was a fantastic candidate. I think it gets even redder in the southern tier.

[GenDem]

99. I live on Rte 5!

My house was the one on the right that had all the Dem signs lined up this past election. :hi:

Coffee at the A-Plus is yummy...always fresh. The Cozey makes homemade bread that is delicious toasted. And the Christmas in the Country thingy is always a big hit...and no, I don't know the guy who plays the horn at the monument.

[GenDem]

71. Where on Jefferson Rd?

Is it near that horrendous new Christmas dollar store by Home Depot? I was just down there a few weeks ago, and I missed it. :shrug:

Jeeze there's a lot of us Rochester peop's.:hi:

[MorningGlow]

94. Yeppers

Just there--land o' disposable retail chains. Red Robin is on the front edge of the plaza just west of Home Depot, so from left to right it's AC Moore, Red Robin, Bed Bath and Beyond, Macaroni Grill, Home Depot, Christmas Store, and Don Pablo's. And I think I left something out...

Geeesh just listing them, most of them new, is turning my stomach! :scared:

[jobycom]

4. I'm a vegetarian, and I like the one here in Austin.

I can't comment on the taste of the meat patty, because I order the Boca substitute. The also have a Gardenburger option and a third veggie patty, which is why I go. To me the art of a hamburger, even when I ate meat, was in the dressing of it, so maybe we just have different tastes, but I love their food. The burgers are creative, the fries aren't overdone, and are a nice change to the fast food fries that have been crisped in grease to little sticks, or to the Wendy's type fries, which are often soggy and stale.

Just my experiences with it, but being vegetarian, I probably look for different things than you.

[crispini]

9. The veggie burger is in general often way better.

I really like Chili's black bean patties! :bounce:

[av8rdave]

5. I used to go there because my kids liked it....I was always happy because they have beer there

can't remember much about the food

[ironflange]

6. Red Robin originated here in Canada

They were really good many years ago, we could count on a good meal. It seems to me that when they expanded into the US they hit the skids. We stopped going; all of their Calgary locations are gone now. Too bad when that happens. Over-expansion can really wreck a good thing.

[Zomby Woof]

15. It originated in Seattle

From Red Robin's website:

1940s: Red Robin started as a tavern near the University of Washington in the 1940’s. It was called Sam’s Tavern. Sam sang in a barber shop quartet and loved to sing the song “When the red robin goes bob bob bobbin along…” Sam eventually changed the name of his tavern to Sam’s Red Robin.

1969: Over the years Sam’s Red Robin simply became Red Robin. It was transformed from the tavern into the first Red Robin restaurant that opened in a 1,200 square-foot building perched on a Seattle hilltop.

[ironflange]

22. mea culpa

Still doesn't change the fact that it used to be good, now it sucks.

[fudge stripe cookays]

70. Yeah, I noticed that Kensington one was gone...

last time we were there. reprehensor had a terrible experience there once, but I ate at the one our here in Garland a few months ago, and it was actually pretty good.

[Midlodemocrat]

8. We had a similar experience at the one here over the holidays.

The food was atrocious. My burger was so undercooked it was mooing and all the food was cold.

When the waitress came over to see how we were doing, we were like um, can you just bring the check?

Manager came over and comped the meal, so at least we didn't have to lay out cash for an inedible lunch.

[NewWaveChick1981]

10. There's a Red Robin not far from our house...

...and we tried them about three weeks ago. Hubby wanted to try it, and I reluctantly went along. The food was really good, and I was surprised. (There had been a Red Robin here years ago and it SUCKED!) The biggest drawback was the price---the food is expensive for what you get. I got a chicken wrap, hubby got a burger, and he got an iced tea (I got water), and the bill was $27.00. The food was good, but not good enough to float a loan for chain food.

[nini]

12. The one around here is pretty good

It must be an individual thing. Too bad.

[Zomby Woof]

17. Eating at Red Robin

Makes you a cardinal-phobe. :P

[jobycom]

24. Wouldn't that be a cardinal-phile?

:shrug:

[nini]

46. yes.... I have so many phobes I couldn't remember which one applied here

:evilgrin:

[KitchenWitch]

13. We went to a Red Robin once

My husband and his male friend had excellent service. His friend's wife and I had TERRIBLE service.

[Zookeeper]

14. A Red Robin opened in our area last year...

Mr. Z. and I stopped there for dinner on a rare date night. We arrived about a half hour before they closed and, although they were happy to sell us food and cocktails, they weren't willing to give us enough time to finish either and gave us the bum's rush. I'm perfectly sensitive to restaurant staff wanting or needing to end their shift, but a mere ten or fifteen minutes after closing one of the staff members "warned" us that the manager would stop by our table soon! :wow:

They should just stop serving food an hour before closing, and only offer cocktails.

BTW, I wasn't impressed with the food, either. At least, the little bit I was allowed to eat.

[jobycom]

25. The manager always comes by the table

You sure they were trying to rush you? Every time I've been, the manager has dropped by to ask how everything was. He was making rounds, it wasn't just us. :shrug:

The first one I ate at was in San Antonio. I took my two daughters and a niece after we left Six Flags. We skated in around closing, and were one of about three groups there. Not only were we not rushed, but they were exceedingly nice to us, despite our shaggy appearance.

Funny, isn't it, how a first impression at a restaurant lasts so long. The reason I've gone back so often was because the staff was very nice at a time when we were very tired, so I have a great impression of the place. Sounds like others have had bad experiences, and dislike the entire chain for it. Lesson to restaurant managers, eh?

[Zookeeper]

30. No, the manager had already done the friendly check...

on us. We were actually discussing the fact that they had closed with the staff member. And the place was empty, so they may have felt freer to rush us out.

I used to be a waitron, albeit at a much nicer restaurant, so I really was shocked at such an unprofessional attitude. I don't think that experience necessarily reflects the whole chain, although we did try going there on a previous occasion, arrived about 10 minutes before closing and the doors were already locked. Makes me think that they are getting pressure somewhere to keep costs down. I don't think they do enough business (at that location) to make it worth their while to stay much past closing time.

You are right about those impressions. I just never consider going back there because I was left with an unwelcoming feeling and, as someone upthread mentioned, it's not inexpensive for a chain restaurant of that type.

[jobycom]

67. Yeah, that sounds like a manager problem

Either trying to cut overtime in a stupid way (someone had to stay and clean up anyway), or just an irresponsible manager who wanted to get out early.

I've only been to ones in Austin and San Antonio. Both seemed well run.

[hedgehog]

16. I think a lot of people don't know what real food tastes like anymore.

If you grew up on processed foods, tons of meat, overcooked vegetables, no good fresh fruit, just transcontinental cardboard strawberries etc. and wonder bread, how would you recognize honest food if you ever saw it?

[jobycom]

27. Or perhaps others have allowed their opinion of good food

to evolve as they were introduced to other cuisines? There's a wonderful Phoenician restaurant near my parents' house. My father ate their once, and swears the food is horrible. "Not real food," he claims. It is a top notch restaurant, with creative dishes that fuse Mediterranean with Gulf Coast cuisine, and gets rave reviews. But they don't have the types of foods he thinks of as food, so he dislikes it.

I try to approach everything in life seeing it through the eyes of the people who created it. Music, food, art, movies, literature. I don't rule out a movie just because it isn't the same as another movie. I watch it on the level it was made. Same with food. It doesn't mean I like everything, it just means I try to keep an open mind, and don't expect Toby Keith to be Wolfgang Mozart (or even Tom Petty). Red Robin is a mid-level gourmet burger restaurant. I don't expect vegetables, nor do I expect a high quality Porterhouse. I expect a better-than-fast-food burger (vegetarian option) at a higher-than-fast-food price. That's what I get. If I wanted a different meal, i'd go someplace else, or make it myself.

For the cuisine, Red Robin is good. For a vegetarian, they actually have more than one or two options grafted with little imagination onto an otherwise carnivore menu. Most places, I watch my family eat an elaborate, well-prepared meal while I eat some variation of grilled onions, green peppers, and zucchini. At Red Robin I can get most of the menu items everyone else gets, and I even have three options of a meat substitute.

To me that's good food, for what it is.

[bluethruandthru]

18. I used to go to Red Robin in Seattle when I lived there.

So, I was thrilled a few years ago when they came to the DC area, where I live now. The food isn't as good as it used to be...but the worst thing is the "Happy Birthday" singing! One of the local Red Robin's is a huge, cavernous space with cement floors and high ceilings. No matter when you go you'll hear at least 4 rounds of the waiters all coming out clapping and yelling and singing an obnoxious birthday song at the top of their lungs! When there is no singing, it's still horribly loud. There is no way to have a conversation while dining in this place.

[MorningGlow]

32. Oh gods I hate that

DH and I call it the "Happy Happy Hey" because chain restaurants don't want to pay royalties to sing "Happy Birthday" so they make up their own, usually to the tune of "Doo Wah Diddy" and always end with "hey!" :puke:

For the record, there were two "Happy Happy Hey"s in the 45 minutes we were there last night. And yes, the acoustics are deplorable.

[bullwinkle428]

58. People are still required to pay royalties to use "Happy Birthday"?

That's like requiring those performing "The Star Spangled Banner" to pay royalties to the descendants of Francis Scott Key!

[LibDemAlways]

19. My most memorable Red Robin experience had

nothing to do with the food or service - at least as far as I was concerned. However, another patron sure made an impression.

The waiter serving my table and the next table over brought out a meal intended for the next table and set it down in front of me. I knew it wasn't what I ordered and immediately pointed out the error as soon as he set the dish down. I never touched the plate. He immediately scooped it up and turned around to give it to the woman who had ordered it. You would not believe the stink she made. "I am not touching that food" she began repeating loudly over and over. "I want another dinner." Geez, you'd have thought I spit in it or took a bite. I was so embarrassed that someone was giving the impression that merely setting down a plate in front of me for a couple of seconds had somehow tainted the food.

At any rate the waiter apologized profusely to her, took the food away, and then made her wait about ten minutes for a new plate - which I suspect was the old plate. How would she have known?

[Crabby Appleton]

20. As a former restaurant cook, yep, she got the same food back

in all likelyhood

[LibDemAlways]

23. Good. Throwing out food for no good reason

makes no sense. That woman has probably been through plenty of buffet lines and never thought twice about taking food from a community pile. But give her an untouched plate briefly set down at another table, and she goes ballistic. Ridiculous.

[jobycom]

28. Perhaps it had a little added flavoring, as well?

Never understood the stupidity of people who insult and anger food preparers.

[EnviroBat]

26. I'm off Chipotle 4 EVAH!

Sick twice from eating that crap, never again...
:puke:

[Godhumor]

29. My best friend had the exact same experience

He and hsi wife ate at a Red Robin in Pittsburgh two times and both times they got very sick. I ate at one once, didn't have a problem, but didn't like enough to go back again.

As others have said, i think it entirely depends on palette, menu, location, and cooks. I do tend to stick with my first impressions on restaurants, though.

[MorningGlow]

37. I agree--could be on an individual basis

Had that experience with Pizzeria Uno--there's one (near the Red Robin, actually) that is ABOMINABLE. Service, food, everything. And we found a hair in our dessert. :puke:

But DH convinced me to go to a different one, and it couldn't have been nicer--staff was great, food was actually GOOD--not just palatable--GOOD.

Just goes to show ya, I guess...

[deucemagnet]

54. I've been told that Pizzeria Uno is a franchised out to individual owners.

We have a local Pizzeria Uno (which is also near a Red Robin), and the staff, service, and food is top notch. I told the bartender that I avoided chain restaurants, and that's when he told me it was a locally owned franchise. That probably accounts for the variability from location to location.

My favorite thing is to stop in during happy hour and order the roast eggplant flatbread pizza off of the snack menu. Inexpensive draft beer and a good-sized pizza with basil pesto, spinach, sundried tomatoes, roma tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, feta cheese and roasted eggplant for only $2.99. :9

[MorningGlow]

59. Mmmmm!

I'm addicted to the grilled veggie and goat cheese wrap. Och now I'm hungry!

[Elidor]

34. That feeling your desribe...

I call it Burger Belly. It hurts, doesn't it? I eat lots of salads, but I still fall prey to the occasional burger. Burger? Mmmmmmmmmmm.

[MorningGlow]

38. I was drooling at the thought of a "gourmet burger" BEFORE

And then...alas...

Remember how Homer looked as he tried to force himself to finish the green-tinted giant sub remnants he fished out of the trash? That was me a couple of hours later. All I could do was sleep it off. Blech.

[Burma Jones]

41. I'm not a big Red Robin Fan, but some of my family are

so, when we go, I get the Cobb Salad and Clam Chowder - those are pretty good....

I do like two local (DC) chains a LOT, they are Clyde's and Five Guys

The only National Chain I like a lot is Panera

[MorningGlow]

44. If there is a next time

It's Gardenburger or salad! Nothing even remotely related to a burger!

[Godhumor]

52. 5 Guys is great, but I love me some Ben's Chili Bowl

Moving back to Rochester the hardest thing to give up was that restaurant. Yeah, it's not a chain, but it is so iconic I feel comfortable mentioning it. Italian Half Smoked slit with chili and a chocolate shake...

God, I'm hungry.

[Burma Jones]

65. No Kidding......

I used to work at Source and Studio Theatres and would eat there often.......

[AwakeAtLast]

80. Ooooh, I looove Panera!

Where I live, practically every single restaurant is a chain, and none are that fit to eat in. The Panera here is one good place to go to.

:9

[u4ic]

45. I've never had a problem

at Red Robin...I've eaten at the two in my city, on occasion, and the food has always been fine.

But if I was served food like what you're describing, I'd just send it back. Hell, I'm paying for it. :hi:

[IronLionZion]

50. Wow, I went to RIT for 4 years in Henrietta

and glad I didn't miss anything. Get yourself down to Henrietta Hots or Nick Tahou's when you're in need of grease and calories. ;-)

[BarenakedLady]

55. Garbage Plate!

:puke:

[EnviroBat]

86. Oh God, I think I'm, I'm, I'm gonna....

:puke:

sorry.. :cry:

[MorningGlow]

63. Hey RIT!

:hi: I go by it every day on the way to work.

Okay, confession time--I am a Rochester native--41 years here except for college and grad school and one unfortunate year in Elmira :scared:--and I have never, ever eaten at Nick Tahou's. I am so ashamed! :blush: I have, however, survived a couple of visits to Gitsie's.

[GenDem]

75. They served Nick Tahou garbage plates

at Eliot Spitzer's inauguration.:hi:

[huskerlaw]

56. OMG, I love Red Robin!

No. Seriously.

I practically live for the place.

I hope for both our sakes that was an isolated/freak incident.

[Missy Vixen]

57. Believe it or not, DH and I ended up at Red Robin on our first date

Considering the fact it was fourteen years ago, the chain has changed a bit in that length of time. We typically visit every December 9th (the anniversary of our first date.) We're just not that enthralled with it anymore.

Next year, I'm thinking drinks there, then we'll go somewhere we'd rather have dinner.

Julie

[montanto]

68. Outback: The ONLY one

of the chain places mentioned at which I have successfully eaten without getting sick. (plus you can get a really big glass of beer).:beer:

[GOPisEvil]

69. I've eaten at two Red Robin restaurants. Both have been pleasant enough.

Sorry you had a bad experience.

Still, when I want a burger, I go local. :9

[pinniped]

72. I was going to eat there yesterday.

I don't eat bovine, but the BBQ chx sandwich is ok. I've noticed the help is more inconsistent than the food.

[VelmaD]

79. I ate at the one in Austin and it was fine

The burger was ok. Not spectacular but not bad. The strawberry lemonade was fantastic.

[AwakeAtLast]

81. There was a Red Robin in NE Indy for a couple years.

I couldn't believe the prices they charged! I went there once, didn't want to pay that much again for what I got. Maybe why it didn't last long? :shrug:

[philosophie_en_rose]

82. Red Robin food always makes me sick.

We always ate at different Red Robins on debate trips in high school. I always ate something different, and they were all different Red Robins. After two trips, I just brought my own food.

There is something about their food that is just disagreeable to me.

[Strawman]

84. Never been to one. Not the first bad thing I've heard though

My mom told me they sucked, and she's not half as picky of an eater as I am.

[Pool Hall Ace]

88. I cannot get the thumb-in-salad incident at Red Robin out of

my mind.

Not long after it happened, a Red Robin opened near me, but I haven't seen any reports that this was a hoax.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/Midwest/03/05/offbeat.fingertip.food.ap/

[MorningGlow]

90. Oh Jesus

I remember that story but not that it was at a Red Robin. If I had, I would NEVER have ventured across the threshold, let alone eat food there! Isolated incident or not!

:puke: :puke: :puke: :puke:

[Tektonik]

91. The ones I've been to in the san fernando valley have been really good

I've never had a problem w/ the ones at the Northridge or Topanga Malls, well except for some of the prices :P. Never had a problem w/ the taste and quality of the food.

[jakefrep]

95. I like Red Robin...

...I don't eat there often, but I thought the food was fine.

[deepthought42]

96. Hmmm, the Red Robin in Annapolis, MD is pretty good. n/t

[Aristus]

97. Red Robin is a favorite hang-out when my brother and I get together.

The three we have around here, in Tacoma, Puyallup, and Federal Way, are all pretty good, with good food and good service. I have few complaints. I occasionally talk to the manager about the service, but once it was for bad service, and the other time it was to recognize superior service.

OTOH, the ONLY time I have ever sent my order back to the kitchen was at Red Robin when I found mushrooms :puke: on my burger when I didn't order them.

I like Red Robin. :-) Plus, the very first DU-er meet-up I attended was at the Puyallup Red Robin, where I met geniph and her husband JohnYawl.

[Kat45]

98. I've never heard of Red Robin.

And so many of you are mentioning it that I'm guessing it's not just in one area. But I'm guessing it's not in New England (where I am). And from reading your reports, I'm glad it isn't.