Chain Vs. Independently Owned Restaurants
Lando:
The big discussion on my mind is the topic of Chain Restaurants Vs. Independently Owned Restaurants. No, I’m not debating whether or not the quality of the food differs. I want to talk about what everyone thinks about them. Yes, I’ve been to the Olive Gardens, Red Lobsters, and Cheesecake Factories in my time.
Rose:
I think people go to chain restaurants because of the convenience they serve. Big chain restaurants are advertised on television too. It makes decision making easy for some people. Knowing that an Olive Garden serves Italian food sometimes makes things easy. They might not know any “Independent” Italian restaurants in their area. Finally, people might not want to try out a local restaurant because they are unsure of what they will be served.
Lando:
I feel the same way. I see myself as a “foodie”. Many of us out there share the same passion for everything food related. Perhaps, we are just a small part of a big picture. I understand not everyone will take food seriously as I do. Some might not even care if they are eating food at a Chain Restaurant. Some of my friends head out to Chains because its more convenient for us to do so. So, having Chain Restaurants in the market and in our lives do serve their purpose. I bet this is why the Cheesecake Factory is always packed.
A final note, if the food tastes good, it doesn’t matter if it comes from a Chain or Independent Restaurant.
Of the big chains, we like CPK and Buca di Beppo.
Chains generally have cleaner bathrooms and more efficient service. But sometimes even they can get sloppy.
I think people also have different expectations when it comes to a chain or an independent restaurant. For example, if you go to a indy restaurant specializing in Italian food and the plate you order isn’t good you’ll assume that everything else on the menu including the chef. Chances are you won’t be returning to that restaurant. While at a chain restaurant if you get something you don’t like, you’ll just order something different the next time you go.
When it comes down to it, first impressions are really important for independent restaurants, while chain restaurants can get away with first time bad experiences.
Here’s an interesting read that relates to Chain Restaurants:
Yahoo’s Healthiest Chain Restaurants in America
It’s fairly interesting.