I’m having to think about ones we’ve never visited, but two come to mind we will never visit again. We ate in a Red Lobster once that was two hours from home. That may be the longest two hours of my life. We were so sick within thirty minutes that I was worried about the rest of the trip. The other was a Subway that gave me real food poisoning. We’re talking sick for three days.
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I had really bad food poisoning from the seafood gumbo in a fairly high end place that used to be here - Landry's. We had to pack the rest of the dinner to go - and the wife had to drive after getting the kids to the car. I was sick as a dog the rest of the night and next day (my birthday!). Thankfully it was only a 15 minute drive. I never went there again. Everyone would talk about going there for lunch or dinner, I was always out when it was mentioned...
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Five Guys, Sonic and Steak and Shake for me. All within a mile of my house and I don't think I will visit them in the future either.Last edited by Openfire; December 3, 2023, 03:56 PM.Comment
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White Castle and possibly Churches Chicken.Comment
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I eat fast food maybe once or twice a year for the past 15 years or so, but I can’t really think of any I haven’t tried that are available locally. I’m surprised at so many people mentioning 5 guys. I think they’re a step up from a typical fast food place and they’re pretty good.Comment
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For things I have access to and have never tried, I think Marcos Pizza and possibly Dickey's are the only ones. Not sure on Dickey's, because I think there's one in the DFW airport I may have visited 20 or 30 years ago. I haven't gone to the new one here in Gainesville in the year or so it's been open.
But I have to step up represent Sonic. I just don't understand all the badmouthing of it. I first encountered them in the mid-60's in Oklahoma. In high school, the Sonic was one end of the custom of "dragging main" which just meant we drove endless loops through town, using Sonic as the convenient turn-around on one end of the loop. We even had the Sonic before a strange store with cheap merchandise called Walmart opened across from it. I'm still a huge fan of the extra long chili cheese coney, tots and cherry limeade. And I'm chomping at the bit, because a new Sonic is being constructed very close to us. I'll even download their app when that opens!
As for things causing food poisoning, a Cookout in Clemson got to one or both of our daughters when we were there for a horse show, but I didn't eat whatever got them sick. May have been the slaw. But a Texas Roadkill, I mean Roadhouse, did get me once. On a Fathers' Day meal! I think it was the tomatoes on the salad, the girls didn't get sick on that one and Lisa was out of town.Comment
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Marco's is really good for take out pizza.
I would have agreed with you on Sonic a couple of years ago. We have several within 5 miles of the house, and the one 1/4 mile away was always really good - the others really sucked. Unfortunately, since 2020 they've had labor issues, and reduced their hours, and rarely have enough help, are closed random times, etc. My last couple of orders were really screwed up and I've started to just drive past them and go somewhere else.
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I like trying new burger joints. They are mostly meh, but it's fun to see their take on an American classic, and the cost won't hurt too much. My current favorite is FatBurger because they have great steak fries. Their burgers are OK.
I generally stay away from steak chains since I learned how to cook a steak the way I prefer here.
There are two national chicken chains that have opened in this area in the last few years, but I haven't been to either because they only serve boneless chicken, and whole chicken pieces just taste better to me. One is Cane's and I don't remember the other's name.
We have mostly stopped going to full service chains with the exception of Bonefish, (wife's favorite), and Carrabba's. I can't think of any chains in the area that we haven't tried, but most did not get a second visit.Comment
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I can't think of many chains that I've had access to that I haven't tried in my 57 years.
There is certainly a list of them that have been one and done though.
Chik-fil-A tops that list. I just do not understand the fascination with that place.
On the other hand, McDonald's is probably some of the lowest end fast food out there, but it harkens back to my childhood, and every once in awhile I just gotta have a double cheeseburger and fries 🤷♂️Comment
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As a native Georgia boy, growing up near the origin of Chick-Fil-A, I'm gonna have to agree to disagree there! Chick-fil-A is something I've enjoyed since I was young back in the 70's, when they were pretty much the only thing in the local malls around Atlanta, aside from a Morrison's cafeteria and a Farrell's ice cream parlor, back before we had the "food court". Their chicken sandwich is top notch, although I will say they've been topped by Super Chix.
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I have never "dined" in a national chain. But have eaten in some.Comment
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The only chains I haven’t eaten at are ones that aren’t in my area or anywhere I’ve traveled. But I can think of a few I wish weren’t on my list!Comment
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