Restaurants you frequent on the road

[formulanone]

I try to patronize local places when I reach my destination or if I'm not on the Interstate. When I'm en route somewhere, I'll just hit whichever fast food chain is the most convenient. I never use the drive-thru because food is not allowed in the car, even for take-home purposes.

Who doesn't allow it?

That's because children are fond of using any surface on a vehicle's interior as a napkin.

On the other hand, having the daughter spend two hours quietly dissect a cheeseburger was worth the 15 minutes of clean-up, just to have some peace and quiet during an 600 mile drive.

Out of the ordinary distances tend to break my no-eat-in-car policy.

[hbelkins]

That's because children are fond of using any surface on a vehicle's interior as a napkin.

On the other hand, having the daughter spend two hours quietly dissect a cheeseburger was worth the 15 minutes of clean-up, just to have some peace and quiet during an 600 mile drive.

Out of the ordinary distances tend to break my no-eat-in-car policy.

That's your reason. Still wondering about 1995hoo's reasoning.

This is one of the GREAT things about smartphones!  I don't have to eat at any dreadful chain restaurants anymore.  And that's not to say that there are no good chains; only that once you find a good one, you (or at least I) tend to go there frequently until it becomes dreadful.

I enjoy traveling by car more now than ever, and not least because of smartphones.  When I'm hungry I don't have to settle for something I can get at home.

What tool do you use to get recommendations?

[berberry]

What tool do you use to get recommendations?

If I'm totally unfamiliar with my location I'd start with the GPS software and use google, zagat (which google seems to pull from), opentable to get info and/or reviews.  There are probably good apps available that do it all more quickly and easily on a phone, but this is a service I need only rarely so I haven't invested much time in looking for an ideal solution.  The fact that the smartphone makes the web available almost anywhere is the key.  That helps with a lot more than just finding good restaurants.

It's worth the trouble sometimes even when you're very familiar with the city you're in.  I used it not long ago to find a good bowl of red beans and rice in New Orleans at 2 in the morning.

[1995hoo]

To answer hbelkins–obviously I wasn't referring to grocery shopping but rather to picking up any food that smells and to eating. I keep the car extremely clean inside, so that's a major reason for no eating, and I don't want the smell of fast food permeating it in any way. Made that mistake in my previous car. (An exception applies in my other current car if the convertible top is down.) Prohibiting food helps keep the interior as close to like-new condition as possible.

I sometimes allow drinks in travel mugs.

[njroadhorse]

For Breakfast: IHOP, Wawa, Dunkin' Donuts, McDonalds or Burger King
Lunch: Chick-Fil-A, McDonalds, Wendy's, Wawa
Dinner: Five Guys or sit down places.

I'm really not that particular, but those are the place's I'll go to if I have a choice.

[US71]

I had Wendy's for lunch today, for the first time in years... despite recent ads, I think they've gotten worse.

[RoadWarrior56]

When I travel, especially when alone, I look for Jason's Deli or Panera Bread.  If I am in the mood for a burger, I would pick Five Guys, or Culver's, if I am in their part of the country.  Back in the 80's, I spent several months working in Oklahoma, and I have fond memories of Braum's - their burgers, crinkle cut fries, and their shakes.  Of course if I were in California it would only be In N Out Burger.  I am soooo jealous of the Dallas, TX area getting In N Out.  I hope I live long enough to see them in Atlanta.

[OCGuy81]

I can't believe I left off White Castle! Anytime I'm in a part of the country that has them, it's a total guilty pleasure.

[US71]

I can't believe I left off White Castle! Anytime I'm in a part of the country that has them, it's a total guilty pleasure.

You just slide on in?

[Brandon]

I can't believe I left off White Castle! Anytime I'm in a part of the country that has them, it's a total guilty pleasure.

You just slide on in?

And they just slide on out.   

[US71]

I can't believe I left off White Castle! Anytime I'm in a part of the country that has them, it's a total guilty pleasure.

You just slide on in?

And they just slide on out.   

Just like Krystal's 

[ftballfan]

Breakfast: Big Boy, Burger King, McDonalds
Lunch/Dinner: McDonalds, Arby's
Dinner: Olive Garden, Red Lobster

[pbrisebois]

I try to eat at restaurants that I don't get up in Toronto. 

Usually that means Cracker Barrel, Bob Evans or Waffle House. Waffle House is my favourite, and if I'm down south, I'll stop at one at least once.

[SteveG1988]

It all depends on how far i am going.

Hour or so away, i get a block of cheese from acme/wal-mart/shop rite and snack on it during the trip along with some store brand canned soda.

If i am going far enough away to where a normal resturant is required, i normally pick either Wendy's/Burger king/Taco bell. whatever one i am in the mood for that day. If i feel like it i have picked up a little caesar's hot n ready pizza for a 4+ hour trip and just snacked on it in the back seat when i took breaks. If i feel fancy i pick a local diner if it is in the NJ/PA area, if not i normally pick something i have not had before, or a buffet. Golden Corral is always a good bet for me to eat at as i can find something halfway decent to eat. If i feel risky, i try local chinese buffets, sometimes they do not agree with me, other times i am okay.

If i am traveling with someone else, a buffet is the first choice, or a WaWa if it is in the mid-atlantic states, that way we both can get something decent, or at least a decent snack.

[hbelkins]

Anyone ever eaten at a Huddle House? I think they're somewhat of a knockoff of Waffle House, as they're open 24/7/365 and have a variety of breakfast and lunch/dinner items that are served round the clock. I haven't tried HH and it's been years since I've had Waffle House.

One thing I dislike about Waffle House is that if they allow smoking, you come out smelling like an ashtray and feeling like you've smoked the equivalent of a carton of unfiltered Camels.

[US71]

One thing I dislike about Waffle House is that if they allow smoking, you come out smelling like an ashtray and feeling like you've smoked the equivalent of a carton of unfiltered Camels.

Won't happen in Arkansas: smoking is banned in public restaurants.

I ate at a Huddle House in Mississippi a couple years ago:  *slightly* better than "awful waffle" .

[relaxok]

Jersey Mike's whenever I'm in a place that has one... Some of the best cold cut subs ever.  I assume you're talking about chains and not things in specific places.  I kind of like Baja Fresh.  besides those two, there isn't really any good chain food in my opinion.  I will only eat fast food and family chain restaurants as a last possible 'I'm starving and everything is closed' resort.

[Brandon]

One thing I dislike about Waffle House is that if they allow smoking, you come out smelling like an ashtray and feeling like you've smoked the equivalent of a carton of unfiltered Camels.

Won't happen in Illinois or Michigan either.  Smoking is banned in most public indoor places (including casinos in Illinois).

[formulanone]

I think at least 35-40 states or so have banned indoor smoking in restaurants. Florida did it around 2002 or so, a few places jumped the gun a few months prior to gain business. Even then, there's a few loopholes; for example, outdoor seating with at least two open walls permits smoking, tables on sidewalk permit it...the problem is that the law made you think twice about taking a table outdoors when the weather's nice, or by the beach. But it was a trade-off for the better, in my opinion.

Some places elsewhere in the US don't even ask, which means anyone can smoke anywhere, which is really annoying.

That said, I used to smoke 15 years ago, so the smell of it actually bothers me more now that I've quit.

[1995hoo]

I was looking at some old pictures and stumbled across this one I took in Jacksonville on a Gator Bowl trip a few years back. I'm not a big fan of Chinese food, but I'd almost be tempted to stop at this place just because of its name.

[exit322]

When Ohio passed their law a couple years back (I didn't vote for it, though I don't smoke) - the one thing I noticed the next time I ate at Waffle House...

"Wow, this place is a whole lot cleaner when people can't smoke here!"

[roadman65]

I can't believe I left off White Castle! Anytime I'm in a part of the country that has them, it's a total guilty pleasure.

I was in Kansas City, MO once and saw one there back in 00.  I did not stop there then, but a year later I was back then, and it was boarded up!  Then I was passing back through that way again (return home from South Dakota) and saw the White Castle on the blue sign along US 71 south of the Triangle.  Got off, as I said to myself that this must be one to open as it is on a state erected sign, and tried to find this place.  Went in the direction of the sign, and traveled about a mile and could not find it.  THEN, as I returned back to US 71 in hope of finding it hidden or missed the first time, I saw another boarded up building that obviously was a White Castle.  So in this area, all these chains are CLOSED!  Nonetheless, if I see one around Indiana, Illinois, or New Jersey, where they still are, I will stop.

I forgot, New Jersey local pizzerias are a place I visit.  The Summer NJ Boardwalks are loaded with them!

Then one post here about Publix as I live in Florida where they are everywhere.  It does bring up that most of us watching what we eat due to colesterol and sugar, that the chain stores use in their seasoning, it may be wise to buy our food at food markets and eat in the car or find a rest area to pull off in. In New Jersey it is hard, cause it seems that they are closing the Rest Areas one by one, and if they leave them open it is for trucks only.  Still with Shop Rite or Pathmark, you could get a good deli sandwich and eat in the parking lot.  This way you are buying the food like you would for home and watch what you put in.  Its not the food as much as the way its prepared that causes health problems.  I have high sugar myself and might have to patronize market food when I am out.

If you visit Florida you have not only Hooters, but Ker's Winghouse in the Tampa, Orlando, and Daytona areas.  Their wings are much better and the girls are much better to serve you as many Hooters will ignore you if you sit alone.  Unless you are a regular there and have money or possessed with the gift of gab, you will only have the girls give you true service.  Winghouse, has some girls that may be stuck up, but they do have many who make single or group people feel welcome!  They have dollar drafts between 4 and 7 weekdays, but stay away during Pay Per View events!  This is one place that gets jamned packed as they offer no cover charge!

Kokomo, Indiana on US 31 you have the King Buffet for Chinese food.  For less than $7 you get lunch with iced tea and an all you can eat buffet.  Next door is the White Castle if you are craving that, or Buffalo Wild Wings in the same strip plaza.  All these are on the SE corner of US 31 and SR 22.  Then one block east of US 31 on SR 22, you have Sams and Wal Mart.  This is a Super Wal Mart and you can get cheap food in the food section plus gas up as this store has a station too.  Most Wal Marts, if you buy a gift card, you can save at their pumps on each gallon.

[US71]

There are a couple White Castle's along old US 66 in the St Louis area.

[wriddle082]

As for the "slider" chains, Nashville was the first market where White Castle and Krystal ever competed directly with one another.  I remember when WC first came to Nashville back in the mid-late 80's.  Krystal, where they could, intentionally bought small outparcels across the street from the White Castles and built drive-thru only restaurants.  These days, White Castle is still in Nashville (barely) and is usually co-branded with Church's Chicken.  Krystal pretty much closed down all of those drive-thru only locations near the White Castles, but they have rehabbed/rebuilt their other existing restaurants and overall have a better presence.

The only other markets where they both compete appear to be Clarksville, TN and Bowling Green, Somerset, and London in KY.  A few years ago there was one in Nicholasville, KY just south of Lexington, but I think it's gone now.  They do have one in Mt. Sterling, KY, about 30 miles east of Lexington, but no WC there that I'm aware of.

[realjd]

If you visit Florida you have not only Hooters, but Ker's Winghouse in the Tampa, Orlando, and Daytona areas.  Their wings are much better and the girls are much better to serve you as many Hooters will ignore you if you sit alone.  Unless you are a regular there and have money or possessed with the gift of gab, you will only have the girls give you true service.  Winghouse, has some girls that may be stuck up, but they do have many who make single or group people feel welcome!  They have dollar drafts between 4 and 7 weekdays, but stay away during Pay Per View events!  This is one place that gets jamned packed as they offer no cover charge!.

If youre looking for wings, Buffalo Wild Wings is the best chain by far, both in Florida and nationwide. They blow Hooters out of the water (although their waitresses tend to have smaller, less visible tits).