Favorite restaurant chains

[hbelkins]

I have the same problem with Subway: one is good, the next one is crap. Since everything is franchised, there is probably not much quality control. Firehouse, OTOH, I've nave had a problem with (when I can find them).

Never noticed that with Subway. Then again, I rarely eat there and certainly don't seek them out when I'm traveling.

What would vary in quality at Subway? The freshness of the veggies?

[tchafe1978]

One place that hasn't been mentioned yet is one of my favorites, Culver's. It's a regional chain in the midwest, based in Wisconsin. The have butterburgers and frozen custard. Better than any other fast food burger place that I've been to. They also have an awesome cod fillet sandwich, which is an actual cod fillet, not minced fish like McDonald's fish sandwich. You can also get pork roast sandwiches, and complete fish dinners with all the fixings. Your food is brought hot and fresh to your table, after a wait of only a couple minutes. Their frozen custard is awesome, you can get a cone or a sundae, and their concrete mixers blow away DQ's Blizzard.

My least favorite fast food joint is probably McDonald's. Even just the thought of a Big Mac makes my stomach turn. Others I do like are Arby's, and Wendy's.

When it come's to pizza, Domino's is ok for delivery. They're better since they started adding some seasoning to their sauce and the pizza no longer tastes like cardboard. Pizza Hut is ok, the local Pizza Hut always has its crust too greasy. There's enough grease in the cheese and meat, don't need more from the crust. My favorite chain pizza is probably Papa Murphy's. I love their stuffed crust. There are also a couple local pizza joints that are way better than any of the chain places.

[Scott5114]

One place that hasn't been mentioned yet is one of my favorites, Culver's. It's a regional chain in the midwest, based in Wisconsin. The have butterburgers and frozen custard. Better than any other fast food burger place that I've been to. They also have an awesome cod fillet sandwich, which is an actual cod fillet, not minced fish like McDonald's fish sandwich. You can also get pork roast sandwiches, and complete fish dinners with all the fixings. Your food is brought hot and fresh to your table, after a wait of only a couple minutes. Their frozen custard is awesome, you can get a cone or a sundae, and their concrete mixers blow away DQ's Blizzard.

If you're ever in OK, check out Braum's. They're a local chain that's pretty close to Culver's in taste.

[hbelkins]

One place that hasn't been mentioned yet is one of my favorites, Culver's. It's a regional chain in the midwest, based in Wisconsin. The have butterburgers and frozen custard. Better than any other fast food burger place that I've been to. They also have an awesome cod fillet sandwich, which is an actual cod fillet, not minced fish like McDonald's fish sandwich. You can also get pork roast sandwiches, and complete fish dinners with all the fixings. Your food is brought hot and fresh to your table, after a wait of only a couple minutes. Their frozen custard is awesome, you can get a cone or a sundae, and their concrete mixers blow away DQ's Blizzard.

Oh yeah, Culver's is great. They're slowly moving south into Kentucky. Lexington's had a couple of them for several years. But I never figured out why they call them "butter burgers."

[on_wisconsin]

One place that hasn't been mentioned yet is one of my favorites, Culver's. It's a regional chain in the midwest, based in Wisconsin. The have butterburgers and frozen custard. Better than any other fast food burger place that I've been to. They also have an awesome cod fillet sandwich, which is an actual cod fillet, not minced fish like McDonald's fish sandwich. You can also get pork roast sandwiches, and complete fish dinners with all the fixings. Your food is brought hot and fresh to your table, after a wait of only a couple minutes. Their frozen custard is awesome, you can get a cone or a sundae, and their concrete mixers blow away DQ's Blizzard.

About damn time someone mentioned Culver's, love that place! 

[formulanone]

What would vary in quality at Subway? The freshness of the veggies?

I visit Subway an average of once a week on the road, mainly because they take AMEX at about 90% of their stores. Quality is usually in the same ratio (although not because of their credit card acceptance choices), because I've had some stores be very stingy about how much sandwich meat or toppings they use (yes, I'm looking at you, Miami). Most stores are quite okay, and the fact they're in just about any town with a stop light is helpful indeed.

[rawmustard]

Oh yeah, Culver's is great. They're slowly moving south into Kentucky. Lexington's had a couple of them for several years. But I never figured out why they call them "butter burgers."

It's because the bun is lightly buttered. As for the patties themselves, they look well-seared, and I've never had a bad Culver's burger.

[kphoger]

What are your favorite fast food items to eat while driving?  And your least favorite?

I find chicken nuggets to be the easiest to eat.  Many cars have a handhold in the door that can double as a sauce container holder, perfect for nuggets.  However, fried food have a tendency to make me fall asleep later.  More often than not, we eat in the restaurant–even on long-distance trips–but, when we get food on the road and I'm the next driver, I often go for a wrap from Subway.  It's self-contained, it doesn't drip grease in my lap, and it doesn't make me fall asleep.  When I'm not on the road, a wrap doesn't fill me up enough, but I don't get very hungry on a drive.

Worst:  a meatball submarine.  I only did that once, and it was because I didn't know the meal was going to be take-out.  I also remember back when Wendy's had pita wraps, those made a mess all over your lap.

If you're ever in OK, check out Braum's. They're a local chain that's pretty close to Culver's in taste.

They're not just in Oklahoma, either.  They're popular here in Wichita, and I've eaten a few times at the one in Gainesville, Texas.

[Takumi]

^ My favorite driving food is chicken nuggets also, as well as other variously-named breast portions (strips, tenders, etc). Back when Burger King had chicken fries, the box was able to be fit in a cupholder. Now that they're gone, I don't really go there anymore.

Least favorite? Big, floppy pizza slices. Best enjoyed at the restaurant.

[US71]

I have the same problem with Subway: one is good, the next one is crap. Since everything is franchised, there is probably not much quality control. Firehouse, OTOH, I've nave had a problem with (when I can find them).

Never noticed that with Subway. Then again, I rarely eat there and certainly don't seek them out when I'm traveling.

What would vary in quality at Subway? The freshness of the veggies?

Freshness of the bread, quality of the meats.

[kphoger]

. . . able to be fit in a cupholder.

When I was in high school, my dad owned a 1997 Toyota Camry with a stick shift but no CD player.  Where the CD player would be was just a big gap.  So we bought an electric stove burner cover and some flat metal tubing.  We bent the tubing tightly around in a vice, and secured both pieces of pipe to the burner cover with screws and washers.  The bend in the tubing fit snugly into the dashboard gap, and voilà! a hamburger tray!  The lip on the cover (it was upside-down) prevented food from sliding off.  With this setup, I was once able to drive in a construction zone, shifting every so often, and eat lunch at the same time.

[Alps]

That said, I usually subsist on Subway and McD's on roadtrips.  Reasonable prices and predictable quality and menu offerings.

I wish.

I'm starting to notice considerable differences in quality at various McDonald's locations. Some places the fries are soggy and greasy; other places they have no salt; other places seem to put pepper on their burgers while others don't.

If I'm driving I want finger food or sandwiches without condiment so as to not make a mess, because I never eat in during the day on a trip. I always hit the drive-thru or get my food to go. Can't waste time sitting in a restaurant at lunch when there's traveling to be done.

Even if I go for fast food, I try to do local (like Culver's) just because. If I really just need to eat something, then I almost don't care where, because I can find something and it's all going to be of the same low quality. I liked Subway until I realized what goes into their "bread." I am partial to fried chicken places, still need to try Long John Silver's in terms of national chains, and have a planned Biscuitville break next time I'm in NC.

Oh yeah, Culver's is great. They're slowly moving south into Kentucky. Lexington's had a couple of them for several years. But I never figured out why they call them "butter burgers."

It's because the bun is lightly buttered. As for the patties themselves, they look well-seared, and I've never had a bad Culver's burger.

Because I don't mix milk and meat from the same animal, I tried a Culver's unbuttered burger. Nothing special, a step up from McD or BK, on par with a Wendy.

[BigMattFromTexas]

Someone mentioned Braum's. I forgot about this place, I love it! But sense they only build within 300 miles of the farms, San Angelo won't get one... 360 miles! 
BigMatt

[Takumi]

still need to try Long John Silver's in terms of national chains

It's not bad. Prices are about the same as most fast food places (~$6 for a meal). I normally get one piece of fish and one chicken plank, which comes with hush puppies and fries. My local Long John Silver's sits right next to an extremely locally-owned seafood restaurant, so it's rarely busy.

[hbelkins]

still need to try Long John Silver's in terms of national chains

It's not bad. Prices are about the same as most fast food places (~$6 for a meal). I normally get one piece of fish and one chicken plank, which comes with hush puppies and fries. My local Long John Silver's sits right next to an extremely locally-owned seafood restaurant, so it's rarely busy.

Talk about inconsistency. LJS is probably the champion of that category. It's a Kentucky company, started out in Lexington and now is (or recently was) part of Yum brands, headquartered in that southern Indiana city of Louisville.

The quality can range from really tasty -- I like the chicken planks more than the fish, actually -- to wishing one had picked up a dog turd off the street and eaten it instead. If the fries are the least bit greasy, they're terrible.

I think LJS is a bit pricey; thankfully they run coupons in the papers from time to time. Captain D's is cheaper.

The LJS in Jackson was torn down to make room for the four-lane KY 15 that's now under construction and was not replaced. So it's no longer a lunch option. There are two LJSes within about a half-hour of where I live. One is great, the other is mediocre at best.

[US71]

still need to try Long John Silver's in terms of national chains

It's not bad. Prices are about the same as most fast food places (~$6 for a meal). I normally get one piece of fish and one chicken plank, which comes with hush puppies and fries. My local Long John Silver's sits right next to an extremely locally-owned seafood restaurant, so it's rarely busy.

I find LJS fries to be poor quality, so I usually opt for extra Hush Puppies. I won't tough Captain D's: too greasy.

My usual haunts on the road are Arby's, Popeye's, Subway (if Firehouse isn't available), and occasionally LJS.

I'll occasionally do pizza by the slice at Kim & Go if I'm really desperate. If I'm beyond desperate, then Hunt Brothers or Hot Stuff pizza. If I'm "OMG I'm going to die with out pizza", then Casey's pizza.   

[Takumi]

The last time I got LJS the fries were pretty good, but I couldn't tell you when the time I ate there before that was. HB's comment about inconsistency is probably spot on, though. The nearest Captain D's to me is not conducive to going there unless someone with me absolutely must have Captain D's, so I couldn't tell you when the last time I ate there was. I prefer said local sit-down place to both chains, but it's twice the cost.

[US71]

The last time I got LJS the fries were pretty good, but I couldn't tell you when the time I ate there before that was. HB's comment about inconsistency is probably spot on, though. The nearest Captain D's to me is not conducive to going there unless someone with me absolutely must have Captain D's, so I couldn't tell you when the last time I ate there was. I prefer said local sit-down place to both chains, but it's twice the cost.

The portions are always different at LJS. I prefer the chicken, but sometimes the piece look like dwarf chickens. The only "local" seafood place here is Catfish Cove , and they run around $20 for AYCE buffet. But half the stuff is fried.

I used to patronize a lot of the "mom and pop" Chinese Restaurants on the road until I started having stomach problems after eating there.

[hbelkins]

I used to patronize a lot of the "mom and pop" Chinese Restaurants on the road until I started having stomach problems after eating there.

Allergic to cats, are we? 

[codyg1985]

Some of my favorite fast food/semi fast food places are Chipotle, Chick-fil-A, Five Guys Burgers and Fries, A&W, Dairy Queen, Zaxby's, and Jack's (northern Alabama chain not to be confused with Jack in the Box).

[cpzilliacus]

I don't think anyone has mentioned the Roy Rogers chain in this thread. 

Almost whittled down to nothing (still some stores in Maryland and Virginia and a few other states in the East), but starting to grow again (the chain was "invented" by the Marriott family but is now owned by someone else and based in Frederick County, Maryland).

Always liked their roast beef burgers and "Triggerburgers" (good, solid hamburgers).

[hbelkins]

I don't think anyone has mentioned the Roy Rogers chain in this thread. 

Almost whittled down to nothing (still some stores in Maryland and Virginia and a few other states in the East), but starting to grow again (the chain was "invented" by the Marriott family but is now owned by someone else and based in Frederick County, Maryland).

Always liked their roast beef burgers and "Triggerburgers" (good, solid hamburgers).

I've seen Roy Rogers in various turnpike service plazas and thought about trying the food, but the lines were agonizingly long.

[Grzrd]

Always liked their ... "Triggerburgers" (good, solid hamburgers).

The above made me check on Trigger's fate.  Still stuffed:

[agentsteel53]

I liked Subway until I realized what goes into their "bread."

people?

[njroadhorse]

I'm a big fan of Chick-Fil-A, Hardees, Five Guys, McDonalds, Taco Bell, and Wendy's. Moe's and Qdoba are also wonderful too, but I dunno if they exclusively fall into fast food.

Sit-down for me is all about Chili's, Red Robin, Texas Roadhouse, Olive Garden and Cheesecake Factory.  I like to go for more local places when I want sit down, though.