do you enjoy eating out at chain (franchise) restaurants or local (independent) restaurants more?

Question

which do you prefer? why?

my lady and i stopped at a tiny owner-operated mexican restaurant in northern illinois this summer. the food was delicious, the owner was friendly and waited on us hand and foot, and the experience was as a whole, excellent. a risk well worth it! one vote for the independent.

in your opinion, what are the pros and cons of each type? do you 'trust' one more than the other? good food (or bad!) stories welcome!

Answer 1

The deal with success in the restaurant business is that no matter who you are{independent, chain} it's all about consistency. People who are in a different place, generally go toward a trusted name, this might not mean they love it but they do know what to expect every time. I go to Burger king in Pittsburgh, fly to Los Angeles get out and eat at another Burger King{crazy right} and the whopper tastes exactly the same{pretty shitty}. With chains its only gonna be as good as it's ever been, with a privately owned restaurant, you have no guarantee of quality, but the ranges are expanded, good could be ******* incredible, like wise bad could be devastatingly so. Another factor is cleanliness, not saying all but most chains and franchises have very strict food safety and cleaning standards. I could talk more but, those are a few reasons. Ultimately, dining out in another town is an adventure, wanna better you're odds? Ask the locals.

Answer 2

people like what they comprehend. If i circulate to an Applebee's i comprehend what i'm stepping into. i comprehend what the foodstuff is extremely like the people, the cleanliness, and the cost. If I have been to circulate to assert huge Chuck's abode of Cluck i don't comprehend what this is different than to guess a rooster eating place. Is the foodstuff sparkling what are the charges and how lots does huge Chuch weigh. right here in Tempe, we've many great and unusuall places and a few small chains that no person has ever heard of. yet then you certainly offered places like Sal's greasy spoon that inspite of the pleasing call isn't the wide-unfold place to deliver the employer companions too. So in short the independant is great however the habitual is usually a secure guess.

Answer 3

I personally prefer chain restaurants. The only reason why is because I usually know what it is that I will be getting and whether I like it or not, no matter what city or state I'm in. On the other hand, some of the smaller independent restaurants I have been to have MUCH better food....I'm just not one big on taking chances.

Answer 4

When I am on the road and just want to stop and eat, I will eat at a chain, because I know what to expect.
When we're in a town for a night or two, we always go to the main drag, turn left, turn again, and find the restaurants where the locals eat. We have found some abolutely fantastic - if holes in the wall count! - places with fresh food and great, outstanding, service. Sometimes, we'll ask our desk clerk at the hotel where he takes his family to eat. Not where the tourists eat, that's the important thing. Happy eating and happy traveling.

Answer 5

I like chain places, because I feel like it's often less of a risk. If we are traveling and we are anywhere in the country, I know I can walk into a TGIFridays and get the same exact burger I could if we were at the location 3 minutes from our house! But, if you're willing to take the risk, and luck out to hit a good spot, an independently owned store is MUCH better. My favorite spots around Boston are mostly small family owned places, for both quick lunches, and sit down dinners. Also, chain places tend to be cheaper, more grab your food and go; usually to go out to dinner once a week I perfer a nicer meal and that's harder to find in a chain. . .Locally, you get better service, and often better food for cheaper prices. Like I said before though, chain establishments serve their purposes and are always good for a backup.

Answer 6

When I am on a road trip, I will tend to eat at chains where I don't have to think about menu choices and know what to expect.

When I am in town for more than a few days, I almost exclusively eat at "Mom 'n Pop" types of places. Especially living here in San Antonio, I find superior service, better prices, and incredible food at independent establishments.

EXCEPTION: When I am in a hurry, I just get fast food like Quizno's or Panda Express.

Answer 7

I prefer independent places. I feel like my pressence is more important there. The $20 I spend at my local chinese place feel like it is really helping people since I see their kids there all the time. The $20 I spend at Applebee's does not feel like I am making any difference in the world.

I think overall the food is better at Independents, but you are taking a bigger risk when you go to a new one. You know the food at a chain is going to be good every time but rarely great.

Answer 8

I would much rather go to a owner/family operated restaurant than a chain any day for better service & better food!

Answer 9

I like the mom and pop shops . OR the ones privitely owned resturants. I do feel you get better treatment. THEREs a place wherei live where the food is home made and the pies and cakes are fresh made daily. YOU can smell the food a block a way. AND the owners are friendly.

Answer 10

I always hit the local places...they have the best food and service... The stuff in chain resturants is soo overprocessed and the same all the time. We have a few great places we love....as far as that Mexican resturant you had to have gone to my favorite Jalapenos... I live in N. IL and have a fave resturant just like that. You drink half the soda and they are refilling it already...