Which casual dining restaurant would you most like to own?

by **saxitoxin** on Thu Jan 24, 2013 5:55 pm

Haggis recently said his child threatened to throw a tantrum if Haggis didn't buy him a McDonald's. Assume you were going to purchase a restaurant franchise - but that this restaurant franchise would not be a fast food franchise but a casual dining franchise!!! Which would you purchase?

For purposes of this scenario your income off your franchise would be identical regardless of chain and you could not sell it. Also, you would only own one location and you would have to work at it at least 32 hours per week.

by **Gillipig** on Thu Jan 24, 2013 6:05 pm

Hooters is going to win by a landslide saxi, this is a one option poll.

by **thegreekdog** on Thu Jan 24, 2013 6:08 pm

Dave & Buster's easily. Every Dave & Buster's is fun. I have been to some Hooter's restaurants that could serve as poor country whorehouses.

by **Funkyterrance** on Thu Jan 24, 2013 6:10 pm

Wtf, McD's is mentioned in the OP but it's not an option? Do you enjoy teasing people saxi?

by **thegreekdog** on Thu Jan 24, 2013 6:11 pm

Funkyterrance wrote:Wtf, McD's is mentioned in the OP but it's not an option? Do you enjoy teasing people saxi?

saxitoxin wrote: Assume you were going to purchase a restaurant franchise - but that this restaurant franchise would not be a fast food franchise but a casual dining franchise!!!

by **Haggis_McMutton** on Thu Jan 24, 2013 6:17 pm

I voted IHOP because it's the most culturally inclusive.

by **Funkyterrance** on Thu Jan 24, 2013 6:19 pm

thegreekdog wrote:
Funkyterrance wrote:Wtf, McD's is mentioned in the OP but it's not an option? Do you enjoy teasing people saxi?

saxitoxin wrote: Assume you were going to purchase a restaurant franchise - but that this restaurant franchise would not be a fast food franchise but a casual dining franchise!!!

But.. but.. but...
Those two quotes don't necessarily contradict each other. I'm still pissed since if it's not an option it shouldn't even be mentioned, I don't care where saxi gets his bloody inspiration. I call FOUL.

by **saxitoxin** on Thu Jan 24, 2013 6:19 pm

by **Funkyterrance** on Thu Jan 24, 2013 6:24 pm

Besides, I've never even heard of half of those much less feel comfortable owning such ritzy places. Am I the only non-aristocrat here?

by **saxitoxin** on Thu Jan 24, 2013 6:27 pm

Funkyterrance wrote:Besides, I've never even heard of half of those much less feel comfortable owning such ritzy places as on that list. Am I the only non-aristocrat here?

I went to Wikipedia and typed in "casual dining restaurant" because I didn't want to impose my worldview of casual dining on others who may have different worldviews. Of those listed, I've not been to ...

- Boston Pizza
- Dave & Buster's
- Johnny Rockets
- Rainforest Cafe
- Red Lobster
- Ruby Tuesday

I also intentionally left off Sizzler because it was unclear to me if it is casual dining or non-drive thru fast food or hybrid.

by **Crazyirishman** on Thu Jan 24, 2013 6:36 pm

Dave & Busters is the shit, of those given its by far the best. Hooters enticed me for a minute and then I remembered you have to sacrifice decent tasting food for the view.

by **notyou2** on Thu Jan 24, 2013 6:39 pm

If The Cheesecake Factory was on the list, I would pick that one. But I guess I would choose Hooter's, but then I would lose it in the divorce settlement.

by **TA1LGUNN3R** on Thu Jan 24, 2013 9:47 pm

I would purchase an Applebee's just to burn it down.

-TG

by **Dukasaur** on Thu Jan 24, 2013 10:03 pm

Funkyterrance wrote:Besides, I've never even heard of half of those much less feel comfortable owning such ritzy places. Am I the only non-aristocrat here?

I'm blue collar all the way, and I don't consider any of these places "ritzy". Some of them are grossly overpriced, but that's not the same thing. And even grossly overpriced, all of them are still well within affordable range (not for every day perhaps, but for occasional outings) for anyone living in North America.

Any of the places listed will give you a decent dinner for under $30, and most of them have weekday lunch specials for under $10.

by **#1_stunna** on Fri Jan 25, 2013 11:34 am

Funkyterrance wrote:Besides, I've never even heard of half of those much less feel comfortable owning such ritzy places. Am I the only non-aristocrat here?

You really do live in a hole.

by **AndyDufresne** on Fri Jan 25, 2013 11:39 am

I'd rather go down a level, and get a nice Pita Pit. Who doesn't love a pita in the pit?

--Andy

by **KoolBak** on Fri Jan 25, 2013 1:01 pm

Dave & Buster's cause it's fun (even though I've never been to one). Olive Garden is my fave to eat at based on venue, quality / amount of food and price. Using the same criterion, Outback Steakhose is at the BOTTOM of my list - those places are a ripoff :evil:

Just curious....as IHOP is there, shouldn't we include the Denny's and Shari's of the world? And didn't Boston market go banko? I know they all closed around here years ago......

by **Funkyterrance** on Fri Jan 25, 2013 2:29 pm

#1_stunna wrote:
Funkyterrance wrote:Besides, I've never even heard of half of those much less feel comfortable owning such ritzy places. Am I the only non-aristocrat here?

You really do live in a hole.

I prefer the term "in the sticks".

by **2dimes** on Fri Jan 25, 2013 3:35 pm

There's a sizzler between Koolbak's house and here, my family stopped in after our kids ate a couple of buckets of Kool's blue berries.

A rather large homless looking guy came in, I was certain just to use the restroom. When he eventually came out of there, his wife asked if he was going to the salad bar he said "You can get it for me." and I quote the second part often, "You know how I like my salad!"

by **KoolBak** on Fri Jan 25, 2013 3:46 pm

..never asked, but I bet the young-uns was real regular after that 5 pounds o blueberries ;o)

by **2dimes** on Fri Jan 25, 2013 3:52 pm

They go through fruit like that all the time. No noticable side affects.

Blue berries were allways a favorite. We used cloth diapers more on the first one since we had her out numbered at the time. The ones that had been subject to blue berries were a new colour.

by **saxitoxin** on Fri Jan 25, 2013 4:34 pm

2dimes wrote:There's a sizzler between Koolbak's house and here

now that I would like to see ... 2,000 miles of wilderness with a Sizzler just randomly sticking out of a clearing in the forest

by **Funkyterrance** on Fri Jan 25, 2013 4:43 pm

saxitoxin wrote:
2dimes wrote:There's a sizzler between Koolbak's house and here

now that I would like to see ... 2,000 miles of wilderness with a Sizzler just randomly sticking out of a clearing in the forest

I believe saxi is thinking summer getaway cabin.

by **saxitoxin** on Fri Jan 25, 2013 4:47 pm

2dimes spots a Sizzler ...

by **PLAYER57832** on Fri Jan 25, 2013 4:49 pm

Funkyterrance wrote:Besides, I've never even heard of half of those much less feel comfortable owning such ritzy places. Am I the only non-aristocrat here?

LOL... I am not familiar with all of those, but even Red Lobster is not precisely "ritsy".

I chose Olive Garden because they have a fair variety. (I have heard of rainforest cafe, but never been to one. Never even heard of Senior Frog or Busters. Hooters is definitely not of my taste. Applebees and Outback both have terrible food. Its edible, but that's about it).

I would have added in Cracker Barrel, Howard Johnsons and yeah.. sizzler, though not sure I would have voted for them.