Comments on: Weekly round-up 03/07/08

By: Stuart

Stuart — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 19:42:39 +0000

Rod, point well made. I can definitely appreciate that chain restaurants have their place for various reasons. I’ve eaten in enough due to last minute plans, picky dining partners etc.

I think we both agree that if a locale has a decent independent option to dine at, that always wins over the Chilli’s or Applebees next door.

Maybe Orem is ripe for a brave restaurateur to invest some time and money!

By: Rod Schiffman

Rod Schiffman — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 03:17:27 +0000

Opps. I made the mistake of copying a quote and using an HTML character to set it off. So, it disappears into the ether. Someday software will be written to handle these things. I was responding to the thoughts about chain restaurants. I’m on the road 100 days, or more, a year trying to avoid chain restaurants. Ive done this for many years. I just don’t get those I travel with wanting to go to a chain. Isn’t the whole idea of eating somewhere different to eat at a place that tastes different?

I’ve only had one time where I really wanted to eat at a chain and know the bland food I was going to get. I was in Tibet and China shortly after Tiananman square. It was the first year China allowed foreign “guests” into some of the places I went. After losing 10 lbs over two weeks trying to eat the local food, the Pizza Hut in Hong Kong never looked so good.

By: Rod Schiffman

Rod Schiffman — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 03:05:07 +0000

In general I agree, although when you live in a place like Orem you don’t have a lot of other choices. For example, Chef’s table is a bad poser. Ted Scheffler must have been high to give the place a good rating. I’m the one who sic’ed Chow Hounds on Pizzera 712. It really is good.

However, P.F. Changs somehow got a Michelin star in Las Vegas – holy shit Batman. I’ve been to P.F. Changs in Dallas, Boston, Orem and Princeton recently. Huh???? OK, but not great. I do know some chains can have real differences. The Carrabas in Orem — actually quite good. The one in Plano Texas — not so good.

Ruth’s Chris — won’t sell dry aged prime — the water in wet aged prime sells for several dollars an ounce there. But, it’s still a chain, and pretty good, along with a number of businessmen’s steak houses.

I ramble. I just don’t get the hype over Cheesecake Factory. The press say’s SLC has arrived now it’s here. Getting Ruth’s Chris — ho hum. I don’t get the place either. It’s just another symbol with all that’s wrong with modern dining for the masses.