I agree that "known" and apprehension about the "unknown" are big factors -- and not just for 95 year olds. And, I think it's not just food, but the entire experience. For most Americans there is something comfortingly familiar about seeing a logo you recognize, pulling into a strip mall parking lot, entering a building that you recognize and going through the entire dining experience. We know what to do. The experience doesn't challenge and the food isn't frightening. If you look at the ads for all these restaurants, the focus is equal parts happy groups and (usually cheese drenched) food.

I agree with some of the earlier posters that insincerity of the Tuscan Cooking School and "authentic" Italian recipes are what make O/G especially reviled by the folks who read this board. When I was a teenager living in the wilds of Pennsylvania, I loved my infrequent trips to the late Chi-Chi's, which fell into the same category. I understand what people hate. I'm, frankly, more fascinated by what motivates people like my 95-year-old mother-in-law to LOVE Olive Garden and Red Lobster. She will complain for days if you take her to a neighborhood Italian restaurant or a New England lobster shack. She truly doesn't understand why Boston doesn't have a Red Lobster. In her view, these inauthentic restaurants are perfect.

Thanks for all the suggestions. The suggestion for The Red Apple is especially welcome -- part of my family is Polish and Polish food is not that easy to find in Boston.

My wife and I will be visiting Chicago for a couple days later this month. We have a nice dinner planned at North Pond, but are looking for ideas for some less expensive food adventures that will give us a real sense of Chicago and will be different from what we're going to find at home in Boston. We're fairly adventurous, ethnic is fine, off the beaten path is okay too. We'll be staying in the River North area and traveling by cab/public transportation. Ideas?