flyerfan182's Profile
Best food buys at Sam's club.
I'd say the Bacon Wrapped Turkey Fillets are pretty good.
I usually buy the sourdough bread (artisan style) and freeze a loaf for later.
The Pretzel Pub Mix is to die for addicting.
Your favorite/not so favorite discontinued items
or the big new yorker from pizza hut
Your favorite/not so favorite discontinued items
Mcdonalds about 10 years or so ago did a promotion for the Disney film, "Mulan." That promotion consisted of many different promo food items as well as a special Szechwaun dipping sauce for their Mcnuggets. I REALLY want that back! I used to just go there specially for the sauce in which I froze at home!
Another thing, remember when Little Ceasar's Pizza was more then what it is today? Remember when it was part of the big chains i.e. Pizza Hut, Dominos, Papa Johns. They had this pizza by the foot thing and it was simply amazing.
The old Subway way of cutting their sandwiches. I know you can ask for it, but most do it wrong now cause they were never trained on it. Another thing I miss from Subway the Salsa Chicken Sub. It was around for like 6 months, I had it at least 5 times a week!
I'll just say one restaurant I miss... Rax
Remember Houlihans? They used to be pretty good until they almost went bankrupt and scaled back to a few places.
Biggest "Guilty Pleasure"
Ha! I know so many people that put ranch on their pizza. Not for me. However, when I DO go to Quiznos very very rarely I will drown my sandwich in their honey mustard sauce. It is simply amazing, until, I found out that one tablespoon has 16 grams of fat! Ha, I guess I'll just stay away from there.
As for Eat This, Not That, here is a great link for you to check out some of the worst foods at chain restaurants:
http://www.menshealth.com/eatthis/20-Worst-Foods/index.php
Cant even believe Macaroni Grill's Spaghetti and Meatballs has 2,430 calories, sheesh! I prefer to cook myself now that the economy sucks anyhow.
Another restaurant I am guessing that doesn't release their info would be Ihop. Hmmmmmmm
Biggest "Guilty Pleasure"
I know that Buffalo is leaner. However the cheaper the buffalo the more fat content it has. My guess is that Ruby's obviously uses a little cheaper version of buffalo meat then what you get at your market. I buy buffalo which is 97% however, I know Target has started selling it and its 90/10. I got the information on the burger from the book "Eat this, Not that!" its amazing how bad some of the food out there is for you. I work out so I don't feel bad about going out for this once or twice a month.
As for Ruth Chris I have yet to find any facts on their entrees. Either they dont literally have them, or simply are afraid to disclose kind of like most of Cheesecake Factory. I was able to get that information from an inside source.
Biggest "Guilty Pleasure"
As we all know our favorite chain restaurants tend to have some what of a problem with revealing their nutritional facts. However, we also know what tends to be good for us and what tends not to be good for us at these restaurants. On any given time you go to a chain what is the one thing you know is just horrible for you but order anyway?
For me the following apply:
Cheesecake Factory - Thai Chicken Pasta (at last check 1,298 calories) I eat the whole thing!
Ruby Tuesday - Buffalo Burger (86 grams of fat)
Currently operating chains that used to be, but are no longer in your state?
I've seen a few in Orange County but not in Central Cali.
Currently operating chains that used to be, but are no longer in your state?
When I lived in North Dakota as a kid they had Skippers, and Houlihans, now when I have gone back home and looked around both are completely gone from the area. In fact, does Houlihans still exist? Remember when Little Ceasars disappeared after they went bankrupt but then refocused and opened back up on the basis they are now?
'FESS UP! You know you love chains!
Have you ever gone in to Texas Roadhouse and ordered the bread to go? I used to do that a lot on my way home from work.
'FESS UP! You know you love chains!
welcome to the thai chicken pasta fan club. you will never order anything else ever again!
'FESS UP! You know you love chains!
Cheesecake Factory - Thai Chicken Pasta
Texas Road House - Yeast Rolls and Cinnamon Butter
Claim Jumper - Texas Steak Chili in Sourdough Loaf
Ruby Tuesday - Buffalo Burger
Subway - Club on Honey Oat Bread w/Sweet Onion Sauce mmmmm
Corner Bakery - Tomato Basil Soup in Bread Bowl
Sub Wars. Subway went cheap, Quiznos follows.
Ive always had a thing for Subway. I don't know what it is but ever since I was a kid I frequented one usually 3 times a month. I think the variety of breads available and the fact of the vast available veggies makes it my pick.
Regional Fast-Food Chains
Rubio's in Los Angeles is another one. I know its in the southern west states.
Golden Spoon is another one that is a California and I think Utah frozen yogurt place.
Pinkberry is huge in Southern California, and recently expanded to NYC.
Claim Jumper is big in a few states.
Giordanos deep dish is a huge Chicago chain that has recently started in Florida near Orlando.
Regional Fast-Food Chains
Every time I go back to the upper midwest aka North Dakota, Minnesota I frequently stop at Taco Johns. Those potato oles by far are what keep me coming. I know that its a regional chain offered in 5 or 6 states.
Another one is Big Boy. There is one lone one in Bismarck, North Dakota that is a drive thru only.
How about Portillo's in Chicago. I know that there is one in Buena Park, CA as well.
We have been invited to...Cheesecake Factory
i will always love the huge portions at cheesecake imo the thai chicken pasta is the best. truely the only thing i have had there!
i find the lettuce wraps to be under-par. the service is meh, the wait sucks, but if your hungry go to the place that will truely fill you up.
with that said, no righteous chowhound would dare be caught dead in a cf, but i will admit to loving the thai pasta.
Papa Murphy's
What is all your opinions on Papa Murphy's Take and Bake Chain?
I have really started to love this place's Stuffed Chicken and Bacon Pizza.
I think this place is what is right in chain style pizza places!
FARGO... please help with decent dining
hey their!
A good place in Fargo is Granite City. Everytime I am in the area I go there. It has always been good.
Restaurants you will defend no matter what anybody says...
Thai Chicken Pasta - Cheesecake Factory! (I honestly dont know why this place gets crap so much, always and I mean always have had good experiences there. I also go off peak hours like at 5-6.)
Ricardos El Ranchito (This place has always been my favorite Mexican in the greater LA area).
Gondolas Pizza - The cheese so gooey, the atmosphere so well ghetto. Gotta love this joint.
Aroma Cafe - Great Turkey Burgers
Golden Spoon - Pinkberry sucks compared to Golden Spoon IMO
Outback Steakhouse - the bread and steaks are very good
Mimi's Cafe - always consistent, always
Big Belly Deli - the french dip is amazing
Renu Nakorn - O my, since being closed I have cried everytime I drive by the place.
Moca Salsa - Gotsa love those Carne Asada's!
What foods do you HAVE to mail order?
COMPLETELY agree with you on the Shreddies! Everytime I talk about them people go "o u mean shredded wheat" im like "no sorry not the same thing"
however, i have seen coffee crisp available at cost plus market
Best Chicago Style Pizza and Italian Beef
The one thing that makes me still savor Giordanos out here is that at Tony's you can't get a stuffed Spinach pizza. To my knowledge they don't have it unless they have recently. The sauce is not the greatest thing in the world, but its does justice like I have said before. BTW Tony is one character, get him going on Chicago sports teams.
I enjoy eating in the restaurant around 5pm (before the rush). It is fun to just chill out with some friends, watch the one or two small tvs and relish on the fact this guy(Tony) makes killer killer pies.
What foods do you HAVE to mail order?
I dont mail order these but call my Grandparents whom live in Canada for them to send me
Shreddies Cereal, Eat More Candy Bars, and Coffee Crisp! Truely three delicacies we dont have in the US!
Best Chicago Style Pizza and Italian Beef
i just love tony's little italy
as someone who is a pizza freak, tony's deep dish will suffice in so cal.
Giant baked sweet potatoes
Outback does have large sweet potatoes just like Roadhouse Grill.
Not bad Sweet Potatoes there, I guess its hard to mess those up!
What foods do you HAVE to mail order?
this may sound funny but i love dunkin donuts coffee.
as i live in los angeles, we dont have the dd, so i order it online.
however, target has just started selling it!
another big thing i order is giordanos frozen pizza from the best deep dish pizza place in chicago, ill!
Admit it... There's Some Dishes at Chain Restaurants You Like
the funny thing is that yesterday i was talking with a friend of mine on how much we love the bread from outback steakhouse. we kept talking about it so much that we wanted it bad. so we drove around burbank and found an outback. as we sit down we ask the waiter to bring 4 loaves of that stuff! he laughed and was like sounds good. needless to say i ordered their chicken grill thing and subbed sweet potato for the rice. it was surprisingly a very very good meal!
anyhow another chain story that was actually good. outback has always been a place that i never have had bad luck at.
Admit it... There's Some Dishes at Chain Restaurants You Like
MSNBC has a great news segment tonight on the McDonalds corporation. They briefly talked about the McRib I got excited. haha
Dinners in Bismarck?
I would as well.
I am going to be up in the area in 3 weeks. Looks like I shall be heading over that way!
Sad news I heard Scottie's closed and a BBQ joint is going in. I loved that place growing up! Alas Big Boy is still kicking it!
