We have a lot of small restaurants and pubs around here with FAR better food and service than chain restaurants. When we eat out (which isn’t often), these are the places we choose to spend our money. The ingredients are fresh and the recipes are unique. The thought of going to a chain just doesn’t appeal to me; it’s a waste of money.
In addition, I occasionally take clients out to eat and I make an effort to learn about the best places (in their respective cities) to take them too. I would never take them to a chain place, even if they’re known to be of “higher” quality. I’m just very picky about these things. Olive Garden, Red Lobster, and similar places are just unappealing to me.
That's because these restaurants don't cook anymore, they import bags of cooked foods that are immersed in hot water to retain their consistency/flavor. That's why you don't get the 'kitchen smells' that appetize you as a diner. It's a great hygenic and economic idea, but it blows the ambience of live seastock being freshly dismantled, cooked and served fresh.
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