No one is forcing you to patronize their restaurants. I worked over 15 years in restaurants as everything from a busboy to an executive chef. I avoided corporate chain restaurants after working for a few because I didn’t like their business model. For the most part, I don’t eat at chains because I don’t want to support them. I want my money to go to independently owned restaurants where it is evident that the food isn’t made in a factory somewhere.
I realize that in many places in America, it’s not easy to avoid chains, and I’m not stridently anti-corporate. I just don’t want to eat at places like Olive Garden where you’re being served what is essentially a premium grocery store frozen dinner
When I was in Florida not long ago, the beach area had tons of local restaurants, most of which served some awesome seafood. About the only chain restaurant was a McDonalds. Believe it or not, I heard a woman complaining there was no Olive Garden around. Sigh!
There’s a chain in the MD area called Jerry’s Subs. They boast of the world’s best cheese steaks. Huh—Not even close.
There’s a chain called Jersey Mikes Subs and they do pretty good on quality but yesterday I had a cheese steak was awful and dry plus barely any in the middle of the bread. Overpriced too-—I’m eating home meals more often and sick of paying for overpriced food often of inferior quality.