Me too. But then again, 99% of the time I'm eating at local Mom and Pop joints where the servers are, more often than not, their kids. Or friends of their kids.
Funny, in the small town I live in, there have been a number of chain restaurants (or higher-end chain-type restaurants) that have opened and closed in the past few years. Usually in the same locations. People shake their heads and sadly say that the area just won't support dining out. But the local Mom and Pops....who provide good food and service at an affordable price .... just keep on motoring along.
IMHO, I'd rather eat at a BBQ joint, run by a guy who's been perfecting his art for the past 20 years (and who likely learned it from his Dad, who learned it from his, and so on) than some Olive Garden or Applebee's. Or a ripoff lookalike of them. And, judging by the local economy, I'm not the only one who thinks that way.
“IMHO, I’d rather eat at a BBQ joint, run by a guy who’s been perfecting his art for the past 20 years (and who likely learned it from his Dad, who learned it from his, and so on) than some Olive Garden or Applebee’s. Or a ripoff lookalike of them.”
We refer to these “clone” restaurants as “O’Chilibee’s Roadhouse.” Their menus are all the same and the processed food is all the same, as it is delivered by Sysco Food Services. It’s kind of like the old multi-purpose stadiums of the 1970’s; if you went to a game in Riverfront Stadium, you might as well say you had also been to Busch, Three Rivers & the Vet. They were the same bland stadiums, they now are the same bland restaurants.
“IMHO, I’d rather eat at a BBQ joint, run by a guy who’s been perfecting his art for the past 20 years (and who likely learned it from his Dad, who learned it from his, and so on) than some Olive Garden or Applebee’s. Or a ripoff lookalike of them. And, judging by the local economy, I’m not the only one who thinks that way”
Same here. I love the mom and pop places and abhor the chains. We went to a high end chain last month to use a gift card I had won last summer. The waiter about made me want to puke with his turning the empty chair around at the table and sitting down with us, “How are you doing tonight? Everyone OK? I’m Steve and I’ll be serving you tonight” shtick. STFU, bring my drink, take my order, bring the food, check back during the meal and be prompt in all of it. The worst is being interrupted in conversation to ask if we want more water when the glasses are clearly empty.