Not to mention that if the author was truly in search of good "American" food, the absolute last place she should look for it is in a cookie-cutter, dime-a-dozen, lowest-common-denominator franchise restaurant like the flippin' Cheesecake Factory. That's like thinking the Olive Garden is the place to go for authentic Italian cooking.
I spent a few months in rural England. The "local" places to eat were of course the pubs. I found only a couple local places that had freshly prepared food. Most pubs in the area I was in had frozen dishes they fixed up (much like the US). After awhile it got a little old.. laugh.. same stuff different decor.
Now there was one place that had WONDERFUL food. Everytime I went I got the Pork Tenderloin Medallions... the cook would fix a different sauce with them every night. Fruit sauces, gravies.. they were delicious.
I tried the beef - I think the difference is in how they are fed. I didn't care for it so I stuck with chicken or pork.