World's saddest restaurant to open in Detroit

My mom loves Olive Garden. Her grandmother was off the boat from Italy and is rolling over in her grave.

 

Maybe this is where I've gone wrong. I haven't eaten at Outback in five years. It used to be — for a chain — downright enjoyable.

And, yeah, B-Dubs was always bad. It just was an early to mid 2000s novelty out here in the Midwestern sticks to have that many televisions and more than three beers on tap. Now that's par for the course in every bar. Why anyone ever ate at a B-Dubs in a populated area, I have no idea. For a couple beers and wings, it costs 65 bucks for a couple. It's a crime.

I remember returning from a vacation in Charleston a couple years ago, having eaten ourselves silly at a bunch of great restaurants and almost all the of them (outside of Hall's and Husk) being in the 50 dollar range for us two. Then we returned home and ate at a crappy BW3's and spent like $70. It's hard to square.

 

They have a ravioli stuffed with mushrooms and sun dried tomato sauce that is edible. Without that on the menu, I'd be lost trying to order something there when we inevitably end up with a gift card sent by a distant cousin every Christmas. I should re-gift those things.

 

Thanks for posting the link, Hermes.

In no way, shape or form is Cracker Barrell No. 1. The thing he likes the most — walking past the rocking charis and horrible "country store" — infuriates me right off the bat. And their non-breakfast food was not good the couple of times I tried it.

I agree with his take on BWW, except he missed the most important criticism: way, way overpriced for the amount and quality of food you get. It might be more expensive than Outback, and that's saying something.

Texas Roadhouse is a good choice for steak; I also find Olive Garden and Appleby's to be decent choices when you're on the road.

 

Olive Garden is crap.

Cracker Barrel is great for chicken and dumplings, as well as hearty breakfasts.

Texas Roadhouse is pretty good, as is Logan's.

 

I'll say this for Olive Garden. When they pull out the all-you-can-eat pasta every few months, I think people should be able to find something to enjoy.

My wife thinks their marinara is crap, though. If I'm going there, it's probably a solo trip.

 

The only time I ever find myself going to chains like this is when I'm on the road for work. Just way too many great local options within like a mile of me to ever consider going.

 

My wife always insists they replace the marinara with alfredo. She really likes the OG salads, though. So I never protest when she wants to go there. Breadstick sandwich suits me fine.

Cracker Barrel No. 1 on that list is fine with me. Surprisingly sparse dessert choices there, though.

 

Went to my go-to for lunch yesterday, Neato Burrito. And the thought that hit me was there were people paying $150 for a meal right now who weren't getting as good a taste as I was enjoying for $10.

 

All you need, comrade:

 

Not bad. I always eat the ice cream too fast, though, and get the obligatory sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia (aka brain freeze).

 

Skip the ice cream and enjoy the cake. It's fantastic.