Consumer Reports Rates Chain Restaurants for Best Values, Food

The July issue of Consumer Reports is a must-buy for foodies.  Included in this edition are the results of a survey of its subscribers, which reveals good meals and good deals at leading chain restaurants around the country for every budget and taste.  The ratings based on 70,403 responders who made 158,744 visits to 101 different restaurant chains and filled out questionnaires, which were tabulated by the Consumer Reports National Research Center.

Each chain had at least 250 visits with Applebee’s leading the pack at 16,000 visits. Diners were asked to evaluate their overall satisfaction with their visit, and to rate the quality of food, value, service, mood and menu choices.

Some chains are national; some are regional. Not every restaurant is in every market.  The rated restaurants range from inexpensive, no-alcohol family spots such as the International House of Pancakes and Denny’s, which are open long hours, to white tablecloth establishments such as The Capital Grille and Morton’s The Steakhouse, which offer offering expensive entrees, fine wines and solicitous service. Also included are dozens of chains that specialize in everything from ethnic food to barbecue.

The Capital Grille, First Watch, Biaggi’s Ristorante Italiano, Maggiano’s Little Italy and McCormick & Schmick’s earned top marks among the most popular chains, with consistently good marks across all categories.

Diners gave 21 chains top marks for food including, The Original Pancake House, Bravo Cucina Italiano, Texas Roadhouse, Bonefish Grill, Morton’s The Steakhouse and Abuelo’s.

Five chains earned exceptional scores for value: Black-eyed Pea, Sonny’s Real Pit BBQ, Azteca Mexican Restaurant, Cheddar’s Casual Café, and First Watch.

At the other end of the spectrum, with lower marks across the board, were Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar, Joe’s Crab Shack and Friendly’s.

Here is a sampling of some of the top restaurants in popular categories.

Traditional American
Houston’s

Barbeque
TIE:  Sonny’s and Famous Dave’s

Italian
Biaggi’s Ristorante

Mexican
TIE:  Abuelo’s, On the Border and Azteca

Pub Style or Grill
Cheddar’s Casual Cafe

Seafood
Bonefish Grill

Steakhouse
Capital Grille

Unique Dinner Houses
TIE:  P.F. Chang’s China Bistro and California Pizza Kitchen

Family
First Watch

Great Meals For Less Than $20
Mimi’s Café
Abuelo’s
Cheddar’s Casual Café

Special Occasion
Houston’s
Maggiano’s Little Italy
Il Fornaio
Bonefish Grill
McCormick & Schmick’s
Morton’s The Steakhouse
Ruth’s Chris Steak House
The Melting Pot

Good to Go
Famous Dave’s
Carrabba’s Italian Grill
Olive Garden

Consumer Reports also polled respondents on problem areas.  Noise was the number one complaint.  Texas Roadhouse, Buffalo Wild Wings Bar and Grill and Hooters were cited as having higher than average noise levels.

Sloppy and inattentive service was next on the list of complaints with The Rainforest Café, Friendly’s and the Cheesecake Factory among the eight chains with above average complaint rates.

Lack of cleanliness (dirty floors, bathrooms, tableware) fingered Friendly’s, Shoney’s, and Logan’s Roadhouse.  There were also complaints about long waits for a table, with the Cheesecake Factory, P.F. Chang’s China Bistro and Outback Steakhouse among the worst offenders.  At those restaurants, up to 14 percent of respondents waited 30 minutes or more to be seated.

This was an exhaustive survey which yields interesting and valuable results for anyone looking for a good meal at a fair price.   To read the entire report and analysis and see where your favorite chain restaurants ranked in the survey, pick up a copy of Consumer Reports, available on newsstands now.