The chain restaurant experience

[phaelon56]

Several months ago we had a lively discussion here about

Marcella Hazan eats at Olive Garden, Food is Poor but Wine List Commended

It's sort of an intriguing premise for this community. Chains in general are considered by many in the eGullet community to be an abomination but, whether it be due to locational issues when on business travel or the desire to satisfy a less adventurous loved one (my GF happens to enjoy Olive Garden), many of us sometimes end up eating at one on occasion.

The original thread was based on a USA Today article in which Hazan dines at an Olive Garden and offers an assessment, based on her knowledge, experience and tastes in authentic Italian cuisine (sorry but the article no longer appears to be available on-line).

Have you ever, out of curiosity, necessity or just plain old fate circumstance, dined at a chain restaurant? What was or is your overall opinion? Anything that they did or do the right way? What sort of chain restaurant would you launch, given the opportunity, and what measures might you take to ensure that it delivered an experience better than what we've come to expect here in the US?

I'm reminded of another recent discussion of the

NY Times article about Ferran Adria's "Fast-Good" restaurant (registration required).

It's only one location but he apparently has about a dozen planned.

[Mimi Sheraton]

When you speak of a chain restaurant, I assume you mean those that all alike in theme and menu - not a group of diverse restaurants under one ownership, such as those of Jean-Georges or Richard Mellman's Let Us Entertain You. I have eatne in chains when driving on highways and always order breakfast no matter what the time of day. I order fried eggs becasue so far as I know they are not available pre-cooked and toasted English muffins. I did once eat at an Olive Garden and would do so again only if starvation were the imminent alternative, I which case I would order spaghetti with butter.

At Howard Johnson's, I might have a hot dog and some ice cream.

The Daily Grill is a rather upscale small chain and simple things are passable.