What restaurant groups or chains represent quality to you?

[gomestar]

I went to a qDoba once. It was fine, but I haven't returned, the preference would certainly be towards Chipotle.

 

[edinatlanta]

Originally Posted by ramuman

You might chastise me for saying this as a fellow Atlantian Fran, but I like Figo for lazy lunches.

Figo is always good. Portions may be a bit too small sometime. I like the checca.
.

Originally Posted by ramuman

Agreed, but I'd never take a date to a chain like Longhorn for that very reason of inconsistency. If I'm not trying to impress, I much prefer "local chains". Figo fits that bill perfectly here in Atlanta in my experience. 10-15 bucks for a meal. Decent pasta and paninis, owners that care, and generally happy staff.

How do you spend double digits there though, that's what I want to know.

 

[ramuman]

Originally Posted by edinatlanta

Figo is always good. Portions may be a bit too small sometime. I like the checca. . How do you spend double digits there though, that's what I want to know.
I blur the line between:

and

 

[Huntsman]

Originally Posted by foodguy

\\ qDoba hasn't worked for me.
The last time I was in a Qdoba (which would be Saturday), I spent a significant amount of time wondering from which side it was going to next exit. Both won out at one point or another. ~ H

 

[SField]

Originally Posted by Huntsman

The last time I was in a Qdoba (which would be Saturday), I spent a significant amount of time wondering from which side it was going to next exit. Both won out at one point or another.

~ H

+1

For some reason I once ended up, very drunk, at a Qdoba in Cleveland. It resulted in one of the most legendary poo stories I have.

 

[impolyt_one]

Originally Posted by Huntsman

Quality, for me, requires humanity invested and made manifest in my food. Therefore, there is no quality in chains.

Doesn't mean I don't eat in them from time to time, but I would be remiss in calling it a quality experience.

~ H

remind me not to go out for dinner with you.

 

[LabelKing]

Originally Posted by impolyt_one

remind me not to go out for dinner with you.

I think I make an enjoyable dinner companion....

 

[runner-guy]

Panera has very good sandwiches. Pei Wei for cheap Asian is good. Always good experiences at Bahama Breeze.

 

[otc]

Originally Posted by gomestar

I enjoy a Chipotle burrito every now and then (though it has been at least a year, mostly due to work habits), but I can't stand it when they do one spoon of beef and 7 spoons of rice - and then your first 10 bites are all rice and flour tortilla. I think there's a Chipotle near my office, if I have a free 30 minutes to deal with the line, I'll give it a go.

I have had that problem when I get inexperienced burrito rollers or when I go when they are really busy....instead of the burrito having a little bit of everything exposed at once, you end up with a burrito that eats in layers and it ******* sucks. I don't want to eat through a couple inches of rice just to get to some soupy meat (since there is no rice to absorb the liquid).

I did the $2 burrito for dressing as a processed food on halloween--I went as a Qdoba burrito

 

[Douglas]

I believe I have been to both a qdoba and a chipotle, but honestly, I'm not sure I can tell the difference. The places are freaking identical.

the big news here is that iammatt eats at Chipotle sometimes. My reality has been forever altered.

 

[SField]

Originally Posted by Douglas

I believe I have been to both a qdoba and a chipotle, but honestly, I'm not sure I can tell the difference. The places are freaking identical.

the big news here is that iammatt eats at Chipotle sometimes. My reality has been forever altered.

Qdoba is more trashy... they use those lava like sauces that are supposed to look and taste like cheese but aren't cheese.

 

[itsstillmatt]

Originally Posted by Douglas

I believe I have been to both a qdoba and a chipotle, but honestly, I'm not sure I can tell the difference. The places are freaking identical. the big news here is that iammatt eats at Chipotle sometimes. My reality has been forever altered.
I ate at Chipotle last night. I'd say once or twice a year.

 

[SField]

Originally Posted by iammatt

I ate at Chipotle last night. I'd say once or twice a year.

I love how much weight the conversations you have on Styleforum have on determining what you will eat.

 

[suited]

http://www.cantinalaredo.com/

Always been a fan of Mexican. Simple, cheap and delicious. This particular place has an atmosphere that's much more appetizing than you'll tend to find at most Mexican joints (very clean). Although sometimes the hole in the wall has the best salsa, Catina offers two different options (one hot and one cold), and they're both delicious. They will replace them with fresh bowls before you can finish - and it keeps coming until you're done eating. I leave here more satisfied than I've left most steakhouses, and spend 1/5th of the money.