Dec.29th Poll- RE: FF Chains that are Roadfood Worthy

When I looked at the list I saw many 'chains' I would consider to be be Roadfood Worthy (in the loose definition)! I voted for In-n-Out, but would have included several others as well, Plus, I would add Culver's to the list. We just had a 5 Guys open up within about 20 minutes of our home. We have not tried it yet, but will soon. We love Rubio's when visiting SoCal, and would add Farmer Boys to the list out there in SoCal as well!  I don't do Waffle House..Not because of the food, but their counter stools and booths are designed for 5th graders, not "Mayor-Sized Gentlemen" If I can't sit comfortably I won't go in! We can pass on several of those on the list...Steak-n-Shake no longer draws our attention, same with Perkins and the other 'family restaurants' like Gold Corral and Ryan's. We enjoy Graeter's, but it is strictly an Ice Cream parlor, and we generally do the drive-thru there!
 
  We love to travel and explore those special places that folks like BB and TTM seem to make a living at explaining to us, and I understand those folks who stick to the traditional tight definition of Roadfood (Mom & Pop Places), but our travel often is of the "Hurry up and Get there" nature, and many times that means eating at a conveniently located food-stop...be it a chain, a truck-stop, or a franchise location. The result is that many of the places listed in the poll are indeed "Roadfood Stops" for us when we travel.

Although I am as anti-chain as the next Roadfooder, I will happily eat at some of the places mentioned in the poll, with Graeter's and Original Pancake House at the top of the list.

Around the Mayor's hometown area, there are now nine Homemade Ice Cream & Pie Kitchens.  No trip to Louisville would be complete for me without a stop at one of these places.

Al-The Mayor-Bowen


I don't do Waffle House..Not because of the food, but their counter stools and booths are designed for 5th graders, not "Mayor-Sized Gentlemen" If I can't sit comfortably I won't go in!  
 

Al, the low counter at Waffle House has regular chairs instead of stools.

Thanks for the note, Michael. I haven't seen the chair-counter yet. We will try a couple to see if they are equipped for me!

What are chains in your part of the country may absolutely delight me being from the West Coast.

In n Out and Rubios are everywhere here but I'm sure you can't get a fish taco in all parts of the country.

At some point, chains do become Roadfood.

I watched the football games yesterday from the bar at a chain called World of Wings.  The food was very good, as was the beer. The franchise owner was tending bar, and I had an excellent time.

Marlene,
   You are correct in saying that 'at some point, chains do become Roadfood'!!  Some of the old traditional independents have Franchised out and could be 'chains' in some folks definition of the term.  One near you is Farmer Boys, the Mexican Burger place. The original used to be located on the old 215 just south of March AFB. We stopped there many times when making a Run to the Border back in the 80's! Then they began franchising and at the same time the new 215 freeway was built eliminating the original building. Now there are 40 or so of the stands around SoCal, mainly in the Indland Empire.

   Back here one that has really got a lot of attention on Roadfood.Com is Doe's, The Steak Place. It has expanded to 7 or 8 locations, and so far all the reports I have read say the quality is holding up. I don't mean to compare it to the Burger stand sort of place, but I can't think of a steak place on the west Coast that comes close to the ambience (or lack of it) and quality of Doe's

   I find it interesting that the regional chains seem to remain just that. When they grow enough to be called National...they seem to lose any quality control or hope of maintaining their original identity. We do look forward on our travels to sampling some of the regional FF availble in various parts of the country !!

Dearfolk,
   As a rule, I DO NOT patronize chain restaurants... I eat at one-location, mom-and-pop, mom-and/or/pop-on-the-premises kind of places. I WILL bend to eat at those chain places that allow their various locations a degree of autonomy, but only when I AM FORCED TO do so or go hungry. For this reason, I voted for the last category of vote, which most accurately represents me here.
   Now, if I were travelling, it might be a slightly different matter. No two Maid-Rites that I've been to had anything like identical menus, although the sandwich itself is the unifying factor (of course!).
  In Atlanta, there are enough one-location eateries (including an absurd number that I've never made it to -- yet) to keep me busy from now until St. Swithan's Day and then some... but here in Athens, those places -- especially ones open hours convenient for me -- are few and far between.
  Waffle House? -- I'll eat there only if it is eat there or starve.
   Huddle House? -- A step more autonomy rules there; I'll eat at the one on Prince Avenue here because the staff has been working together for aeons (ever since Edsels, nearly about!), and it's LIKE eating at a mom-and-pop to go there (plus, I always get hugged by someone!).
   Anyhow, there's my zloty's worth.
      Singing "Unchained Melody" As I "Unchain My Heart" And Set Myself Free, Ort. "Free Bird" Carlton in Lord, Lord Athens, Georgia Is Changing.
P. S. My favorite version of "Unchained Melody" is by Al Hibbler. I have it on the 1955 Decca 45.

   I consider a chain roadfood if I can't make it back from the nearest location in one day. Whataburger, Bojangles, Steak N Shake, Sonic, and Culvers are some chains that are roadfood. Soon Sonic will be removed from that list.

the only ones within a day of me are burgerville at about 250 miles and
in and out

clocking in at 140 miles. Both acceptable.

Bill
  I would add my endorsement of the Burgerville 'chain'. First time I ever enjoyed Sweet-Potato Fries was at one of those stands.

I must add 5 guys in Beaverton (just opened)at 300 miles though I would not waste a food stop
in  Portland eating there.

Ok, Let me answer the following question, once and for all.
 
What is Roadfood?
 
The answer is.....Whatever I say it is! Or whatever The Mayor says it is!  Or whatever Ort. Carlton says it is!
 
See what I'm getting at.  I have been enjoying Roadfood all my life and I only found this site about two years ago.  So to me, it's not how the Sterns or anyone else defines Roadfood Worthy.  What's important is that a place is ROGFOOD Worthy.    I like to try a wide variety of food places and roadfood.com gives that to me, along with a great cast of characters.  As for the topic at hand, the only place I tried was Five Guys.  I didn't like it so I voted Bah Humbug!
 
If you are looking for disagreement, you can find it anywhere in life.  You could disagree with the car I drive or the way I comb my hair.  Far to often people post about what they don't like.  Tell us what you do like.    Some local chains are great, especially when they make an effort to buy as much as they can locally.  Whenever I'm in Waltham, Ma. I always stop at The Chateau.  It's a local chain serving fantastic food. 
 
And if Michael Hoffman says Waffle House is Roadfood.  Case closed, It's Roadfood. 
 
 
 

Al,

Funny that you mention Farmer Boys.  I saw and drove through my first one the day before Thanksgiving.  

I was on my way to Palm Springs to join my family for Thanksgiving. I forgot a certain can opener that I told my mother about so I exited the I10 in Fontana when I saw a Walmart.

Walked in and out of the Walmart but when I saw the Farmer Boys in the same parking lot it hit me that I hadn't had breakfast when their sign definitely said "Breakfast."

I didn't realize it was a chain but it sure looked like one.  I also didn't take it for a Mexican Burger place.  I was thinking the Coffee people opened it up.

I had a breakfast burrito which was like nothing I'd hever had.  I'm not a big chain fan, but I'd sure go back for another burrito but tell them no chili!

Even though it was fairly close to home, I'd still call it roadfood.

And what about my beloved .99 cent Checkers burg?
That is roadfood on the run. Or, was it roadfood that gives you the runs?
Whatever! I like them.

Maid Rite for my vote, although Jim's Ribs is getting close to being a chain.

Hello All,
There were only 3 chains on the list that exist in my area.
I had not heard of most of them, but I am just a country
rustic and still consider fast food restaurants  fancy city
bordellos of erotic, I mean, exotic food.
Take Care,
Fieldthistle

Burgerville is committed to sustainable food, uses only local ingredients from the Pacific northwest and provides excellent burgers, salads, fish and breakfast meals. it is the epitome of roadfood and belongs on any list of great roadfood establishments.
     The Original Pancake House is a fine place to eat breakfast and serves high quality food. I have eaten at the original Portland location many times and the Oak Park, illinois branch. First rate quality, local control, roadfood most definitely.
   In N Out is a quality burger(especially Animal style) and a must stop for the Chips family when we are near one. I think they are roadfood because the quality is high and they are regional in nature.
    Waffle House defines the American south for me and I enjoyed visits to them in Arizona as well. I like the  hash browns and raisin toast as exemplars of regional food and Trudy once found a place to get my haircut in Erlanger, Ky by asking  the manager. I also remember eating in one just over the Mississippi line in Horn Lake while visiting  Memphis. The whole Waffle House experience makes it  roadfood for me.

Chains are not roadfood by the Stern's definition on the home page. Saying that, I don't necessarily avoid chains or deride them. I frequently eat at them especially Culvers since they are the closest chain to my house. McDonalds and Starbucks are beacons of reliable comfort and convenience in our RV travels. I do intend to seek out a Waffle House, Krystal, In and Out and any other chain I've never been to, but more out of curiosity and experience. They just aren't roadfood in the spirit of the concept and definition.

I didn't realize that the Original Pancake House was a chain.  They do a pretty good job of hiding it and get my vote.

Joerogo - good answer! I agree, roadfood is whatever your definition of it is.  One of our favorite things to do is to try different chains that we don't have here in CT when we travel elsewhere (some of my faves....In and Out, White Castle, and yes, Waffle House!).  We've recently had a Counter Burger open here, I understand it's a CA chain, and they have a nice burger, so occasionally we indulge.  I also like a chain called Baja Fresh - they'd actually cook your food to order, but unfortunately didn't last around here.

It's true, in principle Jane and Michael Stern reject chains.  But we do want to point out that every one of the chains listed in the current poll have received a favorable writeup by JMS at one time or another.

That's not to say that at this moment they necessarily endorse all, or even any, of these chains (you'd have to ask them); it's just that they saw fit at some point to write favorably about these particular chains.

What they all have in common is that they are regional chains that to some degree express regional tastes in food.  It's probably also true, on the other hand, that whatever these chains do well, some other independent restaurants in the region can do better.

I picked Maid-Rite.  Not only are there no Maid-Rites around here, I don't think that there is a loose-meat sandwich to be had within a thousand miles.  Maybe further.  And, I have never seen nor had one.

JRPfeff


I didn't realize that the Original Pancake House was a chain.  They do a pretty good job of hiding it and get my vote.

me either. Didn't know it started in Portland. I guess I have to add it to the list I wouldn't stop at, as there are too many other places to explore when I'm there.

Bruce Bilmes and Sue Boyle


It's true, in principle Jane and Michael Stern reject chains.  But we do want to point out that every one of the chains listed in the current poll have received a favorable writeup by JMS at one time or another.

That's not to say that at this moment they necessarily endorse all, or even any, of these chains (you'd have to ask them); it's just that they saw fit at some point to write favorably about these particular chains.

What they all have in common is that they are regional chains that to some degree express regional tastes in food.  It's probably also true, on the other hand, that whatever these chains do well, some other independent restaurants in the region can do better.

 
Well said.  I would not stop eating at Frank Pepe's just because they opened other locations.
 
 

Joe I like your designation of 'ROGFOOD'.  And Field, I think I want whatever fast food you're having. :)

Al/Mr. Hoffman--do you guys not have booths at your Waffle Houses?

I also like Bojangles, and I'd mention Chick Fil A and Zaxby's but those are both mainly in the South, and not exactly Roadfood worthy.  They'll just do nicely in a pinch.  But CFA in particular is square with the regional taste argument.

Nancypalooza



Al/Mr. Hoffman--do you guys not have booths at your Waffle Houses?

All the Waffle Houses I know of have booths. In fact, I got to sit in one recently with my grandson and his wife. But other than that once-a-year sort of thing when he's home I always sit at the counter -- usually the high counter -- because I don't want to take up a booth that someone else might need.

 
 The Waffle House locations we have tried have booths, but the tables always are 'non-adjustable' and the sitting space is usually designed for a small person. I have used a loose chair to sit at the aisle-end of a booth now and then. In some stores this causes a problem for the servers and other aisle users.

I usually have to sit at counters at Waffle House because the booths aren't big enough for my gut.
      The Rubio's that used to be in Portland had an article by the Sterns prominently displayed on a wall near the ordering area. I liked Rubio's, love to stop at their San Diego airport location but have since found other fish tacos I like better and have not seen much of them since their location near where I live closed.
      Runza provided some interesting cuisine while i was in Nebraska and some of the better food options on I-80.
     All these chains seems best when regional in character and I'm  curious to visit 5 Guys Beaverton, Oregon location.

mrchips-
I have found the Rubio's chain can be very inconsistent.  The original location in San Diego was still terrific as of October 2007, but some other Rubio's I have tried (both in San Diego and elsewhere) were not good.  The one at Petco Park was especially bad.