What? Nobody does Denny's?!

All this esoterica!

Personally, when on the road, I find it hard to beat Denny's Grand Slam Slugger - two eggs done just right, a good slab of ham (I always ask for ham instead of bacon or sausage), golden hashbrowns, and a couple of big fluffy pancakes off to the side.

(Actually, I usually have to arrange the constituents to suit my sensibilities when it arrives. But the concept is there.)

Whatever else you can say about them, Denny's are dependable and the service is fast, no matter how long it takes . The places are clean enough, the bathrooms are clean enough, and it's a good place to take a break and rub the dust out of your eyes.

Two cents,
rickb

I loved Denny's when I was younger. We would go on Sunday's. I would get hashbrown and smother them with hollandaise.

I didn't know better. About Denny's, I mean. Hollandaise sauce still kicks a$$. By high school, Denny's became..."well nothing else is open at 1 am I guess we have to go to Denny's." Ah, medium sized town life.

Ah, yes - that was the other function it served: Someplace you knew was open after a night of heavy partying.

Yes, those days are quite past...

rickb

Huh, funny. This got moved to 'Fast Food Franchises' (& 'Non-Roadfood Chains'? Is there such a thing?)

Anyway, I was specifically talking in the context of breakfasts: Denny's does them well. Less of a choice for other meals of the day.

Oh, well - still figuring out the landscape.

rickb

My grandkids love Denny's and when I ask them where they want to eat the reply "Denny's". They both love the "Moon Over Myhammy" sandwich which I admit is pretty good too.

It seems like everyone likes Denny's but my husband and me. I have been to a few in different states and always find them dirty and gross. After telling my father this, he insisted on taking me to yet another one. I still did not like it and will never go to one again. Denny's has to be my least favorite place, right behind Subway.

I am not a big fast food eater but would eat fast food before Denny's.

Well yeah I eat at Denny's. I didn't like them at first though because of all their racial controversy. Now I love them. IHOP and Denny's will be my first choices for Breakfast.

quote:

Originally posted by nicolem

.. Denny's has to be my least favorite place, right behind Subway.

Ho!

First instance I've heard Subway referenced in the same sentence as Denny's.

So, what do you do when you hit the road? I presume not BK or MacD's...

rickb

Despte the fact that I've been in just two Denny's where the service was better than horrible (Eureka, California and Spokane, Washington) I have enjoyed some of the food. Unfortunately, they shut down all the Denny's restaurants in the central Ohio area where I live several years ago.

My Wife fondly recalls their pattie melts from her college days, so we make it a point of eating at Denny's about every ten years.

We stopped at one during a torrential rainstorm in Miami a few weeks ago out of desperation and hunger. No pattie melts. Burgers were okay, maybe a half-notch better than Wendy's, but overpriced for what they were. The place was reasonably clean.

The good news is that we have no reason to go to Denny's any longer (other than sheer desperation).

quote:

Originally posted by rickbsgu

Huh, funny. This got moved to 'Fast Food Franchises' (& 'Non-Roadfood Chains'? Is there such a thing?)

I assume you mean "is there such a thing as a Roadfood chain?" or "aren't all chains non-roadfood?"

The answer (respectively) is "yes there are" and "no"

Probably the most well-known example, one of many: http://www.roadfood.com/Reviews/Overview.aspx?RefID=1647

So again, yes....Fast food *can* be roadfood, and chain food *can* be roadfood. I think it'd be fair to add that these are far more the exception than the rule.

As Michael said we don't have any in Columbus but my wife and I stopped at one earlier this summer over near Cambridge, OH. I got the Moons Over MyHammy and fries. It really wasn't too bad.

I always have enjoyed Denny's....the only problem is the closest one around anymore is in chambersburg 12miles away I don't usally drive that far for breakfast.
Ron

When I used to drink heavily (those days are past), I liked Denny's pizza omelet the morning after ...

quote:

Originally posted by TJ Jackson

quote:

Originally posted by rickbsgu

Huh, funny. This got moved to 'Fast Food Franchises' (& 'Non-Roadfood Chains'? Is there such a thing?)

I assume you mean "is there such a thing as a Roadfood chain?" or "aren't all chains non-roadfood?"

Actually, the other way around. I think of most chain restaurants as 'road food' restaurants - the chief attraction is they're ubiquitous, and they're a known quantity in strange places.

When you're not feeling too adventurous, anyway.

rickb

quote:

Originally posted by rickbsgu


Actually, the other way around. I think of most chain restaurants as 'road food' restaurants - the chief attraction is they're ubiquitous, and they're a known quantity in strange places.

Ah.

Your definition of Roadfood is very different than the one on which this website is based.

Which is fine....but something to be aware of

Mmmmm, Denny's. Chicken fried steak & eggs w/hashbrowns, pannycakes on the side. Buffalo chicken fingers, hold the celery & a cherry lemonade.

I can't eat there anymore, because I am too tempted to order things that I really shouldn't. I save that for my Roadfood excursions.

But after bar time (the one time a year I go out, haha) their pancakes call to me.

quote:

Originally posted by TJ Jackson

quote:

Originally posted by rickbsgu


Actually, the other way around. I think of most chain restaurants as 'road food' restaurants - the chief attraction is they're ubiquitous, and they're a known quantity in strange places.

Ah.

Your definition of Roadfood is very different than the one on which this website is based.

Which is fine....but something to be aware of

I'm beginning to suspect that - being a newbie here, and all.

Soo... my definition is: food that you eat while you're on the road. Or, perhaps in a broader sense, where and what one eats when traveling. Wherever and by whatever means.

Now, I'll have to scan for definitions. Don't quite understand...

rickb

quote:

Originally posted by rickbsgu

quote:

Originally posted by TJ Jackson

quote:

Originally posted by rickbsgu


Actually, the other way around. I think of most chain restaurants as 'road food' restaurants - the chief attraction is they're ubiquitous, and they're a known quantity in strange places.

Ah.

Your definition of Roadfood is very different than the one on which this website is based.

Which is fine....but something to be aware of

I'm beginning to suspect that - being a newbie here, and all.

Soo... my definition is: food that you eat while you're on the road. Or, perhaps in a broader sense, where and what one eats when traveling. Wherever and by whatever means.

Now, I'll have to scan for definitions. Don't quite understand...

rickb

To make it easy for you............this is how the top of the home page for Roadfood describes it:

What is Roadfood?
Great regional meals along highways, in small towns and in city neighborhoods. It is sleeves-up food made by cooks, bakers, pitmasters, and sandwich-makers who are America’s culinary folk artists. Roadfood is almost always informal and inexpensive; and the best Roadfood restaurants are colorful places enjoyed by locals (and savvy travelers) for their character as well as their menu.

Hope that this helps you.

Every few years, I eat at Denny's, and always swear that I will never eat there again. Every time I have been, the wait has been long to sit down, the restaurant was dirty, the service poor, and the food ice cold...I actually had ice still in the sausage and hash browns on one trip; another trip garnered some cole slaw with a few long dark hairs in it...eew...I don't think I will be going back there anytime soon...Give me the Waffle House, IHOP, or Bob Evans any day of the week...

When roadtripping to Tulsa, OK to see Hanson a few months ago, the only restaurant within walking distance of our hotel was Denny's. So guess where we ate for practically every meal? ;-) I think I may have been to Denny's once prior to this trip, but I was pleasantly surprised at how extensive their menu was, and how affordable. Food was pretty good and we had good service for the several times that we went.

--Jessica

I think I would go with the roadfood as the hidden gem model. Been there a while, or not, has a known entity - (burgers, wings, hot dogs, bbq, omlettes, grilled cheese, meatloaf sandwich,fried clams- whatever you get the idea it's a long list) And they try and do it the best, or differently but still really good. And it is usually a good price for what it is. Chains rarely strive for the best, they strive for passable enough to get the most people in and get the most money out of them.

I fall under chains can have roadfood, (burgers, comfort food etc) but chains are not automatically roadfood worthy. Anyway with the number of chains now (carrabas, Cheesecake Factory, Morton's) it is impossible to say chains are always roadfood.

Denny's.....I have always found them gross and dirty. Walked out a couple of times. Menu never looks good.

Mark me as a person who refuses to eat there also. The service is what did it for me.

This post reminded me that I have not been to Denny's for a while. Went for breakfast at 6:00am this morning, place was very clean, two eggs over easy with hashbrowns were very good, and I was in & out in under 30 minutes. I was sitting at the counter, I could see the cook doing his thing; he was very good at it.

While there a waitress picked up a club sandwich with french fries that was picture perfect, made me wish I had ordered that instead.

The Denny's in Rialto and Fontana do a good job with the food and service. There's a dearth of restaurants that serve typical American style food around here. There's a 50s style cafe in Cucamonga that fits the Roadfood description as far as it's a one off, non-corporate restaurant with friendly locals both working and eating there, but the food sucks, so I find myself hitting Denny's rather than that place.

quote:

Originally posted by enginecapt

The Denny's in Rialto and Fontana do a good job with the food and service. There's a dearth of restaurants that serve typical American style food around here. There's a 50s style cafe in Cucamonga that fits the Roadfood description as far as it's a one off, non-corporate restaurant with friendly locals both working and eating there, but the food sucks, so I find myself hitting Denny's rather than that place.

When we race in NHRA and we stay in Ontario, we always enjoy Denny's early in the morning. I am talking at 4:00AM as it is 7:00AM in Tennessee and we are hungry. I have never had a bad meal with them. They do a very good job.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

quote:

Originally posted by Quartz

Well yeah I eat at Denny's. I didn't like them at first though because of all their racial controversy. Now I love them. IHOP and Denny's will be my first choices for Breakfast.

Personally, I didn't believe a word of that racial crap about Denny's, Denny's is in business to sell food, I don't believe they care less about your race. Eat the food, pay the bill. A bunch of black FBI agents go to a Denny's and are ignored, sure makes a good story and even better payday. It pays to play the race card, Duke Lacrosse anyone!

Are you saying that a bunch of black FBI agents made this all up?
What in the world does the Duke lacrosse players have to do with Denny's?
I'm guessing you wouldn't think of lumping all people together solely because they share the same skin color?
Of course not, I hope you judge all people by the content of their character.

Back to Denny's. I'd never been in one but we got a buy one, get one free coupon for the one a few blocks from our house. We came in and were seated immediately but then we were ignored until I corralled a passing waitress and asked to be served. She stated that it wasn't her table but she'd let someone know. Our waitress came over without an explanation and took our order. The food came out with mistakes made but since we were using a coupon we shut our mouth, ate, and paid telling each other it was our last visit. btw, The apps we ordered tasted like they came from the freezer bag directly into the fryer and the price for our entree's seemed slightly overpriced even with the coupon. Seeing the some of the other comments, perhaps our location was in need of a better manager and we shouldn't write them all off. Still it wouldn't be a place I would seek out.

quote:

Originally posted by LuckyLabrador

quote:

Originally posted by Quartz

Well yeah I eat at Denny's. I didn't like them at first though because of all their racial controversy. Now I love them. IHOP and Denny's will be my first choices for Breakfast.

Personally, I didn't believe a word of that racial crap about Denny's, Denny's is in business to sell food, I don't believe they care less about your race. Eat the food, pay the bill. A bunch of black FBI agents go to a Denny's and are ignored, sure makes a good story and even better payday. It pays to play the race card, Duke Lacrosse anyone!

Anyone that thinks that racial bias does not exist has their head in the clouds.

quote:

Originally posted by Sundancer7

When we race in NHRA

Sunndancer is a drag racer?

I will be going to Denny's soon. Thanks for the suggs about what is good there. Any more things anyone likes from Denny's?
Joe

Try the "Moon Over My Hamnmy" which is a grilled ham, cheese and egg sandwich; great with hashbrowns. I also like their mini burgers, and of course their french toast is yummy. They offer a pineapple drink that is good too.

rickbsgu,

The concept of the website and forum is to give travelers an alternative to Denny's, Chili's, etc. But sometimes there is no alternative; and sometimes people like to discuss chain restaurants and fast food. So, there is a section of the forum for that.

It's all good. If you are traveling a certain route and want to find alternatives to Denny's (for example), you could check the reviews or do a forum search, or ask in advance for recommendations. Or if you want to recommend a certain item from a chain that you feel stands out (like the Denny's breakfasts), you can post it. It all works well.


Tom

i live in a tourist town so some of our restaurants suffer because they dont have to be good-they dont need repeat business, they are only looking for the tourists to stop by once. we have an abysmal steak and shake (which i like everywhere else) and a skeezy denny's.
i prefer ihop to denny's anyway, but if i do end up at one i like the moons over my hammy, or the superbird. the burgers are a little scary though, preformed patties

denny's is garbage, only thing good about it is it's open all night.

as with many of these line of restaurants, breakfast is always best - least amount of stuff to mess up. As a kid, Denny's was a treat - the big slam breakfast was maybe $2.99 (2 eggs any style, hashbrowns, 2 bacon or sausage, 2 slices toast, and 2 pancakes).
I haven't been to Denny's since a road trip a few years back where the Denny's had a 50's theme both the exterior of the uilding and the interior design and menu design. The food was ok, the coffee was hot, the service was fine and since it was the only place anywhere near my hotel, I didn't complain.

Yeah... That's basically it. I certainly don't go in the evening, unless I've got a jones for a country-fried steak - and I'm sure there are better venues for that.

Still, the breakfasts do the job.

Actually, lately, I've been doing the 'Senior' meals. Smaller portions, less cost. The tilapia with lemon sauce isn't half bad. And, given the tendency of most restaurants to 'fork-lift it on', I kind of wish I could get that (smaller portions, less cost) across the board.

rickb

Yes TJ, Sundancer has been part of an NHRA Team for longer than I have known him.

Haven't eaten in the Denny's in Schertz in years.
I know it used toget packed on weekends for breakfast.
There's another one in Live Oak as well.
The one on Broadway in Alamo Heights,they built to look like a diner with metal and chrome. Haven't tried there yet.
Heck,I don't even eat at IHOP for breakfast.If I feel like something,just get a sauage biscuit at McDonald's or a couple of breakfast tacos at one of the local mexican places here.
Though when my sister and her boyfriend come for Christams we might eat at some place like Denny's.
Alamo Heights is a rich area of San Antonio.It's a seperate twon,lots of Old bungalows and Mansions from the 1900s to the 30s.
People from there are refered to as 09ners,from their zip code 78209,kind of like that show,Beverly Hills 90210.

quote:

Originally posted by Al-The Mayor-Bowen


Yes TJ, Sundancer has been part of an NHRA Team for longer than I have known him.

I had no idea....I knew he travelled a lot but figured he was in sales.....I thought he sold insurance or something

Thanks

quote:

Originally posted by rickbsgu

Ah, yes - that was the other function it served: Someplace you knew was open after a night of heavy partying.

Yes, those days are quite past...

rickb

It was either Denny's, or Sambo's for me also back in the 70's..
We usually opted for Sambo's as it was right across the street from Big Daddy's in Coral Gables!
Speaking of Big Daddy's, there used to be a three story one that rocked!..It was right across from Miami International Airport..
Oh, those were the "disco" days!

It never fails to amaze me that no matter what Denny's I eat in (and I try not to make a habit out of it), they have a complete inability to cook the hash browns...It kills me...the potato is shredded so it will cook faster, yet everytime I eat at a Dennys I get this tan colored lump of warm raw potato shreds...The rest...eggs, sausage, whatever, has always been just fine. I never do pancakes out due to my exterme loyalty to real maple syrup...I can't ruin a good pancake or waffle with that corn syrup crap.

Took my parents there once back in the late 80's in Northern Virginia and was greeted by a giant cockroach at the table. Haven't been beck since...or ever again!!!!!

I have never had anything resembling a good meal( or good service)at a Dennys in my life.I only went along when I was outvoted by friends at bar time.We have George Webbs here and that was/is my breakfast place of choice.I havent been to Dennys since the early 90s, and no amount of discounted meals could get me there again.

Paul's NHRA connection is as a part-owner in a team operated by his family. It is not connected to his occupation.

Denny's is where I go with several people who all want something different. For breakfast, I avoid it like the plague because I'd sooner hit George Webb's, which is a SE Wisconsin phenomenon, or any number of other local places.

Mmmmmm, George Webb's breakfast. Much better than Denny's any day!

I've been to many Denny's as a result of touring across the country a few years back (majority rules on those meals)and I have to honestly say that I never once had a good meal there! There is one in my hometown that my family would go to when I would come home and never had a good meal there either. I never thought that the food terrible or disgusting, just bland and devoid of any character.

Greymo regarding racial denny's, some

people have their head so far up their asses!

but anyhoo, the hashbrowns are absolutely

horrible! and they have a sad menu.

There's two Denny's within 5 miles of where I'm living.  Been here 9 years and NEVER considering stopping in, even with highly discounted coupons.  We are fortunate to have a dozen or more local, privately owned places that serve far superior breakfast at more reasonable pricing.

I much prefer finding a indy diner or well known indy place along the major interstates when we are traveling.  What I try to do is plan my trip and know which exits will have a good indy place I want to try. 

But, sometimes there are none without going too far into a town.  Sometimes you don't have the time or your riders don't care as much as you do; they jsut want a meal fast.  I hate that, but sometimes you are outnumbered.  Me..I will drive 15-20 minutes off the Interstate to get to a good place.  If I am by myself, I'll go 30 minutes!  My wife is pretty good about it.  She knows how much I love roadfood places and so she goes along with it and usually ends up enjoying them, too.    

I never stop at a fast food chain, if I can help it.  Traveling gives me one of my few opportunities to find and try good roadfood places.  But, if I can't, and you want to consider Denny's fast food (I don't) then I'd rather eat at Denny's any day than to eat at McDonald's, Burger King or Wendy's. 

I like the atmosphere at Denny's much better.  I never had bad service, and the food comes on a plate and it's hot and it's just a hell of a lot better than the places I just mentioned IMHO.

I do not like Cracker Barrel; lots of people love them.  Once you get up north, you can find great diners without too much trouble and they are not too far off the Interstate.  That's my favorite way to dine when taking a trip by car. 

Living in Central Florida, when we head north, I always try to plan the trip so we hit a eating hour near Savannah.  It is so close to Interstate 95.  You just take I-16 east and you are in downtown Savannah in like 15 minutes and can enjoy your pick of good places to eat.  Try it next time when you are in that area.  It is well worth the little extra drive!

Do you have some other places that come to mind that are not too far off the Interstate?  Statesville, NC. is another one.  Columbia, SC.   

hatteras04


As Michael said we don't have any in Columbus but my wife and I stopped at one earlier this summer over near Cambridge, OH. I got the Moons Over MyHammy and fries. It really wasn't too bad.

Wouldn't this be a perfect illustration of the expression, "Damning with faint praise"?

Haven't eaten at one in years and they closed the Denny's on Broadway in Alamo Heights, by the University of the Incarnate Word and H.E.B. Central Market .
 
the last time my friend Nancy ate at one, she said it wasn't very good.
I think too it depends on the manager and how they run the place. There may be some Denny's out there which are quite good, because of the manager and staff really caring about the food they produce,but from what every one has said, most of them are losey.

Deeennnyyss is reeeaaall goood affteer drrinking.

That is what we say about White Castle..

I don't eat at Denny's very often, but I do like the fact that they serve fish and chips on the dinner menu. It's better than Long John Silver's, where the fish tastes like french fries and vice versa.

improviser


I don't eat at Denny's very often, but I do like the fact that they serve fish and chips on the dinner menu. It's better than Long John Silver's, where the fish tastes like french fries and vice versa.

 
it's worse around here, at long john silvers the fish and chips taste like kfc chicken......:(
 
 
  denny's used to be very good in washington, then about 8 years ago they went on a campaign to 'upgrade' their restaurants..... they would close down a location for 6 months to a year, remodel, then open with a new staff. basically they killed off all of the staff that knew how to fix decent denny's food and replaced them with morons......... the new locations were called 'denny's diner' and had 50's themed interiors, with crap food and crap service.......
 
 some of the locations became independent, and still operate using the old dennys menu under new names. some gave up and were sold to the california black bear diner chain, probably for the best (black bear diner is very good...:)

They probably stepped up the use of MSG, to catch up to KFC.

marzsit

improviser


I don't eat at Denny's very often, but I do like the fact that they serve fish and chips on the dinner menu. It's better than Long John Silver's, where the fish tastes like french fries and vice versa.

 
it's worse around here, at long john silvers the fish and chips taste like kfc chicken......:(
 
 
  denny's used to be very good in washington, then about 8 years ago they went on a campaign to 'upgrade' their restaurants..... they would close down a location for 6 months to a year, remodel, then open with a new staff. basically they killed off all of the staff that knew how to fix decent denny's food and replaced them with morons......... the new locations were called 'denny's diner' and had 50's themed interiors, with crap food and crap service.......
 
 some of the locations became independent, and still operate using the old dennys menu under new names. some gave up and were sold to the california black bear diner chain, probably for the best (black bear diner is very good...:)

..that sounds just like IHOP..