I was in line at Bed Bath and Beyond at Barrack’s Road behind a family obviously shopping for dorm room accoutrements. It’s early to spot this kind of college kid-mom-dad trio so, judging by the size of the assumed UVa-bound kid, it’s time for the football team to move in. The dad turned to me and asked, “Is there anyplace good to eat around here?”
My head swam with the possibilities. Should I direct them downtown, or keep them within walking distance. “Aromas is a wonderful Mediterranean restaurant and right in this shopping center. What are you in the mood for?”
“I was thinking of something like Applebee’s,” the dad said.
Applebee’s. Sheesh.
I paused for a moment to feel sorry for these folks who must come from a town so small, so uncultured, that Applebee’s is the height of fine cuisine.
“Well,” I said, remembering the offering of nearby chain restaurants, “there’s a Ruby Tuesday’s.”
“She,” he said, indicating his wife, “doesn’t like Ruby Tuesday’s.”
I let this absorb. Seriously, what is the distinction between Ruby Tuesday’s and Applebee’s? Having lost my faith in the parents’ taste, I tried the kid. “Do you like pizza?”
“Yeah, that sounds good.”
“Maybe you’d like Casella’s, then, right down the way on the left.” I was determined to get these people into a locally-owned restaurant, not some chain you can find anywhere in the U.S.
They thanked me and, hopefully ventured off to sample Charlottesville food.
Applebee’s. Sheesh.
I can’t tell you how much I hate Crapplebees and Loogie Tuesday.
Agreed. But sometimes when you’re starving and trying to accommodate a large party ages 10 to 60, it’s the handiest choice. What’s a good restaurant in Cville that has Applebee’s crowd-pleasing qualities without the gaggy Applebee’s microwave goo-food?
Ruby Tuesday is just rancid. Ugh.
Wow, Marijean, you’re lucky you had Applebee’s and Ruby Tuesday’s nearby so they wouldn’t have to settle for the local stuff. We also have those haute cuisine franchises in St. Louis but sometimes, when they’re full, we have no choice but to endure a meal at one of the locally owned four-star or five-star Italian places on the Hill. Bummer.
I feel the same way about the local stuff vs. The Chains. My family is sort of annoyed with me because I’m so strident about my avoidance of chain restaurants.
What I haven’t been able to reconcile is the difference between going to a chain restaurant like Applebees (which I won’t do) or to a chain restaurant like Red Robin or Steak-n-Shake (which I will do). What’s the difference?
There’s the Millmont grille right behind Barracks road. Never been there but when it was Sloan’s, it was a great watering hole and family place. We really like Wild Greens in the north wing of BR. There’s never a wait and they generally have good service and fresh ingredients.
No, there is no difference between Craplebees and Ruby Tuesdays. Not one iota.
Both are service black holes.