While Applebees, The Outback Steakhouse to the Cheesecake Factory (overated and overpriced, yeah I said it) may attract tourists and locals alike. That doesn't mean you should just eat at the chain restaurants if you're visiting the US (or on any holiday in any country if we're being honest). This post came about after yesterdays #lbloggers chat and all the recommendations for the aforementioned chain restaurants if you ever happen to be visiting the USA, to be despair of myself and Joe.
Even as a non tourist, in the two and half years of America being my home, I've barely eaten in chains (about twice in Applebees - nowt special, couple of times in I-Hop - urgh, Red Lobster - s'alright) and i'll openly admit to liking US fast food chains (Taco Bell, Culvers (great concrete mixes) Wendy to Steak n Shake (mmm milkshakes)) but the majority of the places we eat in are local, independent restaurants, take outs and cafes.
Why? Because that's were you'll find the variety, the local cuisine, the food that makes America run. Ya know what us locals eat. All those tasty looking foods in that photograph? Yeah all eaten and enjoyed in our local Detroit places (Slows, Grand Trunk Pub, Treat Dreams, Comet Burgers).
To visit the real America you need to experience the local places. You need to step into the Mexicantowns, the Polish bakeries, you should dine in mom n pop restaurants, the diners, eat on the streets from the food trucks or in the 1950's slider joints. They might not necessarily look as smart or as well polished but you'll be treated to huge portions, local cuisines and by heck, cheaper and better food because they specialize in their customers tastes, the local produce probably using recipes that go way back.
This is why I pour for hours through reviews on Trip Advisor, and add in my own. I want to know the best independent places whether it's for a date night down the road or a weekend away in Bay City or Pittsburgh. Local food varies between cities as it varies between states. But local always wins with us, every time.
For me food is all part of the travel experience. It's about filling the senses whether it's sightseeing or tasting the local grub. So the next time you plan that holiday to Orlando or New York, hunt out the independent restaurants, find the local places and you'll eat like a local - step outside your comfort zone. You'll find the real America not just the tourist one.
What about you? Local places or the chains?
I think the appeal of chains to tourist is you get to try all the places you've heard so casually mentioned on American tc shows and films over the years. However, I'venever regretted a holiday food decision like the choice we made to eat at Appleby's when I was in the States last year. It's not that it was terrible (though it really wasn't good!) it's just that we missed the chance to eat somewhere much better! For the most part thought we visited more independent and local type places suggested to us by the people we were staying with and every other meal we had there was amazing!
ReplyDeleteI'll admit that I usually eat at chains, mostly fast-food places, just because they are a lot cheaper than the local places. BUT the local places do tend to feel homey-er! I just went to a local BBQ place last week with my in-laws and it was great!! I usually go to Sonny's for BBQ but I think I'm going to start going there! I went to Applebee's twice and it was just bad... the food was okay but you paid sooo much for such little food. it was a big disappointment!
ReplyDeleteJessica
the.pyreflies.org
Staff always seem so miserable and always in a rush in Applebee's, and for what you're getting and paying for, it's nothing special. Oh there's such a difference between chain and local BBQ places, after going to Slows here in Detroit, never looking back.
DeleteI totally agree! Nothing beats a local restaurant!
ReplyDeleteStephanie
http://missstephanieusher.blogspot.co.uk/
http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/3436251
xxxx
As a Brit still in England all the places you mentioned are places of dreams! I hope they didn't shatter the dream too much for you either, Taco Bell has held up though and I'm pleased about that - I'd like to think it was awesome. I like to go local too, not just on holiday but at home as it is normally nicer food and feels better in my tummy, although my love for Nandos will never die... x
ReplyDeleteTo be honest, having not really watched US tv shows prior to moving there was never the attraction so I visited everything on a blank slate. Don't get me wrong there's chains (The Original Pancake House, Red Lobster, Culvers, Wendys, Checkers to Baskin Robbins) that I love eating at, but some of the big chains that people get excited about, I just don't get.
DeleteI'm all about the local places, especially when in Spain and the little cafes serve the most incredible meals of traditional local dishes for pennies! x
ReplyDeleteOh I bet you can find some tasty local places in Spain! I remember loving all the local eateries in Poland, had some great food.
DeleteAbsolutely yes to local food! It's fun as a tourist to hit up all the big eats you've heard about on TV or in the movies but the best food is always tucked away in the diners and bakeries and family-run restaurants. And I've always found it to be great value for money, too, which is always a bonus!
ReplyDeleteEspecially when you factor in how much cheaper food is in the US compared to the UK and how much you get for your money too. Had some great meals while we were road tripping around the state in the family run places.
DeleteI was just saying yesterday that I don't know why people flock to the chains so much! I suppose because they're on every street corner and therefore convenient. The food tends to be overpriced, bland, and unhealthy, at least in my opinion. That said, there are a couple chains I go to. One is really good value and the other is just surprisingly good quality. So, who knows, maybe a mix of local and high quality chains is the way to go.
ReplyDeleteOh so so unhealthy, I remember seeing a news report that something at the cheesecake factory had levels of sugar (or something) equivalent to three days your suggested amounts. Crazy. I guess every one heads there because they know what they are getting and it's easy.
DeleteWhen I visited Sweden a couple of years back, I had such a similar experience! The local restaurants were SO much better than the chains they had. Same goes for the UK! Well, maybe except for Lèon, that's such a great chain, wish we had it locally too! But nothing beat the burgers in the pubs and the small pizzaria near Camden Lock Market! I mean, I wouldn't mind having some In 'n Out once in my life but I wouldn't live off fast food chains on my holidays.
ReplyDeleteElina | Miss Blue Eyes
Oh I bet you found some great meals in Sweden! I always find the burgers in the local places so much tastier, so much bigger and so less greasy!
DeleteThe food at a lot of those chains is kind of terrible, honestly. I mean they're better than nothing if you're driving at night and an Applebees or whatever is the only thing that's open late, but small diners and mom-n-pops are always more interesting even if the food is so-so, haha. :)
ReplyDeleteOh you can find some great traditional staples in those mom-n-pops, and as someone who's moved into the US it's been a great way to find those all American meals! I had a great Philly steak at a mom-n-pop restaurant last year. So good!
DeleteMy Dad used to own a cafe that he ended up having to close because the mall it was in pushed him out to make way for a chain. I vote local all the way.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree with you more! The East Bay Area is very, very foodie and we have loads of local Indian, Burmese, Japanese, Chinese, etc. everywhere. I can't even remember the last time I hate at a chain restaurant! It's even more important when you're traveling, since you only have a few meals a day to try all those local flavors.
ReplyDeleteCat
http://oddlylovely.com
See Indian is one cuisine that hasn't really made it mark in Metro Detroit, there's a couple of places but it's certainly more Mexican, Thai to Chinese.
DeleteLocal places all the way!
ReplyDeleteKatrina Sophia
I completely agree! In a way I'm glad that we aren't really sure of the chain restaurants in Belgium (with the exception of McDonalds and Quick, which I think is a fast food burgers place... haven't been). that way we can just try different places out. One of my favourite places is a Thai place where they do a student lunch special and serve the food on plastic dinner trays, I don't know why, but the food is so good!! and cheap!
ReplyDeleteWe made a resolution to go for dinner once a month, but for some reason we just haven't. We've gotten quite into cooking at home but I still enjoy going out for dinner. I think we need to expand and include, breakfast, brunch, lunch and cake in our monthly goal to make it possible :)
Mmmm food. I'm so hungry now!
(It actually took me an hour to write this comment because I was distracted by TripAdvisor looking at restaurant reviews for Leuven (our town) haha... Let's ignore the fact that I'm still at work...)
~ K
Do Quick live up to their name? Are they quick?! These things are important ... local Thai places are usually great and pretty decently priced. I know the one we use their portions are big enough for two meals each and it's cheaper than going to a chain for something bland.
DeleteWe keep saying we'll try more places that do brunch, there's a couple near us that have special brunch specials with all you can drink bloody marys and stuff which sounds fun. But you had me at cake, i'd go out for cake.
Trip Advisor gets addictive, I could spend hours on that site but you have to laugh at some of the reviews, some of the reviewers are so picky it's unreal. Ah humans.
You know, I've never been to Quick, but I can get on board with ordering a burger with my timer in hand :)
DeleteThe Thai place we have has great portion sizes, although the student lunch place is an offshoot of the restaurant where they serve the same thing for more money! The cheek!
I need to show TripAdvisor to Kris to pick some places... people are funny, that's true :)