Avoiding What a Restaurant is Named For

We're currently trying to solve a little puzzle at work...

Name a restaurant where the food in the name of the restaurant is so bad that it should be avoided in favor of some other, less publicized offering.

For example, there's a new place on Franklin called "I Dream of Falafel". The falafel there is absolutely terrible, but there is some other stuff there that's ok (mainly in the opinion of my coworkers).

But where else?

This has to exclude places that are just generally crappy anyway. Like Einstein's Bagels. Their bagels are terrible, but you know that going in and there's nothing else there that you'd want to order anyway.

Two contenders so far are Macaroni Grill and Taco Fresco.

Hecky's BBQ is perhaps the ultimate example. (Fried chicken...eat the fried chicken!)

Blackbird.

This may cross the Einstein's Bagels threshold, but I used to live across from Wrigley(s)ville Dogs and found myself there more than I'd like to admit. Their dogs weren't really atrocious--they were edible but far from an exemplary version. Stale non-poppyseed bun and middling toppings. I wouldn't steer someone toward them, but you could do worse there (taco on pita? no thanks). However, they make a decent gyros imho, and I still maintain that the chicken special they have is the best bang for your buck (cluck for your buck?) in all of Wrigleyville and damn tasty (especially the rice!).

Kennyz wrote:Blackbird.

Wow, didn't know they served blackbird there. I'll have to check it out.

I go to Homemade Pizza Company for the salads, never for the pizza.

I have on good authority that it's best to go with the hamburgers at Tasty Dog on Lake in Oak Park on Lake.

jesteinf wrote:Two contenders so far are Macaroni Grill

I've never had their version, but I generally avoid grilled macaroni.

Panda Express?

Last time I went there was hardly any panda in my order.

spinynorman99 wrote:Panda Express?

Last time I went there was hardly any panda in my order.

Imagine my disappointment the first time I went to Wendy’s

Burger King

Oh, wait a minute--
The premise of this thread is that there is something ELSE on the menu that is worthy of a visit.

Nevermind...

Great Beijing in Lincolnwood

Their Korean offering is a lot better than anything Chinese on their menu

Kentucky Fried Chicken. Avoid the chicken. The soft drinks are OK, though.

RIP Harry's Hot Dogs.

(Good grits.)

David Hammond wrote:

spinynorman99 wrote:Panda Express?

Last time I went there was hardly any panda in my order.

Imagine my disappointment the first time I went to Wendy’s

At least the Newman's Own products still contain traces of Paul Newman.

When I lived in Manhattan, there was one of those family style Italian places near NYU called "Osso Buco" which may have served the worst Osso Buco I have ever eaten.

Damon's- The Place for Ribs also comes to mind though I can't recommend anything else there either.

YourPalWill wrote:When I lived in Manhattan, there was one of those family style Italian places near NYU called "Osso Buco" which may have served the worst Osso Buco I have ever eaten.

Damon's- The Place for Ribs also comes to mind though I can't recommend anything else there either.

I remember going to Damon's in Springfield with my dad [he lived there] every so often. Food wasn't memorable [quite literally, I don't remember it all, except for they served warm bread on a wooden plate], but they did have NTN trivia which I enjoyed.

AaronSinger wrote:

YourPalWill wrote:When I lived in Manhattan, there was one of those family style Italian places near NYU called "Osso Buco" which may have served the worst Osso Buco I have ever eaten.

Damon's- The Place for Ribs also comes to mind though I can't recommend anything else there either.

I remember going to Damon's in Springfield with my dad [he lived there] every so often. Food wasn't memorable [quite literally, I don't remember it all, except for they served warm bread on a wooden plate], but they did have NTN trivia which I enjoyed.

Oh I remember the food at Damon's...that onion brick still occasionally haunts my nightmares. That dense mass of limp, lukewarm, onions coated with oily, gritty batter, the grease pooling on the plate...<shudder>

3400 block of Bryn Mawr

YourPalWill wrote:Damon's- The Place for Ribs also comes to mind though I can't recommend anything else there either.

On that note I vote for Carson's Ribs on Harlem, just south of Foster. Thank goodness they went out of business. There was hardly any meat on those ribs in later years, and what was there was tough as leather. The only good thing about them was the Pac Man machine in the front, the kind that you could sit down at with another player.

Pie Lady wrote:

YourPalWill wrote:Damon's- The Place for Ribs also comes to mind though I can't recommend anything else there either.

On that note I vote for Carson's Ribs on Harlem, just south of Foster. Thank goodness they went out of business. There was hardly any meat on those ribs in later years, and what was there was tough as leather. The only good thing about them was the Pac Man machine in the front, the kind that you could sit down at with another player.

I was going to mention Carson's Ribs, specifically in Deerfield. I eat there/carry-out with some regularity and enjoy their steaks, fish, burgers, sandwiches, salads and cole slaw. But I avoid their ribs like the plague. I just hate that style. Come to think of it, there is one kind of rib I'll eat there -- the prime rib. It's actually a very good version.

=R=

Earwax Cafe.

jesteinf wrote:We're currently trying to solve a little puzzle at work...

Name a restaurant where the food in the name of the restaurant is so bad that it should be avoided in favor of some other, less publicized offering.

For example, there's a new place on Franklin called "I Dream of Falafel". The falafel there is absolutely terrible, but there is some other stuff there that's ok (mainly in the opinion of my coworkers).

But where else?

This has to exclude places that are just generally crappy anyway. Like Einstein's Bagels. Their bagels are terrible, but you know that going in and there's nothing else there that you'd want to order anyway.

I have no problem with their falafel. But I don't get it as a meal. Sometimes as a side.

I can't believe no one's brought up Browntrout yet.

Noodle Zone

all their noodle dishes suck, and are bland and flavorless.

However, their appetizer platter is actually pretty great when looking for fried stuff.

Thanks to all for the great belly laugh.

paradise pup, since the name implies hot dogs.

dudefella wrote:paradise pup, since the name implies hot dogs.

It's not something you need to avoid, just few people ever bother with them, when the chizborger fumes hit your sinuses as soon as you walk in and you float to the counter like Scooby Doo.