Alisa

Yummy In n Out Burgers! I do love a good Quarter Pounder with Cheese w/ fries, too.

How about Sizzler? Not high-class but sometimes, I get a yen for Malibu Chicken.

MikeT

Bob Evans. Even though I live in suburban DC., you can't find good biscuits and gravy. Sometimes I have to head out to the exurbs or along the interstate and find a Bob Evans for B&G.

suanniammsncom

My vote in the midwest goes to culvers. Love their butterburgers.
Susan

SmilingStill

I refer/defer to Scarlett on the Barrel. Her points about the food would be difficult to refute. Now, pigs in a blanket over at the HOP, that's tempting, but alas, their wine list needs some sprucing up!

placeu2

Suiann: Culvers

I had to laugh because I passsed one just an hour ago thinking I might stop in. Fortunately my good sense got ahold of me. Butterburger...yikes. Indeed they are tasty and I guess this fits the thread.

Thanks for the thought!

hugglynn

I don't have a response to the OP about my unsophisticated favs, but you know, this is sooo funny, because I happened to be home yesterday and caught this part of the show where Kelly went on and on about Cracker Barrel. Then, it became obvious in their discussion that Regis didn't have a clue what Cracker Barrel is--and it occurred to me....this is what everyone is talking about now with the election being over, and regardless of who you voted for, it's just icing on the cake that someone with the stature of Regis wouldn't have a clue what Cracker Barrel is--then I thought and these are the people from Hollywood who are supposed to be able to identify with us "regular" folks and go out on the trails to tell us who to vote for (i.e., Springstein, Streisand, etc.). Now post-election, everyone is talking about how these Hollywood types can't identify with middle America and may have contributed to the election results. Basically I just saw the whole thing as amusing!

rjw_lgb_ca

"Non-sophisticated favorites"? Two local chains, Hof's Hut and Polly's, would match that description. But in a pinch, if you're getting your car serviced in Cerritos Auto Square, nothing beats a breakfast skillet at Hof's. We also have more wide-spread chains, Norm's and Spires-- also good for breakfast. Oh, and Ruby's and Johnny Rockets as well.

By the way, BAK, I'm still chuckling over your initial post with its reference to "Crack Barrel". I thought to myself, "Where on earth was Kelly Ripa looking for drugs?!"

Lapdog

Nothing like a late night sack a Krystal hamburgers and a couple a chili-cheese dogs washed down with a large coke (w/CRUSHED ice!). King of the gut bombs.

cruisin_tigger

Dennys: mmmmmm, Moon Over My Hammy and even after working at McDonalds during my high school days, can't get enough of their fries.

snowrooster

I had never eaten at Cracker Barrel until I was in college and dh pushed it while we were dating (and financially strapped college students). I resisted due the discrmination issues I'd heard of (on Oprah I believe) but finally gave it. Cracker Barrel was a godsend when our house was on the mkt last year and I had to run out at a minutes notice w/the kids. I do weightwatchers religiously and their veggie plate was one of the few yummy casual spot options available, and the kids love their food. However I would vote for Bob Evans for breakfast - great biscuts and gravy.

Did anyone see the recent piece one of those news shows (dateline or something) did on restaurant health violations? Denny's did really well but IHOP and Waffle House got slammed - some pretty nasty stuff. They are just starting to build a few IHOP in my area and I've liked them when I've been on vacation, but ever since seeing that show I'm a bit hesitant to return.

You can not like a place without being a "snob" and tsk, tsk others for eating there. I suppose it is all in good fun.

E

Ke1th, thanks for pointing that out! Their history of discrimination is one reason I won't eat in a Cracker Barrel again; the other is that I don't like their food, which is a plastic, tasteless version of real Southern cooking, the kind you can rarely find any more because these gross chains have squeezed out the mom-and-pops. And quit calling chain-haters snobs, y'all--I won't condescend to your love for Denny's if you quit mocking my goat cheese. Can't we all just egt along??

Kath

IHOP! Vive La French Toast!

GoTravel

As much of an iron stomache as I usually have and I am a big southern comfort/soul food fan, Cracker Barrel literally makes me sick.

I've tried on four or five occaisions to eat there and it has never been a good experience for me.

My in-laws love Cracker Barrel and always forget it makes me sick so that is why I end up there about once a year.

I would love to know why that is at Cracker Barrel and it hasn't happened to me before.

leelane911

SmilingStill, why would you defer to Scarlett on Southern food? With all due respect to her, I understand she just moved from NY to Florida recently, was not born in the South (though I recall she had a Southern connection.) I would defer to a Southerner who grew up on the food.

We must all remember that what's good is just a matter of opinion. Nothing to get wrung out about!

canuckuphereathome

Also discovered Cracker Barrel on a trip to N.Y.-grandkids liked it so much we made a point of finding one again on our way back! It wasn't gourmet fare, but I was just glad I didn't have to go to McDonalds!

J_Correa

Anybody familiar with Bob's Big Boy restaurants? Do they even exist anymore? I don't know if the food is good, but I loved going there as a kid.

I've never been to a Cracker Barrel or a Waffle House - I've actually never seen a Cracker Barrel.

I love IHOP and In and Out Burger though.

iceeu2

What do you order at Cracker Barrel, GT? Probably not accustomed to eating whatever something is cooked with. Grease perhaps.

Cracker Barrel runs hot and cold with me. Sometimes I like, sometimes I don't. DH simply cannot understand why it takes so looooooooooong to "dip up" a plate of beans and then it's cold!

Scarlett

LOL leelani, since we must show our Southern pedigrees here for your satisfaction, I lived in North Carolina from the ages of 5 until I was 19. I think I would call that growing up on the food in the South.

Did I pass the Southern girl test??

Scarlett

JCorrea, I saw Bobs Big Boys in Long Island NY but when I was growing up in Charlotte NC, they were called Shoneys.
I looooved those burgers!

snowrooster

Dh got sick after eating at a Cracker Barrel once but we still go - we think the tea was old. I'll tell you one thing, they don't discriminate against heavy folk there. Every Cracker Barrel manager I've seen looks like he eats the deep fried stuff morning, noon, and night. I swear they do have good veggies - turnip greens w/vinegar - YUM!!