I don't really consider any of these upscale, but my favorite chains are:

Maggiano's
Macaroni Grill
Outback
Chili's
Longhorn

I guess I will have to give The Cheesecake Factory another go..the only time I have been it was just too loud.
I like Carabba's ok..DH hates it so we never go.
Neither of us care for Olive Garden very much.
Great thread designmr..thanks for starting.
Just got a gift certificate for Roy's...can't wait to try it!

Add me to the list of Olive Garden haters! Their red sauce is obviously canned...yuck!

Chains that I like:
Maggiano's
Cheesecake Factory
Saltgrass Steak House
Texas Land & Cattle Co.
Pappadeaux

And one that I visit every time I am in New England, and I WISH we had here in Texas:
LEGAL SEAFOOD

Wow. This is great. In the interest of disclosure, I'm not seeking dining options for my travels (I, too, always go local), but ideas for a development opportunity. Thanks for the input!! :)

designmr: No,no,no young man- you can't get off that easy. You need to tell us now what you are thinking (just generally, so as not to give away your secrets) about what kind of chain you will develop and how you will position it, using all our good input!
A cross btwn Pappadeux and Macaroni Grill? what??

This is one of those gems to bookmark--lots of great suggestions.

Sorry if I'm repeating, but in FL we love Bonefish Grill and Stonewood Grill. I don't know if they are located in any other states.

Yes, rjw_lgb_ca, that's the one I'm talking about, but in Ontario we spell it Bifteck. It's the same chain though because I asked the manager of our local establishment. And yes, Mother Tucker's is still around but they've changed the name to Tucker's Marketplace and it's now a buffet-style restaurant. I'm not fond of buffet restaurant but this one is a cut above the normal. There's a bunch of ready-made dishes to choose from, but they also do stir fry, burgers and steaks on demand. Plus the place is usually so busy that none of the food sits under lights for very long.
I saw someone else mentioned Legal Seafood and I just wanted to say that it is one of my favorites in Boston.

I like Il Fornaio (went to the one across frm the Santa Monica Pier) in California and Tara Thai in the DC area --We go to Bethesda and Rockville Pike locations -- and having had Thai food all over the world (well with the major exception, blush blush, being Thailand) they sure are hard to beat.
Ruth Cris isn't bad, either, but then I usually.

argh...I hate when that happens...I usually order lamb chops at steak houses. And I rarely go to steak houses except when out on a business meal. OH! Smith and Wollenski's isn't too bad - had great meals in Philly and Miami Beach. When you have to take clients out, and you haven't any specific recommendations from people you trust, the "upscale chains" aren't too bad.

Scarlett,
Have you tried Beach Road Chicken House in Jax? That was a favorite of mine from forever ago.Here's a review of it./www.npj.com/homepage/teritowe/restrose.html

Another place is Jackie's Seafood by the Trout River. My father used to get the Sr citizen specal & it was fried fish, grits & I think some sort of mullet spread. The spread sounds nasty but was good. You could get the Sr citizen special even if you weren't a senior. Here is some info on Jackie's.
http://www.wecook4u.com/jackies/Time...s%20union.html

In the midst of corn and bean country, chain restaurants are abundant. My favorites are Olive Garden (yes, I am totally serious), Red Lobster, Monical's Pizza (excellent thin crust pizza in IL, IN, and WI), and Maggiano's.

Of course I don't consider any of these upscale, but I frequent casual restaurants far more than upscale restaurants. On vacation I prefer "local" establishments.

Emd, no, I'm not looking to start a new franchise. A group of us want to attract a unique chain to a downtown neighborhood that's already stocked with local establishments. We're looking for one with a solid regional/national reputation, even if locals aren't familiar with the brand.

I don't know from upscale but would always prefer Macaroni Grill over Olive Garden, but I came from a city with a big Italian neighborhood and lots of really good family run Italian places, so neither really measure up to those.

I like a number of things at Cozymel's. Calls itself a coastal Mexican grill. The Yucatan Especial (creamy rice dish with shrimp, scallops, spinach, mushrooms and poblano peppers) is pretty good.

Ruth's Chris if it's steak at a chain place. Won't ever step foot in a Lone Star again. Long story. The Outback theme drives my wife (from Australia) nuts. "What's wrong with these people?", she says...

We have a PF Changs here and I've never been. They just opened a Bonefish Grill but still haven't been there either. Guess we'll have to give them a go sometime.

J. Alexanders and the Capital Grille.

designmr,

Aren't you in OKC? Please please please consider lobbying for Il Fornaio. I am new to Tulsa (from San Diego) and am really enjoying it here but I'm craving Il Fornaio-type food like you wouldn't believe. If one came to OKC, we may be able to lure them to Tulsa as well. I think they're website is

www.ilfornaio.com

Keep us updated on your progress!

Ally - don't know if you are old enough to remember, but "they" used to serve the green sauce hot off of the steam table.

Glad you got your chuckle today. I did too with this fun thread.

;-)

Jocelyn, it's far too early to say if this is going anywhere, but we'll seek much more input from others. After that, we'll have to find out market requirements, if they are interested in expanding at all. But yes, it's for downtown Oklahoma City and I must say, Il Fornaio seems to have a great following. Stay tuned!!

Just curious. Is anyone familiar with Flemings? Apparently owned by PF Chang's group, but more of a steakhouse. They're opening one here in Naples this week (delayed since last week due to the hurricane threats).

Yes, I have been to Flemings in Boston - similiar to a Mortons.

http://www.flemingssteakhouse.com/

Bonefish Grill and Stonewood Grill & Tavern are chains ??
Cool, I love them :D

benj, thanks so much, I will check them out. We are always on the look out for a good place to eat.

So far our favorites remain Bistro Aix and the two above Grills :)

Chart House is a chain resto isn't it?
I think I would like to try the one here on the River, very pretty and seems to have a good menu.
Any comments on them?

The day we moved into our house, we had no clue where to go for dinner. We were told about a place was about 2 blocks from here that was good.
Vito's..they are from NJ :) and it is completely family owned and all the employees are family. Very good down home Italian food, made fresh..not canned ~

The Chart House is a chain - a rather old one at that! Years ago they used to have a terrific Sunday Brunch but in more recent times, in our area, they have kind of gone down hill.