Eh, it's better than McDonalds/Burger King/Wendys/KFC/Taco Bell/Dominos/any of the other dominant fast food chains. I prefer to make my own meals, so on the two or three days a month where I didn't get it together to make lunch in the morning/the night before, the fact that I can get a sandwich that I can see being made is a huge plus. Also, we have calorie charts so I can see what I'm getting! :)

I like those three as well; I'd add Five Guys to the group as well.

The thing with me is that in every place I've lived, there has been an affordable (and better tasting) alternative to the usual fast food places. If I wanted a burrito in Boston, I'd go to Anna's or Boca Grande. If I want a cheeseburger, I could go to Eagle's Deli or Bartley's in the Boston area, or one of the really good burger and hot dog stands around CT.

I'd wager that if people really looked, they could find the same thing in their city or town.

I haven't seen any salads at Bojangles. But all sins are atoned for by the artery-destroying Cheddar-Bo biscuit. :D

I probably shouldn't have commented on Subway. In general, I really don't like sandwiches -- they are a meal of last resort for me -- and I really dislike subs, so Subway and Quiznos stand little chance with me.

I've tried Five Guys once or twice, but it didn't do that much for me, and I thought it was way overpriced.

But you're right, I can get much better burgers at one of our local places. For that matter, I used to think Hardees was really slumming food-wise, but I'd take it over any other burger chain now.

Five Guys is the closest that those of us who live on the East Coast can get to the awesomeness that is In-N-Out on a regular basis. Whenever I'm in California, I make it a point to eat there at least once. They're fast, but they were actually lauded in Fast Food Nation for the fact that the produce is locally-grown, the cows are local, and the employees are paid a living wage in a state with a notoriously high cost of living.

Also, the food is pretty good, inexpensive, and quick.

I was going to mention that - In-N-Out is ridiculously good, and you're right, Five Guys is as close as it gets here.

I will reiterate though that you can usually find a local place that stands up to any fast food burger, even one as good as In-N-Out. Eagles and Bartley's in Brighton and Cambridge, respectively, are the first two that come to mind.

Fair enough on both, although Five Guys prices are some of the cheaper ones around here. It may just be that prices are higher in the Northeast overall.

As for subs; I was spoiled growing up in that I had family that owned an Italian deli in the area. Subway's ok, and better than most of the national fast food alternatives.

Cool! It's weird, I know. I love deli meats (most of them, at least), and love cheese, but I just don't want them on bread. I'd much rather just roll the meat up and eat it right by itself.

I can understand that - I know people who wouldn't eat a sandwich/sub if it were the last food on earth.

Omg, Chipotle is my favorite. :mad: lol

Also, I've never heard of Freebird's...

Subway, for sure.

I gag a little whenever I see an Ihop or a Blimpies. they both feel dirty and claustrophobic.

It sounds like the Chipotle's and Quizno's in some areas where people are complaining are awful. In mine they are pretty nice and never that full. The only problem I have is that Chipotle has like 7 ingredients total. Even at small local "Tex-mex" and Mexican shops they have more than that. However, their menu is teeny tiny so I guess that's reasonable.

Subway isn't bad to me, but I'd rather eat Quizno's.

I don't eat local fast-food burgers anymore. If I had to, it'd be Wendy's (and when I say fast food, I mean fast food b/c some of y'all are adding in sit down restaurants that are not in the fast food business.) I haven't eaten a burger at McD's or Burger King in some time. I will be eating In-N-Out in LA next month for a weekend on the regular.

:eek: I love the cheesecake factory. There isn't one here as far as I know of. The one I know about is in Chicago.

It's a Texas chain. It's not fair to compare local/regional chains to national ones, since those tend to have locally-grown produce and a much lower dependence on frozen food. For me, a place like In-N-Out can't be compared to a national chain. The local-based place will always win out because food that comes from close by, is always fresh, and never frozen is always better. I mean, one of the reasons that OG is so terrible is because the stuff is just frozen and reheated!

I'm kind of on the warpath now because I had a piece of coffee cake from Starbucks that has made me sick today. I've been really good lately about eating good food--lots of fruits and veggies, no artificially sweetened drinks--really mostly water--and home-cooked meals. I feel like that damned coffee cake set me back. It's sitting pretty heavily on my stomach and is making me feel sluggish.

I had a Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble yesterday, huge let down. I am loving my double walled plastic cup for iced beverages I make at home and take to work or elsewhere though. It doesn't sweat and the lid screws on, plus the straw is designed to not fall out.

yeah, my problem with them is that, while i will admit their cheesecake is fab, the food itself is nothing special and yet everyone acts like it's the best restaurant ever and wants to go there all the time. i have the same beef with pf changs. they're not bad, per se, but they're incredibly overrated.