On May 5, 2017, new federal regulations finalized three years ago will go into effect that require chain restaurants with 20 or more outlets to post calorie counts on their menus, as well as on food items sold in vending machines and snack bars. Before that happens, lawmakers in the Senate have introduced a bill to make a few revisions. What would those revisions mean for consumers faced with making mealtime decisions? [More]
chain restaurants
Restaurant Customers Uninterested In Sit-Down Chains, Still Hungry
By 9.16.16
When you go out to eat, where do you go? Restaurant-watchers are noticing that business at sit-down establishments is dropping, while convenience stores, restaurants that deliver, and even supermarkets with ready-to-eat food are all increasing their business. [More]
Subway Posting Calorie Counts On Menus Nationwide Ahead Of Final Federal Regulations
By 4.5.16
It seems someone has gotten a little bit impatient: instead of waiting for federal regulations requiring chain restaurants and other businesses to post calorie counts on menus and displays to finally go into effect, Subway is going to go ahead and slap those numbers on its menu boards nationwide now. [More]
NYC’s Salt Warning Labels Set To Debut At Chain Restaurants This Week
By 11.30.15
Menus at New York City’s chain eateries will be getting a makeover this week, as the city’s rule requiring warning labels for particularly salty menu items goes into effect. [More]
NYC May Become First U.S. City To Require High-Sodium Warning Labels At Chain Restaurants
By 6.10.15
The health war wages on in New York City, where the ghost of the failed ban on large sodas is said to still haunt city hall, moaning the name of a certain former mayor. This time, city officials are taking on sodium, proposing a requirement that chain restaurants put a label on menu items that are high in salt. [More]
TGI Friday’s Is Selling Corporate-Owned Restaurants To Franchisees
By 9.29.14
Under its current ownership, Burger King started to do something kind of revolutionary for a company in the fast food restaurant business: it sold most of its corporate-owned restaurants. That move appears to have worked out well for the King, and now other restaurant chains are trying it as well. Will it work for TGI Friday’s? [More]
“Healthy” Restaurant Meals Can Be Even Worse For You Than Hitting The Drive-Through
By 1.9.14
It’s no secret that dining out can be a poor choice for your health. A chain-restaurant entrée can be shockingly full not only of flavor but also of fats, calories, and sodium. [More]
Olive Garden Pursues Millennial Foodies With Tuscan Tapas
By 9.10.13
Traditionally, people have gone to Olive Garden when they feel like consuming theoretically infinite salad and breadsticks and miles of pasta. Portions are large enough to form at least two meals. Aren’t they? The chain is trying something new in some markets, and taking it nationwide: small plates for groups to share, instead of giant carb platters. [More]
13 TGI Fridays Restaurants Among Those Busted In NJ For Selling Cheap Booze As Premium Pours
By 5.23.13 — Updated: 5.24.13
You might not be surprised to find that a sketchy dive bar is refilling its empty bottles of liquor with cheaper booze, but many consumers probably don’t expect a chain restaurant to get involved in such underhanded hanky-panky. And yet, 15 of the 29 places caught in yesterday’s sting by New Jersey liquor regulators are outlets of national chain eateries — and almost all of those were TGI Fridays. [More]
Behold An Olive Garden And A Red Lobster Under One Roof
By 7.16.12
Darden, parent company of ubiquitous chain restaurants such as Olive Garden, Red Lobster, and LongHorn Steakhouse, likes to cluster its restaurants near each other. So it makes sense that in smaller markets, they would pair a Red Lobster and an Olive Garden in one building, with a shared kitchen, bar, waiting area, and rest rooms. This seemed like totally amazing news until we learned that customers will not be able to order off both menus. Then what’s the point? [More]
Hooters, Hard Rock, Friendly’s Score Low Marks On Chain Restaurant Survey
By 7.2.12
The idea behind chain restaurants is — or at least it should be — to provide customers with dependable, consistent food and service at multiple locations. And many chains succeed in at least trying to fulfill these goals. But according to a recent survey of nearly 48,000 Consumer Reports readers, some chains are struggling to maintain a mediocre level of service and quality. [More]
Chili's Says Club Members' Personal Data Was Leaked
By 11.16.10
In a mass message sent out to its “e-mail club” subscribers, Chili’s revealed its service provider sprung a leak in user data, letting loyalists know first and last names, email addresses and birthdates went up for grabs. [More]
Uno Chicago Grill Files For Chapter 11 Bankruptcy
By 1.20.10
Uno Chicago Grill, the Boston-based chain of Chicago-esque deep dish pizzerias, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after closing 16 restaurants last week. [More]
Weight Watchers, Lean Cuisine Meals Have More Calories Than Advertised
By 1.8.10
If you’re a fan of using frozen Weight Watchers, Lean Cuisine, Healthy Choice and South Beach Living meals to control your caloric intake — you might be interested to know that a news study says the dinners have eight per cent more calories than the labels said. [More]
Three TGIFridays Mysteriously Close, No One Knows Why
By 12.18.08
Three TGIFridays in California have mysteriously closed, says the SF Chronicle. Employees are stunned.
Applebee's Food Comes With Delicious "Use By" Sticker
By 8.27.08
Reader Jamie’s Applebee’s dinner came with an interesting ingredient: an expiration date sticker. Understandably grossed out, Jamie asked Applebee’s for some new food. They agreed, fished out the sticker and brought the old food back. Ick.
Will Uno Chicago Grill Be The Next Restaurant Chain To File For Bankruptcy?
By 8.13.08
At the risk of inviting another pointless “this pizza is better than that pizza” debate in the comments, we feel it is necessary to inform you that Uno has run into some nasty looking debt problems and some people are speculating that they may be the next restaurant chain to go under.
Rival Restaurants Say They Will Accept Bennigan's Gift Cards
By 8.7.08
Texas Roadhouse says that it will accept now-defunct Bennigan’s gift cards, even though the chain’s parent company filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. We’re not sure if this offer applies to all Texas Roadhouse locations, so you’ll want to call first and confirm. The offer ends August 30th.
