Bubba Gumps

[MouseWife]

Originally Posted by LSPoorEeyorick

3) I don't have any picky eaters or picky children in my party. (Vegan, yes, but we can do plenty of exploring despite that.)

If any of that weren't so - if I (like MouseWife) weren't fond of tentacles, or had people in my party who preferred a consistent (mid-) level of quality as opposed to a possible adventure (with possible bad meal, or possible terrific meal) I probably would, too. But I love the adventure of it, so it isn't the case.

What she said.

And, EuroMeinke, I get your point about being in a certain place, having the opportunity to visit a certain place while in a certain city, why stick to a chain place.....

Well, I haven't been around quite so much {meaning, not a lot} but I've been to Monterey. {I've been to Frisco, too, but it hasn't been a 'destination' so we haven't dined there}.

In places where we have guidance, we do prefer smaller more 'mom and pop' sort of places. But, we have to feel comfortable eating there, checking out their rating {although at Olvera St. I have ignored theirs and still eaten their carnitas, upsetting my son....he notices these things...}.

Also, sometimes on a restricted diet {calorie wise, Vegan, children...} sometimes it is true, the chain restaurants {heck, Subway?} fits the bill when their isn't much to choose from. I'd rather eat a nutritious meal than take a chance on eating something that is not so healthy and probably a waste of money.

[BarTopDancer]

I have what I like to call "Vegas rules" (because the "rule" started on my first real trip to Vegas) when it comes to food. If I can eat at the restaurant at home I will do my best to not eat at it while on vacation. I enjoy the Cheesecake Factory, PF Changs, Mimis, Islands and BJs pizza (kevy!) while at home. I don't think chain restaurants are inherently evil. My seafood standards are ridiculously high and I doubt I would like Bubba Gumps. And if I was an unfamiliar area where the restaurants looked shady then I would probably seek out a chain. I prefer non-chain restaurants to chain but there is something to be said for consistency and comfort of knowing what you are going to be getting food and service wise.

MW, I don't think your choice to seek out familiar restaurants is "retarded" (oh how I hate that word) for the reasons you need them (picky family). When I go to SF and hopefully stop in Monterey I hope to not eat at the same places we can eat at while at home. But if we do it won't ruin my trip.

[Alex]

I have no idea if MW's choice to eat at Bubba Gump's was retarded. I just contend that, on average, people choosing to eat at that place while in locations famous for seafood dining is retarded. Just like going to Chicago and eating at Pizza Hut. Or going to southern Florida and seeking out the Sysco Key Lime Pie at KFC. Or, like the people with us on our trip to Japan, going to Japan and taking two subways to eat at Benihana.

But I'm more than happy to give any individual diner the benefit of the doubt and accept that they have very compelling reasons for their choice. I just don't buy it for the group of all diners on average. And I'm not saying I never make the retarded choice (I have, after all, eaten at the Union Square Cheesecake Factory several times - though never when the wait was long).

And I'll admit to being particularly biased against Bubba Gump's for being based on a horrible movie with the abominable message that intelligence isn't important to life success, just be a jock. Plus the "Forrest" character frequently outside (at least every time we've walked past the one in Monterey) is just creepy. I don't eat at character restaurants at Disneyland, I'm really not going to do so elsewhere.

[Strangler Lewis]

Some chains are just godawful. Chili's comes to mind, and Applebee's is not far behind. Plus, if health is a concern--and by health I mean fat and calories, not food poisoning--chains are probably your worst bet because the portions tend to be enormous and their sauces are almost certainly full of sugar. Of course, I think that can be said about most places along the Monterey pier since they've decided that their touristy clientele like that kind of thing.

Another reason I dislike them is that a number of the newer, larger locations, particularly those at malls, are about as pleasant to be in as being stuck in traffic on the 405. I realize that many tendy urban restaurants are designed to magnify the din and create the illusion of buzz. I don't especially like this either, but somehow it's better than being somewhere that seems to say, "We're great because we're noisy, and we're noisy because we're large."

Nothing wrong with familiarity and trust. On the other hand, I remember watching my erstwhile favorite bakery--which served better coffee and better desserts--languishing empty on the morning of the Butter and Egg Day parade while the line spilled out the door of the Starbuck's down the street. This was particularly ironic since the parade was supposed to be celebrating local ag. business.

I recognize that I have conflicting opinions in these areas. On the whole I feel the country was healthier when people went out to local restaurants on a Saturday night and then all sat down to watch the CBS television lineup.

[Kevy Baby]

I personally run hot and cold on the chains - sometimes I like them and sometimes I don't. I don't have the time to research restaurants, so sometimes I prefer to go with what I know.

Also, I am wary of where to get reliable info on restaurants. For example, when traveling, I often ask the hotel concierge, bellman, or front desk for recommendations. If they whip out a coupon and sign or initial it, I usually disregard it, preferring to take my chances elsewhere. Call it the pessimist in me, but this has proven to be bad in the past.

Also, how these same people respond is a good indicator. When they start asking me what I prefer (beyond the basic American, Italian, Chinese, etc. - do I prefer Northern Italian or Sicilian, am I looking for quiet or more of a party atmosphere, etc.), and when their recommendation includes, "this place isn't for everyone", I often pay more attention.

I will admit that I am bad about trying out new places. Even though 9 times out of 10, I enjoy the new place.

Originally Posted by NirvanaMan

Maybe I drank too much egg nog tonight.

No such thing.

[Gemini Cricket]

Well, for me, sometimes food is food. When I be hungry, I eats. If it's at a chain restaurant, fine. If not, fine.

I will say, though, that if I get a recommendation about a non-chain restaurant from a friend or family member, I am more likely to try it. ie. There are a few places that NA and the Euromonkey have recommended on the 2nd St Promenade in Long Beach that I most likely would not have tried on my own.

In fact, there are several hole-in-the-wall places where recommendations made me try them. But, from their appearance, I probably would never have ventured in on my own.

[Morrigoon]

But this all stems from a discussion of whether one should eat at a Bubba Gumps near Disneyland. Not everyone can afford a Napa Rose type meal - would you say that Bubba Gumps could at least rank slightly higher than, say, Village Haus?

[Kevy Baby]

Originally Posted by Morrigoon

But this all stems from a discussion of whether one should eat at a Bubba Gumps near Disneyland. Not everyone can afford a Napa Rose type meal - would you say that Bubba Gumps could at least rank slightly higher than, say, Village Haus?

Well, the price range is $10-$20 for entrees. Not exactly an economy meal.

But anything is better than Village Haus (at least based on the last time I went there).

Its been discussed ad nauseum the significant differences between eating in the park vs. outside.

[CoasterMatt]

Originally Posted by Morrigoon

Not everyone can afford a Napa Rose type meal - would you say that Bubba Gumps could at least rank slightly higher than, say, Village Haus?

Eating the Disneyland mapbook ranks higher than Village Haus.

[Gemini Cricket]

Everything ranks better than Village Haus.