insomniacs talk about pancakes
This is a kind of post which requires context. Or perhaps not.
(5:11:13 AM) panther3751: oh, petty complaint.
(5:11:19 AM) unseenberry: ??
(5:11:27 AM) panther3751: "casual dining restaurant chain" is too big of a category
(5:11:37 AM) panther3751: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_casual_dining_restaurant_chains
(5:11:41 AM) unseenberry: ....wow
(5:12:07 AM) panther3751: I don't think Applebee's should be on the same list as Village Inn. Or Benihana on a list with both of them. They are just too dissimilar.
(5:12:34 AM) panther3751: For one, there is a definite divide between restaurants which will and will not serve booze.
(5:12:58 AM) panther3751: Also, if a place is open 24 hours and always has pancakes or not.
(5:13:06 AM) panther3751: These sorts of distinctions are important.
(5:13:23 AM) panther3751: ...... I could write a blog entry about this, but then people will know I'm crazy.
(5:13:37 AM) unseenberry: ...
(5:13:39 AM) unseenberry: no no write it
(5:13:43 AM) unseenberry: i like this kind of thing
(5:13:54 AM) panther3751: .... do you have an LJ?
(5:14:02 AM) panther3751: I could quote this aim convo as justification ;)
(5:14:05 AM) unseenberry: ya. unseenberry
(5:14:09 AM) panther3751: ooooh
(5:14:13 AM) panther3751: I am panther3751
(5:14:16 AM) panther3751: lemme add you XD
(5:14:25 AM) unseenberry: XD
More to the point now, I really do think that "casual dining restaurant chains" is much too wide of a category for restaurants, especially in an encyclopedia. Petty complaint, I know, but if Wikipedia is supposed to be an editable source of knowledge which has somehow replaced anything which consistently and legitimately names its sources, then the categories it lists subjects in should be concise and narrow. Which includes restaurants.
There's a sort of price margin for these sorts of things, for one. I've had the privilege of eating at Buca di Beppo, or the Cheescake Factory, but in no way would I place these in the same category as a TGI Friday's. Uno Chicago Grill is not equivalent to a Culver's. And so on.
And unlike most things I complain about, I actually have solutions!
You have to look at this sort of thing from a consumer's point of view. First question about a restaurant which I ask (usually at four in the morning) is, "Is it open?" If the answer is yes, always, what are you even doing awake, then that's the first category we have - the 24-Hour Family Diner.
Distinguishing Characteristics of a 24-Hour Family Diner:
- They're always open, except perhaps on holidays.
- They're therefore like the Wal-Mart of food chains. Prices are low, food is always comforting, familiar, with no surprises, and the people who work there hate their life.
- Most of them (I'd say all, but I'm not completely certain) always serve breakfast, no matter what time of day it is. See above.
- All of them never serve alcohol.
- You order from a menu and pay after the meal, but the actual payment is usually made up front, at a central cashier. (They then try to get you to buy a pie or something.)
- Restaurants this category includes places like Denny's, Perkins, Village Inn, IHOP, etc.
Close to this, but not quite the same, is something I'd like to call the Sit-Down Fast Food Place. Both of these restaurants, incidentally, are what Wikipedia likes to call "Family" restaurants, despite not actually having a wiki page for them.
Distinguishing Characteristics of a Sit-Down Fast Food Place:
- They are open during "saner" hours, and might even be closed on Sundays.
- You'll usually order up front, like at a fast-food place, but then sit while they make your meal. Pay is before, rather than after, the meal.
- Food served is usually not unlike a fast food chain's type of food. Burgers, shakes, ice cream, chicken nuggets, the usual unhealthy thing. Breakfast is not served all the time.
- Most of these places don't serve alcohol, but not all.
- Restaurants in this category includes places like Culver's, Steak 'n Shake, Smashburger (on the high end), etc.
Then you step up from this price-wise, and you'll have the ubiquitous Sports Bar and Grill.
Distinguishing Characteristics of a Sports Bar and Grill:
- Usually only open for lunch and dinner.
- Menus are given at the table, pay is after dinner at the table.
- They serve alcohol, usually at an inflated price when compared to your local dive bars.
- Wait staff begins to vaguely resemble a fancy restaurant's; you have a host, people who bus tables, etc. Unlike the 24-Hour Diner, most of these people aren't 'tenured', feeling trapped in their jobs forever.
- If the 24-Hour Diner is the Wal-Mart of restaurants, these are the Target. Prices are cheap, but not too cheap. People who eat there get the illusion of quality at low prices.
- There are always televisions, and they're usually showing sports games.
- Food can diverge from the bland American staples, but they're not too unfamiliar. If they are supposedly "Mexican" or "Irish" or something, they'll still have options of burgers and chicken strips for the exotically-phobic.
- Restaurants in this category includes your Applebee's, TGI Friday's, Chilli's, etc.
Nearly indistinguishable from the above category is the old American-style Barbecue Joint. It's so indistinguishable from the above, in fact, that I'll just mention they don't usually have TVs playing sports channels. (Or has that changed? I've only been to a Famous Dave's once, for example.)
But when you step up from these restaurants price-wise, you begin to get into the Yuppie Chain Restaurant. They can be found in any city, but they try to maintain a sense of individuality from the bland plate of Americana, and then feel like they can charge you whatever they want.
Distinguishing Features of the Yuppie Chain Restaurant:
- You need to dress like you're not a hobo. There is no explicit dress code, but people usually come in business-casual.
- The wait staff resembles that of a fine restaurant. These people might be trying to go someplace "in the industry". The manager might have a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management.
- The food can be unique and exotic. Usually it's served with more than a "do you need ketchup?" Children's menus are frowned upon.
- There's a full wine list beyond of what you'd see at a Walgreen's, and usually there's a separate, posh bar area.
- Prices are more upscale. Much more upscale.
- Restaurants in this category includes your Cheesecake Factory, Romano's Macaroni Grill, the Rainforest Cafe, Benihana, etc.
Steakhouses, which I haven't mentioned explicitly, fall either in the "Sports bar" or the "Yuppie Chain Resturant" categories. It depends on the presentation and the clientele.
Ah. Now that I ranted on and on about something nobody cares about, I might be able to sleep. Maybe.
After all, I already went to Village Inn for my pancakes.
--- LATER ---
(5:11:13 AM) panther3751: oh, petty complaint.
(5:11:19 AM) unseenberry: ??
(5:11:27 AM) panther3751: "casual dining restaurant chain" is too big of a category
(5:11:37 AM) panther3751: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_casual_dining_restaurant_chains
(5:11:41 AM) unseenberry: ....wow
(5:12:07 AM) panther3751: I don't think Applebee's should be on the same list as Village Inn. Or Benihana on a list with both of them. They are just too dissimilar.
(5:12:34 AM) panther3751: For one, there is a definite divide between restaurants which will and will not serve booze.
(5:12:58 AM) panther3751: Also, if a place is open 24 hours and always has pancakes or not.
(5:13:06 AM) panther3751: These sorts of distinctions are important.
(5:13:23 AM) panther3751: ...... I could write a blog entry about this, but then people will know I'm crazy.
(5:13:37 AM) unseenberry: ...
(5:13:39 AM) unseenberry: no no write it
(5:13:43 AM) unseenberry: i like this kind of thing
(5:13:54 AM) panther3751: .... do you have an LJ?
(5:14:02 AM) panther3751: I could quote this aim convo as justification ;)
(5:14:05 AM) unseenberry: ya. unseenberry
(5:14:09 AM) panther3751: ooooh
(5:14:13 AM) panther3751: I am panther3751
(5:14:16 AM) panther3751: lemme add you XD
(5:14:25 AM) unseenberry: XD
More to the point now, I really do think that "casual dining restaurant chains" is much too wide of a category for restaurants, especially in an encyclopedia. Petty complaint, I know, but if Wikipedia is supposed to be an editable source of knowledge which has somehow replaced anything which consistently and legitimately names its sources, then the categories it lists subjects in should be concise and narrow. Which includes restaurants.
There's a sort of price margin for these sorts of things, for one. I've had the privilege of eating at Buca di Beppo, or the Cheescake Factory, but in no way would I place these in the same category as a TGI Friday's. Uno Chicago Grill is not equivalent to a Culver's. And so on.
And unlike most things I complain about, I actually have solutions!
You have to look at this sort of thing from a consumer's point of view. First question about a restaurant which I ask (usually at four in the morning) is, "Is it open?" If the answer is yes, always, what are you even doing awake, then that's the first category we have - the 24-Hour Family Diner.
Distinguishing Characteristics of a 24-Hour Family Diner:
- They're always open, except perhaps on holidays.
- They're therefore like the Wal-Mart of food chains. Prices are low, food is always comforting, familiar, with no surprises, and the people who work there hate their life.
- Most of them (I'd say all, but I'm not completely certain) always serve breakfast, no matter what time of day it is. See above.
- All of them never serve alcohol.
- You order from a menu and pay after the meal, but the actual payment is usually made up front, at a central cashier. (They then try to get you to buy a pie or something.)
- Restaurants this category includes places like Denny's, Perkins, Village Inn, IHOP, etc.
Close to this, but not quite the same, is something I'd like to call the Sit-Down Fast Food Place. Both of these restaurants, incidentally, are what Wikipedia likes to call "Family" restaurants, despite not actually having a wiki page for them.
Distinguishing Characteristics of a Sit-Down Fast Food Place:
- They are open during "saner" hours, and might even be closed on Sundays.
- You'll usually order up front, like at a fast-food place, but then sit while they make your meal. Pay is before, rather than after, the meal.
- Food served is usually not unlike a fast food chain's type of food. Burgers, shakes, ice cream, chicken nuggets, the usual unhealthy thing. Breakfast is not served all the time.
- Most of these places don't serve alcohol, but not all.
- Restaurants in this category includes places like Culver's, Steak 'n Shake, Smashburger (on the high end), etc.
Then you step up from this price-wise, and you'll have the ubiquitous Sports Bar and Grill.
Distinguishing Characteristics of a Sports Bar and Grill:
- Usually only open for lunch and dinner.
- Menus are given at the table, pay is after dinner at the table.
- They serve alcohol, usually at an inflated price when compared to your local dive bars.
- Wait staff begins to vaguely resemble a fancy restaurant's; you have a host, people who bus tables, etc. Unlike the 24-Hour Diner, most of these people aren't 'tenured', feeling trapped in their jobs forever.
- If the 24-Hour Diner is the Wal-Mart of restaurants, these are the Target. Prices are cheap, but not too cheap. People who eat there get the illusion of quality at low prices.
- There are always televisions, and they're usually showing sports games.
- Food can diverge from the bland American staples, but they're not too unfamiliar. If they are supposedly "Mexican" or "Irish" or something, they'll still have options of burgers and chicken strips for the exotically-phobic.
- Restaurants in this category includes your Applebee's, TGI Friday's, Chilli's, etc.
Nearly indistinguishable from the above category is the old American-style Barbecue Joint. It's so indistinguishable from the above, in fact, that I'll just mention they don't usually have TVs playing sports channels. (Or has that changed? I've only been to a Famous Dave's once, for example.)
But when you step up from these restaurants price-wise, you begin to get into the Yuppie Chain Restaurant. They can be found in any city, but they try to maintain a sense of individuality from the bland plate of Americana, and then feel like they can charge you whatever they want.
Distinguishing Features of the Yuppie Chain Restaurant:
- You need to dress like you're not a hobo. There is no explicit dress code, but people usually come in business-casual.
- The wait staff resembles that of a fine restaurant. These people might be trying to go someplace "in the industry". The manager might have a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management.
- The food can be unique and exotic. Usually it's served with more than a "do you need ketchup?" Children's menus are frowned upon.
- There's a full wine list beyond of what you'd see at a Walgreen's, and usually there's a separate, posh bar area.
- Prices are more upscale. Much more upscale.
- Restaurants in this category includes your Cheesecake Factory, Romano's Macaroni Grill, the Rainforest Cafe, Benihana, etc.
Steakhouses, which I haven't mentioned explicitly, fall either in the "Sports bar" or the "Yuppie Chain Resturant" categories. It depends on the presentation and the clientele.
Ah. Now that I ranted on and on about something nobody cares about, I might be able to sleep. Maybe.
After all, I already went to Village Inn for my pancakes.
--- LATER ---