Restaurants to Avoid!
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Please accept my apologies for that rash and doctor visit.There is a Bennigan's at the Galleria Mall in Dallas, TX. It's right next to an ice skating rink. At least it was in 1998. I had my heart broken in that restaurant. Don't go there.
Really? Huh. I ate there once and met a great girl! Said she was just getting out of a relationship.. It was the late 90's...
:laugh:
Wha? Do you mean there WAS a Bennagin's at the Galleria? The closest one now is privatly owned and in Irving.
I too once had my heart broken at a bennagin's, but it was the one on park and preston. Well, not really heart broken, more like kind of miffed. But it was just because happy hour was over and my beers were no longer $2 a pint. hehe0 -
Well I'm officially going to start a 'restaurants to avoid' list. #1 on the list right now is Champps Americana.... I've eaten there several times in the past and honestly enjoyed my experience EVERY time. Today, to pre-plan my attack (having lunch there with a friend) I found out that they have almost nothing under 1,000 calories... They have 'lite' portions of 3 different meals, they are almost 700 calories each too. Even their kids' menu will get you darn close. WTH???? I just sent them an customer comment e-mail suggesting that it is something they should work very hard on. What are they doing to get those types of calories in these meals???
Are there any restaurants that you avoid?
I know what you mean! I look up all the restaurants in my area from time to time and couldnt believe the calorie count on these meals. I understand when a restaurant serves over sized portions and has their calorie counts but Champps is just out of control.0 -
Do you think that your brother would have any nutrition estimates? Feel free to add me on here if you like!
He does the cooking, so I'm sure he at least has a better idea of exactly what goes in the food. Might make it easier for you to estimate if you know exactly how it's prepared. You know, like, if oil is used, what kind, and how much...that sort of thing. I'll ask him next time I see him. Sending you a request now.
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Wowzers! I had no idea this topic would be quite so popular! I'm really glad to hear all of your perspectives though...
I agree with the 'onus is on the orderer' and was definitely pre-planning what to order. Yes, most meals are overportioned and should be split in half. My comment was really more along the lines of the fact that even this restaurant's salads were in the 1,000 calorie category... Absolutely no healthier alternatives and, no, they don't offer grilled chicken... I would have been happy if they did. Basically, the least 'calorically expensive' thing on the menu was Fish and Chips! Why does that seem wrong somehow? LOL
Anyway, I know that many restaurants offer a reduced calorie line-up and I appreciate them when they do. Since I only go to Champps on the rare occasion, I don't necessarily feel like I'm 'punishing' myself by putting them on a 'Restaurants to Avoid' list. Basically, if the group I'm eating out with has the general consensus that we go to Champps, we will go... Just not a place that I will probably every pick on my own.
BTW, I have enjoyed most of the restaurants listed today... LOL I fondly remember Bennigan's from when I lived in Plano, TX, like Red Robin, Olive Garden, Red Lobster, 5 Guys, Raising Cane's... Obviously I need a tastebud transplant! :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:0 -
I know it's a little off topic, but reading some of these posts makes me think of a certain cable TV show. Anybody on here watch Man vs. Food on the Travel Channel? Any time I'm tempted to over eat or binge on junk food, I'll watch an episode of MVF. Watching that show makes me wanna puke....and I used to binge like that at least once per week. Seeing the look on Adam's face after eating like that is a stark reminder of how I always felt after a binge. It never fails to curb my appetite when I see that. I NEVER wanna feel that full again. It's actually painful.
I'm the opposite - I could watch that fat man eat steaks until kingdom come! xD
I eat at whatever restaurant I please, I just make sure to maintain enough of a deficit in my daily allotment.0 -
I avoid any restaurant that forces me to get the high calorie items, and forces me to eat the whole thing.
Those are the worst! NEVER go to those places.0 -
It saddens me to say.. Johnny Corinos. It used to be my favorite place EVER. When I started MFP I wanted to go there. But my favorite dish (Chicken Scalapini) turned out to be 1,806 calories.
I then looked back on every time I ate that dish... and wanted to cry. Lol
So I stay away from Johnny Corinos. Most of their dishes are crazy calories!!!0 -
I eat occasionally at Panera (always the pick 2 ...I get 1/2 cuban panini & a cup of soup, with lemonade).
At Taco Bell, I get the fresco chicken burrito supreme with a side of guacamole. I think it's around 400 or so calories...you have to check.
At Starbucks, I just tried the tall mocha with skim milk for 100 calories. Mmmm. I don't drink coffee, except for that (don't know if it counts as coffee).0 -
Five Guys is death to fitness0
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did you eat the hot rolls and butter omg I love thattexas road house
i just cannot pass up the buns!!
They just opened one of those near us and we went last Saturday. That place rocks.
And they had a decent selection of beer on tap.0 -
When I go out to eat, it's usually about the company I am with more than anything. I can almost always find something that fits in my calorie budget and if not, I eat half of a meal and make it fit.
What I love at a restraunt is when they include the nutrition information on their menu or have a droid code that can be scanned by my smart phone to direct me to a website with their nutritional information.
Do not be fooled....just because a meal is listed in the light and healthy section of the menu does not make it a good choice.0 -
Chilis!!0
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I love Zios it's one of my absolute favorites but I looked up the nutrition and my meal that I always get, the BEST pasta dish ever, is over 1000 calories
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I eat at Panera and I can get a pick 2 for lunch for under 500 calories. I normally get a half smoked turkey on country (or I have done it on honey wheat) and a chicken asian salad to total 440 calories. It is so yummy. But I do agree with you, I used to get the Turkey on Asiago bread and it was almost 700 calories just for the sandwich. You do have to watch what you order if you eat there. But I love it anyways.0
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I don't avoid any restaurants. If big portion/calorie is an issue then splitting or take out left over can be my solution. I sometimes extend the eating into 2 or more meals.0
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Definitely Cheesecake Factory. Their cheesecake is out of control!!! So delicious, but almost an entire day's calories at 1100-1300 calories PER SLICE!! And they don't even post the nutrition info online. I'm always very suspicious of restaurants who make their nutrition info hard to access... what are they hiding??? (More calories than a person should eat in a lifetime, that's what.)0
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I know it's a little off topic, but reading some of these posts makes me think of a certain cable TV show. Anybody on here watch Man vs. Food on the Travel Channel? Any time I'm tempted to over eat or binge on junk food, I'll watch an episode of MVF. Watching that show makes me wanna puke....and I used to binge like that at least once per week. Seeing the look on Adam's face after eating like that is a stark reminder of how I always felt after a binge. It never fails to curb my appetite when I see that. I NEVER wanna feel that full again. It's actually painful.
I am right with you! The other night my hubby was starving and ate a humongous plate of food (no prob for him, he has a really active job and doesn't need to mind his eating) and seeing that much food made me sick to my stomach. It was like watching Adam eat a 10lb burger or something!!0 -
LOL! reading through this post is soo funny. I live in a rural part of Ontario, Canada, and we have almost NO fast food chains, i cant recognize hardly any of the ones posted here.
I always look forward to a rare trip into the US. Fast food is SO cheap, and the portions are HUGE!!! Its such a guilty pleasure for me! like at mcDonalds, the mcchicken was on the dollar menu!!! lol here its like 6 bucks at least. and Olive Garden is also one of my US favourites. Its CO cheap compared to most sit-down restaurants here.
I went to a little restaurant in upstate NY a couple weeks ago and had a burger that was the biggest burger I've ever seen in my life, and it was topped with a crab cake! It was definitely delicious, but I could onl eat half of it, and i tried as hard as a could to finish (it was a splurg) lol
I would definitely be 300lbs if I lived down there.
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I avoid any restaurant that forces me to get the high calorie items, and forces me to eat the whole thing.
lol love this0 -
Taco Bell
Burger King
(the two nastiest fast food places)
how dare you dis Taco Bell...0 -
Chili's!!!!!!!!!!! I was in for the shock of my life this past week...hubby and I went there. I ordered a salad, then as I was entering it into MFP on my iPhone, I saw that the SALAD HAD 1300 CALORIES!!!!!!!!!! Wow, I could not believe it. I changed my order to one of their "light" options, the sweet n spicy grilled chicken, which still has around 700 calories for the plate (chicken, broccoli, and a white rice dish). I didn't eat the rice but I still felt like I got calorie-raped!!!!!!!!!!! NOTHING on the menu is low-cal!!! I mean maybe a 550 or 500 calorie I can see...but 700 being the least amount of calories you offer? A 1300-calorie salad??? Seriously???0
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I think Buffets should be avoided period!!0
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chain restaurants, and pretty much any generic "north american" cuisine place - if I eat out it's usually an Asian restaurant (sushi, indian, vietnamese, thai, korean) or fusion/upscale, stuff I can't really make at home so I justify splurging every once in a while for quality food.
I dont count places like taco bell and wendy's as restaurants...0 -
Chili's!!!!!!!!!!! I was in for the shock of my life this past week...hubby and I went there. I ordered a salad, then as I was entering it into MFP on my iPhone, I saw that the SALAD HAD 1300 CALORIES!!!!!!!!!! Wow, I could not believe it. I changed my order to one of their "light" options, the sweet n spicy grilled chicken, which still has around 700 calories for the plate (chicken, broccoli, and a white rice dish). I didn't eat the rice but I still felt like I got calorie-raped!!!!!!!!!!! NOTHING on the menu is low-cal!!! I mean maybe a 550 or 500 calorie I can see...but 700 being the least amount of calories you offer? A 1300-calorie salad??? Seriously???
I don't know about you, but there are some healthier choices at Chili's- take a moment to look up the entire menu and you'll see there is are "guiltless" options ranging from 480 - 600 calories a meal. It's up to you not to order sides such as fries, or get the bottomless chips as an appetizer (skip appetizers completely), and not order dessert or a high-calorie beverage.
If you're going out to eat, and you don't get the opportunity often, I say allow it to be a cheat day. With that said, restaurants easily serve 2 - 3 people portions in one plate. No one said you have to eat it all, and you can ask to have 1/2 of your dinner packaged before they even bring the meal to you. If your waiter wants that tip, they'll do it! Don't stock up on high-cal drinks, or order tons of appetizers and desserts, along with packing on the condiments and you'll be OK. Split the meal with whoever you're out with and don't think because the meal reads "salad" that it's healthy!0 -
The other day my hubby took me to ihop they actually have all the calories listed next to each meal. What a turn off, most were close to 1000 calories or more. Needless to say I didn't end up eating there.0
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Olive Garden, never really eat there but I remember reading something about only a couple of options under 1,000 cals there too. I used to love Panera, never would've thought though that a simple turkey sandwich would get my close to 1,000 cals... until I started logging on here, to say the least I'll never eat there again. xD I here a lot of sammy shops are like that, you would expect it to be healthier but it's even worse.
I actually went to Panera the other day and had the half tuna salad sandwich (it was around 260 calories) and the cup of broccoli & cheddar soup (200 Calories). I was full after eating that and it was under 500 calories. You just need to pick the right things.0 -
Panera can be bad but there are a lot of reasonable and very tasty options as well. Plus, you can get half portions of anything, salads, soups (cup), sandwiches, and that brings down the calories a ton.
yeah, most of my meals there are under 625 cals and leave me feeling fairly full. after subway, that's the restaurant i visit the most.0
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