- In this report
- Overview
- July 2009 Recommended
- July 2009 Ratings
- What’s on the menu?
- Eight ways to save
- Steak taste-off
- How to keep from overeating
- What’s the problem?
- Also in This Issue
This article was featured in the July 2009 issue of Consumer Reports magazine.
Where to dine well for less
Readers rate food, value & service at 101 chains
This article is the archived version of a report that appeared in July 2009 Consumer Reports magazine.
If you want to save your cash and eat out too, you're in luck. Experts predict a sales decline at restaurants this year, so diners are in the driver's seat. "Today's dining deals are incredible," says Darren Tristano, executive vice president of Technomic, a food-service research and consulting firm based in Chicago.
Our recent survey of 70,403 subscribers who made 158,744 visits to 101 restaurant chains revealed good meals, good deals, and choices for every budget and taste. Readers gave 21 chains top marks for food, and five very different chains earned exceptional scores for value: Black-eyed Pea (home-style comfort food), Sonny's Real Pit BBQ, Azteca Mexican Restaurant, Cheddar's Casual Café (eclectic American), and First Watch (eggs, pancakes, and sandwiches).
At the other end of the spectrum, with lower marks across the board, were Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar, Joe's Crab Shack, and Friendly's.
