124013 Wed Apr 27 12:18:12 -0700 2005 8 8 Midwest 0 673643 It's no wonder our downtown restaurant scene is primarily chains - the readers have spoken i.e. best salad - Olive Garden, Best take-out Applebee's, best coffee house Caribou, etc, etc., etc.. sheesh Wed Apr 27 12:18:12 -0700 2005 0 Zed 1 673646 So how about naming some alternatives. Wed Apr 27 15:11:34 -0700 2005 673643 0 Chino Wayne 2 673653 And while you're thinking up alternatives, maybe you or someone can remind us why Applebee's, Olive Garden, and Caribou are inferior choices. Wed Apr 27 17:45:34 -0700 2005 673646 0 michael 3 673655 Hi- Please move any chain restaurant discussion to the General Topics board. Please help us keep the focus of this board on chow that is only available in the region. Thanks. Link: http://www.chowhound.com/boards/general/general.html Wed Apr 27 20:23:49 -0700 2005 673653 2 The Chowhound Team 2 673656 It would help to know your location to offer recommendations, if my suggestions are not close to you please let me know. Feel like Applebee’s tonight? I say skip the Walmart of fast food (Slate.com had a great little article about this place last week). Try Muffalettas instead. They have many creative choices, fresh bread made by an artisan grandmother, free roasted garlic for bread, a terrific Muffaletta sandwich served with sweet potato fires, and one of the most tranquil outdoor patios in town. If you wanted take out, call ahead - they do that too. Feel like the Olive Garden tonight? Forget about it. Why wait like cattle to eat overpriced marginal food. Your better off at Cosettas - where you can order a very nice and cheap mostacoli. Plus they offer a great Italian read Sangiovese wine by the glass (it’s the one with label of a big hat perched on a bottle). Feeling more adventurous?. Go to Pane Vino Dulce or Punch Pizza instead. Both have unbelievable pizza that's a bargain for the quality. Thinking about Caribou? Why visit a place that has forsaken itself. The Puckett owners have claimed to value money more than friends. NICE. Besides their coffee is weak compared to Dunn Brothers. Dunn Brothers is in almost as many locations and supports this city (+ 89.3). Jeff Grann Roseville, MN Wed Apr 27 20:28:50 -0700 2005 673646 0 Jeff Grann 3 673657 Zed, take note. And take heart, there is civilized dining in your neck of the woods. Wed Apr 27 20:55:36 -0700 2005 673656 0 Chino Wayne 3 673675 I generally agree with your comments (although I do also drink and enjoy Caribou from time to time). However, if you're going to be concerned about the Pucketts, you're misdirecting your criticism. They sold their majority interest in Caribou a few years back. (They may still own a minority interest in it -- according to the Caribou web site, "the majority of our stock is owned by Arcapita, Inc., formerly Crescent Capital, the U.S. private equity arm of Arcapita Bank B.S.C. – a highly respected and purely financial organization based in Bahrain and regulated by the government of Bahrain.") In fact, the Pucketts are now part owners of Punch Pizza. Thu Apr 28 16:10:50 -0700 2005 673656 0 Bob 4 673676 Ha! Well, I'll be darned. Thanks for the backstory on the Pucketts. I wonder if their business philosophy has changed now as well. Anyway about it, Punch serves a darn good pizza. Cheers, Jeff Grann Roseville, MN Thu Apr 28 16:18:45 -0700 2005 673675 0 Jeff Grann 1 673825 I dunno - some of the places I voted for won... Auriga actually served me the best meal I had all year, and though I know most 'hounds seem to despise Pepitos I voted for it, too. What people were thinking when they voted for Tim Pawlenty as 'Best Politician' is a bit of a head scratcher but at least people voted. I guess next year when I vote for my faves I will report here that others may partake in the poll. Perhaps a concerted effort will tip the results in a less chain-y way. Fri May 06 14:28:29 -0700 2005 673643 0 venus_de_mpls