Chain Restaurants (Split from the "Ought to Know" Thread) - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Azure · 08-06-2007, 11:29 PM

If you're ever in Lethbridge...head to East Side Marios for some GREAT food...I promise, you'll walk away stuffed for around 25 bucks a person. After their amazing garlic bread...salads and soft drinks...all unlimited...they'll bring you a plate of Italian food that will make even a grown man cry.

Okay, maybe not that extreme, but I'm sure you get the point.

getbak · 08-07-2007, 12:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Azure

If you're ever in Lethbridge...head to East Side Marios for some GREAT food...I promise, you'll walk away stuffed for around 25 bucks a person. After their amazing garlic bread...salads and soft drinks...all unlimited...they'll bring you a plate of Italian food that will make even a grown man cry.

Okay, maybe not that extreme, but I'm sure you get the point.

Is the one in Lethbridge significantly better than the ones in Calgary?

Azure · 08-07-2007, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by getbak

Is the one in Lethbridge significantly better than the ones in Calgary?

I would say. Best place to eat in Lethbridge, IMO.

ernie · 08-07-2007, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by getbak

Is the one in Lethbridge significantly better than the ones in Calgary?

Would have to be significantly better than ANY other East Side Mario's to get such a glowing review.

Terrible place East Side Mario's.

Azure · 08-07-2007, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ernie

Would have to be significantly better than ANY other East Side Mario's to get such a glowing review.

Terrible place East Side Mario's.

I guess its a matter of opinion.

The people were very nice...food was good, atmosphere was great....what more do you want? The fact that they make sure you leave totally stuffed is also fabulous.

ernie · 08-07-2007, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Azure

I guess its a matter of opinion.

The people were very nice...food was good, atmosphere was great....what more do you want? The fact that they make sure you leave totally stuffed is also fabulous.

I know people go to them and they are popular because you get a lot of food. When I was a student I went to the Olive Garden for the same reasons. But East Side Scario's really doesn't have good food IMO. To me the people that eat there are the same people who think Red Lobster has good seafood. Fine to think that and perhaps it is the best seafood many have tasted but when it come down to it it just isn't that good. IMO anyway.

Maritime Q-Scout · 08-07-2007, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ernie

I know people go to them and they are popular because you get a lot of food. When I was a student I went to the Olive Garden for the same reasons. But East Side Scario's really doesn't have good food IMO. To me the people that eat there are the same people who think Red Lobster has good seafood. Fine to think that and perhaps it is the best seafood many have tasted but when it come down to it it just isn't that good. IMO anyway.

I find East Side Mario's has taken a dive in terms of quality. (Mind you their garlic loaf is still amazing). A few years ago I had the Chicken Parmagana (sp) and it was one of the best dishes I've ever had in my life. Lots of thick sauce, thick curly noodles, heaping which cheese, and piles of chicken mixed into the dish. I couldn't finish it all, and it was stellar reheated the next day.

The next time I went back the chicken was like an uncrispy battered breast on top of noodles with generic tomato sauce and a bit of cheese on top (but under the chicken). I was thoroughyly unimpressed, and that's how it's been since.

I'm sure at one time it was great, grand even. Now it's really generic, but still better than Boston Pizza.

Things you out to know: Boston Pizza is only good as a sports bar, good beer, and the nachos are great (wings suck). Their meals rank somewhere in between butt reak, and ant plop.

Buff · 08-07-2007, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Azure

I guess its a matter of opinion.

The people were very nice...food was good, atmosphere was great....what more do you want? The fact that they make sure you leave totally stuffed is also fabulous.

It definitely is a matter of opinion. I've been a few times and it was just like any other restaurant to me. Not bad, but nothing special either.

My favorite place to eat is Moxie's.

You oughta know:

If you have cats and you are buying venetian blinds for your windows then you better not cheap out. The cats will push through the blinds, bending them and eventually breaking them. You will have a nicely square shape hole in the bottom corners of these windows.

Buff · 08-07-2007, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maritime Q-Scout

Things you out to know: Boston Pizza is only good as a sports bar, good beer, and the nachos are great (wings suck). Their meals rank somewhere in between butt reak, and ant plop.

While I think that BP's meals are ok. The two locations in Lethbridge offer the worst service of any restaurant I've ever seen.

ken0042 · 08-07-2007, 09:17 AM

I've made this into its own thread as it is very subjective; and not wanting to kill either discussion.

Maritime Q-Scout · 08-07-2007, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buff

While I think that BP's meals are ok. The two locations in Lethbridge offer the worst service of any restaurant I've ever seen.

The service in Sydney is really good, the only thing I find negative is the food itself. I do find that it's a great place to have a couple of beers. However I'll opt for somewhere else if possible.

If you're in Sydney the All Star Grille which is just down the road from Boston Pizza is the best resturant in the city, IMO.

You'll see Centre200 from the parking lot of BP (they'll have a huge Screaming Eagles logo on the back of it) go there, the casino is part of the rink, the resturant is at the back of the casino. It's also have beyond cheap breakfast to get the senior crowd in, fed, and at the slot machines.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken0042

I've made this into its own thread as it is very subjective; and not wanting to kill either discussion.

Well aren't we on a little power trip?

Ford Prefect · 08-07-2007, 09:36 AM

Boston Pizza is the worst chain in my books. Their prices are high, the service is usually really bad, and their pizzas are frozen, not made fresh. I couldn't believe it when I found that out. I ordered a Cajun pizza one time and got a Californian something or other instead. When I told the waitress she said "Oh ya, that's probably because the Cajun is in the slot right above the Californian in the freezer and the cook just grabbed the wrong one." If I want McCain's pizza I'll go to the super market thank you very much. Give me Pizza Hut any day over BP.

ken0042 · 08-07-2007, 09:39 AM

It's been a couple of years since I've been in the kitchen of a BPs, but back then the pizzas were not frozen.

Perhaps the waitress was joking or just didn't know what she was talking about?

jharp · 08-07-2007, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken0042

It's been a couple of years since I've been in the kitchen of a BPs, but back then the pizzas were not frozen.

Perhaps the waitress was joking or just didn't know what she was talking about?

I am in the same boat. I had the misfortune of working at a BP's for a long time and I highly doubt they would ever use a frozen pizza... but who knows.

HelloHockeyFans · 08-07-2007, 09:44 AM

Not commenting on the rest of the menu, because I really haven't had enough of the items on it... BUT...

Go to Milestone's for LUNCH and have their Beef Dip. Best beef dip I've ever had... damn, now I want one. Their fries are also awesome.

BlackArcher101 · 08-07-2007, 09:44 AM

I've been to the East Side Mario's in Lethbridge near the Home Depot. Don't know if there has been a new one built since then, but that one was truly horrible when I went. Ate there twice and had nothing but bad experiences, truly was not impressed. However, that was a year ago. Tried them in Red Deer and Edmonton since then and was equally not impressed. It doesn't rate high in my restaurants list.

jharp · 08-07-2007, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Azure

If you're ever in Lethbridge...head to East Side Marios for some GREAT food...I promise, you'll walk away stuffed for around 25 bucks a person. After their amazing garlic bread...salads and soft drinks...all unlimited...they'll bring you a plate of Italian food that will make even a grown man cry.

Okay, maybe not that extreme, but I'm sure you get the point.

I have never tried the East Side Mario's in Lethbridge but I am familiar with the owner and he is a very sharp business person who also owns and operates a consulting firm based on good HR and team building practices. I imagine that his establishment would be top notch as far as the franchise would allow.

Bring_Back_Shantz · 08-07-2007, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ford Prefect

Boston Pizza is the worst chain in my books. Their prices are high, the service is usually really bad, and their pizzas are frozen, not made fresh. I couldn't believe it when I found that out. I ordered a Cajun pizza one time and got a Californian something or other instead. When I told the waitress she said "Oh ya, that's probably because the Cajun is in the slot right above the Californian in the freezer and the cook just grabbed the wrong one." If I want McCain's pizza I'll go to the super market thank you very much. Give me Pizza Hut any day over BP.

I highly doubt that they use frozen pizzas.

What happens when someone orders, a pizza with Pineapple, olives, and pepperoni?

Do they say, sorry, we don't have one of those frozen up.

Think about it man.

Burninator · 08-07-2007, 09:48 AM

I use to work at BP's a couple years ago making pizza and it was definitely not frozen. The waitress must have been confused, or that particular restaurant ran things very differently. It wouldn't make any sense to pre-make pizza's. The storage for all the different pizza's in the different sizes would be damn near impossible, and a good portion of the pizza's have different requests for ingredients by the customers. If someone ordered a certain pizza without ham for example, it would be impossible to serve a frozen one as the ham is on the bottom.

Ford Prefect · 08-07-2007, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken0042

It's been a couple of years since I've been in the kitchen of a BPs, but back then the pizzas were not frozen.

Perhaps the waitress was joking or just didn't know what she was talking about?

She didn't sound like she was joking, and she had to go back to the kitchen to pick up her orders so I'd assume she knew how things ran there. She seemed pretty clear and serious about what she said. That was my final straw with BP at any rate. I haven't been back since ... overpaying for bad service and a frozen pizza fails to impress me. Their sports bar is not too bad, as MQ-S points out, but I'm done with their food side.