You Know What Really Grinds My Gears? Now with 3x more gears...

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by curves2000

I used to rag hard on Swiss Chalet, my parents enjoyed it once in a while and we would go with them. Typical pouting "It's a chain, it's not happening vibe wise, no eye candy etc etc"

A lot of the chain food restaurants have gotten so bad, so expensive and more that Swiss Chalet has gone up a few notches in my book.

I went twice in the last year with my other 30 something aged friends and enjoyed our meals. A half roasted chicken dinner and all the trimmings for a good price. We have had our filling of garbage pub burgers for $25 for 4 oz frozen patties. Plenty of the hip, happening places in town have a "chef roasted chicken" for $40+ Like relax with the "chef cooking"

4:30 pm though. That is the prime hour for Swiss Chalet. It's not a 8 pm dinner with the boys type place.

I don’t believe you are 30-something. You must be Dion’s age, at least.

[curves2000]

Originally Posted by Wormius

I don’t believe you are 30-something. You must be Dion’s age, at least.

Definitely in my 30's and have the Calgary Flames scars to prove it! If I was older, I could at least say I remember 89 Cup Win but I was a tike!

But in all honesty though dining out at some establishments has become a little gear grinder for my circle of friends in my age group. We are passed the stage of pub nachos, pub burger and wings are "dinner" and we don't want to eat that low end garbage either, but it's not exactly cheap at some places either.

I grew up with loving fine dining and higher end restaurants, an essence of cooking so to speak. Showing a skill, having different dishes, creating nice sauces etc. A lot of the corporate owned places, the hospitality group ownership joints are doing a lot of the same thing. A steak, a pasta, a steak fritz, a grilled/roasted fish, a fancy burger and a chef roasted chicken for $40+

If we are going out on the town we will hit a hot spot occasionally but now we usually grab a good dinner somewhere we know the food is great and reasonable/cook at someone's house and head out for drinks after. Not trying to empress anybody either. Swiss Chalet's chicken is better than (insert Concorde group/ hot spot place) anyways.

We all grew up as restaurant owners as well so it's sometimes tough to get out and enjoy mediocre/overpriced food too. We like to go where the food is spot on (casual/fine dining) and then go to the hot spots for drinks.

[D as in David]

I've only eaten Swiss Chalet chicken once; it had to be the most average chicken I've ever had. Do they use any spices?

[Brendone]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

It grinds me gears when people at work "thumbs up" my email.

It is stupid, it sends a stupid notification.

If a response is warranted send a response.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by curves2000

Definitely in my 30's and have the Calgary Flames scars to prove it! If I was older, I could at least say I remember 89 Cup Win but I was a tike!

But in all honesty though dining out at some establishments has become a little gear grinder for my circle of friends in my age group. We are passed the stage of pub nachos, pub burger and wings are "dinner" and we don't want to eat that low end garbage either, but it's not exactly cheap at some places either.

I grew up with loving fine dining and higher end restaurants, an essence of cooking so to speak. Showing a skill, having different dishes, creating nice sauces etc. A lot of the corporate owned places, the hospitality group ownership joints are doing a lot of the same thing. A steak, a pasta, a steak fritz, a grilled/roasted fish, a fancy burger and a chef roasted chicken for $40+

If we are going out on the town we will hit a hot spot occasionally but now we usually grab a good dinner somewhere we know the food is great and reasonable/cook at someone's house and head out for drinks after. Not trying to empress anybody either. Swiss Chalet's chicken is better than (insert Concorde group/ hot spot place) anyways.

We all grew up as restaurant owners as well so it's sometimes tough to get out and enjoy mediocre/overpriced food too. We like to go where the food is spot on (casual/fine dining) and then go to the hot spots for drinks.

Having been to both Swiss Chalet and every Concorde Group restaurant, I can confidently say that this invalidates whatever sort of reputation of taste you were trying to conjure by talking about your history of fine dining and restaurant ownership.

Though I’m mildly curious what restaurant you own. I thought you were a landlord with a home in Europe… who apparently loves Swiss Chalet.

[Muffins]

Hmmm. Thinks Swiss Chalet chicken is good and 4:30 is the time to go?

Yeah you're over 60 and if I had to guess, 70 is in the rear view as well.

The real question is: do you prefer Matlock or Murder She Wrote?

[curves2000]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Having been to both Swiss Chalet and every Concorde Group restaurant, I can confidently say that this invalidates whatever sort of reputation of taste you were trying to conjure by talking about your history of fine dining and restaurant ownership.

Though I’m mildly curious what restaurant you own. I thought you were a landlord with a home in Europe… who apparently loves Swiss Chalet.

LOL. I didn't say I love Swiss Chalet, I have gone 2-3 times in the last 15 months? The boys and I enjoyed our meal at the Westhills location. Nothing earth shattering but in my opinion, enjoyed it more than any Concorde group meal.

As for the restaurant business, grew up in it as did most my friends. Classic immigrant story. Grew up in the restaurant business, residential and commercial real estate but yarn for the life in Europe and head back all the time. The parents left two remote villages dirt poor in the 50's/70's but us Canadian/American kids can't get enough of it. We have a little crew who loves coming back all the time for an extended stay.

We have a blast, eat and drink like kings on unreal cuisine/Gastronomy for cheap and wonder what is up with the dining scene in places like Calgary etc.

[curves2000]

Originally Posted by Muffins

Hmmm. Thinks Swiss Chalet chicken is good and 4:30 is the time to go?

Yeah you're over 60 and if I had to guess, 70 is in the rear view as well.

The real question is: do you prefer Matlock or Murder She Wrote?

4:30 is lunch ! Dinner is way later than that. Something about going to Swiss Chalet at 4:30 makes sense. It just doesn't come off as the type of place I would ever go to at 9 or 10 for dinner.

As for the food, as I said it's nothing world class but a half roast chicken dinner is fine for the price. Tell them your on a low sodium diet (not true) and you get the fresh fries. It's the old geezer trick !!

As I said before I am 100% in my 30's but my friends and I have had enough of some of this overhyped/overpriced dining scene here in Calgary. As for TV shows, I am more of a Rescue 911 and Unsolved Mysteries fan

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by curves2000

LOL. I didn't say I love Swiss Chalet, I have gone 2-3 times in the last 15 months? The boys and I enjoyed our meal at the Westhills location. Nothing earth shattering but in my opinion, enjoyed it more than any Concorde group meal.

As for the restaurant business, grew up in it as did most my friends. Classic immigrant story. Grew up in the restaurant business, residential and commercial real estate but yarn for the life in Europe and head back all the time. The parents left two remote villages dirt poor in the 50's/70's but us Canadian/American kids can't get enough of it. We have a little crew who loves coming back all the time for an extended stay.

We have a blast, eat and drink like kings on unreal cuisine/Gastronomy for cheap and wonder what is up with the dining scene in places like Calgary etc.

It’s all good if you enjoyed it more, I just hope you understand that it means you have objectively bad taste in food. Which, again, is fine, and I’m not saying it because everything that Concorde does is amazing or anything, but because every single thing they do is objectively better than Swiss Chalet. I’d eat at Swiss Chalet if it was one of the only options, it’s not the worst food by any means, it’s just… not very good. It’s not a deal, it’s overpriced for the quality of food.

Where did you immigrate from?

[curves2000]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

It’s all good if you enjoyed it more, I just hope you understand that it means you have objectively bad taste in food. Which, again, is fine, and I’m not saying it because everything that Concorde does is amazing or anything, but because every single thing they do is objectively better than Swiss Chalet. I’d eat at Swiss Chalet if it was one of the only options, it’s not the worst food by any means, it’s just… not very good. It’s not a deal, it’s overpriced for the quality of food.

Where did you immigrate from?

Born in Canada in the 80's. As for Swiss Chalet, it's just the roast chicken I have ever really ordered dating back to being a kid with my parents and grandparents. As I said before, Swiss Chalet was whatever to me for years but lately I can appreciate it slightly more than before. A half roast chicken with the fresh fries is a decent meal at a decent price for the odd time I have gone in recent memory.

Places like Concorde group make their "chef roasted chicken" to be some magic creation, along with their other food at sky high prices for what you actually get. Naturally the atmosphere is really great, but still, how much should you as a consumer actually pay for that?

This convo reminds me of this scene from the movie Burnt https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCXIyygYb90

Not everything needs to be fancy and expensive. Burger King is no good though

[Wormius]

Is “Chef Roasted Chicken” new restaurant buzzwords?

Anyway, for value, a whole rotisserie chicken from Costco and fries from the cafeteria - that’s enough food for 2 people at half the price of Swiss Chalet.

[Barnet Flame]

Originally Posted by D as in David

I've only eaten Swiss Chalet chicken once; it had to be the most average chicken I've ever had. Do they use any spices?

Locke must have a loyalty card.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by curves2000

Born in Canada in the 80's. As for Swiss Chalet, it's just the roast chicken I have ever really ordered dating back to being a kid with my parents and grandparents. As I said before, Swiss Chalet was whatever to me for years but lately I can appreciate it slightly more than before. A half roast chicken with the fresh fries is a decent meal at a decent price for the odd time I have gone in recent memory.

Swiss Chalet is straight up nasty

#### that place


Gross

[Sainters7]

Originally Posted by D as in David

I've only eaten Swiss Chalet chicken once; it had to be the most average chicken I've ever had. Do they use any spices?

I could drink a thermos full of that Swiss Chalet sauce.

[1qqaaz]

I think the fries at Swiss Chalet are surprisingly good. Similar to NY Fries and Harveys.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Brendone

[DownInFlames]

Originally Posted by 1qqaaz

I think the fries at Swiss Chalet are surprisingly good. Similar to NY Fries and Harveys.

They all have the same parent company so that's not surprising.

Am I the only one here who has never had NY Fries? And what's with Canadian chains with names that connect American cities with foods they're definitely not known for?

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by DownInFlames

They all have the same parent company so that's not surprising.

Am I the only one here who has never had NY Fries? And what's with Canadian chains with names that connect American cities with foods they're definitely not known for?

Unpopular opinion, but NYF poutine is the best poutine.

[Nufy]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

It’s all good if you enjoyed it more, I just hope you understand that it means you have objectively bad taste in food. Which, again, is fine, and I’m not saying it because everything that Concorde does is amazing or anything, but because every single thing they do is objectively better than Swiss Chalet. I’d eat at Swiss Chalet if it was one of the only options, it’s not the worst food by any means, it’s just… not very good. It’s not a deal, it’s overpriced for the quality of food.

Where did you immigrate from?

Really ?
A little much don't you think.

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by Sliver

Unpopular opinion, but NYF poutine is the best poutine.

Unlikely the best, but it’s a hard thing to mess up. I used to really find Costco poutine to be good, but lately they’ve been mailing it in. It is like a brick of cheese and gravy and fries. I think I’d rather have the gravy and cheese on the side than eat that. Which I guess it possible since you can buy all the stuff and make it at home.