Food and Drink A generic restaurant poll. - Page 2

**Rain Man** · 05-11-2009, 05:29 PM

It's late at night, and you're driving alone through rural Pennsylvania, still hundreds of miles from your destination at your cousin Summer's wedding in Burlington, Vermont. It's a humid summer night with a full moon, and you have the windows down as you sing along at the top of your lungs to Aerosmith's "Walk This Way".

You realize that you're getting hungry, and you resolve to stop at the next town for some repast (not repost - repast) and sustenance. You're cruising the back roads, though, so you're not going to encounter any big Pennsylvania cities like Philadelphia or College Town or King of Prussia or Mauch Chunk.

Ten minutes later, you cruise into a small Pennsylvania town, so small that the highway you're on turns into Main Street.

There are two restaurants, and only two restaurants in town, and they're next door to each other.

Charlotte McFundy's is obviously a relatively new chain restaurant in a mid-price market niche, with carefully focus-grouped colors and signage, and a promise on their sign of "Good food and good fun". It reminds you a little of the Chili's/TGI Friday's type of restaurant, but you're not familiar with this chain. Inside, you can see a well-lit decor of leatherette booths and faux Tiffany lights and perky, rosy-cheeked teenage servers, both guys and gals.

Diner is next door. Diner doesn't so much have a name, but rather a big, 50s-era sign on it that says "Diner". It's obviously been there for decades and shows some wear, but still looks clean even if it's a little ragged. Inside, you can see a well-lit decor of naugahyde booths and flourescent lights and middle-aged, beehived waitresses.

It's 9:00 on a weeknight, and both restaurants have four or five cars in the parking lot. You can't see any information about menus or prices.

Where do you stop?

**The Franchise** · 05-11-2009, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katipan

Now I'm picking the other option because the Diner is too busy packed with you weirdos and really I just want to get the hell out of this town before I end up on drugs or pregnant.

Which one would be worse?

I don't carry drugs with me though.

KCChiefsMan · 05-11-2009, 05:45 PM

chains focus on nothing but costs and profits. frozen food sent in, heated up with a serious lack of quality and portion size. Good local places make their food from scratch and you can definately tell the difference.

**Donger** · 05-11-2009, 05:45 PM

I refuse to participate in these polls without compensation.

Pablo · 05-11-2009, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Okay, we have a runaway. Let me propose a followup question: what characteristics would the Diner or the Chain have to have to make you pick the chain?

This also makes me think that I should start a restaurant chain that looks kind of downscale and local on the outside.

If the Chain had some sign advertising $1 margarita night or something to that effect I'd probably stop in. Then just hang out at the bar for the rest of the night drinking until they closed and sleep it off in the car.

Pablo · 05-11-2009, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

This also makes me think that I should start a restaurant chain that looks kind of downscale and local on the outside.

Waffle House sort of did that already, but their food generally sucks for the most part.

ClevelandBronco · 05-11-2009, 05:47 PM

The diner. And I'll take a greasy patty melt and a shake, please.

Extra onions. Especially in the shake.

I'm hoping the place smells faintly of cigarette smoke. Not overwhelmingly; just faintly.

Dr. Johnny Fever · 05-11-2009, 05:53 PM

You had me until the singing along at the top of my lungs to Aerosmiths "Walk This Way." I wouldn't do that. I'd skip ahead to "Dream On" or change the station. And my cousins name is Autumn instead of Summer.

**Reaper16** · 05-11-2009, 05:56 PM

Anyone that doesn't vote for the diner needs to get their priorities in order.

**Buck** · 05-11-2009, 05:58 PM

I'll expand upon the Friday's/Chili's remark I made.

I just imagine the inside of every one of those restaurants filled with Guys and Gals in their Late 20's, boozin' away after work. They are all wearing work clothes and they have their collars flipped up, and ties tied around their heads.

Frazod · 05-11-2009, 06:02 PM

The diner's kicking ass.

JOhn · 05-11-2009, 06:08 PM

DIner, as long as it looks clean.

Usually have a lot better food, and made from scratch or close to it. If I want frozen/reheated I'll stop at a fastfood

Jenson71 · 05-11-2009, 06:23 PM

Diner. Give me that chocolate shake, half in the fancy glass, half in the metal can where they mix it.

**SAUTO** · 05-11-2009, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jenson71

Diner. Give me that chocolate shake, half in the fancy glass, half in the metal can where they mix it.

oooohhhhhh shit you just gave me chubby's flashbacks, i MAY have to drive to kc this weekend to eat there

LaChapelle · 05-11-2009, 06:41 PM

If there was a grocery store open. I'd get a package of shaved meat, loaf of bread some kind of condiment(BBQ sauce, brown mustard, ect.) a jar of bread and butter pickles, a coke and little Debbie something or other. If no grocery store, the Diner.

**Dave Lane** · 05-11-2009, 06:43 PM

Since they are next door I'd probably look at both menus then choose. But I'd give a strong lean to the diner...

View Poll Results: Which restaurant do you pick? (See original thread for information.)
Charlotte McFundy's	12	16.22%
Diner	52	70.27%
I'd go into both places and review their menus/pricing before picking.	2	2.70%
Stop at a gas station and get a candy bar to hold me till the next town.	3	4.05%
I'd stake the place out for a few days and do a study of consumer demographics.	5	6.76%
Voters: 74. You may not vote on this poll

05-11-2009, 05:29 PM
Rain Man NFL's #1 Ermines Fan Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $2928491 VARSITY	A generic restaurant poll. It's late at night, and you're driving alone through rural Pennsylvania, still hundreds of miles from your destination at your cousin Summer's wedding in Burlington, Vermont. It's a humid summer night with a full moon, and you have the windows down as you sing along at the top of your lungs to Aerosmith's "Walk This Way". You realize that you're getting hungry, and you resolve to stop at the next town for some repast (not repost - repast) and sustenance. You're cruising the back roads, though, so you're not going to encounter any big Pennsylvania cities like Philadelphia or College Town or King of Prussia or Mauch Chunk. Ten minutes later, you cruise into a small Pennsylvania town, so small that the highway you're on turns into Main Street. There are two restaurants, and only two restaurants in town, and they're next door to each other. Charlotte McFundy's is obviously a relatively new chain restaurant in a mid-price market niche, with carefully focus-grouped colors and signage, and a promise on their sign of "Good food and good fun". It reminds you a little of the Chili's/TGI Friday's type of restaurant, but you're not familiar with this chain. Inside, you can see a well-lit decor of leatherette booths and faux Tiffany lights and perky, rosy-cheeked teenage servers, both guys and gals. Diner is next door. Diner doesn't so much have a name, but rather a big, 50s-era sign on it that says "Diner". It's obviously been there for decades and shows some wear, but still looks clean even if it's a little ragged. Inside, you can see a well-lit decor of naugahyde booths and flourescent lights and middle-aged, beehived waitresses. It's 9:00 on a weeknight, and both restaurants have four or five cars in the parking lot. You can't see any information about menus or prices. Where do you stop?
Posts: 141,782

05-11-2009, 05:45 PM	#17
KCChiefsMan AIC Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: West Roxbury, MA Casino cash: $10004900	chains focus on nothing but costs and profits. frozen food sent in, heated up with a serious lack of quality and portion size. Good local places make their food from scratch and you can definately tell the difference.
Posts: 11,478

05-11-2009, 05:45 PM	#18
Donger "Think BOOM!" Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: 33.675° N 106.475° W Casino cash: $9979900 VARSITY	I refuse to participate in these polls without compensation. __________________ I think the young people enjoy it when I "get down," verbally, don't you?
Posts: 181,834

05-11-2009, 05:47 PM	#21
ClevelandBronco I'm with the banned. Join Date: Sep 2006 Casino cash: $5658955	The diner. And I'll take a greasy patty melt and a shake, please. Extra onions. Especially in the shake. I'm hoping the place smells faintly of cigarette smoke. Not overwhelmingly; just faintly.
Posts: 28,113

05-11-2009, 05:53 PM	#22
Dr. Johnny Fever stax of wax Join Date: Feb 2004 Casino cash: $10004900	You had me until the singing along at the top of my lungs to Aerosmiths "Walk This Way." I wouldn't do that. I'd skip ahead to "Dream On" or change the station. And my cousins name is Autumn instead of Summer. Last edited by Dr. Johnny Fever; 05-11-2009 at 05:59 PM..
Posts: 34,865

05-11-2009, 05:58 PM	#24
Buck Take a Chill Pill Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: South Carolina Casino cash: $8229900	I'll expand upon the Friday's/Chili's remark I made. I just imagine the inside of every one of those restaurants filled with Guys and Gals in their Late 20's, boozin' away after work. They are all wearing work clothes and they have their collars flipped up, and ties tied around their heads.
Posts: 44,564

05-11-2009, 06:02 PM	#25
Frazod WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $2735085	The diner's kicking ass.
Posts: 119,541

05-11-2009, 06:08 PM	#26
JOhn El' Barto Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Cody, WY / Tucson AZ Casino cash: $9964900	DIner, as long as it looks clean. Usually have a lot better food, and made from scratch or close to it. If I want frozen/reheated I'll stop at a fastfood
Posts: 25,529

05-11-2009, 06:23 PM	#27
Jenson71 fides quaerens intellectum Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: United States Casino cash: $8330900	Diner. Give me that chocolate shake, half in the fancy glass, half in the metal can where they mix it.
Posts: 15,986

05-11-2009, 06:41 PM	#29
LaChapelle Banned Join Date: Mar 2009 Casino cash: $10004900	If there was a grocery store open. I'd get a package of shaved meat, loaf of bread some kind of condiment(BBQ sauce, brown mustard, ect.) a jar of bread and butter pickles, a coke and little Debbie something or other. If no grocery store, the Diner.
Posts: 8,588

05-11-2009, 06:43 PM	#30
Dave Lane Space Cadet and Aczabel Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Kanab, UT, USA Casino cash: $9333275 VARSITY	Since they are next door I'd probably look at both menus then choose. But I'd give a strong lean to the diner... __________________ Thanks, Trump for the civics lesson. We are learning so much about RICO, espionage, sedition, impeachment, the 25th Amendment, order of succession, nepotism, separation of powers, 1st Amendment, obstruction of justice, the emoluments clause, conflicts of interest, collusion, sanctions, oligarchs, money laundering and so much more.
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