A generic restaurant poll.

[Rain Man]

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?

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by Crush

He speaks the truth. Waffle House should change its name to Really Greasy Shit.

Generally at waffle house I only order eggs, hash browns, waffles and toast. The hash browns, which could easily be really greasy, are NEVER greasy. And you can get eggs, hash browns, toast, and bacon or sausage for 2.99 most of the time. It's awesome.

Of course the only Waffle House I've been to is in Springfield, MO, so maybe it's different elsewhere.

[JuicesFlowing]

I drive on and hope for something better at the next town.

[acesn8s]

1. How in the hell did I end up off the interstate?

2. Why am I not heading to a hotel at 9:00 at night?

3. Am I in Amish country?

4. What small town diner is open at 9:00 at night?

5. Which one has a drive thru?

[trndobrd]

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.

I would go to the diner and order a Denver omlette, short stack with blueberries, and onion rings instead of hashbrowns. Know why? Because I can do that at a diner, even at 9pm.

If the Hawaiian Tropic tour bus was parked in front of McFundy's, I would eat at the diner, skip the onion rings, then head over to the chain place for a drink after dinner.

[Hoover]

Rain Man this one is simple. I look and see where all the cars are parked and go to that one.

[TrebMaxx]

The Diner hands down. Order myself the fried pork cutlets, mashed potatoes and green beans. I despise the TGI Fridays/Chilli's type of restaurants.

[Hammock Parties]

Here's another reason to choose the TGI ****days: more likely to have healthier options on the menu.

[Simply Red]

They gots White Castle?

[Buehler445]

I picked the chain because it would be quicker. In honesty I'd probably find a gas station with a wendys in it or something and make the stop as quick as possible.
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