Many of us have our pet peeves when eating out and some of us are pickier than others when it comes to quality. But whoever the customer might be, food industry establishments have a duty to maintain certain standards, from hygiene and the quality of ingredients to good management and serving practices. If you let these slip, you risk destroying your reputation.
Some internet users spilled the beans about the restaurants that they absolutely refuse to eat at in a thread on r/AskReddit. They explained exactly what happened to make them feel this way. Check out their stories and opinions as you scroll down below. And just to be on the safe side, make sure you’re not snacking on anything at the moment!
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Hooters because come on. The whole theme is "[Breasts]! Someone's [breasts]! We also serve food." I just can't bring myself to go there, even when people rave about the wings. And I freaking love wings! In this day and age, Hooters should not be a thing. It's gross.
There’s a small restaurant in my area that was at the forefront of lockdown denial, vaccine denial, and mask denial during the pandemic and lockdown. They forbid their employees from wearing masks, required only those who were vaccinated to wear masks, would refuse service to anyone vaccinated or wearing masks, and the owner was leading protests and giving interviews about ending the lockdowns, against mask mandates, and against the vaccines.
So, I refuse to go there, as do a lot of other people now. Which is a shame because it was one of my favorite restaurants pre pandemic, but given how hard they fought the health department on covid response, it made me wonder what else they’ve been ignoring or hiding on the health front.
I avoid what used to be one of my favorite restaurants. When things were opening back up, the owner went on social media complaining that they only had the staff to open one of their three locations because "no one wants to work anymore." He claimed everyone was living large off their stimulus checks and didn't want to come back to work. I looked up what he got for a PPP loan and it was over $400,000 and he didn't have to pay it back. There is a reason his staff didn't want to come to work for him, but it wasn't due to their paltry stimulus checks.
Jimmy Johns. Owner of chain into exotic animal trophy hunting big time. Why go out of your way to kill a giraffe or something?
Addendum: You can google this info for proof. Tons of pictures of him and his “trophies“ all over internet.
Jimmy John's is owned by Roark Capital and 98% of the restaurants are franchises. Mr. Big Game Hunter isn't getting a penny from your sandwich.
The CDC estimates that around 48 million people or 1 in 6 Americans get sick from foodborne diseases each year. Of those, 128k are hospitalized and around 3k individuals lose their lives. This is why it is so vital to maintain high hygiene standards everywhere: from farms and silos to warehouses, grocery stores, and kitchens.
Growing, storing, cooking, and serving food responsibly can prevent people from getting ill. Labeling and storing groceries properly, as well as washing your hands and keeping the kitchen clean is about much more than listening to what your manager tells you: it can literally save lives.
Chick Fil A. That is just too much bigotry for a s****y chicken sandwich.
Best chain fast food in my opinion. I was never drawn to it as a food court staple, however in 2003 one was put in next to our office before all the gay shaming, Christian values c**p flared. They often brought breakfast for our large office and gave out coupons for free food, free! no strings attached. I did the past again after the s**t hit the fan. Then I learned a gay kid I'd known since forever was working at one. Went and discovered many other obvious gay employees. I like their food, the cleanliness of the restaurants, they well groomed and well spoken employees. I hate they are closed on Sundays. But I kind of like that too, for employees sake.
Any owned by MAGAs, because traitors get nothing and like it.
another stupid listing, like saying I won't eat anywhere owned by liberal or a socialist, or....
It’s essential to keep in mind that no matter the restaurant or chain, the quality of service can vary a lot depending on the location, staff, and time of day. Just because someone has had an awful experience at a particular fast-food restaurant doesn’t necessarily mean that all establishments in the chain are awful. That’s why it’s important to look at the quality of the food and service, as well as the hygiene standards in more than one location.
Of course, this doesn’t make it okay to let standards slip anywhere: your customers certainly deserve to be treated with respect. If you got bad food poisoning or saw truly disgusting behavior during your meal, your experience is certainly a bad one. The establishment isn’t entitled to your return patronage.
I hope this doesn't come off as snobbish, but the honest answer is any chain restaurant. I'm fortunate enough to live in a region packed with independent restaurants, and I prefer to spend my money at local businesses. It's not a hard choice to make money-wise, either, as mediocre chain eateries don't charge mediocre chain eatery prices anymore. If I'm going to spend $18 on a plate of chicken alfredo, then I'm not going to do it at f*****g Olive Garden.
All the ones in my area that caved to the selfish anti-science nutjobs and opened for indoor dining when our state health department told them to stay closed. If they don’t give a s**t about spreading disease, they aren’t f*****g getting my money.
If a restaurant is going to open doors in the middle of a public health emergency, I have little faith in the cleanliness of their establishment.
Golden Corral. Walked into one once in Florida. A small kid walking past the food bar was putting his hand in every tray he passed. Out we go.
However, what this means is that people tend to focus on the negatives rather than the positives and there’s always a broader picture. For instance, an otherwise respectful company might have issues with a few groups of demotivated, untrained, and mismanaged employees at a few key locations. It’s up to the business to identify these issues and solve them as soon as possible.
That might mean offering employees proper training and incentives to maintain high hygiene and service standards. Or it might take opportunities for growth, a fair(er) wage, and a few personal heart-to-heart conversations to figure out what’s going on.
Hooters. Waiting 45 minutes for a hamburger and baked beans and then immediately having diarrhea doesn't do anything for me.
Potbelly subs, ruths chris and all of the others whose f**kwad leadership stole PPP money from the small businesses it was actually intended to support (i give no shits if they gave it back when caught)
Though a good manager will know how to motivate most employees, there are bound to be some bad apples who don’t care about their jobs or their customers. In some fringe cases, you may need to let someone go.
But that shouldn’t be your first response. If standards are slipping, there are usually deeper problems than just a few unruly servers and line cooks.
KFC. I dont know why but I get sick an hour later every time.
Churches doesn't do this.
Popeyes doesn't do this.
I stopped eating at all restaurants. because the prices went up, portions went down and quality went to s**t.
if you want the restaurant experience at home, just add lots of butter to the dish you are making.
Noodle & Company and Chili’s
I honestly don’t know what I am supposed to order in either of these restaurants. They got so many things and they all suck
Oh and Pizza Hut because their pizza sucks
Any 'Restaurant' that has more than 8 main courses on their menu (unless it's a variation on a theme - like Pizza - ) should be looked at closely, especially if there are more than 50 covers in the place.
Subway - because of food poisoning & there are better sub places in our town.
Golden Corral - food has always been subpar & I always felt sick after leaving…and not due to overeating.
I've always thought Subways smell really bad. We have one in our neighborhood and just walking past it, the smell is terrible. The one my cousin always wanted to go to in college, smelled. They just stink and it isn't appetizing.
Will pass on BK. It's always been the participation trophy of fast food.
Wendy's has gone downhill severely, especially the wait times (I might be overly critical because I worked there one summer)
There's a restaurant group in my city owned by a predator. He's had several charges levied against him and even more allegations, and if you meet him you immediately know they're all true. Through money, best/sleaziest lawyers, witness intimidation, threats of defamation suits, etc he has managed to avoid any meaningful repercussions. Won't step foot in any of his restaurants.
I worked at Domino's for three days when I was 17. Only job I've ever quit on the spot and the only restaurant chain I refuse to eat at.
When you make the pizzas, you pick the toppings out of the tubs and sprinkle them on the base, which sits on a bunch of metal bars over a big metal tray. Periodically you remove the tray, pick the stray toppings out, and put them back in the tubs. So far so logical, right? Third day I worked a close shift and the manager told me to tip the tubs of toppings into the big bags of toppings in the fridge. Asked him when we threw the bags away, and he said "when they're empty."
Nope nope nope nope nope. Nasty, nasty bastards.
I don't *refuse*, as I love their breakfast, but I won't eat Mcdonalds for lunch or dinner because it's never not made me immediately sick afterwards.
Papa John’s. I’ve had better pizza from the freezer section of grocery stores.
Denny’s, because they’re overpriced and the food goes through me faster than a worm through mud.
Pizza Hut. Way overpriced for what you get. I miss the old days where you could actually sit in the restaurant and have your pizza fresh from the oven, instead of half cooled.
Boston Pizza barely avoids my list, but only because I LOVE the perogie pizza and their $5 personal pizza day.
I wish restaurants actually showed their kitchen on their CCTV on a large screen up front in the reception and restaurant area. Very few actually do like Japanese restaurants.
People watch their meal being made right in front of them at Subway, but there are many problems that doesn't prevent.
McD. Because it's no longer food.
White castle. When you see roaches laying dead in the soda dispenser or under tables you can kinda assume what the kitchen is like.
I have to laugh.... White Castle burgers were the original "Sliders". Then, some brilliant marketing person thought that was a cool phrase, and now everyone (Arby's, etc.) advertises their "Sliders" Hey.. stupid... they are called "Sliders" because they "slide right through you". Not something that you should be embracing....
Buffalo Wild Wings. $13 for a frozen burger patty and unwashed beer glasses. Get the f**k out of here
As a former pest controller, any restaurant that I did pest control work for
I'm not sure I understand..did they really suck at their job? Every restaurant has pest control work done
Fast food, and national chains. Considering there isn’t much cooking /skill involved. Mostly take out of freezer and throw into oven, fryer etc. I don’t see the point in paying for someone to basically reheat a frozen food product to me and charge me 200% mark up for it.
I’m hyper aware of where I dine out/spend my money food wise.
Red Robin because they charged me for a refill on my coffee! Free refills on fries and other sides but apparently they draw the line at coffee?!
Bottomless french fries. Taste good but the delay tactics are ridiculous. Have compared notes with friends - seems to be a thing at least at my local RR. Server takes a long time to get back around to so you can say you want more fries. Then the fries take a long time go get to the table. So you are about a half hour into eating your burger before you get your first, often modest size refill. So - "bottomless", but effectively not since they delay you out of it.
Buffalo Wild Wings. My wife and I already have a favorite wing place. She and I tried BWW one time just to see. We both got sick to our stomachs with the wings we ordered. Throwing up all night, the works. I would understand if it was just her because she had a sensitive stomach. I never get sick from food. Also, we ordered two different types of wings, so it wasn't that we had the same wings. Never went back and will never go again.
Note: this post originally had 40 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.
A very American list, as most of these chains do not exist outside the USA. But also, chain restaurants aren't a big thing here. of course there are the occasional fast food giants like MacDonalds, Burger King, KFC or Subway, other than that, chains with standardized menus are mostly confined to Autobahn stops (Serways and Tank&Rast come to mind). Unfortunately that has begun to change, though... :(
A very American list, as most of these chains do not exist outside the USA. But also, chain restaurants aren't a big thing here. of course there are the occasional fast food giants like MacDonalds, Burger King, KFC or Subway, other than that, chains with standardized menus are mostly confined to Autobahn stops (Serways and Tank&Rast come to mind). Unfortunately that has begun to change, though... :(
