Friendly’s, Shoney’s, and Logan’s Roadhouse were among the chains cited for lack of cleanliness (bathrooms or floors were dirty, tableware was grimy). On average food-prep problems complaints (dishes were under- or overcooked, had too much or too little seasoning, or looked unappetizing) were low—only about 7 percent.

There were also complaints about long waits, which were more likely than average at The Cheesecake Factory, Rainforest Café, Texas Roadhouse, Houston’s, P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, and Outback Steakhouse. At those restaurants, 6 to 14 percent of respondents waited 30 minutes or more to be seated.

Dine for Less:
Consumer Reports found that diners are all but guaranteed to come out ahead if they try any of the following great ways to save:

  • Look for bargains on the menu. CR found plenty: buy-one-get-one-free appetizers and entrées; all-you-can-eat specials; lower prices for smaller portions; off-peak dining specials; low-cost upgrades (add chicken to a salad for $1); flat-rate discounts of as much as 20 percent; even free food and more on almost all of the chains in the ratings.
  • Sign up for e-mail alerts. Chain Web sites are the best source of menu specials, discounts, and other promotions. That’s how CR learned about IHOP’s national free-pancake-day campaign and Denny’s Grand Slam and Grand Slamwich breakfast giveaways. After signing up for e-mail at dozens of chains, we were flooded with coupons.
  • Show your age. Many family chains, including Bob Evans, Perkins Restaurant & Bakery, and Eat’n Park, have reduced-price menus for kids (usually under 10 or 12) and seniors (usually 55 and up). Some dinner chains offer incentives too, such as free meals for kids on Tuesday (Black-eyed Pea, Chevys Fresh Mex, and Beef O’Brady’s). If you reveal your birthday (sign up online), some chains are particularly generous.
  • Time your visit. On weekdays and at off-peak hours, there are many chances to economize. Texas Roadhouse, for example, features 10 $7.99 dinners Monday through Thursday. Lone Star Steakhouse has a $7 soup-and-salad-bar buffet on the same days, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Eat at the bar. Pricey McCormick & Schmick’s has a bar menu offering cheeseburgers and fries for less than $3, tuna rolls for less than $4, and jambalaya for less than $5. T.G.I. Friday’s has bar appetizers for a penny if you join its Give Me More Stripes frequent-diner program. It’s free.
  • Order takeout. Getting food to go at least saves the cost of a tip, and the list of chains accepting online and telephone orders is growing. So are the ranks of those allowing curbside pickup.

For complete ratings on all 101 chain restaurants in Consumer Reports survey and more advice on how to find incredible dining deals, check out the July issue of Consumer Reports, on sale June 2, 2009 or visit ConsumerReports.org.

Read More:   eating out, fast food