OT What kinds of resaurants do you see popping up?

[Susan]

healthy places, at least where I live. I think the more fast food you have popping up the more ghetto you are getting.

Even tho the chain restaurants like Chili's, Outback are always popping up it's largely smaller shops. Every place here is a sandwhich/salad shop.  Baker Bros., Jersey Joes, Corner Bakery, la madeline. The cafe's are a trendy place to eat and they have them around alot of businesses here so people get lunch there.  

There are no buffet's in my area of town unless you count cici's pizza. It sucks. My favorite buffet of all time "Ryans Steakhouse" closed so i'd have to drive miles to find another one. They had the best buffet selection. sigh

[Scottie]

Responding to Scott's comment on a new type of Italian restaurant:

You might be thinking of Carrabas or Macaroni Grill. I have yet to go to Carrabas and must be dragged to eat at a Macaroni Grill, so my views on chain restaurants are skewed. My feeling is that if a restaurant is good, you just don't need 5 of them in the same city. Highway restaurant chains are the worst because it's as if they prey on those who have no desire to try anything new. So in America, those numbers are high. I'm glad to see a large number of people on this board who are willing to eat outside the jack in the box. It's a shame all people don't support the local treasures of a passing town in their travels.

[Scott]

That might be the one Scottie. Went to a neat franchise in Colorado Springs, Colorado last summer called Mimi's Cafe which gave us 6 free muffins to all of their first time visitors. Good food and good muffins.

[Alan Smithee]

Buffets?
Two words..
Golden Corral
'Nuff said.

[BoyScoutKevin]

Having just come back from a Disney cruise to Mexico, Taco Bell or Taco Hell as it is known in Mexico by the Mexicans.

If you want to know good roadside places to eat, then try "Roadfood" by the husband and wife team of Michael and Jane Stern. The only problem, the latest edition is 1992. And when my sister and I used it, a number of years ago, when we were traveling through Arkansas and eastern Texas, a number of places mentioned in the book, had already gone out of existence.

As for what kind of restauraunts do I see popping up . . . here in the U.S. . . . hookah restaurants. For those who have not seen the Arabian Nights, a hookah is  a pipe for smoking that has a long flexible tube whereby the smoke is cooled by passing through water.

Also Chinese restaurants that specialize in bubble rice. As I understand it, bubble rice is pearls of rice that are then mixed into a cold drink and served that way.

There in Asia . . . restaurants that serve food in toilets or toilet shaped dishes. I don't see that one catching on here in the U.S.

[Georgie Boy]

We have a Mimi's here in the 'Nati.  Pretty tasty food and a cool atmosphere, if not a bit kitchy.  Kind of like TGIF with a jazz slant.

[Georgie Boy]

My brother-in-law calls Golden Corral, Shangri-La.

[daveblackeye15]

I just remebered this resturant in Ashland Oregon that our family eats at. It's called "Brothers" it's a cool little place with really  good food. At the tables they have little baskets with Trivia cards in them, isn't that fun!?

And Ohmars , also in Ashland Oregon, has good sea food and grill.

Those are classic!