I guess for seniors CB and OG were the new Horn and Hardhart's on Wednesdays.

My family went through a Cracker Barrel phase decades ago on road trips when I was a teen and young adult. It was a novelty for us.

Having lived in Italy I can't do Olive Garden. Well, oddly enough when I said I'd treat my elderly aunt and separately on another occasion an elderly cousin to anywhere they wanted to eat -- I'll be darned if they each didn't pick Olive Garden. One even had a coupon!

I tried my BEST to talk them out of it....suggesting other places, really building them up (you could try this or that dish, the atmosphere is really nice) nope -- they wanted Olive Garden. You've got to be kidding me if people think that's real Italian food. No. Just. No.

I know there are MILLions of Americans, and MILLIONS of them eat out -- but from time to time I've wondered how all these restaurants stay in business.

I haven't been to a Red Lobster, Cracker Barrel, Olive Garden, Outback, Boston Market, Bertuccis, Longhorn, Hibachi Buffet, or diner in decades.

I rarely go to a sit down restaurant unless it's the new "fast casual" MOD Pizza, Panera. Once every couple of months -- maybe.

However I do order out sushi about once a month.

You might say well if I'm eating out at Panera, I should stick my nose up at Olive Garden. I suppose. But the fast casual places don't act like they're a full service restaurant ...where I expect a little more authenticity or effort regarding food and atmosphere.

I eat out during Restaurant Week but trust me those are not chain restaurants. I do have it in me to be a food snob.