View Full Version : Zagat Fast Food Survey 2011
Katys Grandad
07-09-2011, 08:49
A lot of members will be aware of Zagat which is widely seen as the foremost restaurant reviewer in the US. They have just published their annual Fast Food survey results which is based on users rather than full-time reviewers. Inevitably, the customers will be mostly Americans so it might not match the experience of UK visitors. Anyway, it might make interesting reading.
These are the most popular chains:
FAST FOOD - LARGE CHAINS
1. Five Guys
2. Panera Bread
3. Chipotle Mexican Grill
4. Chick-fil-A
5. In-N-Out Burger
FAST FOOD - MEGA CHAINS
1. Subway
2. McDonald's
3. Wendy's
4. Burger King
5. Taco Bell
QUICK REFRESHMENT CHAINS
1. Starbucks
2. Dunkin' Donuts
3. Culver's
4. Ben & Jerry's
5. Cold Stone Creamery
FULL SERVICE CHAINS
1. P.F. Chang's China Bistro
2. Cheesecake Factory
3. Bonefish Grill
4. California Pizza Kitchen
5. Maggiano's Little Italy
I've visited most of them and the only thing I strongly disagree with is the P.F. Chang rating. I've never had meal there which I've enjoyed and the food has been Americanised so much that it doesn't even look like Chinese food. Clearly, I'm in the minority on that!
The 'winners' were:
Best Salads
Fast Food - Panera Bread
Full Service - Cheesecake Factory
Best Overall Value
Fast Food - McDonalds
Full Service - Cheesecake Factory
Best Burger
Fast Food - Five Guys
Full Service - Red Robin Gourmet Burgers
Best Coffee
Fast Food - Starbucks
Full Service - IHOP
Orlando Baby
07-09-2011, 09:20
I would have to include Steak and Shake in LBV and on 192. As a family, we love it.
Very interesting reading and I must say only agree with a couple, love Starbucks coffee especially in the states as it seems stronger. We love P.F.Changs but can be expensive and the Cheesecake factory is always first class. Apart from that well on the ones I am familiar with I certainly do not agree but each to there own.
Val
Newhomebuyer
07-09-2011, 13:59
I agree with Panera Bread, but not for Salads, more for Fast Foods. Cheesecake Factory for overall value and yes defo Five Guys for Burgers.
Not very keen on any of the others mentioned but surprised that Sweet Tomatoes and Olive Garden didn't figure somewhere.
Hmm, there are a few on the list we've never tried, so we will give them a go next time we're over.
Thanks for posting.
mary and colin
07-09-2011, 17:45
We keep saying we are going to try Cheesecake factory and never seem to get round to it. Will go in the next couple of weeks.
Not heard of a couple of those so will have to look out for them.
Mary
sammibabe
07-09-2011, 22:16
Went to Cheesecake Factory for the first time couple of weeks ago, had salad and it was delicious. Let out an audible yum on the first mouthful, couldn't help myself. Mary - definately go. We made a reservation. When I said 5 or half 5 they said they could take reservations up until 5
Jayboy4444
08-09-2011, 08:33
In N Out Burgers definetly need to be higher....Awesome!
Just returned on Monday. Some American friends had recommended “Five Guys” and after sampling all the various “chicken tasters” in Florida Mall, we decided to give the burgers a try. My husband and son absolutely loved them. They said they were the best burgers they had eaten. My husband said they tasted just how he remembered “McDonalds” the first time he had one in the “Future World” restaurant in WDW back in 1979.
Sweet tomatoes still remains a firm favourite of mine; it’s nice to have some salad in the diet!
So well known I have never heard of it.
Personally I never take much notice of these type of things, they are usually full of rubbish.
So well known I have never heard of it.
Personally I never take much notice of these type of things, they are usually full of rubbish.
Perhaps you need to live a bit and explore outside your comfort zone a bit more!!!
E. Cosgrove
11-09-2011, 08:44
Have to agree with PF Changs being "Americanised" we ate there in Boston next year and it didn't feel in the least bit Chinese, the food was good though.
FraserLynn
11-09-2011, 09:07
Although, to be honest, none of the "Chinese" food outside of china is anything like that eaten in China. It is all westernised in one way or another.
Perhaps you need to live a bit and explore outside your comfort zone a bit more!!!
Lost me there Jill, I am not sure what my 'comfort zone' as you call it, has to do with me not knowing about the 'Zagat fast food survey'.
For the past 4 years I have spent 3 months of more in Florida and I have never heard them mentioned once.
Having looked at their website it would appear that the likes of you an me vote for these things so it is hardly an expert view is it? And as such should be taken with a pinch of salt.
Laurel Oak
11-09-2011, 19:57
Lost me there Jill, I am not sure what my 'comfort zone' as you call it, has to do with me not knowing about the 'Zagat fast food survey'.
For the past 4 years I have spent 3 months of more in Florida and I have never heard them mentioned once.
Having looked at their website it would appear that the likes of you an me vote for these things so it is hardly an expert view is it? And as such should be taken with a pinch of salt.
Been going to the USA for almost the last 20 years and I've never heard of them either.
Katys Grandad
12-09-2011, 04:13
Very much along the lines of tripadvisor and the hundreds of similar sites on the web, Zagat is based on customer reviews and has around 250,000 participating members although has been in existence many years longer pre-dating the internet. Just like tripadvisor, sometimes the reviews have to be treated with caution but a strong recommendation by either of them can provide massive benefits to the business concerned.
I posted the results because I thought some members might be interested, not because I necessarily think they're some sort of supreme authority on eating out. I have a couple of their guides and I have to say that I don't by any means always agree with all I've read but I have found it invaluable when I travel around the US but, to be fair, if you only stay in the same place all the time then it's going to be of limited use to you.
If members have never heard of them and are sufficiently interested in broadening their awareness, next time you go into, for example, the Cheesecake Factory, (there are many other places as well) have a look on the glass door and you will almost certainly see the maroon Zagat recommendation sticker if they are in it. You will also see it on a few restaurants in the UK because they publish a UK guide as well. Alternatively, go into any decent bookshop in the US or the likes of Waterstones in the UK and you will see their various guides on the shelves in their trademark maroon. Amazon's UK site gives 1,145 results on 100 pages if you search "Zagat books'.
If you don't get out much, have a look on restaurant websites and you will also see the Zagat logo prominently displayed. The Cheesecake Factory and Five Guys both have this recent survey at the top of the awards sections of their websites.
Of course, if you're not interested in what others think and have decided that the views of 250,000 other diners aren't worth anything, then it isn't going to be of any use to you so you can just disregard it.
Finally, if you have a couple of minutes, just Google them - coincidentally, Google bought them out a couple of years ago for $125 million.
FraserLynn
12-09-2011, 04:15
One assumes that this forum is doing its job then. Providing new and interesting information even to 2 seasoned florida experts!!!
I too have never heard of Zagat nor many of the food outlets mentioned but would agree that Panera is on the list - I think their food and service ethic is second to none.
To be honest I had heard of this survey before and perhaps I am sad but there you go it takes all types to make a world. Even if you are not interested in results or have not heard of them, it does throw some other names of places to eat into the arena which some people might or might not like to try out that they are not aware of.
Yay Panera, anyone thats read my previous trip reports will know we love it here, 148 days to go!
One assumes that this forum is doing its job then. Providing new and interesting information even to 2 seasoned florida experts!!!
Didn't provide me with any new information. After spending so much time out there we know what we like and where we like to go. A survey like that would not have any influence on me whatever.
lafifille
14-09-2011, 07:17
I always take a look at guides, forums and websites with customers reviews when visiting places we've never been, it's part of the fun of planning. It's helped us find great restaurants, hotels and places to visit we might have missed otherwise. One has to use its judgement when reading the surveys, but mostly it's lead us to good experiences. It's actually how I found this forum in the first place and thus rented a wonderful villa [:D]. Plus we'd never have ended up at Manny's if not for you guys[msntongue].
But even for areas we know well, including our own city or the region where we vacation each year for Easter, I take a look once in a while (and contribute) to surveys websites. There's always something new going on you might not be aware of: a great new restaurant (or an old one with a new chef!), a play by some local troup which happens to be a real gem, an art show...
Oh, and I knew about Zagat [msnwink], but never noticed they rated fast food joints. I agree that Five Guys burgers are awesome. I didn't know there was one in Orlando...
We only visited a Five Guys this year thanks to surveys and reading forums as we are not overly keen on burgers but hubby is definitely keen to go back as he said the burger was good but the peanuts were superb (he is a nut addict though). We visited the one off Sand Lake Road which is near Lowes and Walmart advantage being Dunkin Donuts is virtually next door!
sammibabe
14-09-2011, 20:29
I always take a look at guides, forums and websites with customers reviews when visiting places we've never been, it's part of the fun of planning. It's helped us find great restaurants, hotels and places to visit we might have missed otherwise. One has to use its judgement when reading the surveys, but mostly it's lead us to good experiences. It's actually how I found this forum in the first place and thus rented a wonderful villa [:D]. Plus we'd never have ended up at Manny's if not for you guys[msntongue].
But even for areas we know well, including our own city or the region where we vacation each year for Easter, I take a look once in a while (and contribute) to surveys websites. There's always something new going on you might not be aware of: a great new restaurant (or an old one with a new chef!), a play by some local troup which happens to be a real gem, an art show...
Oh, and I knew about Zagat [msnwink], but never noticed they rated fast food joints. I agree that Five Guys burgers are awesome. I didn't know there was one in Orlando...
Definitely agree, we try new at least one new restaurant (more than that this time) and at least one different thing (Honeymoon Island) each time we go. We know what we like but like to try the new stuff too
florida4sun
14-09-2011, 20:47
Zagat is pretty much a staple guide, have had some good recommendations from it.
Zagat is pretty much a staple guide, have had some good recommendations from it.
Unfortunately, I tend to have a closed mind towards staples. I know the ones that I like, I know the ones that I don't like and I don't think I need you coming around here showing me any namby-pamby fancy boy guide towards them, thank you very much. Plain silver, when closed perhaps about a centimetre long and from an efficient stapler which does the job without causing me to have to bang my hand too hard against it will do fine.
Sure, you go ahead and enjoy your new and 'alternative' staples, I'll stick to what I know. I've been using staplers and staples for years now, I'll have you know.
Dads_Taxi
15-09-2011, 08:19
But Euan, that's the whole point of Forums, to spread new ideas. Try to open your mind to new ideas - it could be fun.
For example, I have always been a plain, steel staple sort of guy too, but then, whilst in a really tatty shop in Llandudno, I discovered staples in all sorts of bright metallic colours - gold, red, blue, amazing. I had to buy some just to amuse the girls in our admin department when they receive my receipts snazzily attached to my expense claims.
Unfortunately none of my new staples made it into the Zagat list, but I still like them.
Dave, this sounds to me like some kind of seaside/holiday dalliance into the world of exotic staplery, I think that we all know fine well where that ends up. mmmh?
Next you'll be going onto websites, reviewing your own stapling experiences, telling others how you've enthralled with this la-dee-da staple or that oop-see-do paper fastner. Next you'll be suggesting alternatives to staples, perhaps even romancing paper clips and treasury tags. It's a slippery slope, I tell you, soon you'll not be able to walk past a stationers without having to peak in the window.
You can quite happily keep your "trying the new staple experiences", thank you very much, I know what I like.
lafifille
16-09-2011, 05:58
Dave, this sounds to me like some kind of seaside/holiday dalliance into the world of exotic staplery, I think that we all know fine well where that ends up. mmmh?
Next you'll be going onto websites, reviewing your own stapling experiences, telling others how you've enthralled with this la-dee-da staple or that oop-see-do paper fastner. Next you'll be suggesting alternatives to staples, perhaps even romancing paper clips and treasury tags. It's a slippery slope, I tell you, soon you'll not be able to walk past a stationers without having to peak in the window.
You can quite happily keep your "trying the new staple experiences", thank you very much, I know what I like.
I'm not sure my English is good enough to follow you all on this "staplers and staples" road :o, but I think I understand mostly what this is about....
Well, it's certainly a good thing some of us are adventurous enough to try new things and look for websites and other people's opinions. I'd never ever have thought renting a villa in Orlando could be an option for us before I found recommendation for this (wonderful) website on a French travel forum where people are "suggesting alternatives" [msnwink]. Then reading on this forum here about other customers good experiences made me go for it. I then went down that "slippery slope" and recommended this websites and all the great villas advertised here to other people. Even if only one rental comes out of it, I'm sure it makes owners happy to know customers are telling others about their good experience.
I know what I like too, and am always happy when people point some of the things I like to me where I didn't expect them... like comfort and space and quiet at a decent price when I'm vacationing [;)].
We've been going to Orlando for 11 years and w have our firm favourites that are always a must when we go! However the last time insisted we go somewhere different to eat, not an expensive place by any means but we had a great nite, so much so we went twice in the one holiday and are planing to go again! This year since I found this forum I have had a lot of very helpful suggestions, I have saved a lot of money, and have had a lot of enjoyment sharing other people's experiences! Sometimes I think it is good to go outside your box and try new things! And as regards to polls and surveys and recommendations , maybe I'm wrong but I though that was the whole point of a forum! Or have I got that wrong completely and it's just somewhere you go to disagree with others!! Lol!!
sammibabe
16-09-2011, 09:41
Dave, this sounds to me like some kind of seaside/holiday dalliance into the world of exotic staplery, I think that we all know fine well where that ends up. mmmh?
Next you'll be going onto websites, reviewing your own stapling experiences, telling others how you've enthralled with this la-dee-da staple or that oop-see-do paper fastner. Next you'll be suggesting alternatives to staples, perhaps even romancing paper clips and treasury tags. It's a slippery slope, I tell you, soon you'll not be able to walk past a stationers without having to peak in the window.
You can quite happily keep your "trying the new staple experiences", thank you very much, I know what I like.
I love trying new things and would happily try the new coloured staples but.....{shudders} treasury tags.......that's a step too far even for me!!!!
Albert the Frog
16-09-2011, 15:00
The problem i had was the short red ones hurt my thumb when i was pushing them through the papers-i'm more of a loose leaf in a binder sort of guy
Interesting, very interesting!
Katys Grandad
13-10-2011, 17:26
Purely in the interest of research of course, I made time to try a few of the 'winners' that I hadn't been to previously on my last visit. I will call these the KG Survey and don't expect others to agree (or even approve).
RED ROBIN BURGERS
For those who don't know this chain, I'd describe it as a restaurant rather than a Fast Food place. There is waiter service and a full menu which is mostly burgers but there are other choices such as fried chicken and the usual items. The burgers are substantial and come with limitless 'Steak Fries'. The portions are such that I doubt many people will want a fries refill - I certainly didn't.
Very good burgers and lots of options. You can actually design your own combo although I didn't test that.
Overall I liked the place but the fact that it's waiter service (which means the need to tip) and the burgers are fairly pricey to begin with your bill ends up surprisingly high for Burger & Fries.
My score would be 7 out of 10 but I would happily go back another time.
FIVE GUYS
Counter service with a limited choice based mainly on Burgers and Hot Dogs. All the meals are cooked to order so you do wait a few minutes for your food. I don't know if it's common to all the branches but there were sacks of shelled peanuts which you can help yourself to and open/eat while you wait. I thought that was a nice touch.
Because the food is cooked to order, the burgers taste very fresh and were as good as I've had anywhere and better than most and come with good quality fries. The prices were lower than Red Robin and there was no tip to pay so I thought they were much better value and actually better burgers all round.
I will definitely go back there sometime and would give them 9 out of 10.
CHIPOTLE MEXICAN GRILL
I've been meaning to try this place for a while as I've read a lot of good reviews. The problem is that while I am a fan of Mexican food my wife doesn't like it at all. As a result, my opportunities are limited but I did manage 2 short trips last week.
I think there are a few branches in the UK so some might be familiar with it but, if not, it's a bit like Subway where you walk along a line of items and choose what you want on your Taco or Burrito. There are a number of meats and vegetable choices with rice, sour cream and the usual Mexican accompaniments. They also do 'baskets' which are your choice of filling without the wrap part.
Like Five Guys, all the food is fresh and they make a point of it being so. I've had poorer quality food and paid much more in supposedly good Mexican restaurants and it's way better than all the other Mexican fast food places. You can see the meat being grilled behind the servers and they sell so much that the sides have to be replenished all the time.
if you like Mexican food then you'll definitely like this place. Both times I went it was absolutely packed with people of all ages and the service never stops.
Whenever I can escape the shopping trips on future visits or on my own somewhere in the US, I'll be back. 10 out of 10 for me.
Might be interesting to hear other people's views on any of these places.
freddiehollie
13-10-2011, 20:01
Hi Katys Grandad.
Not done Red Robin or Chipolte, but stumbled across Five Guys a few trips ago now. Definately with you on that one 9/10. We try to make time to get back there at least once during our trips.
Without doubt our best burger when over there. I'm not a great burger fan (unless doing my own at home) but these are very tasty/fresh & we think great value. Always been a que so that tells you all.
Dads_Taxi
13-10-2011, 20:17
I'm also a Five Guys fan, but will be trying Chipotle Mexican Grill next June without a doubt. Having just read the KG Survey I'm suddenly very hungry !
Katys Grandad
14-10-2011, 07:49
Hi Katys Grandad.
Not done Red Robin or Chipolte, but stumbled across Five Guys a few trips ago now. Definately with you on that one 9/10. We try to make time to get back there at least once during our trips.
Without doubt our best burger when over there. I'm not a great burger fan (unless doing my own at home) but these are very tasty/fresh & we think great value. Always been a que so that tells you all.
I'm also a Five Guys fan, but will be trying Chipotle Mexican Grill next June without a doubt. Having just read the KG Survey I'm suddenly very hungry !
Interesting. Are the peanuts at all the branches?
luckylady
14-10-2011, 09:00
I have also dined at Red Robin . I agree it was an excellent meal and the service was spot on. But for what is a basic burger meal I thought was expensive.
My favourite for burger dining has to be Ruby Tuesday. The burgers are cooked to order and they have an all you can eat salad bar for a minimal charge .
I haven’t tried Five Guys yet, hopefully I will on our next visit.
sammibabe
15-10-2011, 21:08
I have also dined at Red Robin . I agree it was an excellent meal and the service was spot on. But for what is a basic burger meal I thought was expensive.
My favourite for burger dining has to be Ruby Tuesday. The burgers are cooked to order and they have an all you can eat salad bar for a minimal charge .
I haven’t tried Five Guys yet, hopefully I will on our next visit.
Ruby Tuesday is a favourite of ours. We also had a really tasty steak there too
Dave, this sounds to me like some kind of seaside/holiday dalliance into the world of exotic staplery, I think that we all know fine well where that ends up. mmmh?
Next you'll be going onto websites, reviewing your own stapling experiences, telling others how you've enthralled with this la-dee-da staple or that oop-see-do paper fastner. Next you'll be suggesting alternatives to staples, perhaps even romancing paper clips and treasury tags. It's a slippery slope, I tell you, soon you'll not be able to walk past a stationers without having to peak in the window.
You can quite happily keep your "trying the new staple experiences", thank you very much, I know what I like.
You people are mad, mad, mad ...... very funny though......
(For those with an addiction, I have seen some glittery staples and some flurescent paper clips if anyone is interested !!! [msnwink] nudge, nudge, wink, wink)