Chain Restaurants: Is this the Empire in me?

I recently went to two chain restaurants despite extreme prejudice. I was ready to hate, but ended up kinda liking them.


Number one...Lucille's BBQ.
I went to the one in Victoria Gardens/Rancho Cucamonga a couple weekends ago. It smelled good when I walked in--that's a great sign. My server explained the sauces and the smoker--still sounds good to me. I ordered a pulled pork sandwich (what else?) and was really pleased with it. I was just coming off Joey's and was definitely on a roll here. Kinda wish the goods were cooked in the house sauce instead of adding it in myself but after sampling the three sauces, I'm kind of glad they don't. Their best offering is not the house sauce! You'll just have to try it and see. My lunch came with a side--I chose slaw. I also picked off a few fries from my dining companion's plate. Not bad. My only complaint was that the air con is pumping full blast so the food got cold. You really need to scarf it down like a fat American. Speaking of which, there were tons of obese people here. No guilt, just patriotism.


Number two...PF CHANGS!
Yes, I've ridiculed PF Changs on my Twitter in the past though I had never been until now. Why go to PF Changs when San Gabriel Valley is so close. Real food, people! "Chinese food for white people," I am fond of saying in reference to the chain. Went to the one at the new Anaheim Garden Walk which in itself is less "garden" than even Victoria Gardens. Went as a compromise since I was dead set on not going to California Pizza Kitchen. Surprisingly, I go in and see numerous Asians dining! What? I think maybe this is as white as some Asians want to go and as yellow as some non-yellow people want to go. Could it be better than I expected? Kinda! We ordered wine--perhaps this is pushing my review toward the favorable side--but it's a week later and I'm still thinking about the shrimp in lobster sauce that I had. Will I return? Perhaps to the one here in Chino Hills? I feel guilty about it. It's less embarrassing admitting how much I like some network television shows.



I feel weird. Who knows what's next? Maybe Wood Ranch. I'm off Chili's for good, but am now hooked on Peet's coffee. Damn, chains! They're everywhere!