Love them or loathe them, the dining landscape includes chain restaurants. And for Atlanta that definitely includes chains founded here like Chick-fil-A, Mellow Mushroom, Moe’s Southwest Grill, and Waffle House.
Let’s be honest about our relationship with chain restaurants: most of us have a favorite and can easily rattle off our regular order. This includes Atlanta chefs.
Below, five Atlanta chefs share their go-to chain restaurants (and why), favorite dishes they would recreate for their own restaurants, and their thoughts on the role chain restaurants play on the local dining scene.
Nebi Berhane, Sugar Loaf
Favorite chain restaurant: Freddy’s Frozen Custards & Steakburgers
“I think Freddy’s is a really good place for a burger. I think it’s a big step above the rest. They’re cooking to order. It’s fresh food, which is nice. When I go on hikes up north, I’ll treat myself to Freddy’s afterwards.”
Dish recreation: Frisco melt from Steak & Shake
“I’d love to recreate that melt in the style of a fried onion burger. I’d top it with our Big Snack sauce (play on Big Mac sauce), which has caramelized onions finished with Chinese black vinegar, bread and butter pickles, and just the right amount of tang to cut through the richness.”
Thoughts on chain restaurants: “I feel chains have their place in the city for a few reasons. They fill a need for customers with varying budgets, preferences, and work hours. Many chains can afford to stay open later, and offer more customizations at lower price points.”
“I believe having a mix [of restaurants] is key, so you don’t have chains overtaking the dining scene and driving up rents that independent owners can’t compete with.”
Todd Richards, Waldorf Astoria Buckhead
Favorite chain restaurant: Waffle House
“Where else can you pay $20 and get dinner and a show?”
Dish recreation: Egg and cheese sandwich on raisin toast
“Chefs often talk about their grandmother’s influence on their cuisine, but my grandfather had a special affinity for raisin toast with apple butter. One of my favorites is Waffle House, because they serve raisin toast that’s always slightly charred, the way Paw-Paw used to make it.”
Thoughts on chain restaurants: “Chain restaurants play a very important role, not only in feeding people, but also in employing people from all backgrounds.
“The nature of chain restaurants is to feed large numbers of people, so their standards of execution (most importantly, serving food in a safe and sanitary environment) are tried and true. Those practices can serve as a foundation for any cook to learn and develop. (They may not plate with tweezers or have peculiar cocktail names.)”
“Chain restaurants are essential to a city’s economy, as long as there is not complete over-saturation that shuts out small businesses because of real estate costs and tax liabilities.”
Related stories:
• Todd Richards returns to hotel roots as executive chef of Waldorf Astoria
• Avondale Estates receives anonymous $1 million gift ‘thanks to Waffle House’
• Recipe: Breaker Breaker’s chicken Caesar wrap
• Sugar Loaf becoming a Reynoldstown cafe (now open)
Trey Campbell, Ecco
Favorite chain restaurant: Chick-fil-A
“I frequent Chick-fil-A a lot for the fact that the service is quick. Also, the food is, for the most part, not horribly bad for me.”
Dish recreation: Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich
“I’d replicate it and give it more layers of flavor. Like tossed in a chili crunch and add a carrot and radish slaw. I love heat, along with cool and refreshing crunchy salads.”
Thoughts on chain restaurants: “I think it’s a love-hate thing.”
“Yes, the convenience of fast food being so quick and accessible is nice. But after a while, people, including myself, tend to stray from supporting local businesses and eating fresh.”
Max Hines, Breaker Breaker and Stolen Goods
Favorite chain restaurant: Taco Bell
“Taco Bell, hands down. It’s not ‘healthy’ but something I’d rather eat late night, over burgers and fries. I love the limited menu items. There’s something I am always in the mood for [at Taco Bell.]”
Dish recreation: Cheesy Gordita Crunch
“It’s textually perfect. And we [already] have tacos on the menu [at Breaker Breaker].”
Thoughts on chain restaurants: “I feel like everything has a place, and chains are a part of that. I would like to see some more Atlanta-based chains develop here, besides Chick-fil-A.”
Lindsay Berhane, Sugar Loaf
Favorite chain restaurant: Potbelly Sandwich Works
Dish recreation: Smoked ham and Swiss sandwich, with a dream bar for dessert
“[It’s] just a classic combo done right.”
Thoughts on chain restaurants: “I think there’s room for everyone.”
“Chains have the data to figure out exactly where their target demographic lives. They know the need that they fill, and those who succeed are the ones that have done their homework.”