10 chain restaurants that just aren't worth it anymore

Dining out has lost a lot of its appeal in recent years. Many of us got pretty good at cooking during the pandemic. In many cases, you can easily make the same food you'd get at national chains at home for less money.

Make your eating-out budget go further by making every dollar count when you only eat out at restaurants you know will give you great food, friendly service, and a wonderful experience. Sadly, these chains probably won't make that list.

1. Red Lobster

These days, a big problem for Red Lobster is that their prices are high for less-than-stellar seafood. Unless you order a live lobster from the tank in the lobby, the seafood you get is likely frozen and costs double or triple what you would pay at the market.

If you decide to eat here, make sure to use your best cash back credit cards.

2. Buffalo Wild Wings

You'd think that if a restaurant took its moniker from a particular dish, they'd execute it well. Unfortunately, multiple customers complain that their wings are tiny and dry. And for the hefty price of $10.49 for six chicken wings, you're better off going nearly anywhere else.

3. Texas Roadhouse

You won't find bad food at Texas Roadhouse, but you certainly won't find anything interesting, either. Steaks are okay, but don't stray from there. Some customers complain the sides seem microwaved, and some point specifically to undercooked baked potatoes.

4. Golden Corral

If this restaurant had a motto, it would be quantity over quality. Yes, you can find something for everyone at this buffet, and nobody goes home hungry, but because the dishes sit out for so long, everything ends up with a mushy consistency.

This is one buffet worth skipping.

5. Waffle House

This 24-hour chain is nothing if not persistent. While the friendly yellow sign might have been inviting to diners of yesteryear, along with the likes of Denny's and Village Inn, Waffle House's reputation has tanked considerably.

While the chain has decent food for cheap, it's also gained a reputation on social media for being a go-to site for unsavory activities.

6. Olive Garden

Olive Garden's unlimited salad and breadsticks might make it worth the trip, but not much else on the menu does. Unhappy customers complain that the pasta tends to be bland, as they don't salt the water when they boil it, and they're pricey.

Appetizers consist of fried everything, mozzarella, ziti, lasagna, and you're hard-pressed to find a dish that isn't slathered in cheese sauce.

7. Starbucks

This coffee chain has become synonymous with overpriced drinks you can (and probably should) just make at home. Earlier this year, they started chopping off about 30% of menu items to simplify their offerings, but Starbucks' issues may run deeper than an overly complicated menu.

They're offering fewer deals than they once did, and the company has received a lot of bad press when it comes to the treatment of their workers, many of whom are seeking to unionize.

8. Pizza Hut

Sadly, Pizza Hut has undergone seismic shifts from its popular identity of the 80s and 90s. They closed over 300 stores in 2020 alone, and most restaurants now focus on takeout and delivery rather than in-store dining.

Pizza Hut's demise accelerated when it shifted from making the dough in-house to using frozen dough that was shipped in. They have moved back to handcrafted dough, but it may be too little too late.

9. Applebees

This chain has fallen so far that it's commonly referred to as "Crapplebee's." They recently launched a $9.99 meal deal campaign to compete with rising prices at fast-food restaurants, but one Redditor sums up Applebee's true problem: lackluster branding. "Applebee's is just kind of that place where you go because you live too far away from any other mega-chain restaurants."

10. Sonic

If you live in a rural American town, Sonic may be your only option for eating out. And while the cherry limeades are a definite allure, the squished, flat bun of your mediocre, overpriced burger isn't.

The drinks are usually 90% ice, and the extra mint they put in the bottom of the takeout bag simply doesn't raise the value of the meal inside.

Bottom line

Eating out can be a special treat and a time to reconnect with friends and family, so stop wasting money on national chains that provide a lackluster experience. Instead, consider supporting local restaurants that not only keep your dollars in the local economy but also offer better food and a better dining experience.