I was on vacation in Chicago this past week, and while I try to stay up to date on current events as much as I can when I'm out, that usually just equates to me watching a ton of college football and forgetting the outside world exists.
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world → try → football
Last week was no different, and when I got back home on Monday night and started to shift back into "OutKick mode," I saw the fine dining establishment known as the Cheesecake Factory was trending on social media.
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establishment → get → media
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page → contain → partners
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News → sign → wager
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that → create → newsroom
I felt pretty out of the loop, but after seeing people pick a side of the aisle to fall on in the Great Cheesecake Factory Debate as well as rank some of their other favorite sit-down restaurants, I knew it was time to throw my hat in the ring.
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it → feel → ring
If there are three things you must know about me, it's that I'm passionate about sports, music and eating at restaurants.
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I → be → restaurants
That might come as a shock to anyone who has seen me in person, considering I'm about 160lbs soaking wet and looked like an emaciated child until I was 25 years old, but I am a chain restaurant connoisseur of sorts.
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I → come → sorts
With all the commotion surrounding the Cheesecake Factory, and American eateries as a whole, I thought now would be as good a time as any to share my Mount Rushmore of fast-casual sit-down restaurants.
This isn't just some slapped together list either (shout out to "Rolling Stone"), as this topic is something that I'm constantly revisiting and reevaluating.
This Mount Rushmore represents a good mix of four different kinds of food and dining experiences, with different menus, atmospheres, and themes.
With all the preamble out of the way, let's begin.
Olive Garden
We start this list off with a bang, and a somewhat controversial one at that.
I'm not sure why Olive Garden has this reputation as a classless knockoff (my dad calls it the McDonald's of Italian food), but I would never slander a place that offers endless breadsticks and pasta.
The soups are incredible, the variety of pastas is awesome, and the entrées are varied and filling.
The vibes are immaculate too, giving me a classy place to "sample The Boot."
My go-to choice is the chicken parm (duh), but I've never had a bad meal at Olive Garden and I don't plan on it anytime soon.
Texas Roadhouse
If you're looking for good old American fare at solid prices, look no further than Texas Roadhouse.
Their steaks are some of the best you can get at their price point, and the ability to smother them in sautéed onions and mushrooms is underrated.
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ability → surround → onions
I know what you all are here for, and I would be remiss if I didn't mention the bread rolls, which would probably merit placement on this list by themselves.
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which → know → themselves
They really lean into their Texas themes here, too, and if you've ever had a birthday at Roadhouse, you know exactly what I'm talking about.
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I → lean → what
Can I get a "yeehaw?"
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I → get → yeehaw
Chuy's
Maybe it's just because I lived in Dallas for six years, but TexMex is supremely underrated and should be more of a national delicacy.
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TexMex → live → delicacy
Their signature sauces go with just about any of their entrées, and although I'm not a big drinker, I have to say that their frozen margarita machines are worth the price of admission alone.
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machines → go → admission
Whether you're into spice or just some good old-fashioned, hearty fare from the southwest, Chuy's has you covered.
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you → have → southwest
The biggest selling point, to me though, is the creamy jalapeño ranch dip they give you with your chips and salsa.
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they → give → chips
Every great sit-down restaurant has a "gimmick," and this one is undeniably delicious.
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one → sit → gimmick
It's the perfect blend of creamy ranch and spice that will have you filling up on chips before your meal even comes out.
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meal → have → chips
You can get seafood alfredo, steak, southwestern salad and traditional American fare all on a single page.
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You → get → page
My personal favorite has to be the Chipotle Fresh Mex Bowl, but I've been known to get a classic sirloin, the Margarita Grilled Chicken, or even the boneless wings, which are incredible even though I'm normally a traditionalist when it comes to wings.
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it → have → wings
I could write an entire book on my love for Chili's, but this has gone on long enough and my mouth is starting to water, so if you'll excuse me, I think I hear a Triple Dipper calling my name.
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Dipper → write → name
The Aporia
