Consumer Reports recently released a subscriber survey on 101 restaurant chains, rating them on taste, value, service, mood and choice. Some of the top picks? Biaggi's Ristorante, Abuelo's, Cheddar's Casual Cafe, Bonefish and First Watch. Restaurants on the bottom include Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar, Joe's Crab Shack, Hooters (really, what did you expect?) and Friendly's (sad! I spend a lot of time in Friendly's when I was a kid).

What bugged the respondents most about these restaurants? Number one was noise, followed by sloppy service, cleanliness issues, and problems with improperly cooked or seasoned food. Naturally, they also complained about long waits, which I can totally get behind. I *hate* waiting for just about anything, especially when it's food, especially when there are a dozen more equally tasty options just around the corner. I've definitely waited for an hour at The Cheesecake Factory and The Olive Garden, and I just don't get it -- are they really worth the wait?

I don't eat at chains that often, but there are some that I like and will actually go out of my way for -- pretty much any upscale steak place (Morton's, Ruth's Chris), Wagamama (they're mostly in the UK -- I think I might like saying the name more than I like the food, which is, however, pretty good), and let's not forget Cracker Barrel (with the bonus of a gift shop/country store and rocking chairs to entertain you if there's a wait). I haven't tried Five Guys Burgers yet but they're on my list, and I had the In-N-Out burger so long ago that I don't remember it... definitely a must-try next time I'm in California.

What are your favorite chain restaurants?