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BUSINESS

Changing Tastes

Bennigan's restaurants fall victim to American belt-tightening.

By Karen Springen | Newsweek Web Exclusive
Jul 31, 2008 | Updated: 9:03  p.m. ET Jul 31, 2008

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  • Posted By: markharrison @ 10/01/2008 7:53:32 PM

    Comment: I was a cook at Bennigans in the early 80's. The soups were made by recipe. Potato skins and potato soup, the broccoli bites, egg rolls, chicken cordon bleu, CFS, Jambalaya, Etouffee were all prepared by recipe. This is where I learned how to Cook. Years later, everything came in frozen for consistency. That was their downfall.
    The great Jan Tatum was my GM. I remeber to this day she said. If your not using the recipe book, then you don't need to work here. I had a long 10 year cokking career with Bennigans. Sad to see them go.

  • Posted By: mvl2000 @ 08/13/2008 7:52:17 PM

    Comment: You're dead wrong when you say that Bennigan's failed because it was out of step with today's health conscious diners. There aren't enough health conscious diners out there to keep any restaurant in business. The fact is that Bennigan's has healthy food on it's menu but people don't buy it, at least not in great numbers. The public may say they want to eat more healthy food, but they don't do it. The Monte Cristo was the best selling item on the Bennigan's menu because customers liked it better than the grilled chicken and veggies. And there's nothing wrong with that.

  • Posted By: Wigsplitter82 @ 08/06/2008 6:35:14 PM

    Comment: I worked in a Bennigan's in Clearwater, FL, it's not like I made a great deal of money working there, but it was my main source of income. Now I have no idea how I am going to make my car payment this month, or any other bills for that matter, Bennigan's closed on Teusday, today is the Wednesday the following week, and I am down to my last $9. Bennigan's didnt even make an effort to give me the last 3 days worth of tip shares, or my final check. With the way the economy is now, I have no idea where to start looking for a new job, I appplied at a fst food place this afternoon. Thanks Bennigan's, MY ASS HURTS REALLY BAD NOW!

  • Posted By: mrsmaya1 @ 08/06/2008 1:22:29 PM

    Comment: I have sat here and read every comment and none of you have any clue what you are talking about!! I worked for Bennigan's for 23 years!! The company has not been the same since Jerry Comstock left years ago. Since then there have been so many different CEO's and corporate heads it fell to inconsistancy in upper management each saying that they knew what was best for the company!! That kind of leadership seeped down into the stores and yes young, not caring individuals went right along with it! Corporate did let the stores go and we fought every day in the stores to try to get things fixed, upgraded, marketed in any way that we could. The food is not all pre-packaged from a company. Most of it was pre- prepped in house with fresh ingredients, and then yes some were microwaved to order but were not kept on the shelf more than 2-3 days after being prepped. I stuck to this standard in my restaurant!! We only had so much we could do inside the restaurant to keep up with the times. We could not make those decisions with menu changes, appearance changes, etc. With that we are the victims of an inconsistently, poorly corporate ran company!!!! It was more important for everyone to give their opinions about their experiences in the restaurant than to talk about what is really so bad about this whole situation and that is what it did to the thousands of people across the country that lost their jos & careerslast Tuesday!! THIS WAS MY LIFE!!! We never saw this coming!! Not to this extreme!! We were just told the week prior that they had buyers that were coming in to put money into upgrading & advertising. That was some encouragement that we haven't had in a long time & then they dropped that bomb on us on Tuesday! None of you can even fathom what that did to people like me who had put half of their life into this company so none of you have any right to judge the people who ran the restaurants!!! I have children who stand to lose their home and everything they have known & become accustomed to for the 17, 12, & 7 years of their lives because of a very poor decision made by the kind of idiots that have been running our company for just a few short years!! The economy, CHINA!?, The Olive Garden, nor operations had anything to do with it!! Some of you said that corporate does not care what is happening to us, the employee and I agree with you that they don't but in reading this story and all of the comments it seems to me that NO ONE cares about what it did to people like me!! That is what is wrong with this nation!! TOO MUCH HATE!!!!!

    • Posted By: judicuti72 @ 08/08/2008 1:04:28 AM

      Comment: I really do feel for you and your family. I managed the Bennigans in downtown Fort Worth Texas. I had only worked for the company for a year and was told when I was hired that I would be given all the tools to succeed. Empty promises is all that was. I too prepped fresh and stuck to the shelf life guidelines and storage. I too am at risk of losing my home and hope to have a new job soon. I couldnt believe that just the day before on the conference call they were discussing new advertising and promotions. Of course they did it to us the dayafter we spent hours on inventories and PNL's. Good luck to you.
      Jude

      • Posted By: mrsmaya1 @ 08/08/2008 9:44:25 AM

        Comment: Thank you & good luck to you also in your job search. Hopefully there will be no more empty promises in your future. Best of luck to you as I am still having a hard time finding work.
        Melissa

        • Posted By: Chris1234 @ 08/09/2008 3:15:16 PM

          Comment: I was a senior manager in orlando fl , does anyone have a clue what is going on with our 401k's

          • Posted By: mrsmaya1 @ 08/12/2008 1:54:47 PM

            Comment: Just call Wachovia. They are aware of what happened by now. You can roll it over to your new job or I believe that will under the circumstances let you withdraw it. Best of luck to you.
            Melissa

  • Posted By: yvoennsche @ 08/04/2008 6:54:55 PM

    Comment: Well, "Olive Garden" is overrated. The food isn't even close to real italian food. The pasta sauces have only little variation, more or less garlic. Healthy choices, give me a break. If you want healthy eating, cook yourself and save money that way.

  • Posted By: ReallyRen @ 08/04/2008 5:23:12 PM

    Comment: I'm not surprised. I stopped going to Bennigan's a few years ago after several disastrous encounters. I wrote a long letter to management to express my concerns ... and, surprise, surprise, never got a reply. Good riddance is what I say.

  • Posted By: dlesae @ 08/04/2008 2:14:54 PM

    Comment: Bennigans closing is not a sign of the times. It is years and years of bad UPPER management. The corporate stores have been going down for a long time. General managers, FOH and BOH managers have been beating their heads against a wall for years. When you can't and are not allowed to keep up with basic wear and tear of your building, you feel helpless. When you are allowed to call someone out for repairs, the repair people want COD, because corporate hasn't been paying the bills. I have traveled to a lot of the franchise stores and they are great. Better run, kept up, and cared for. I hope these stores do well because of their own reputation. I worked for Bennigans for 14 years and am sad of what it had become, best of luck to the franchise owners.

  • Posted By: richboyce @ 08/04/2008 7:24:04 AM

    Comment: In most franchise systems, the franchise restaurants operate better than the company owned ones. The primary reason for that is there is a higher level of "caring" by management. This is the case in the Bennigans situation as well. I am associated with the Bennigans Franchise in Michigan, we have thousands of loyal guests who dine with us frequently and enjoy the products we have ot offer. No restaurant can be all things to all people, so if you want tofu, don't dine with us. But, if you want a great meal with great service, give us a try. As Director of Restaurant Operations, I guarentee if you are not happy with your dining experience, you will not have to pay. How many bankrupt companines can and will make that kind of claim? If you ever have a negative experience at one of the Michigan Bennigans, call me. 989-773-8850 Ext 221. Rich Boyce, Director of Restaurant Operations, LaBelle Management, a Michigan based restaurant and hospitality company

  • Posted By: richboyce @ 08/04/2008 7:16:49 AM

    Comment: One possible advantage to the closing of the company operatoed restaurants is that the franchise restaurants (who in most franchise systems consistently operate better) will be able to live or die on their own reputation. As a member of the management team of the Michigan operated franchise. I invite everyone to dine with us at any of our locations and will guarentee that if you are not satisfied that your meal will be on the house. How many bankrupt organizations do you know that can (or will) make that claim!

    My office phone number is 989-773-8850 ext 221, please call me if you ever have a problem in one of our Michigan Bennigans restaurants. Rich Boyce, Director of Restaurant Operations, LaBelle Management

    • Posted By: ParisBornWYfan @ 08/05/2008 2:58:20 AM

      Comment: Where are your locations? I am visiting Michigan in mid August for five days. Are any Bennigans Franchise Restaurants located within 30 minutes of Sturgis or South Bend, MI? I would like to see for myself if the food and service are better at the Michigan-operated franchise than at the company-operated restaurants.
      ParisBornWYfan

  • Posted By: hauptmann @ 08/04/2008 12:57:27 AM

    Comment: The Decline of Bennigan's--a short trip

    Bennigan???s (Bedford, TX)
    Our first time at Bennigan's was several years ago. The adult menu and food was fairly good, but the children's menu offered a choice between PBJ sandwich or mac & cheese-- OK if the fridge is empty or if we???re too lazy to cook, but at a RESTAURANT? With so many other choices, why come here?

    Southlake Tavern (Southlake, TX)
    ???Steaks, Seafood, and Burgers???, said the sign (or something like that). Our burgers were overcooked on our first visit, and the manager awkward and unresponsive. Would we trust them with a steak? I don't think so! Apparently everyone else voted with their feet as we did.

    Twenty Nine Degrees (Ft Worth, TX)
    This moniker refers to the temperature at which their beer is served???too cold for ANY beer except the long-neck, painted-label Sol or Corona that you toss down in 2.5 seconds after having baling hay for eight hours on a 110 degree day. After that, you want some flavor. When served at 29 degrees, even the best beer tastes like bitter, iced bathwater. Want proof? The beer companies pleaded with 29d managers to raise the serving temperature. Some, like the Bud distributor, even threatened to withhold delivery. One driver remarked to me that the number 29 was chosen for the sake of unity, matching both the beer temp and decision-makers??? IQ.

    I should have known (but didn't until the Chapter 7 filing) that these three losers were brainchildren of the same company. I give its pointy-haired execs a D minus. They should be jailed for stupidity as public service. RIP.

    Next to fall: Applebee???s. Three visits, three restaurants, three cities, three meals served cold. No mas.

  • Posted By: hauptmann @ 08/04/2008 12:54:45 AM

    Comment: The Decline of Bennigan's--a short trip

    Bennigan???s (Bedford, TX)
    Our first time at Bennigan's was several years ago. The adult menu and food was fairly good, but the children's menu offered a choice between PBJ sandwich or mac & cheese-- OK if the fridge is empty or if we???re too lazy to cook, but at a RESTAURANT? What???s up with that? With so many other choices, why come here?

    Southlake Tavern (Southlake, TX)
    ???Steaks, Seafood, and Burgers???, said the sign (or something like that). Our burgers were overcooked on our first visit, and the manager awkward and unresponsive. Would we trust them with a steak? I don't think so! Apparently everyone else voted with their feet as we did.

    Twenty Nine Degrees (Ft Worth, TX)
    This moniker refers to the temperature at which their beer is served???too cold for ANY beer except the long-neck, painted-label Sol or Corona that you toss down in 2.5 seconds after baling hay for eight hours on a hot day. After that, you want some flavor. When served at 29 degrees, good beer tastes like bitter, iced bathwater. Want proof? The beer companies pleaded with 29d managers to raise the serving temperature. Some, like the Bud distributor, even threatened to withhold delivery. One driver remarked to me that the number 29 was chosen for the sake of unity, matching both the beer temp and decision-makers??? IQ.

    I should have known (but didn't until the Chapter 7 filing) that these three losers were brainchildren of the same company. I give its pointy-haired execs a D minus. They should be jailed for stupidity as public service. RIP.

    Next to fall: Applebee???s. Three visits, three restaurants, three cities, three meals served cold. No mas.




  • Posted By: AbnRanger1971 @ 08/03/2008 10:25:03 PM

    Comment: Basically I am like really no longer eating out much. NOT because of the economy, but because of my line of work, see, I am a HVACR technician. In the last few years I have been doing quite a bit of refrigeration work at local restaurants, some of which USED to be favorites of my family and I, however after being insede their kitchens I will never eat there again.
    It really does not matter much wether it is a five star restaurant, or a diner..............Some are very nice and clean, their kitchen workers handle food properly, and others .......Well, lets say I would not feed my dog their food.
    Most used pre packaged, pre cooked food, those ribs you think are cooking on that grill were cooked probably three months ago, most everything is out of a can, or some plastic five gallon bucket with enough preservatives to mummyfy an elephant.

    There are still some good clean ones around, mostly independents, and family owned local establishments around who offer good, CLEAN, well cooked and served food with excellent customer service, but do your research if you eat out a lot.

  • Posted By: economystealer @ 08/03/2008 10:12:58 PM

    Comment: pish posh ! I thought i was going to read an article with insight and truth, and all im reading is a negative , fictional essay full of opinions. Bennigan's does have an old menu, but it did offer some new stuff to its menu over the years including healthy crap which i obviously dont care for. sure it was not recognized because ithe options are so small, but the effort was there a little.(NOBODYS PERFECT). Bennigan's is an irish like pub. People go to hang watch tv, socialize, have family time without the worry of interrupting fine dining, and also it's no olive garden; olive garden should be healthy, it's ITALIAN FOOD. Obviously this article is just hating! Bennigans is great! Obviously it was doing something right it lasted for 30+ years. The economy is bad, and people have to make choices and it's sad to see more jobs to go especially in Illinois we have to many people and jobs that are depleting fast.

  • Posted By: phoenixmd @ 08/03/2008 10:03:33 PM

    Comment: So what does the price of gasoline and the mortgage crisis have to do with Restaurants going out of business? People don't have excess funds now to go out to dinner as they used to. Add poor service and poor food and goodbye. Steak & Ale used to be great now they are closing. Apparently Olive Gardens is doing well. We have a place here in Baltimore County, the Peppermill, that is doing great and you have to wait to get in unless you are very early or very late. Why? Consistently good food, reasonable prices and pretty good service: maybe that is the secret.
    Things can't be all that bad in the US, just drive by a public high school and look at the Mecedes and BMWs that the kids are driving to school (not their parent's car, their car). China has 1.2 billion people (going to 1.3or 1.4 before population control finally catches up). A fourth of those are doing well (75% are still poor farmers) which means that they are about equal to the US population in numbers doing well. When they raise their standard of living and get farmers in a better situation, their GNP should eclipse ours, they have a 4:1population advantage. Also the Chinese are willing to study and to work hard for the most part. They love Americans and emulate us but are even more materialistic (I visited two years ago). That's a dangerous situation for us (especially since a lot or our kids won't even study or go for easy college courses).

  • Posted By: schnitzel @ 08/03/2008 10:01:10 PM

    Comment: One of the few places that knew how to properly make a Monte Cristo sandwich (en croute) and serve it with dipping jam. That I will miss.

  • Posted By: phoenixmd @ 08/03/2008 9:57:23 PM

    Comment: Gasoline is not $4.00 per gallon because of Bush or the oil companies. The media only reports oil profits in $, not in percentages, oil companies make 8 to 11% of gross which is hardly exorbitant. Oil is in demand and with China and soon India asking for more and more it is a case of supply and demand. If you don't like the price don't buy it, if everyone did that the price will drop. Also we import 75% of our oil compared to 25% some years ago. So most of the "exorbitant" profit is going overseas. Why? Because our environmentalists and Congress have prevented new nuclear power plants, oil refineries and off shore drilling for what. 30+ years. Ethanol is not the solution for the US (it needs more energy to make it than you get out, it puts CO2 in the air when it is being made, you get at best 2/3 of the MPG of gasoline and it will divert the use of corn which will run food prices even higher). Wind energy is not the solution (that takes a lot of area, looks ugly as the wind generators have to be 123 ft high to get a decent wind the power still has to be able to come from the power grid when there is insufficient wind and it kills birds and bats). Thank god here in MD a group was stopped from denuding a large beautiful forest on top of a large hill to put up those ugly beasts. So what is the answer? Drill offshore for oil, approve more refineries (hopefully somewhere else than the Gulf Coast), invest heavily in Geothermal and Nuclear Power and use Solar (on individual homes) as the price comes down. Those last three can also be used to produce hydrogen (Or better yet, hydrogen compounds-yes you have supply energy to get hydrogen in the first place). Congress is also at fault for allowing the mortgage abuses by relaxing the requirements (letting the mortgage sharks in) so people with big eyes could bypass FHA rules and buy oversize houses with nothing down when they didn't make enough money to make the payments (in some cases they couldn't even make the first payment).

  • Posted By: RaeofSun @ 08/03/2008 9:52:02 PM

    Comment: You know, it's so true about being another restaurant and suffering. This is probably my favorite chain restaurant, yet I never go. It's so bland and boring when you get there. You feel like you're one step above another hole in the wall bar. Their food may be fantastic, but in this day in age of high priced everything, it's going to take a little more than good food to get me to go out and spend my low-valued dollar.

  • Posted By: DONTBELIVETHEHYPE @ 08/03/2008 9:39:16 PM

    Comment: Wow talk about kicking someone when they are down; nice article. All the private owners and their staff are allready faceing an uphill battle, and you just pull the carpet out from under them. At least you could of asked some of the owners now that head office is bankrupt if they have any plans to upgrade menu. You could have spoke to some of the many owners who are turning a profit with a happy staff.

    You just gave a big slap in the face to all the loyal customers, hard working staff, and owners. I'm from Canada and never heard of the restaurant. Do you own shares in the Olive Garden? I have worked over 15 years in the Food and Beverage Industry in my life, and as you said there are always many reasons why all businesses fail,,,But there is no excuse for your story,

  • Posted By: PosingabtBenneyGs @ 08/03/2008 9:23:21 PM

    Comment: My brother and a few of his friends worked there for a few years. The simple reason they are no longer in business is because of their many years of poor business practices and very silly decisions from upper management. They all left within the last two years because of how it was run. They are all in the same industry, all working for successfully run businesses which are not having any difficulties. Some may blame the economic times but frankly, if the business had been managed properly, they would be just fine right now. That's all, nothing more and nothing less.

  • Posted By: PosingabtBenneyGs @ 08/03/2008 9:23:08 PM

    Comment: My brother and a few of his friends worked there for a few years. The simple reason they are no longer in business is because of their many years of poor business practices and very silly decisions from upper management. They all left within the last two years because of how it was run. They are all in the same industry, all working for successfully run businesses which are not having any difficulties. Some may blame the economic times but frankly, if the business had been managed properly, they would be just fine right now. That's all, nothing more and nothing less.

  • Posted By: jennyglove @ 08/03/2008 9:18:15 PM

    Comment: It's too bad that once successful companies are now forced to compromise who they are to please the overall public opinion, which is neccessary to stay alive in the limited choices our economy has to offer. I love going to Bennigan's. There is one an hour away. If I find myself in town, you can be sure it is a place I love to stop. The beer is cold, the wait staff is friendly, and their menus offer a wide variety of choices. It's hard to choose sometimes. It's kind of like an Indy-Applebee's, only much better in quality, service, and atmosphere. I always ate mini-cheeseburgers. They were so tasty.
    I think the overall "public opinion" is corny and lacks taste, seemingly fueled by the bright glow of what everyone else has and what seems "natural." But don't get me started on that.

  • Posted By: Denise Stuart @ 08/03/2008 9:11:38 PM

    Comment: My Niece worked there and Tuesday she got a call from a fellow worker stating there was no job to go to.
    This is such a sad loss.
    As a Real Estate Agent it is all around.
    Prayers that all who lose in this downturn, somehow find thier way back.
    Denise Stuart
    Coldwell Banker
    http://denisestuart.spaces.live.com/

    • Posted By: mustard stain @ 08/04/2008 10:55:50 AM

      Comment: That is a very bad call. The places close and they don't even have the courtesy to phone the front and back of house staff. They show up for work as usual to a miserable note and a chained up door. They will not give out the last paychecks either. It has nothong to do with Benningans that is just how corporate America sees fit to close a resturaunt. They also leave all the vendors up the creek as well. Somehow I bet the man who made the choice to close or not has not lost any sleep and only stands to profit from everyone elses losses. Very ugly times. Please let Karma be real.

  • Posted By: mmmaujr @ 08/03/2008 9:08:24 PM

    Comment: it is necessary to care for customers

  • Posted By: djdoc @ 08/03/2008 9:07:16 PM

    Comment: You people crack me up with your ""Theme outdated" and "Atmoshphere". People go out to eat want a good meal at a fair price as well as great customer service. Everyone knows the local hole in the wall dive that is locally owned is where you will find all of these, not at your corperate owned big chain resturants. I support the locally family owned establishments over the big corperate chains always where you are a number not a customer.

    • Posted By: Zubata @ 08/03/2008 9:20:59 PM

      Comment: I couldn't agree with you more dj.

  • Posted By: phoenixmd @ 08/03/2008 9:00:07 PM

    Comment: Enter Your Comment

  • Posted By: Hotguyg @ 08/03/2008 8:58:18 PM

    Comment: First of all, the economy is not weak. The economy continues to grow and unemployment is at historic lows. I know Newsweek could never say that because it contradicts the gloomy economic news this liberal mouthpiece has been writing for months. Wouldn't a bad economy and rising costs have affected multiple restaurant chains?? You note in the same article that Olive Garden sales were up 10% during the same time. I'm surprised Newsweek didnt recommend a government takeover of the chain or that Congress hold hearings on this. I wouldnt be surprised if the unedited draft of this article cast the blame on President Bush. All the restaurants in my area are busy and doing well except for the ones that are mismanaged like Benigans was.

  • Posted By: denerc @ 08/03/2008 8:58:00 PM

    Comment: I think Brad Hanson is right the parent company was over leaverged. Bennigans and Steak & Ale closed without notice in Macon Georgia about 10-15 years ago so this is not unusual for this company this is what they do. The restaurants are Testoterone freindly the food is good and I have been wanting a Monte Cristo w/ curant jelly since my Bennigans in Macon closed

  • Posted By: MaterialGURL @ 08/03/2008 8:54:46 PM

    Comment: Bennigans should have been gone out of BUSINESS .I went their 5yrs ago and never went back , poor service , poor quailty food and limited food options and the TABLES SMELLED LIKE A DRY ROTTED MOP!!!!

  • Posted By: ethanm24 @ 08/03/2008 8:43:33 PM

    Comment: This article is shocking! All the Bennigan's that I have been in have been great! They have always had wonderful service and I actually think of it as a healthy option. On Bennigan's menu you can order a wheat bun instead of white, which is great for being diabetic...you can't get that at Applebees! Also there are several salads that you can get grilled chicken instead of fried. I think that there are plenty of other resturants open that a grades below Bennigan's. My family hates Olive Garden the food tastes cheap and the service sucks and Applebee's as well. I hope that the Bennigan's near our area is staying open. Oh and consumers should not blame resturant's for the fact that they don't pick healthy choices over the fatty ones.

  • Posted By: Aflorez66 @ 08/03/2008 8:21:13 PM

    Comment: The place was nothing special. The food was overprices and the theme outdated. I only ate at a Bennigans once, and when we were done I knew that I would never come back. It is no surprise to me. If you are in a service business you have to stay ahead of the curve. Customers do not want the same old burgers and fries on the menu, they want new and exciting.

  • Posted By: IMWHO @ 08/03/2008 8:15:27 PM

    Comment: Chato4444 are you suggesting that McCain is the answer?

  • Posted By: IMWHO @ 08/03/2008 8:14:17 PM

    Comment: Chato44 are you suggesting that McCain is the answer?

  • Posted By: rogersjm2 @ 08/03/2008 8:12:57 PM

    Comment: The Bennigans in Beaumont Texas had the worst service every time you went there. Last time i ate there which was about a year ago, I knew they would be going down. They made customers wait for a long time even though they had tables open. When you finally got a table you waited and waited to ever see a server. The food was good but the service put them out of business. People talk about their experiences and it didn't take long for everyone to know.

  • Posted By: rogersjm2 @ 08/03/2008 8:10:26 PM

    Comment: x

  • Posted By: CHATO4444 @ 08/03/2008 8:10:22 PM

    Comment: Bottom Line...Obama is the Anti-Christ. All of you that follow this man are heading down the wrong path. I do not want to go religious on you but open the book of Revelation and read my friends. Come on, 200,000 people attending his events. Write again when you get your chip identification implants. Is there anybody out there that can have the strength to stand up and fight.

  • Posted By: ParisBornWYfan @ 08/03/2008 8:09:04 PM

    Comment: In 2002 I ate dinner at a Bennigan's Restaurant near Denver International Airport on Tower Road. For 13 bucks I received an ice-cream-scoop-sized tuna fish salad with some lettuce garnish. I left the restaurant unsatiated. I also ordered a hamburger for my teenage son to eat in the hotel room. He found it so unappetizing that I had to dump most of it in the hotel trash can. I never went back to this chain restaurant. Instead, I prefer to pack a bag dinner at home and eat in my airport hotel room. Bennigan's had good customer service, but skimpy portions, and poor food value for the cash outlay.

    So the bankruptcy filing did not surprise me. But I feel sorry for the former employees who did not get their last paychecks, having been a waitress in a steak restaurant myself. Perhaps they should seek class-action legal assistance to retrieve the salary owned them.

  • Posted By: amyjodeb @ 08/03/2008 8:07:44 PM

    Comment: too many restaurants like this and it's bound to hit other chains. People want unique places to eat and enjoy their time out. They don't wnat to drop serious money at a boring and typical eatery I think more people are lookingto local owned restaurants and stores with the bad taste in their mouth from stores and restaurants like Walmart, Pizza Hut and others. Peole want to feel like they spent their money having a good experience and to a good cause like a locally owned restaurant, grocer, boutique, etc. While the economy is tight, it doesn't mean we are going to skimp on quality because this is the American way!

  • Posted By: cdeambro229 @ 08/03/2008 7:56:56 PM

    Comment: My son and I ate frequently at Bennigans in Fort Myers, Florida and never found anything wrong with the food or the service. The Monte Cristos were always done perfectly as well as everything else we tried. Never had a problem with the service either. We live in Mass and found that the one on the North Shore didn't measure up to the one in Florida. Regardless, I'm always sorry to see a business fold and people losing their incomes.

  • Posted By: jackryan5403 @ 08/03/2008 7:52:54 PM

    Comment: Bennigan's was always one of my favorite places. Evenrually, Nashville lost the two we had. One was replaed by O'Charley's and the other became a Mexican Restaurant in a bad part of town.

    This should serve as a somber warning for O'Charley's, Applebee's, Chili's, and yes even Olive Garden. Eventually, even the faithful move on. Restaurants like any other business have to change with the times and with the taste of their customers.

    Rest In Peace Bennigan's: I'll always cherish the memories.

    By the way, I sold all of my stock in O'Charley's. Time to get out before the crash.

  • Posted By: jackofalltrades @ 08/03/2008 7:51:13 PM

    Comment: I think oxforduniversity could possibly be the most ignorant individual I have ever read a comment from ... first did you say hurting small business? Did I miss something or was this a story about bennigan's? The same restaurant which the actual story itself pointed out was owned by an even larger entity called Metromedia Restaurant Group? And did you even try to equate China exceeding US GDP (an estimated number which really doesn't indicate anything) somehow would make them a richer nation? I don't know how you measure that but I think considering the fact that the per capita income of US citizen's (which of course is a much better measure of how rich a nation is) far far exceeds that of the typical Chinese citizen might make our nation a bit more affluent. Of course this no regulation, free markets should be completely free type of mentality may sound good to you but let me remind you that this was the kind of thinking that led to the current housing crisis and has led to the current speculatively driven oil prices which have in turn truly led to Bennigan's demise. I'm guessing that oxforduniversity must run one of those hedge funds which invested heavily in Metromedia Restaurant Group ... actually I think that even that might have taken a bit more intellect than oxford is working with

    • Posted By: bbally @ 08/03/2008 7:57:49 PM

      Comment: While the person has an extremely poor understanding of economics, or maybe none at all from the comments, that is no reason to attack them. In the USA people are allowed to think all manner of really stupid nutty things, and this is one of them, but we must repect the right of whack jobs to hoover around and say dumb things... !

      Otherwise how would Ron Paul even still have any name recognition.

  • Posted By: jackryan5403 @ 08/03/2008 7:48:45 PM

    Comment: I used to love Bennigan's and have very fond memories of that wonderful place.

    I recently sold all of my stock in O'Charley's, a competitor.

    This should serve as a somber warning to O'Charley's, Applebees, and other chains. Learn from Bennigan's mistakes. Even the faithful will leave eventually.

  • Posted By: jbegraft @ 08/03/2008 7:48:00 PM

    Comment: I last year I went to a Bennigans I liked it alot. The only thing there was none nearby me. These days to drive 25mins to eat is not what I do, It has to be 5-10 drive only. If they were close I would be eating there.

  • Posted By: jbegraft @ 08/03/2008 7:45:18 PM

    Comment: I liked Bennigans alot but they were not close to me. If there were one closer liked the other chains I would have gone there.

  • Posted By: bradshawgang @ 08/03/2008 7:44:05 PM

    Comment: it's true 28 years ago bennegans & steak/ale was the place to dine. we would wait 20 to 40 mins for a table but the staf and atmo made it worth it. 25 years ago they lost our busn, when they lost there vision, and blead the busn dry. sorry but that seams to be the times. have you been to an outback lately they are heading down the same path. we were the only cust in the rest! it took 20 mins for staff to see if we would like a bev!!!.were did the hospitality go? need-less to say we went just down the road to great food fun and service at roadhouse....... watch out out-back

    • Posted By: bbally @ 08/03/2008 7:48:33 PM

      Comment: I agree Outback is the next one down the tubes. They changed the grade of meat they offer from what it use to be. And the service sucks, no one is training the staff to deal with the drinks, that is a big part of the profit.

  • Posted By: bbally @ 08/03/2008 7:35:09 PM

    Comment: A thirty year old corporate chain, whose menu was still 30 years old............

    They did not do Food Research, they did not do Environmental Conditions research, They had no lighting change in 30 years, no one decor change in 20 years, no sound, no white noise creation, nor any olfactor change in 20 years... they have no idea how to create atmosphere after the first brain fart that started the Irish pub thing.... after that it all stopped.

    Not a real hard consulting job to get it fixed, but why did they wait so long? Lets you know as a consultant not to work with them,..... wait for the new management, the present execs can not think.

    To bad they screwed the franchisee.... hopefully the franchisees will file for the tradename.

    It could be fixed pretty easy... little consulting work and I

  • Posted By: wants to love vegas again @ 08/03/2008 7:34:09 PM

    Comment: I use to love to go to Bennigan's to indulge in the Monte Cristo but the last time I tried one they have so much grease soaked into it I couldn't eat it. Probably had the frier turned down to save money which made the sandwich cook too slow so soaked up the grease. Never went back.

  • Posted By: OOOOOOOO @ 08/03/2008 7:24:47 PM

    Comment: My family had their last visit recently. I confirmed with the server and subsequently the MANAGER that their Broccoli Bites had no bacon (I'm a Vege). After sinking my teeth into one, I quickly realized the server and MANAGER were wrong. They apologized. I e-mailed the company expressing my surprise at the store's lack of knowledge of their own products and also requested vege. options. I never received a response.

  • Posted By: junkyarddogfan @ 08/03/2008 7:17:20 PM

    Comment: bennegans never tried to "begin again" with service or hospitality. the times i went there they could honestly care less weather they had patrons or not. now granted thats a problem with individual managment, but this was in 3 restaurants in 3 different states...perhaps it was an ongoing trend to chase business away. olive garden really treats people like family. i don't go out 2 eat 2 eat healthy, i go out 2 eat to eat different varieties of food and be treated well...bennegans never treated me or my family like they even cared if i was happy, satisfied, or hospitable...anyone wanna bet the franchise owners make severe changes NOW...perhaps they should have made them before...so they could "begin again" to gain their customer base back.

  • Posted By: pocrappa @ 08/03/2008 6:59:41 PM

    Comment: as far as vegetarian options,they USED to have the Boca burger that was AWESOME.I used to go there quite often just to get that.then they replaced it with that nasty ass black bean burger and i havent been back since.

    • Posted By: wants to love vegas again @ 08/03/2008 7:56:37 PM

      Comment: I use to go for the Monte Cristo when I felt like splurging. Last time I tried it I couldn't eat it as it contained so much grease (I'm sure due to frier being turned down to save money) soaked into it. Never went back again.

  • Posted By: timmxot@hotmail.com @ 08/03/2008 6:43:46 PM

    Comment: Of course people who used to not have 4 kids and a husband used to enjoy Bennigans, and now they enjoy the Olive garden...it's horse crap to say that the market has moved on though, or that watering holes with bar food are the first to go...that person's obvioussly never been fired from a job and looked for a watering hole with fried food. I'd be willing to bet the watering hole is not even close to being the first to go, but that in our corporate or nothing fantasy world we think that because a company stock is up that means the food is good. I loved Bennigans, and have found their lack of flexability with locations, uncompromising menu and poor service a deterant in rescent years, but the folks quoted here clearly do not understand reality as it relates to Metromedia's mis-management of their prime brand. Lose a brand lose a business, that's my motto. At least you could still get a baked potato at Bennigans, so the idea that they had an "unhealthy" menu is again an example of poor marketing by Metromedia and not an example of a real world reason they lost their advantage in the market. If I owned one I'd kick tail with it, and that's what I hear the franchiser's saying. Good for them. Yee haw in fact. That's american comming from a Mick.

    • Posted By: amethystlady2 @ 08/03/2008 7:44:35 PM

      Comment: I agree with timmxhot...as another mick...I too loved Bennigans...their food was good, their service was ok...I don't get all these silly, grumpy people beating a horse after its dead.

      If you want to talk about high prices, poor service, meiocre food at best, then discuss Village Inn. They USED to be a great family restaurant, USED to be open 24 hours a day...USED to have great food at great prices...talk about some place that sucks, stop picking on Bennigan;s!

  • Posted By: AlanTuring @ 08/03/2008 6:32:00 PM

    Comment: Food sucked. Prices moderate service stunk. Case closed! No consistency between restaurants...one decent the other awful.

  • Posted By: begging4her @ 08/03/2008 6:25:51 PM

    Comment: Well actually they do have a vegetarian option; I get it every time I go. The black bean Morningstar burger???it is delicious!

  • Posted By: begging4her @ 08/03/2008 6:24:28 PM

    Comment: Well actually they do have a vegetarian option; I get it every time I go. The black bean Morningstar burger???it is delicious!

  • Posted By: cry cry cry 39 @ 08/03/2008 6:23:41 PM

    Comment: Everyone complains about the cost of living in the US, however, if you look around this country the last 8 years have been all down hill. We have a president and his people that come from big oil money and they could care less about the little man. We are also brain watch when it comes to buying. Next time you are out and about take a look at the autos that are around you. Most are from other countries and the people driving them are the ones that want to complain about the business failing and the cost of living. If you can't support the US products just move to another country and see how you like it!!!!!

    • Posted By: amethystlady2 @ 08/03/2008 7:49:30 PM

      Comment: You are so wrong, and misinformed cry...WE drive a foreign car, because the US automakers couldn't male a car that would last!
      Our Ford broke down after a year and a half...very costly to fix...on the other hand our TOYOTA purchased in 2003, is still going strong in 2008, with not one major breakdown...and the expression is brainwashed...I don't know who was watching your brain...

      I do agree about the present administration, big oil, and not caring...but watch out for this dude...he wants to be the dictator as well as the decider of the US...that US you and me....

      But that's way off the track of Bennigan's.

  • Posted By: reader in shoes @ 08/03/2008 6:21:32 PM

    Comment: the food at B was always good but it took 2 days to get the check to my table. What's the purpose of that?

  • Posted By: TasteBud57 @ 08/03/2008 6:11:17 PM

    Comment: From the article it appears many factors drove Bennigan's to it's early demise. As a professional foodie, I know that you have to re-invent yourself continuously in order to survive in a historically vicious market like the restaurant industry. If food cost and labor was such an issue, why did Darden Restaurants post record profits? Answer......because chains like Olive Garden are pacing the demands of it's customers and sees the value in assuring the best possible experience every time regardless of it's inauthentic menu. Perception management 101 folks.....Additionally, they have a track record of re-inventing their menu and market to the current appetite of the average american. And if I were the perverbial fly on the wall I would guess they have excellent operating systems and strategic purchasing in place. Oxford U. makes some good points. Albeit, a little off the mark. True small business bears a remarkable burden for our countries poor economic policies. However, I believe the average american works harder and longer than most. If I were living in China and making $.25 an hour and had a family that would motivate me to put in 16 hour days too. But getting back to Bennigan's......they could use a turn around master to get them back on their feet. Who ever's been at the helm of this ship needs to get a clue and an infusion of the reality that is the restaurant industry. It's damn tough and you need to act like it EVERYDAY.

  • Posted By: Ro_Jain @ 08/03/2008 6:08:09 PM

    Comment: Four years ago I went to Bennigans for lunch with some coleleagues & was shocked to find not a single vegetarian dish on the menu - worse, the staff was not interesed in helping me. No wonder I never returned The place here closed 2 years ago! Overpriced, unhealthy food & bad service - a wining combination..

  • Posted By: caseygraham0277 @ 08/03/2008 6:07:39 PM

    Comment: The Bennigan's closest to me has already shut down and I am going to be VERY upset if I can no longer get my Monte Cristo sandwhiches. They are one-of-a-kind and oh so delicious! I actually crave them sometimes! Bennigan's, like many other businesses, had it's issues. Yes, they should have upgraded several things such as their look and menu, but they should leave the signature Monte Cristo dish alone. Any business who is failing right now in this time of a TERRIBLE ECONOMY should do what they can to provide a great experience for their guests with quality food and service. Unhappy guests will drive your business into the ground whether or not the economy is doing well or poorly, so I don't think it was just the economy's fault that Bennigan's is going under. If that were the case, why are so many other high-priced restaurants thriving? There are many factors to consider. All-in-all, I'm sad to see it go. :(

  • Posted By: twostick @ 08/03/2008 6:02:49 PM

    Comment: These chains are riddled with 18 year old kids and what appears to be a staff who cares less because most adults can not live off of the two dollars and something an hour, the terribly erratic hours, the "don't-spend-it-all-in-one-place" 25 cent tips, and the verbal abuse that most higher than thou patrons dish when their steak isn't medium rare enough to satiate their egos. Never mind the fact that upper management is comprised of unsympathetic men & women with sociopathic tendancies. I'm confused as to why those of you with such exquisite and premium palates are eating at chain restaurants to begin with. Oh, the horror. With your quixotic taste you should be eating at Le Fancy Crepe...or something.

    • Posted By: mikiec @ 08/03/2008 7:25:32 PM

      Comment: If you think putting up with customers wanting good service and food for their money was too much to put up with, wait until you run into the workers who are work at the unemployment office and don't really care if you get a job or a check. Then you might realize why those customers didn't come back to Bennigan's and you are now out of a job, trying to live off of unemployment benefits.

      I hope you can see the irony in the situation.

      • Posted By: twostick @ 08/03/2008 8:41:41 PM

        Comment: The only irony I see is the fact that you do not understand how to use the word "irony", and yet you hope that I see the irony in a situation which would have been better described as "parallel" to one another. How ironic. Namaste.

    • Posted By: Zubata @ 08/03/2008 6:07:10 PM

      Comment: We are - that's why these chains are closing. I guess you didn't read the article.

      • Posted By: twostick @ 08/03/2008 6:19:54 PM

        Comment: Ha, ha. Touche.

  • Posted By: twostick @ 08/03/2008 6:02:38 PM

    Comment: These chains are riddled with 18 year old kids and what appears to be a staff who cares less because most adults can not live off of the two dollars and something an hour, the terribly erratic hours, the "don't-spend-it-all-in-one-place" 25 cent tips, and the verbal abuse that most higher than thou patrons dish when their steak isn't medium rare enough to satiate their egos. Never mind the fact that upper management is comprised of unsympathetic men & women with sociopathic tendancies. I'm confused as to why those of you with such exquisite and premium palates are eating at chain restaurants to begin with. Oh, the horror. With your quixotic taste you should be eating at Le Fancy Crepe...or something.

  • Posted By: jbisrude @ 08/03/2008 5:58:47 PM

    Comment: I'm not surprised. The Bennigan's in my area were never quite aweful, but the serve left much to be desired. The worst was when a coworker suggested we go there for a dept. lunch. Little did we know that none of the cooks showed up for work and the manager was doing all of the cooking...alone! Did the server tell us this when we requested the time crunch lunch? No, as a matter of fact, 45 minutes later when our food still hadn't arrived, she told us she knew we weren't going to get our food in time and that the manager had been giving away free lunches all afternoon. Needless to say, we finally "got the message" and stopped going to Bennigan's.

  • Posted By: Joknows @ 08/03/2008 5:56:29 PM

    Comment: My hubby and I went there for lunch on a Saturday, place was empty, service was slow, food was ok. $28 for a turkey sandwich and a scrawny little wrap. too many other good places to eat, that is what did Bennigan's in.

    • Posted By: Zubata @ 08/03/2008 6:00:04 PM

      Comment: Geezzz at that price I hope you had at least 4 beers with lunch.

  • Posted By: brute2003 @ 08/03/2008 5:50:45 PM

    Comment: People, what does it take to open your eyes. These damn oil companies are to blame for all the economic mess in this country. When u take in millions and millions of record profits as the oil companies have then where the hell did all that profit money come from? It came from your pockets and mine and it has caused hardships to familes that are trying to make a living. I have personally seen 4 businesses close in the town that i live in and it has happened since the gas prices spiked to over 3 bucks a gallon. This damn administration we have has done nothing to help us either. Don't go blaming the restaraunts when it is something else much bigger that is destroying this country in which we live in. And all i have to say is when u allow such record profits go on and allow price gouging at the gas pumps you will see more businesses bite the dust. Just you watch and see. Shame on the Ceo's of these oil companies for accepting such outrageous amounts of bonus money. How evil are you that you cause people to lose homes and struggle as the americans have since gas prices have skyrocketed? Your day will surely come.

    • Posted By: Zubata @ 08/03/2008 5:58:01 PM

      Comment: I think you meant to say Billions and Billions in record profits.

  • Posted By: theoriginalmissz @ 08/03/2008 5:42:16 PM

    Comment: Twenty year ago we used to go to there to have drinks and meet guys. The drinks were watered down and overpriced, the bartenders didn't want you to order at the bar if you were not sitting there, and the drinks were not made to order if you placed them with the waitress. SO.... I go to places that appreciate my business and don't try to rush me if I choose to eat there at well as drink.

  • Posted By: oxforduniversity @ 08/03/2008 5:34:15 PM

    Comment: This is an example of Congress pushing the federal mimimum wages up, up and up again, hurting small businesses ($6.55 to $8.00 an hour is too high to pay for employee's, it is just too much to spend for labor). We live in a country where American's are buying everything made in China and more & more US companies are continuing to outsource for cheaper labor, China has 300 million people working for wages $.10 cents to $.25 cents an hour working 14 to 16 hours a day for 20 days straight with one day off. The Chinese don't complain and they work harder than we do. We are living beyond our means in this country as an 2003 article published by Newsweek that the only way for the USA to complete is every business needs to lower its cost by 30%, we'll that was 5 years ago. Now we have even more and more inflation, so 40% to 50% is what we need to do now but American's are not going to change nor is Congress. China has become a superpower on a plan that we set back in 1990, they would use their population to grow and become a Superpower which by the end of 2008, China will surpress the US GDP, meaning soon China will be the richest in the world. Small businesses are going bankrupt all over the country as Congress hasn't done a thing but raise taxes and add more regulations, more stupid laws as this hurts businesses in this country.

    • Posted By: CHATO4444 @ 08/03/2008 5:39:52 PM

      Comment: Dude....What's up with this. Read the papers. The economy sucks right now and it has nothing to do with minimum wage and China. People do not have the money to eat out that much with everything, including gas, being so inflated. With your logic, they should be serving pok fried rice and egg rolls.

      • Posted By: amethystlady2 @ 08/03/2008 8:03:18 PM

        Comment: Enter Your CommentI agree with CHATO4444...what on EARTH are you talking about? You obviously have never worked at any job your entire life? $8 an hour is TOO MUCH to pay an employee? HA!!!!
        That is not even a liveable wage...you are nuts...

      • Posted By: oxforduniversity @ 08/03/2008 5:57:19 PM

        Comment: Newsweek used China in a summer 2003 article the affect of it has on the US economy, 1. oil, which also is related to inflation and food cost, like beer and etc stuff. 2. Our US dollar stinks, the Euro is now the standard dollar of the world, 3. Labor, resturants has to pay minimum wages (when you use India, China, Mexico for example, (meaning at $.8.00 an hour for i employee, in China for $8.00 an hour you'll get about 80 to 16 Chinese workers for that price, see the point why I use this example) and also allow 15% to 20% tips go to the employees as this also takes anyway from business capital (you don't see Wal-Mart or Costco, suggesting to pay an extra 15% to 20% for tips for example).

        The bottom line is we are in a serious recession and as former labor chairman Robert Reich said earlier this year, we just may hit a depression period in 2009 by 2010. Also Alan Greenspan is going around Congress suggesting we drop our currency and abopt the Euro dollar, imagine that..

        Now have you heard of Bilderberg Group? Google it say what they are and why the media will never every discuss Bilderberg Group on the air. I suggest going on Youtube and type "Bilderberg"

        We need Ron Paul to fix this problem we have with inflation and downsizing out foreign policy so we can develope some money again in this country to Americans from losing everything they have.

        • Posted By: amethystlady2 @ 08/03/2008 8:06:16 PM

          Comment: About 8 years ago, Costco was paying $10 an hour starting pay for a checker/cashier. Go stick that in your Bilderberg Group!

          • Posted By: oxforduniversity @ 08/03/2008 10:14:52 PM

            Comment: And Costco still is paying $10.00 an hour, that is too much. That equals over 100 chinese labors for one US hour at $10.00 versing one Costco worker. Now lets that's about over people, Brad Pitt ($15 to $20 million per film, average 40 days work), Harrison Ford ($22 million a film about 3 to 5 months worth of work), (David Beckham $50 million a year, only one season) and so on, how much does it equal in Chinese day labors to equal people versing one celebrity?? Take a guess people working at $.10 cents or $.25 cents an hour to pay for people like this?? How about the US minimum wage at $6.50 an hour or California's minimum wage at $8.00? That a guess at 40 hour pers week how many US working at the minimum wage it take's to pay one person $20 million dollars for example. About 14,000 people. In China, your looking at 120,000 people to pay their hard earned money to pay one person $20 million dollars.

            Seems unfair?? Blame Congress then for the corporate greed we have lied in this country and then research Bilderberg who they are behind the aftermath of the US economy & recession.

            Who own's the European Union? Bilderberg. Who runs and operates NATO? Bilderberg. Who owns 3 of the major US oil companies? Bilderberg. Who controls all of the media from news, magazines, newpapers, channels (ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox and etc)? Bilderberg. Who runs and operates all it's leaders under one organization called the United Nations? Bilderberg.
            Read here: http://nationalexpositor.com/News/371.html

            Read here too: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0gzu-bBAMU

      • Posted By: oxforduniversity @ 08/03/2008 5:56:33 PM

        Comment: Newsweek used China in a summer 2003 article the affect of it has on the US economy, 1. oil, which also is related to inflation and food cost, like beer and etc stuff. 2. Our US dollar stinks, the Euro is now the standard dollar of the world, 3. Labor, resturants has to pay minimum wages (when you use India, China, Mexico for example, (meaning at $.8.00 an hour for i employee, in China for $8.00 an hour you'll get about 80 to 16 Chinese workers for that price, see the point why I use this example) and also allow 15% to 20% tips go to the employees as this also takes anyway from business capital (you don't see Wal-Mart or Costco, suggesting to pay an extra 15% to 20% for tips for example).

        The bottom line is we are in a serious recession and as former labor chairman Robert Reich said earlier this year, we just may hit a depression period in 2009 by 2010. Also Alan Greenspan is going around Congress suggesting we drop our currency and abopt the Euro dollar, imagine that..

        Now have you heard of Bilderberg Group? Google it say what they are and why the media will never every discuss Bilderberg Group on the air. I suggest going on Youtube and type "Bilderberg"

        We need Ron Paul to fix this problem we have with inflation and downsizing out foreign policy so we can develope some money again in this country to Americans from losing everything they have.

  • Posted By: Jack Danger @ 08/03/2008 5:12:56 PM

    Comment:
    Dear Chucksnews,

    Typically I like to rate a restaurant by the type of people that come in. For example if im eating at Taco Bell and there arent any Mexicans there at the time, the food just doesnt seem to taste as good! So I agree with you! The fact that there werent any Irish people at Benningans when I ate there appauled me! and most importantly made the food taste icky! but then again i didnt check everyones green card. Maybe you got crappy service because you are an A-Hole... food for thought =) tee hee!

    Your Pal
    Jack Danger

  • Posted By: ndrock @ 08/03/2008 5:10:05 PM

    Comment: Like the guy said: just another restaurant. Add to that the fact that most of these guys take all the profits and give nothing back, I am sure helped it along. Just go look at the property these guys live in, and own, and the cars they drive. They just don't give a rat's ass what happens once they hit that platitude.

  • Posted By: teryjay123 @ 08/03/2008 5:07:59 PM

    Comment: i believe the major reason bennigan's went under is really POOR SERVICE ..... we used to LOVE going there when they were still good. things like not getting a spoon with your soup, and after asking for one having to wait for the next 15 minutes, etc. very frustrating...... with so much competition today, they still haven't figured it out..... too bad

  • Posted By: scott510 @ 08/03/2008 5:04:23 PM

    Comment: I quit going to Bennigan's some time ago after being food poisoned, my wife called the restaurant to let them know and they were completely indifferent, so she called the health department. The person she spoke to at the health department said "I've told the them to put the meat away between sandwiches and they just don't listen".

    • Posted By: Zubata @ 08/03/2008 5:11:57 PM

      Comment: Yes - refusing to put your meat away can cause all kinds of problems, no doubt.

  • Posted By: dinaheath @ 08/03/2008 5:01:40 PM

    Comment: I used to go to Benningans in Oak Lawn IL many years ago, and I actually stopped going because the last time I was there, not one thing on the menu was vegetarian friendly. There should always be one option on the menu for us non-carnivorous people.

  • Posted By: wyesurf @ 08/03/2008 4:58:51 PM

    Comment: Sorry, becca051, your post just happened to be at the top of the list when I was reading the posts.

  • Posted By: chucksnews @ 08/03/2008 4:58:47 PM

    Comment: The most important difference between dining at Brennigans and Olive Garden is service. My family travels out of our home town area to eat something different tahn our small town has to offer. At Brennigans, we were looking for the "Old Irish" style food, what we got was really bad service, wrong orders twice in one night and had to get a refund to leave hungry, and a bad attitude from the manager when we asked after waitting 2-1/2 hours for our food, for our money back. (San Jose-Santa Clara) area. This happened at different Brennigans, not twice but three times and we ordered the house specials.and at ANY Olive Garden anywhere we have always gotten great service, and the correct order. Also our local Olive Garden is regularly visisted by a very large population of "Real Italians, and Portugesee" people who love the food.

    • Posted By: Jack Danger @ 08/03/2008 5:14:40 PM

      Comment: Dear Chucksnews,

      Typically I like to rate a restaurant by the type of people that come in. For example if im eating at Taco Bell and there arent any Mexicans there at the time, the food just doesnt seem to taste as good! So I agree with you! The fact that there werent any Irish people at Benningans when I ate there appauled me! and most importantly made the food taste icky! but then again i didnt check everyones green card. Maybe you got crappy service because you are an A-Hole... food for thought =) tee hee!

      Your Pal
      Jack Danger

  • Posted By: wyesurf @ 08/03/2008 4:56:14 PM

    Comment: For becca051, and others. Remember, a lot of folks read these posts. Spell check, spell check, and don't you wish we had grammar check.

  • Posted By: reader814 @ 08/03/2008 4:53:48 PM

    Comment: we used to have a bennigan's near my home that closed. i remember one afternoon a friend and I went there for lunch. We were literally the ONLY two people in the restaurant, and it took a half-hour for our food to come. those restaurants are awful.

  • Posted By: nepa @ 08/03/2008 4:51:07 PM

    Comment: Bennigan???s was downright filthy. Everything was sticky???tables right down to the floors. Food was so so, nothing to brag about. Surprise it didn???t happen sooner.

    • Posted By: CHATO4444 @ 08/03/2008 4:53:53 PM

      Comment: nepa, I ate at your house the other day and you had roaches all over the floors. I still liked the food though!

      • Posted By: nepa @ 08/03/2008 8:27:23 PM

        Comment: You are definitely mistaken.......I don't cook.......Must have been your mothers place.......Or maybe you were eating out of your routine garbage bin.

  • Posted By: bigeasy @ 08/03/2008 4:50:48 PM

    Comment: Bennigans pay checks bouncing? Go first thing monday morning to your local court house and file a lien on the local business. This will prevent any sales of the property, including that located inside, without first satisifying your lien. (The value of your paycheck)