Diners Name Overpriced Restaurant Dishes to Avoid Amid Inflation
Dining out in America has become increasingly expensive and less satisfying as rising gas prices and inflation push up the cost of everyday items. Iconic fast food establishments such as McDonald's and Burger King are facing significant backlash for their escalating prices and lack of value-oriented options. For popular chain restaurants, the meal quality often fails to justify the price point, according to diners who have taken to social media to highlight menu items they deem not worth the splurge.
Here are the pricier menu options that customers recommend skipping to save money and avoid disappointment.
Applebee's: Three-Cheese Chicken Penne
Applebee's sometimes attracts customers with promotions like 'dollar drinks' and half-price appetizers during late-night hours. However, the Three-Cheese Chicken Penne, priced at approximately $17.49, does not live up to expectations. This dish features asiago, parmesan, and white cheddar cheeses in a cream sauce with grilled chicken breast. Despite its straightforward composition, diners have voiced numerous complaints about its execution.
One Reddit user described the pasta as 'just awful,' adding, 'I don't know what the sauce was, but it wasn't cheese. It was liquid. And by liquid I mean colored water with very little flavor.'
Cheesecake Factory's Shrimp and Chicken Gumbo
The Cheesecake Factory boasts an extensive menu with over 250 items, but not every option justifies its cost. The Shrimp and Chicken Gumbo, priced at $27.95, ranks among the worst-rated dishes. A Mashable reviewer criticized it as 'tomato based' and noted that it 'does not taste at all like real gumbo.'
Chili's Triple Dipper
Chili's offers the Triple Dipper, allowing customers to select three appetizers such as boneless wings and Big Mouth Bites. While combos like Fried Mozzarella and Southwest Eggrolls may seem tempting, the value of the Triple Dipper has diminished over time. Originally priced at $12, it now costs nearly $20 at some locations.
One Reddit user commented, 'The triple dipper is terrible for how much you get compared to its cost. I don’t understand the hype. It’s $17.50 at my Chili's! Now the three-for-me is where it’s at!' Another user explained, 'Triples used to be cheaper but now they’re commonly ordered as an entree instead of appetizer so they upped the price.'
Cracker Barrel's Friday Fish Fry
Cracker Barrel, known as an 'old country store,' features weekly specials like Tuesday's Country Fried Pork Chop and Wednesday's Broccoli Cheddar Chicken. The Friday Fish Fry, priced around $16, includes four fried cod fillets with tartar sauce, three sides, and biscuits. However, some customers report that the meal tastes more like 'mystery fish,' according to FinanceBuzz.
The chain is currently recovering from a failed rebrand and declining sales. In an effort to win back patrons, Cracker Barrel has introduced new menu items such as Smoky Southern Salmon, Fried Catfish, and Hushpuppy Dippers.
IHOP's Fresh Berry Crepes
IHOP provides various breakfast choices, but some patrons advise skipping the Fresh Berry Crepes in favor of traditional pancakes. Priced at $11.49, this dish lacks filling between the crepes, leaving customers unsatisfied and hungry for more.
IHOP occasionally offers deals to reduce meal costs, including free short stacks on National Pancake Day for in-store diners.
Olive Garden's Stuffed Chicken Marsala
Olive Garden is renowned for its unlimited salad and breadsticks, and periodically offers the 'never ending pasta bowl' with unlimited pasta and sauce choices. However, the $20 Stuffed Chicken Marsala has drawn criticism. Purewow's food editor remarked, 'something about its texture was off-putting. It was almost too juicy and tender. It reminded me of frozen, mechanically tenderized chicken strips.'
