A 2025 survey by Nation's Restaurant News and Belle Communications found that about 73% of millennial and Gen Z diners visit restaurants based on social media reviews. Search for "New York City Semma review" to find feedback on one of the city's most acclaimed Indian spots, and you'll see TikTok videos appear in the results before written reviews from The New York Times and The Infatuation. The way we learn about restaurants has changed, and as a result, a notable degree of power has been handed to food lovers on the internet.
There's something to be said about the appeal of chain restaurants. In theory, customers can walk into any location and get much the same experience. There's nothing wrong with that, especially considering some chains take quality seriously. Chain barbecue restaurants are fewer and farther between than, say, steakhouse chains, and that's because of some unique challenges, including the differences between beloved regional styles. However, the one thing that unites great barbecue is the need for great sides - which is why we're here.
In our ranking of 13 popular U.S. steakhouse chains, Outback outranked cost-effective competitors Texas Roadhouse and LongHorn Steakhouse, and we included Outback's baked potato soup in our roundup of 14 chain restaurant soups that are actually worth ordering. Also, in our ranking of 21 popular Outback Steakhouse menu items, the loaded mashed potatoes (upon which the soup is based) neared the top of the ranks.
When it comes to sweet potatoes, you'll find side dishes on both ends of the spectrum. The sweet spuds have become a mainstay at numerous chain steakhouses. They're often baked, cut into fries, or even served in casserole form. Some delight with their creamy textures and indulgent toppings that range from cinnamon sugar and butter to caramelized pecans and mini marshmallows. Others lack quality, leaving a bad taste in diners' mouths.
Nobody's perfect, and that's as true for restaurants as it is for people. Google your favorite restaurant right now and odds are you will find at least one review so negative it makes you wonder if the reviewer visited the same restaurant. Every restaurant gets bad reviews now and then, but something appears to be wrong at Sirloin Stockade, the eight-location steakhouse buffet that is routinely criticized for the same issues across four states.
Depending on where a seafood chain is located, diners may prefer certain dishes. For example, patrons of restaurants in Maryland may be out for crabcakes, while Florida customers could be on the hunt for stone crabs. Up in Maine? One would assume that the state's most popular dish is the lobster roll. And while that may be true for many restaurants, it isn't true for Legal Sea Foods, where diners have fallen in love with its fried fish.
With over 300 locations in America, Dave's Hot Chicken sells its namesake dish - Southern-style fried chicken tossed in various spicy sauces - as well as milkshakes, fries, and chicken sliders. In an official press release, Yelp revealed that 71% of user reviews for Dave's Hot Chicken locations ranked the brand at four or five stars.
The Epic Bacon is a $12 side that consists of four strips of bacon with a maple glaze, black pepper, and a choice of dipping sauce; however, its appearance has generated mixed reviews online.
One of those dishes is the firecracker shrimp bowl, and it's absolutely one of our favorites. This dish is somewhat spicy (but not overwhelmingly so) and features shrimp tossed with charred onions and peppers.
