I like Arby’s. The roast beef sandwich with their Arby’s sauce, their beef and cheddar, even their chicken sandwiches. They are delicious. Their curly fries have no equal, and the potato cakes are great too.
I think the decline was evident before 2008, but it really excelerated the trend. I used to love macaroni grill. It went to complete shit not long after 2008 with new ownership and I haven’t been to one in probably at least a decade.
They were one of the only chains I enjoyed the food from. Macaroni Grill was a nice cross section of value and quality on the food. Then they got bought and it became basically olive garden quality really quickly. The first time I went after I got lasagne and it was like dorn room cafeteria quality. Then they supposedly realized they fucked up and brought some quality back at some point and I went back, still sucked. Went from somewhere I’d recommend some decent somewhat authentic Italian food on a budget to somewhere I’d silently judge anyone for enjoying… It’s like all the other big chains now, they’re clearly throwing the equivalent of freezer isle meals in ovens.