"Fine" Dining

Traveled across the country for this! Coming to you from the mountains of North Carolina, I bring you the Eat Deets for Shoney's with my very own Dad Shoney's has undergone a few name changes, including being a part of the Big Boy franchise A brand that once grew to over 1,800 restaurants is dwindling in the post-pandemic restaurant landscape, now down to 81 (as of 2024) Racist hiring practices la...

Edible straws? Actress, foodie, and comedian Katie Molinaro joined me for maybe the weirdest meal yet, as we were total fish out of water at the  American Girl Cafe I made an impulse buy and got a doll chihuahua named Barker Posey The stalls in the bathrooms have hooks so you can take your doll with you, and that's Way Too Much... The service team had a noteworthy amount of men on it, and one of t...

Lunch at a restaurant for dolls!! Comedian and food influencer Katie Molinaro doesn't hesitate to join for a silly dining experience, so we hit up the American Girl Doll Store Boutique & Bistro Katie grew up with a doll she didn't vibe with This week's Secret Menu mini-game: Unfun Children's Toys American Girl was founded by a cancer-surviving textbook writer who used her royalties to make this br...

I debut a music video about the new frontrunner in Mediocrity! Coming closer to mediocrity than Applebee's (who scored 5.02/10),  Cracker Barrel is the life-blood of this week's guest, stand-up comedian Jen Liv The rocking chairs aren't the  only thing that swings in this Cracker Barrel Country Store... This week's Secret Menu mini-game:  Kinky Restaurants The hostess was desperately trying to ear...

I went to Cracker Barrel with a CB Superfan! Stand-up comedian Jen Liv LOVES Cracker Barrel so much (she's been to over 40 different ones!) that she hopped my car and road tripped with me to go there In this Eat Deets episode, the history of Cracker Barrel includes the franchise's humble beginnings as a gas station restaurant before growing into what it is today Learn what a "cracker barrel" actua...

"I've got the celebrity!" Comedian and world-class cuddler  Chad Opitz  is here once again to talk about dining with Shrek (me, having lost a bet) at The Original Pancake House Michael gets a looooot of attention as Shrek and makes some kids' day What's Going On Over There with OPH cooking a baby? The service staff embraced me with open arms Chad orders an entree that  isn't in the name of the res...

Get in mah swamp! Stand-up comedian Chad Opitz (recurring guest on Doug Benson's podcast "Doug Loves Movies") not only tolerates, but embraces me this week (literally) as I go to The Original Pancake House in full Shrek make-up with him to make good on the bet I lost last week We cover the history of not just this week's restaurant, but the concept of pancakes in general, going wayyyy back The Sec...

Scale the Great Wall of Chocolate! Andres Simonian (not from Home Economics or Mythic Quest) is back to plunge into our review of P.F. Chang's Michael thinks the atmosphere in a P.F. Chang's is "sexy" Michael tells the tale of the Cumbre Tunnel Massacre shootout that almost claimed his great-grandfather's life Andres makes a high-stakes Shrek-themed wager with Michael What's Going On Over There wi...

It took 55 episodes to do Chinese food! Actor  Andres Simonian (one of the Wendy's guys in the Spanish-speaking markets) joins me this week, covering the history and the Yelp reviews for  P.F. Chang's The whitewashing of "P.F. Chang's" is uncovered in this week's Eat Deets Andres is called on his lie about getting stuck in "unexpected" traffic Michael & Andres try the Lettuce Wraps since they didn...

In honor of Cinco de Mayo, let's review a restaurant as Mexican as our host is: Chipotle!! It's time to chat the Chipotle Mexican Grill  dining experience, joined once again by stand-up comedian and Chipotle-lover, Zara Mizrahi What's the actual best restaurant Zara's ever experienced? The "art" on the wall is not art, no matter how badly it wants to be What's Going On Over There with the restaura...

The debut of a brand new game: The Secret Menu!! Michael hits a place about as Mexican as he is for Cinco de Mayo,  Chipotle Mexican Grill with long-time friend and burrito enthusiast, stand-up comedian  Zara Mizrahi Chipotle can't shake the stigma of having been owned by McDonald's Learn about the legendary Chipotle burrito coins in Eat Deets Zara wants to tithe her income to Chipotle Chipotle fo...

Enter for an all expenses paid trip to your local Applebee's*! Jasper Lewis , biscuit enthusiast, is back to take on IHOP , the International House of Pancakes with Michael A hyper kid listening to metal in the booth next to us is WAY TOO MUCH Michael & Jasper discuss the viral list of places that "women don't want to be taken on a first date" Jasper is all about our server's lack of vocal fry Kat...

Rooty Tooty Fresh 'N Fruity is BACK! Michael is joined by friend and "woman-of-God" Jasper Lewis to talk all things IHOP , the International House of Pancakes and chain restaurant juggernaut Poor signage/menu descriptions leave Rooty Tooty Fresh 'N Fruity a mystery What's Going On Over There with the barren Wikipedia page for IHOP? Learn the history of the franchise, from its founder's interest in...

Is the new Costco cookie as good as the churro? Michael is once again joined by Marisa Pinson & Jon Glover from On Brand with Jon & Marisa, and they're back at the  Costco Food Court "Fine" Dining is now on video! Head on over to our YouTube to watch this episode! Marisa and Jon confess the ways they've gamed Costco's notoriously indiscriminate return policy What Going On Over There with people wh...

Learn the history of America's most iconic concession stand! Marisa Pinson & Jon Glover from On Brand with Jon & Marisa join Michael at the  Costco Food Court this week and talk all things, from how many hot dogs we could fit in our mouths to the churro that was just replaced by a cookie "Fine" Dining is now on video! Head on over to our YouTube to watch this episode! How to survive the Costco par...

Where do Butterburgers rank in the pantheon of fast food burgers? Kellie Baldwin is back to eat Culver's  with Michael! And it's official: Culver's will be the #6 seed in the 2024 Septemburger tournament! March is Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month! Find out more at the National MS Society website , and if you want to go the extra mile, donate here to Kellie's Walk for MS team ! "Fine" Dining is n...

Hear how this iconic Midwestern treasure came to be! Michael is joined by friend-from-college Kellie Baldwin to try Culver's , the Wisconsin burger chain that popularized the "Butterburger" and frozen custard March is Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month! Find out more at the National MS Society website , and if you want to go the extra mile, donate here to Kellie's Walk for MS team ! "Fine" Dining...

Dive into Septemburger 2024's #4 Seed! TV Producer/all-around queen Ashley Robinson  returns for part 2, covering the atmosphere/service/food of Texas' pride and joy: Whataburger "Fine" Dining is now on video! Head on over to our YouTube to watch this episode! Whataburger's selling snuggies Ashley is modding her own snuggies, and it's Way Too Much The staff brings trays full of the nationally-famo...

The ban on fast food has been lifted! Michael is joined by long-time friend, TV producer Ashley Robinson , a native Texan who is all aboard the train as it takes its first stop at a fast food joint: Texas' own  Whataburger "Fine" Dining is now on video! Head on over to our YouTube to watch this episode! What's Going On Over There with the lady staring down the cashier? The Eat Deets of Whataburger...

A review Jimmy Buffett would be proud of! Mom joins one more time to dish on our experience eating at  Ch**seburger in Paradise in Honolulu, Hawaii! "Fine" Dining is now on video! Head on over to our YouTube to watch this episode! Vintage decor meets views of the ocean, the beach, and garbage trucks Hawaii is the deepest South A discussion on the word "y'all" A server flat out refuses to bus a pla...

Lots of censored words in this one... Michael's  Mom is back and joins him this week to eat at the historic  Ch**seburger in Paradise restaurant in Honolulu, Hawaii! "Fine" Dining is now on video! Head on over to our YouTube to watch this episode! Mom brought leis because being festive is important Hawaiian Santa Claus! These Eat Deets get spicy as Jimmy Buffett wasn't necessarily fond of the foun...

Time to review the PG Hooters! VyVy Nguyen returns to review fast-casual Hooters affiliate  Hoots Wings Michael is finally able to give VyVy her gift, now that Harrison has been brought into custody for stealing it last week This Hoots Wings rents a counter off to the side in a Blaze Pizza, the atmosphere is dubious at best Ghost children singing Old MacDonald The restaurant quits paying its cable...

The second annual Hooter Bowl! Friend of the show  VyVy Nguyen is back to celebrate Hooter Bowl 2 by joining Michael at fast casual Hooters spin-off restaurant,  Hoots Wings  (basically Hooters without the Hooters Girls) "Fine" Dining is now on video! Head on over to our YouTube to watch this very special film noir parody episode! Michael dares the NFL to bring on their legal team A gift for VyVy...

OH HI THERE! It's your favorite sponsor JUB and I am back to help Michael review Friendly's! Step back in time to this place that feels old, classic, and filled with Depression-era clientele Octogenarians plus technology is a dangerous combination, and we like to avoid it when possible, even it if it makes us ask What's Going On Over There? An unforgivable mistake by the back-of-house workers Frib...

Fine Dining: Party of...One? Michael gets stood up by his intended guest host JUB and goes this one alone, traveling to the New England area to take on one of their most historic chains,  Friendly's Jonas Brother specialty ice creams! Eat Deets will teach you that Friendly's is one of the older restaurant chains in American history, with two brothers who founded an ice cream shop with nothing but...