I Spy ... Restaurant Tricks II

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Customers Spot Cutbacks

Many restaurants are responding to the ongoing recession with cost-cutting tricks. So we asked AOL users to share examples of what they are seeing when dining out. For the second time, we round up the money-saving maneuvers AOL users have spotted: some sneaky, some forthright and many disappointing.

[Keep in mind that these are individual claims of personal experiences and may or may not be reflective of the actual policy at any of the restaurants mentioned.]
First Up: Cracker Barrel

Shrinking Bread Basket

AOL User SusieG143 Says:
"A couple days ago, I went to an Olive Garden with my fiance. When we were having dinner I asked if they could bring us another basket of bread. The waitress brought the bread basket to the table and when I looked there were only two breadsticks in the bread basket. Before they would serve five at a time."

Next: Charging for Condiments

Charging for Condiments

AOL User Stpsgrg1 Claims:
"... they advertise a sandwich piled high with toppings and when you ask for more than the four of each condiment they place on a footlong then you get charged for it. They already trimmed the amount of meat they put on each sandwich. I'm a meat girl so three pieces of thin roast beef on my sandwich doesn't cut it."

Next: No Charge, So They Say

No Charge, So They Say

AOL User MUBMUB1 Claims:
"The menu at Mel's Diner in Cape Coral, Fla. specifically says "No charge for Egg Beaters." However, whenever it's ordered, the "computer" automatically includes a surcharge for it. I've told their management several times ... I think that they think they will make more money if people don't realize they get banged for that surcharge by not carefully checking their bill against the menu price."

Next: Diminishing Dumplings

Diminishing Dumplings

AOL User Fundsage Claims:
"I went to a chinese restaurant in Gaithersburg, Md. called ChopStix. I ordered the fried dumplings appetizer, which I've ordered many times in the past. This time I noticed that there were only five dumplings. Last time I was there, a couple months ago, there were six at the same price."

Next: Fake Steak

Fake Steak, Chicken

AOL User TFG1HARLEY Claims:
"Restaurants have been using what I call fake chicken and steaks for years. These products are reconstituted meats that have been ground down and mixed with water and other by-products and then pressure assembled to look like real steak. They don't even attempt to make the chicken look like natural parts anymore. Their favorite chicken dishes are "grilled salads" or include chicken cooked in some method that makes the meat unidentifiable."

Next: Veal Switcheroo

Veal Switcheroo

AOL User Gerry924 Claims:
"When ordering veal parm or veal cutlet at a restaurant or diner, I have found on quite a few occasions that it was actually pork. Veal should be grey or light brown when cooked. When you see the fried cutlet is white upon slicing it, you've been swindled."

Next: Just-Like-New Sushi

Just-Like-New Sushi

AOL User LFGTLO Claims:
"(You may) notice the taste of disinfectant at sushi bars on fish that is older than it should be, and then is palmed off on customers. Rather than chuck older cuts of fish, this is a common practice even in some of your favorite sushi bars. They only do it on certain fish and they do it hoping to get away with it!"

Next: Outback Cutbacks

Outback Cutbacks

AOL User Cgerhard3 Claims:
"My family and I recently visited Outback Steakhouse, and noticed that they've cut back on their portions. There was no change in my filet because it is sold by the weight; however, I did notice one side was filled with fat (about 1 oz). I never noticed fat on my filet before. I believe that in the past, they would normally trim it off.Also, my daughter had the kiddie ribs, and she only got four. There used to be six. They're stretching one slab into three kids meals instead of two."

Next: Fake Mimosas at Brunch

Fake Mimosas at Brunch

AOL User shareonestudents Claims:
"My husband and I went to our favorite Italian restaurant for Sunday brunch. They offered unlimited champagne and/or mimosas. My husband noticed the manager behind the back bar was mixing seltzer water with an egg and a little champagne and OJ and then serving them to people as mimosas. I'm not much of a drinker and don't care for the taste of alcohol and usually order mimosas to help ease the flavor. When he told me what (he saw), I was in disbelief, and watched very carefully and saw him do it myself.
Next: From Trash to Table

From Trash to Table

AOL User Mizzerychic2 Claims:
"I worked for this restaurant forever. We had a manager that was so obsessed with food costs that he would actually dig through the garbage at night to retrieve creamers and crackers that had been thrown away. He would then rinse them off and put them back to be re-served. When he didn't want to do it, he would make the cooks do it. It was disgusting and always made me sick. But of course, the general manager said nothing to him, because it saved them money.

Next: Tricks of the Trade

Tricks of the Trade

AOL User Barterbabe30 Claims:
"I've worked in different types of restaurants and even on a casino ship. I've seen a lot of different tricks to save money. For instance some places will buy generic condiments and fill name brands containers to make it look like they are using the good stuff. I used to work for this one lady in a private diner that told her customers she bought all of her pies from the Amish and charged a pretty penny for a slice. It was frozen crap and she threatened her employees that if anyone told we would be fired."
Next: Cup of Soup = Bowl

Cup of Soup = Bowl

AOL User AuntPea1 Claims:
"I've worked in many restaurants and the fact is that every one I've worked in ... a cup of soup contained the same amount as a bowl. The shape of the dish just makes it look like more."

Next: Quite a Pickle

Quite a Pickle

AOL User DNP5454 Claims:
"My aunt had a friend that owned a small sandwich shop. Her trick of the trade was serving sandwiches with chips and sliced pickles on the side. Get ready for the money saver! She would collect all the pickles off the plates people had discarded in the garbage, rinse them off then put them back into the pickle jar to spruce them back up to normal. Then once again, they'd be laid down on the next customer's plate."

Next: Seafood Product Substitution

Seafood Product Substitution

AOL User BOBFISH Claims:
"Many restaurants are substituting Asian-type fish for wild-caught grouper and red snapper to increase their margin of profit at the expense of the unsuspecting consumer. A very unhealthy situation."

Next: Magic Plates

Magic Plates

AOL User Eliz Hooper Claims:
"(I've seen) plates that are higher in the middle so that it looks like you are getting the same amount of food."

Next: 10% Surcharge

10% Surcharge on Bill

AOL User Taliesen T Claims:
"One of my favorite Italian restaurants has just added a 10% surcharge on the bill. The sign states that due to the rising cost of food they have to do this. They only raised their prices once in the last year, so this isn't too bad. I can't complain about the portions either since they give you a lot of food for each entree, enough so two people could share and get a decent portion."

Next: Now You See It ...

Now You See It ...

AOL User River98x Claims:
"(The) Chipotle Mexican Grill (that I visited) removed the prices from their overhead menu board, then raised all the prices. You don't know the prices went up until you get to the register. Also, they put more rice on the burrito than before. They pile on the rice first, leaving no room for REAL ingredients. Nobody ever said, 'The rice on these burritos is delicious!'"

Next: Buffet Ripoffs

Buffet Ripoffs

AOL User Lionesa Claims:
"Having worked in a few restaurants, I'd have to say (buffets) have some of the biggest ripoffs especially when it comes to their overpriced brunches. Not only is the food put out and used and then re-used the following day or to make a dish called the "Lunch Day" special, but sometimes it's put out, used, frozen, and put right back out the following Sunday. You think that's fresh chocolate mousse? It's really last week's chocolate pudding that they've added whip cream to."

Next: Salad Gets Chopped

Robust Salad Is Now Skimpy

AOL User Jolicata66 Claims:
"(We) loved the Santa Fe Chopped Salad from Chevys in Calif. It USED to be a nice big salad, with a whole chopped chicken breast, half an avocado, a nice portion of crumbled bleu cheese, bacon, roasted corn salsa and roasted peppers. The ingredients would cover the romaine lettuce. Dressing was a nice sized portion. NOW, you have to search for everything but the lettuce. Maybe you'll get a tablespoon of chicken, and about as much of everything else, on half-romaine, half-iceburg lettuce."
Next: Carraba's Cutbacks

Carraba's Cut Backs

AOL User R Barbetti Claims:
"My girlfriends and I would go to Carraba's once a week and get apps, dinner, drinks and dessert. The bill usually ran about $350 before the $75 tip we would leave our server. We noticed the last two times we went that the minestrone soup was almost nothing but broth and the wine serving was cut in half. So for the last few months we have converted our weekly outing to a get together at someone's house."

Next: Where's the Beef?

Where's the Beef?

AOL User RPGUN202 Claims:
"Our favorite Mexican restaurant has cut back on the 1 pound beef fajitas. Now it is more likely 3/4 of pound. Before it used to be 1.25 pounds of meat, usually shared between two people. When you order a pound of meat do you get a pound of meat at your restaurant?"

Next: Watered Down Cocktail

Watered Down Cocktail

AOL User Tgva Claims:
"Keagan's Restaurant in Virginia Beach's new and trendy Town Center complex shakes their martinis in lots of crushed ice ... you got it ... watered down! When (I) asked to have it stirred and not shaken, the drink was so tiny, I asked if this was correct. BAD!"

Post: What Have You Seen?
(Featured user posts are excerpts from this board. Some posts may have been edited for space constraints or grammatical errors. These edits do not affect the content of the original post.)
Next: More Popular Features

Ruby Tuesday

AOL User WAZAZEE Says:
"I love going to Ruby Tuesday for their steak meals. I always ask for A1 Steak Sauce. Up until recently, I was given a bottle of A1. The past few times, they bring you out a little "bowl" with about 1 tablespoon of A1. That is not always enough!"

Next: Cheesecake Factory

Applebees

AOL User BFrasure Says:
"Applebees has mini bacon cheeseburgers as an appetizer. They always served 4 burgers. Now they've serve 3 burgers, but the price remains the same. Their excuse is "Now we're using fresh meat." This makes me question the quality of the meat they were serving before!?!?! Honestly, the burgers tasted better with the less than fresh meat and I got more of it. This is an obvious attempt to cheat the customer. It backfired though because I'll no longer go to Applebees."
Note: Applebee's Responds to Menu Change

Next: Chili's

Cracker Barrel

AOL User DDMACDO Says:
"They are now serving thinner slices of bacon and their 'pure maple syrup' is now 'pure natural syrup' with only 55% maple syrup. We frequent Cracker Barrel and I like Momma's Pancake Breakfast and I have noticed this change over the past several months."
Note: Read Cracker Barrel's Response

Next: Quincy's

Chili's

AOL User MEasterwoo Says:
"I went to Chili's a few weeks ago and ordered the Guiltless Chicken Sandwich Platter. It used to come with the sandwich, a bowl of black beans and a side of grilled veggies. Now you must choose either the beans or the veggie, not both. It still is the same price, less food."

Next: PF Chang's

PF Chang's

AOL User Nubiahuertas Says:
"I went to PF Chang's in Jax, Fla. the other day and was puzzled by the fact that there was no knife with the rest of the cutlery. I asked the waitress for a knife, for it is hard to eat meat without one (for those of us who are "civilized" anyway). She brought me one and as she did she apologized saying that they stopped putting out knives to save money! I was dumbfounded, no knives so they can save money? I assume less dishes to wash is the point, but still, no knives? Give me a break!"

Next: Outback Steakhouse

Outback Steakhouse

AOL User Paulalv33 Says:
"We went to Outback last week & I was surprised to find that a dinner salad is no longer included with the entrees. My chicken came with one side [dish] & the salad was an additional $2.95. $15.95 for a chicken entree & $2.95 for a salad."

Next: Chevys

Chevys

AOL User BREN34748 Says:
"Chevys in Orlando, Fla. has always been my favorite Tex-Mex [restaurant], but never again. On my last and final visit, the enchiladas were so full of red and green peppers, it was impossible to find any meat."

Next: McDonald's

McDonald's

AOL User P 103Salms Says:
"I was surprised the other day when visiting McDonald's. I usually ask for extra ketchup and was surprised to see a sign which states, "You will be charged for extra ketchup beyond the norm." Since I didn't know what the norm was, I took my 5 ketchups, which was split between 2 cheeseburgers, 1 big Mac and two mediums fries and left with out making a scene. Times are tough out I guess! Next time I will visit Burger King.

Next: Lone Star

Lone Star

AOL User STri865476 Says:
"At least one Sunday a month we enjoyed a steak dinner at Lone Star in Dundee, Mich. We recently visited Lone Star for dinner and found that they raised the prices and lowered the size of the steaks. What a rip, did they not think we would notice that we pay more for the San Antonio Sirloin and get less than we used to? I think they dropped the 11 oz. sirloin to 9 oz. and charged the same price. Needless to say we will not be visiting the Lone Star anytime soon."

Next: Cheddars

Cheddar's

AOL User ValsDayNow Says:
"Still a great place, but I noticed the potato skins are quartered now and you only get three, you used to get four halves. It's a great place, but have started to notice the cutbacks. Also, they seem to forget the croissant roll over half of the time."

Next: Taco Bell

Taco Bell

AOL User ValsDayNow Says:
"I ordered pintos and cheese and when I opened the container I told my husband I think they forgot to put the beans in there. There could not of been 2 tablespoons of beans in there. I took it up to the counter and asked the woman if they forgot the beans and she said no that is all you get. Told her I wanted my money back and she gave me my money and threw the beans in the trash!"

Next: T.G.I. Friday's

T.G.I. Friday's

AOL User MrWoody360 Says:
"I went to TGIF with a group of friends. The menu said old-fashioned milk shakes. I ordered one expecting a shake in either a soda glass or a metal shake cup with a serving glass on the side. After all they were charging almost six dollars. The shake came out, and much to my dismay it was in an eight-ounce milk glass. I inquired as to whether or not this was a mistake and was told no, that was what they serve. I complained to management. It did no good. The shake was crappy too boot."
Next: Fleming's Steakhouse

Fleming's Steakhouse

AOL User Queen2bear Says:
"Whenever my husband and I go to Fleming's in West Des Moines, Iowa, the servers always remind us that the side dishes (which are ALL priced a la carte) are enough to serve 2-3 people, and for average prices from $6 - $9 you would hope so! This means we each order our steak and split an order of sauteed mushrooms, mashed potatoes, etc. However, lately we have been placing carry-out orders, and for the last half dozen times the sides are barely enough for one person."

Next: Zaxby's

Zaxby's

AOL User DCesair Says:
"I purchased three Zax kiddie meals, just last night, which includes 2 decent chicken strips, and normally lots of french fries a drink and a kids toy. I opened up the kiddie meal box, to my surprise, regular chicken strips but each box only contained six-to-seven small french fries, talk about skimping. What use to be a box filled with french fries was reduced to six small fries. The kiddie meal cost $3.47. I could have purchased an entire bag of french fries for that price."
Next: Fish at Panama City, Fla. Restaurants

Fish at Panama City, Fla. Restaurants

AOL User Blcayce Says:
"Panama City, Fla. is notorious about substituting Vietnam's catfish for Grouper. I had told people for years when I ordered fish at a restaurant that I didn't think I was served Grouper. I was vindicated by a local news station doing an investigative report and they found several restaurants doing this. They even repeated the investigation months later and it was still being done."

Next: Ruby Tuesday

Quincy's

AOL User GnatsMate57 Says:
"I went to a restaurant named Quincy's in Naperville, Ill. last weekend and was charged $0.99 for hot water!"

Next: Applebee's

Cheesecake Factory

AOL User ATTORNEYGG Says:
"I recently ate out at the Cheesecake Factory in Boca Raton, Fla. where I noticed the Heinz ketchup was watered down as it ran instead of dripping."

Next: Fazoli's

Fazoli's

AOL User Andi2400 Says:
"They no longer come around to give breadsticks in the dining area. You have to go up and ask for them. When you ask for more they give you two. I told them I wanted 10 (for a party of 4) The guy freaked out and made me feel like I was stealing them."

Next: Red Lobster

Red Lobster

AOL User My Angel Filly Says:
"Red Lobster has cut back so much on the quantity of food they put in the meals -- it is unreal. The 'feasts' they have used to be so filling and have so much, now every item is way less. Even the lobster tails are half the size."

Next: Marble Slab Ice Cream

Marble Slab Ice Cream

AOL User TEXAG17 Says:
"The scoop is much smaller, but still cost the same -- about $4.00 for four bites. Never going back."

Next: Starbucks

Starbucks

AOL User KBLiving4Christ Says:
"They will charge extra for extra caramel in your frappacino if you let them. I was told by a manager at one of the Starbucks that extra caramel is part of the drink, and should not be charged extra. My drink is usually $4.70 for a large (venti). One Starbucks tried charging me $5.07! I was like, "I don't think so" and told them what I just said above. The barista asked her co-worker, and he said "No, we're not supposed to charge extra for the extra caramel." She was like "Oh, ok." Yeah. So I keep watch on my price every time I order."
Next: Logan's Ribs

Logan's Ribs

AOL User ptaylor324 Says:
"I went to Logan's last night for dinner. The half rack of ribs was only 3! That is the portion the used to serve on the appetizer portion. A half rack should be 6!!!"

Next: Panera Bread

Panera Bread

AOL User Jtcortesis Says:
"Panera Bread still has a 1/2 sandwich and bowl of soup, but I noticed a while back that the bowl now is smaller. My last visit about two weeks ago shows the sandwich is not as robust as it once was and they have also gone up [in prices] on their drinks."

Next: N.J. Chinese Restaurant

N.J. Chinese Restaurants

AOL User SympliMeee Says:
"The Chinese restaurants in my area have been using smaller containers so you get less food for the same price. The oval shaped white containers with the clear lids have not changed in width so the change is not noticeable right off but the depth is very different. I was hot when I saw that because the price is the same for less food. I would rather the same container and you charge me more and then that way I know what I am getting, but to stumble across the difference in the depth of the container makes me feel swindled!"
Next: Red Robin

Red Robin

AOL User CORNISHKW Says:
"At a recent visit to Red Robin, my husband and I [ordered soup and] received half the bread as before ... and half the amount of fries in the unending basket of fries."

Next: Mimi's Cafe

Mimi's Cafe

AOL User Foxisenior2 Says:
"We used to dine at Mimi's, a California chain, quite often, but no more, thank you. One of our favorite things there was a nice big muffin served with your dinner and you had a choice of three varieties. Now they serve two slices of date nut bread and one slice of some other kind and ONE roll ... this is for two people. The other night, we asked for another roll and the waiter brought us two, WOW. Also, they used to serve soup or salad with a meal, no more."

Next: Rainforest Cafe

Rainforest Cafe

AOL User Dcdsnj Says:
"At the Rain Forest Restaurant, you used to receive five shrimp for the combination dinner. You now receive four."

Next: Famous Dave's

Famous Dave's

AOL User KispokoT Says:
"We love Famous Dave's and while the chicken sandwich we ordered is almost ten dollars, it's huge, stacked with toppings and a large side, and worth it. We always ordered extra onions on the sandwich. Never a problem. Last time they charged us $1.99 each. They've also changed the bun to something smaller and not nearly as good. For the first time, we also ordered a side dish. For $1.99 each, we received half a cup of mashed potatoes and half a cup of baked apples."

Next: Bonefish Grill

Long John Silver's

AOL User Geminigrl324 Says:
"I used to go out of my way to go to a Long John Silver's,but the last time I went there the portion change was unbelievable. I always order the Chicken and More meal and I used to get three big pieces of chicken and generous proportion of fries. Now their chicken is no bigger than chicken strips from McDonald's or Burger King and you're lucky if you get a handful of fries to go with your mini strips. I'm so disappointed. I know longer go out of my way to enjoy what used to be my favorite fast food restaurant."
Next: Friendly's

Friendly's

AOL User maw2map Says:
"For the last couple years, Friendly's has been dishing out less and less ice cream in the sundaes and dishes. Last week we were out for lunch, and my daughter ordered a monster mash sundae -- it was pathetic. The ice cream was about a tablespoon's worth. It didn't even look like a monster because there wasn't enough ice cream to stick the face on. It was more like a shrunken head sundae!"

Next: Charcoal Pit

Old Spaghetti Factory

AOL User BrookEllen Says:
"My husband recently took me to the Old Spaghetti Factory, a long time favorite of mine, as a surprise, but the surprise wasn't getting to go to one of my favorite restaurants -- it was the portion size! It was VERY noticeable. We both had one of their signature dishes, the ala Homer, Mizithra cheese on spaghetti which comes with salad, bread and one scoop of ice cream. The salad was incredibly small. And when they brought the pasta out -- it TOO was smaller."
Next: Unnamed Restaurant

Unnamed Restaurant

AOL User Tags By Lois Says:
"We went out the other evening and ordered iced tea, and when the check came I was floored to see that almost a third of the meal's cost was the 2 iced teas. This wasn't a high-end place, but also wasn't a fast food place either. Now, we all know things have gone up, but I know you can make iced tea for pennies per gallon. They are also making it weaker which is terrible, because they keep it sitting around in pitchers with ice in it and as the ice melts the tea get even weaker."
Next: See Past Edition's 'Tricks'

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I Spy ... Restaurant Tricks II

Customers Spot Cutbacks

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Shrinking Bread Basket

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Charging for Condiments

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No Charge, So They Say

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Diminishing Dumplings

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Fake Steak, Chicken

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Veal Switcheroo

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Just-Like-New Sushi

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Outback Cutbacks

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Fake Mimosas at Brunch

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From Trash to Table

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Tricks of the Trade

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Cup of Soup = Bowl

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Quite a Pickle

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Seafood Product Substitution

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Magic Plates

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10% Surcharge on Bill

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Now You See It ...

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Buffet Ripoffs

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Robust Salad Is Now Skimpy

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Carraba's Cut Backs

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Where's the Beef?

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Watered Down Cocktail

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Ruby Tuesday

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Applebees

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Cracker Barrel

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Chili's

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PF Chang's

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Outback Steakhouse

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Chevys

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McDonald's

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Lone Star

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Cheddar's

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Taco Bell

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Fleming's Steakhouse

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Zaxby's

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Fish at Panama City, Fla. Restaurants

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Quincy's

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Cheesecake Factory