Barstool Chicago Sit-Down Chain Draft Grades

The crew is back and they are drafting something very near and dear to my heart, chain restaurants. They are joined by The Dozen trivia host and restaurant enthusiast Jeff D. Lowe. This was a pretty good draft, enjoy!

Round 1 Pick 1: Benihana, Carl

There's a lot to unpack with this pick. I've personally never been to a Benihana because there just aren't any near me. However, I have been to similar restaurants and they are awesome. Always good to have a bit of a show before you eat. It's also an outstanding birthday place. Side note- I went to a knockoff hibachi place in Canton, Ohio once. Every five minutes they had a birthday song where a person in a Mickey Mouse costume went around the restaurant banging a bass drum, electric stuff.

Grade: A

Round 1 Pick 2: Hooters, Dave

Not an awesome place... but... tits. So hard to argue with that.

Grade: A-

Round 1 Pick 3: Chili's, Eddie

I personally thought this should've been the number one overall restaurant. It is a great environment, quality food, and a solid price point. Not much to say, it's the gold standard of affordable sit-down chains.

Grade: A+

Round 1 Pick 4: Outback, Jeff

Hot Take Alert!! I don't think Outback is really all that. Texas Roadhouse is a much better chain, the bread is better, it's less expensive for a similar quality, the only thing better is the atmosphere. With that being said I think Outback is fine, but I don't really think it's a first-round restaurant. Just my opinion. With this being said, It's gonna play well on the graphic so don't mind me.

Grade: A

Round 1 Pick 5: Morton's Steakhouse, Chief

I've never been. A theme throughout this draft will probably be me not going to super expensive places because I just simply have not been, sorry. I know Morton's is good, but I just have no personal experience at the restaurant. 

Grade: A

Round 2 Pick 1: The Melting Pot, Chief

This is an excellent pick from Chief. If you haven't been here, I recommend going as soon as you can. It's a surprisingly diverse menu for having fondue. It's a really good experience for families, dates, special occasions.

Grade: A

Round 2 Pick 2: Cracker Barrell, Jeff

Great road trip restaurant. Not the highest quality food, but it makes up for it in good service. It's also a very interesting restaurant.

Grade: A

Round 2 Pick 3: Texas Roadhouse, Eddie

This is in my personal top five chain restaurants. It's very unique, their birthday celebration is top-notch, and the bread is out of this world. Great selection.

Grade: A+

Round 2 Pick 4: Fogo De Chao, Dave

Again, never been, but I know a lot of people love it. I've heard the salad bar is a waste of money though, let me know. It's on my bucket list. This is probably Dave's best pick.

Grade: A

Round 2 Pick 5: Waffle House, Carl

I was actually a little shocked that this counted as a sitdown restaurant. It's just so different. Anyways, you have to go to Waffle House with low expectations or you will be disappointed. But don't take that as an insult to the place, I like it. I just don't go that often because it isn't really quality food. It's a solid pick and has a lot of fans though.

Grade: B+

Round 3 Pick 1: Cheesecake Factory, Carl

Honestly, this could've gone number one overall. I think it's absurd that they were talking ill of the pick. It's a great atmosphere, their menu is massive, and it's not super expensive for the quality you get. I love the selection.

Grade: A+

Round 3 Pick 2: Lou Malnati's, Dave

Yeah, this pick just lost Dave the draft. There are only 12 locations outside of Illinois. People simply won't know this place. Definitely shouldn't have gone third round.

Grade: F

Round 3 Pick 3: Red Lobster, Eddie

The biscuits can only take it so far. Red Lobster is really just not a great pick. It's subpar food and not really that inexpensive for the quality. But the biscuits are really good.

Grade: C

Round 3 Pick 4: Bonefish Grille, Jeff

This was smart by Jeff. He took the much better seafood restaurant right after Red Lobster, which ultimately makes his pick look even better. Very smart and a quality restaurant. 

Grade: A-

Round 3 Pick 5: Ihop, Chief

For what it's worth, I think this is the best breakfast restaurant in the game. It's cheap, they give a lot of food, and it's a welcoming atmosphere. Also, for those that don't like pancakes, the chicken and waffles are astounding.

Grade: A

Round 4 Pick 1: On the Border, Chief

Well there it is, Chief's one slip up. I don't necessarily think the place is bad, it just doesn't have name recognition. It's good value in the fourth, but I just don't think enough people have been here.

Grade: B-

Round 4 Pick 2: Ruth's Chris, Jeff

I've heard great things about the place and eventually, I'll get out to one. It's expensive but you get what you pay for, solid pick and good value in the fourth.

Grade: A

Round 4 Pick 3: Maggiano's, Eddie

I don't know a whole lot about the place, but I have heard of it. It just seems like there could have been better Italian restaurants taken. Decent pick, but not great.

Grade: C+

Round 4 Pick 4: The Capital Grille, Dave

Having two extremely expensive places hurts dave in my opinion. I don't think the Capital Grille is overly popular, however, I know people like it. Again, it's too expensive for me, would love to try it one day.

Grade: B

Round 4 Pick 5: Olive Garden, Carl

Great pick from Carl. Good chicken parm, endless salad and breadsticks, decent for families and for a nice dinner. It's very good especially here in the fourth round. It's not a lot of people's favorite restaurant, but not many people hate it.

Grade: A

Round 5 Pick 1: Rainforest Cafe, Carl

Very good pick from Carl. Insanely good nostalgia pick from Carl, it is 1 million percent getting votes. Jeff may be the chain restaurant guy, but Carl's draft will be hard to beat. Outstanding.

Grade: A+

Round 5 Pick 2: Old Country Buffet, Dave

Dave, Dave, Dave. You could've taken Golden Corral! Or literally any other restaurant. His draft is gonna have Fogo and OCB, absolutely insane. What a range. Also, can we agree Dave is officially a far worse drafter than Chief. Like it's not even close.

Grade: D

Round 5 Pick 3: Miller's Ale House, Eddie

Outstanding fifth-round selection from Eddie. Miller's just recently opened up around my house and it's a solid place. It's not the highest quality place, but it's extremely solid. It's not super big, so for anyone that's never been, it's essentially a higher quality TGI Friday's or Applebees. If there were more locations, I think it would be much more appreciated.

Grade: A

Round 5 Pick 4: Red Robin, Jeff

So I think this pick my lose Jeff the draft. I don't know a ton of people that love Red Robin, but I could be wrong. It's a solid place for families, but once your children are older than twelve, I don't think many people are going there.

Grade: B

Round 5 Pick 5: Yardhouse, Chief

There isn't one near me, but I've heard good things about it. Solid Mr. Irrelevant from Chief, but I don't think it's enough to win the draft.

Grade: B+

I think this will be one of the closest polls yet, besides WSD who will be laughed off the poll. He actually had an absurdly horrible draft. With that being said I think it's a tight race for first between Carl and Jeff. I think Carl wins, but I could be undervaluing a few of Jeff's picks. I think Rainforest Cafe seals the deal based on nostalgia alone.

Predicted Winner: Carl

Loser: Dave, and no this isn't a prediction he will be left off the poll.