Not only is my area filled with the chain restaurants , but a good 60-70% of what's left is Italian. It just gets boring.
Drives my local food writer nuts. Red sauce Italian restaurants.
Believe it or not the local Buca de Beppo in my 'hood is closed. I don't know why, it was always packed when we were there. It was okay for large groups of birthdayers or whatever, the menu was large enough to cater to all tastes. Plus which a large party could get out with apps, main, and drinks and tip for around $35.00 per person...
Plenty of better places for Eye - talian here in Chicawgo, so it was never a "destination" except for large parties, but it was okay for what it was...
Believe it or not the local Buca de Beppo in my 'hood is closed. I don't know why, it was always packed when we were there.
Buca expanded _very_ quickly -- from one restaurant to 100 in about ten years, and they owned _all_ of them (no franchises). Then they went out and bought the Vinny T's chain besides. And then they ran into some financial "irregularities" that ran well into six figures ( http://wcco.com/business/local_story_171145141.html ). They're down to about 90 restaurants now. No idea what the criteria were to decide which ones closed.
