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Hoots Wings (Part Two: Review) feat. VyVy Nguyen (Shaky Shivers, The Sympathizer)

Release Date: 02/14/2024

Shrekfast! The Original Pancake House History feat. Chad Opitz (Stand-Up Comedian) [Part One]

"Fine" Dining

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 Secret Menu minigame category of the week: Breakfast Cinema Chad sells Michael on injera bread from Ethiopia Michael opens up about his first kiss in 6th grade while seeing Shrek in theaters A...

P.F. Chang's Review feat. Andres Simonian (Spanish Wendy's Guy, Y-List Actor) [Part Two]

"Fine" Dining

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 with the unnamed noodle crisps in the dishes? This week's Secret Menu theme: Tasty Tourist Traps What we ate: Dynamite Shrimp Chili-Garlic Green Beans Hand-made Dumplings Kung-Pao Dragon Roll...

P.F. Chang's History feat. Andres Simonian (Spanish Wendy's Guy, Y-List Actor) [Part One]

"Fine" Dining

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't order them during their meal What are Michael & Andres' fortunes? Discussion about P.F. Chang's restaurants in Asia A guy on Yelp thought a self-acknowledged Chauvinistic review...

Chipotle Review feat. Zara Mizrahi (Stand-Up, American Dad, Family Guy) [Part Two]

"Fine" Dining

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 restaurant turning down the music as soon as we start talking? The number of government employees in uniform is Way Too Much We wanted to adopt our burrito-smith despite him warning me of a guac...

Chipotle History feat. Zara Mizrahi (Stand-Up, American Dad, Family Guy) [Part One]

"Fine" Dining

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 forayed into soul food, pizza, and burgers in other failed restaurant experiments The debut of The Secret Menu: this week's category is Chipotle-Borne Illnesses Corporate greed and tip...

IHOP Review feat. Jasper Lewis (Internet Menace) & Katie Molinaro (Renowned Foodie) [Part Two]

"Fine" Dining

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 Katie Molinaro (@eatitkatie) joins us to try Lay's exclusive Rooty Tooty Fresh 'N Fruity potato chip flavor The pancakes are good! The biscuits are the worst Jasper has had in Los Angeles Michael...

IHOP History feat. Jasper Lewis (Internet Menace) [Part One]

"Fine" Dining

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 coffee to its acquisition of Applebee's (which it paid for in cash) That whole "IHOB" thing A Yelper recounts the restaurant's denial that there could be hair in his food because "no one who works...

Costco Food Court Review feat. Marisa Pinson & Jon Glover (On Brand with Jon & Marisa) [Part Two]

"Fine" Dining

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 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 who come out of Costco with only 1-2 things in their carts? Jon details the upsetting ways he eats his food What we ate: Cold Brew Latte Freeze Cold Brew Mocha Freeze Hot Dog + Soda Combo Ch**se...

Costco Food Court History feat. Marisa Pinson & Jon Glover (On Brand with Jon & Marisa) [Part One]

"Fine" Dining

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 to watch this episode! How to survive the Costco parking lot Hear the humble beginnings of Costco's Food Court as a hot dog cart in San Diego International Costcos have different regional menu items All the discontinued offerings from the food...

Culver's Review feat. Kellie Baldwin [Part Two]

"Fine" Dining

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 , and if you want to go the extra mile, ! "Fine" Dining is now on video! Head on over to to watch this episode! The interior of the restaurant is verifiably covered with to-go bags, leading Kellie to suspect they're plotting a major April Fools event in this week's What's Going On Over There? A plain-clothes undercover...

More Episodes

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 bill mid-meal
What's Going on Over There in the women's restroom when VyVy witnesses something while going to take a number zero
Everyone's pining for entrees they didn't order
VyVy LOVES funnel cake
Next week's restaurant pick can never be spoken aloud on this podcast

Watch the show on YouTube!

Music by: James McEnelly (@Ramshackle_Music)

Theme Song by: Kyle Schieffer (@JazzyJellyfish)

Segment Transitions Voiced by: Sandy Rose

"Fine" Dining is on Patreon! Get an extra episode every month (January's episode gave an updated standings rundown of the Tchotchke of Mediocrity, hitting all the spots that weren't "mediocre enough" to score in the Zone of Mediocrity), extended Yelp from Strangers segments every other week, merch discounts, download access to our music including the 7 singles from our Olive Garden musical, and more!

Patreon Producers: Sean Spademan, Joyce Van, & Sue Ornelas

Get the 5 Survival Tips for Casual Dining at www.finediningpodcast.com!

Send in your Hoots Wings/Hooters stories at [email protected].

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Let me know where I should go next by leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, PodcastAddict, Overcast, or wherever you get your podcasts. I read every one!

Next week on "Fine" Dining: Ch**seburger in Paradise (Eat Deets)! I went to Hawaii to run a marathon and stopped by the other Jimmy Buffett restaurant with my Mom. Hear as she joins me in learning the history of the franchise and other people's opinions in Yelp from Strangers Ever work at Ch**seburger in Paradise? Send your stories to [email protected].

Totally Not Sponsored by: Well, Harrison has legal troubles, and I think JUB disappeared, so I'm currently accepting applications. Submit your character to [email protected].

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