Strip Club Eats feat. Ryan Keely & Dana Scarborough [Episode 69 Special Part One]
Release Date: 11/20/2024
Rainforest Cafe, Bob's Big Boy, Waffle House, Pappadeaux, & Chuy's Get Yelped
"Fine" Dining
🗣️⭐🍽️ Yelp From Strangers: Rainforest Cafe, Bob’s Big Boy, Waffle House, Pappadeaux & Chuy’s 🍽️⭐🗣️ VyVy Nguyen (@cest_la_vyvy) is back as we wrap up our two-part Yelp From Strangers special during the final stretch of Bridge Season. This week’s batch is truly unhinged. Once again, the food is secondary and the feelings are loud. Also, wtf does "we are bar people" even mean?? 🥩 A Rainforest Cafe Review That Treats the Jungle Steak Like Fine Art 🧠 My Personal Connection to David Lynch Lore at Bob’s Big Boy 🪑 A Waffle House Review That References the...
info_outline
Denny's, Pizza Hut, Olive Garden, Gyu-Kaku, & Bubba Gump Shrimp Company Get Yelped
"Fine" Dining
🗣️⭐🍽️ Yelp From Strangers: Denny’s, Pizza Hut, Olive Garden, Gyu-Kaku & Bubba Gump 🍽️⭐🗣️ This week, VyVy Nguyen (@cest_la_vyvy) joins me for a pure Yelp chaos episode as the Bridge Season barrels toward its finale. No history, no food review, just unfiltered opinions from the internet’s most confident critics. From late-night diners to shrimp shrines, this first of a two-part Yelp special proves once again that the most unhinged storytelling lives in the review section. 🥞 A Denny’s Customer Furious About Being Mistaken for Homeless Flaunts His iPhone 🍕...
info_outline
Is Islands the Best Casual Burger Chain?
"Fine" Dining
🍔🏄♂️🍟 Islands Fine Burgers & Drinks: The Best Casual Burger Chain? 🍟🏄♂️🍔 This week, VyVy Nguyen (@cest_la_vyvy) returns for another round of Eat Deets as we surf the waves of flavor offered by Islands Fine Burgers & Drinks. From their golden fries and proprietary fry salt to surf videos looping endlessly on the walls, Islands is a California chain that perfectly captures chill beach energy. We explore its expansion beyond the West Coast, the founder’s wild journey from selling to buying the company back, and why seasoning > sauce every single time....
info_outline
The Old Spaghetti Factory: "Why the Trolley?", Mizithra Cheese, & the Nashville Bombing
"Fine" Dining
🍝🚋🕯️ The Old Spaghetti Factory: Trolleys, Mizithra, and Guss Dussin’s Dream 🕯️🚋🍝 This week, VyVy Nguyen (@cest_la_vyvy) joins me for a deep dive into the charming, old-world history of The Old Spaghetti Factory. We uncover how a humble warehouse filled with antiques became one of America’s most distinctive restaurant chains, complete with a refurbished trolley car centerpiece and chandeliers that make every meal feel like a special occasion. From its signature mizithra cheese and brown butter pasta to a story of explosive disaster, this chain has us asking the...
info_outline
I Hate Garfield Because of Buffalo Wild Wings GO
"Fine" Dining
🐃🔥🍗 Buffalo Wild Wings GO: Garfield, Barbed Wire, and the Blazin’ Knockout 🍗🔥🐃 This week, Shannon Bengston (@SSBengston) returns as we finally taste the chaos that is Buffalo Wild Wings GO. From an earnest-but-overwhelmed employee taking our order to a blaring Garfield cartoon that won’t stop looping, this meal tests not just our patience, but the limits of the Chili’s Test itself. 🥤 Mountain Dew Legend: Terrible 🍟 Desert Heat Fries Are Incredible 🍫 Chocolate Chunk Brownie = The One True Winner 🍗 Mango Habanero: The GOATed Sauce? 🔥 Golden Fire Wings: The...
info_outline
Buffalo Wild Wings: The Fourth Jonas Brother, Hank the Buffalo, and The Lost "W"
"Fine" Dining
🐃🔥🍗 Buffalo Wild Wings GO: The Fourth Jonas, Blazin’ Heat & a Fightin’ Manager 🍗🔥🐃 This week, Shannon Bengston (@SSBengston) joins me to trace the wild story behind Buffalo Wild Wings GO: from its roots as “BW3” in Columbus, Ohio to its modern takeout-only spin-off. We cover Hank the Buffalo, the forgotten Weck sandwich, and the Jonas Brothers ad campaign (yes, including the mysterious fourth Jonas). Plus, Shannon dreams up her own spooky restaurant concept, The Raven, while we cover some of the craziest Yelp reviews including one where the manager challenged...
info_outline
Outback Steakhouse: "No Rules, Just Right," Survivor, & Bloomin' Onion Perfection
"Fine" Dining
🥩🦘🍺 Outback Steakhouse: "No Rules, Just Right," Survivor, & Bloomin’ Onion Perfection 🍺🦘🥩 This week, I’m joined by VyVy Nguyen (@cest_la_vyvy) to explore the not-so-Australian history of Outback Steakhouse, the restaurant that proves authenticity is optional when the vibes are right. From a “No Rules, Just Right” slogan that’s maybe a little too spicy, to Survivor contestants earning an Outback feast as a reward, we dive deep into the steakhouse that brought the Outback to America (without ever visiting Australia). Plus, I announce the winner of...
info_outline
Hometown Buffet: Absolute Trash
"Fine" Dining
🥴🍽️🚫 Hometown Buffet: The Absolute Bottom of the Tchotchke of Mediocrity 🚫🍽️🥴 This week, we revisit a meal that has haunted me since 2014: Hometown Buffet, the worst restaurant experience of my life. Joined by Trey Burch, I relive the sleepy Sunday morning buffet that somehow managed to fail at everything. From nonexistent service to questionable sushi, this trip back to mediocrity’s basement proves exactly why this chain is extinct (and deserves to be). 📉 The Rise and Fall of Hometown Buffet: 4 Bankruptcies and a “Scatter Bar” Concept 🥴 A Nearly Empty Sunday...
info_outline
The BEST Restaurant I've Ever Experienced: chi SPACCA
"Fine" Dining
🥩🔥🍎 chi SPACCA: The Perfect 10 on the Tchotchke of Mediocrity 🍎🔥🥩 This week, I finally crown my very first perfect restaurant: chi SPACCA, the Italian butcher by Nancy Silverton and the best dining experience of my life. On Valentine’s Day 2023, I discovered what true excellence tastes like, from cozy, candlelit vibes and flawless service to indulgent bites of steak, marrow, and candied apple pie. It was decadent, joyful, and unforgettable… even if our server’s beef & bone marrow pot pie presentation went a little sideways. 🥔 Onion Rings & Mashed Potatoes...
info_outline
McDonald's Monopoly: History, Scandal, and Astronomically Bad Odds
"Fine" Dining
🎩🍟💰 McDonald’s Monopoly: History, Scandal, and Astronomically Bad Odds💰🍟🎩 This week, we peel back the golden arches on one of the biggest promotions in fast-food history: McDonald’s Monopoly. From the McMillions scandal that rocked the 2000s to the shocking odds that make the Powerball look generous, this episode dives deep into the strange world where fries meet finance. We explore the sweepstakes mechanics, the global variations, and the jaw-dropping aftermath of McDonald’s paying out on a possibly fraudulent million-dollar game piece sent to St. Jude’s. 🎲...
info_outlineMy 69th Restaurant! Nice!
Note: One of the mics wasn't working properly. It should sound fine, but Dana is a little quieter than I would've liked. Apologies in advance.
- Sam's Hofbrau is a strip club in Los Angeles that serves food, and I went with adult film star Ryan Keely and Dana Scarborough of the I Seduce the Dragon podcast to celebrate the 69th restaurant review on the main feed of the podcast!
- The history of serving food at strip clubs
- How to run your strip club kitchen
- Tales from the road as Ryan has been a featured dancer all over the country
- The pole dancer's high heeled pump is considered an athletic shoe?
- Dana & I passionately disagree with Ryan on the merits of fruit as "dessert"
- A Yelper gets chased out of the club!
- "Fine" Dining is now on video! Head on over to my YouTube to watch this episode!
Music by: James McEnelly (@Ramshackle_Music)
Theme Song by: Gabe Alvarez (@spooky.gabe)
Segment Transitions Voiced by: Sandy Rose
"Fine" Dining is on Patreon! Get an extra episode every month (My October Patreon exclusive episode about Mr. Chow came out on Halloween! Go check out the episode about a place that is expensive for expensive's sake), 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: Joyce Van, & Sue Ornelas
Get the 5 Survival Tips for Casual Dining at www.finediningpodcast.com!
Send in your strip club food stories at finediningpodcast@gmail.com.
Follow the show on TikTok and Instagram @finediningpodcast
Follow I Seduce the Dragon on Instagram @istdpod
Follow Ryan Keely @ryankeelytm
Follow Dana Scarborough @xoxodanajean
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: Strip Club Food Review [Part Two]! Ryan Keely & Dana Scarborough are back to break down what it's like to eat at a place where the food is secondary. Ever work at a strip club? Send your stories to finediningpodcast@gmail.com.