"Fine" Dining

Comedian Michael Ornelas dives deep into the stories behind your favorite chain restaurants like Cracker Barrel, Casa Bonita, and Chipotle before reviewing them with a new guest each week in search of the perfect 5-out-of-10 "fine" dining experience.

Snitching on Santa at Arctic Circle feat. Santa Claus [Part Two] 12/25/2024

Snitching on Santa at Arctic Circle feat. Santa Claus [Part Two] We come bearing gifts! Arctic Circle seemed like the best place to review with Santa Claus in tow, so we took a road trip out to southern Utah to try it! The Good: the mini corn dogs were genuinely great, and Santa brightened a few patrons' days by having gifts for the children! The Not Good: Someone complained to management about aforementioned gift-giving, and we had to cease, also not all the food was great The Just There: To be honest, this whole chain was pretty mediocre What We Ate: Three burgers (standard, bacon, and pastrami), pumpkin pie milkshake, fries, Spanish onion rings, mini corn dogs, cheese curds, root beer ice cream (with a butterscotch topper), fry sauce Santa talks about eating "rabbit on a swing" during the fanciest meal he's ever had "Fine" Dining is now on video! Head on over to 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 ! Get an extra episode every month (My November Patreon exclusive episode about Pacific Northwest Seafood institution Ivar's Acres of Clams came out just a few weeks ago! From bomb threats to no working water, my guest, author Temple West and I went through a LOT just to eat here), 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 ! Send in your Arctic Circle stories at [email protected]. Follow the show on TikTok and Instagram @finediningpodcast Follow Mark Gray on Instagram @markwgray 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! We're off next week, but in 2 weeks on "Fine" Dining: IKEA Swedish Bistro History [Part One]! From Dropout TV, Chris Grace joins me to eat Swedish meatballs amidst cheap DIY furniture, and we learn how it all started! Ever work at IKEA? Send your stories to /episode/index/show/9369c4b7-1e7b-4d55-9b95-8001ab364097/id/34575750

Who Invented Fry Sauce? feat. Santa Claus 12/18/2024

Who Invented Fry Sauce? feat. Santa Claus Road trip to Utah! What a get! This week, I had the honor of taking Santa Claus himself to the restaurant that makes the absolute most sense to review with Kris Kringle: Arctic Circle. If you don't know it, think Dairy Queen Grill & Chill. They do the dipped cone thing but more importantly, they claim to have invented fry sauce Not only do we get the history of this chain and fry sauce itself, but there's a lot of genuinely fascinating Santa Claus lore that I didn't know! Is Santa Claus technically a cryptid? A Yelper does not appreciate the attitude of the employees after her bun falls apart "Fine" Dining is now on video! Head on over to 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 ! Get an extra episode every month (My November Patreon exclusive episode just dropped on Ivar's Acres of Clams in Seattle, WA and the founder was a MAV-ER-ICK. Author Temple West joins me to chat all about it and how literal bombs on the freeway derailed our plans), 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 ! Send in your Arctic Circle stories at [email protected]. Follow the show on TikTok and Instagram @finediningpodcast Follow Santa by being Good this year For no particular reason, you can also follow Mark Gray on Instagram @markwgray 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: Arctic Circle Review [Part Two]! Santa Claus joins me one more time to dissect what was Nice and what was Naughty about this burger chain. We even got in trouble just for spreading holiday cheer, so you don't want to miss this one! Ever work at an Arctic Circle? Send your stories to /episode/index/show/9369c4b7-1e7b-4d55-9b95-8001ab364097/id/34495970

Best Chain Salad? California Pizza Kitchen Review feat. Holly Brown [Part Two] 12/11/2024

Best Chain Salad? California Pizza Kitchen Review feat. Holly Brown [Part Two] I love CPK, but not for the pizza! California Pizza Kitchen is such a favorite of mine, I'm surprised it took 70 episodes to get to it! My guest, comedian Holly Brown is just as passionate about this chain as I am, so this was a great time The Good includes my favorite salad ever, Holly & my pasta dishes, & the vibes The Not Good: The BBQ Chicken Pizza, the pasta plate real estate, the complimentary bread portions The Just There: This location didn't smell like a septic tank for once! What we ate: White Corn Guac & Chips, Bread & Oil, Thai Crunch Salad, Fettucine Alfredo, Spaghetti Bolognese, BBQ Chicken Pizza, Butter Cake, Mango Strawberry Lemonade Holly's least favorite restaurant experience ever is every Californian's trauma "Fine" Dining is now on video! Head on over to 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 ! Get an extra episode every month (My November Patreon exclusive episode about Pacific Northwest Seafood institution Ivar's Acres of Clams came out just a few weeks ago! From bomb threats to no working water, my guest, author Temple West and I went through a LOT just to eat here), 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 ! Send in your California Pizza Kitchen stories at [email protected]. Follow the show on TikTok and Instagram @finediningpodcast Follow Holly on Instagram @hollybrowncomedy 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: Arctic Circle History [Part One]! Yeah, I got him. Santa Claus joins as my guest as we talk about the history of the burger chain named after his homeland. Ever work at Arctic Circle? Send your stories to /episode/index/show/9369c4b7-1e7b-4d55-9b95-8001ab364097/id/34371110

California Pizza Kitchen Was Pasta First? feat. Holly Brown 12/04/2024

California Pizza Kitchen Was Pasta First? feat. Holly Brown Viola Davis' favorite chain? California Pizza Kitchen has some truly fascinating claims - from pizzas innovated in their kitchen to being the first chain to outlaw smoking in their restaurants - I dive into all of it with comedian Holly Brown Holly used to work at CPK, which makes her the first former employee of the restaurant-of-the-week I've had as a guest on the show The Eat Deets will teach you about how CPK was originally a pasta concept A baffling viral mishap regarding mac & cheese The Secret Menu: Legal Eats Not only is CPK Viola Davis' favorite chain restaurant, but Holly served her! A Yelper writes an absolute epic about crossing the highest reward tier threshold at California Pizza Kitchen "Fine" Dining is now on video! Head on over to 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 ! Get an extra episode every month (My November Patreon exclusive episode just dropped on Ivar's Acres of Clams in Seattle, WA and the founder was a MAV-ER-ICK. Author Temple West joins me to chat all about it and how literal bombs on the freeway derailed our plans), 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 ! Send in your California Pizza Kitchen stories at [email protected]. Follow the show on TikTok and Instagram @finediningpodcast Follow Holly on Instagram @hollybrowncomedy 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: California Pizza Kitchen Review [Part Two]! Holly Brown is back to rave about a chain restaurant we both love as we eat pizza, pasta, apps, dessert...everything to discuss the Good, the Not Good, and the Just There of CPK. Ever work at California Pizza Kitchen? Send your stories to /episode/index/show/9369c4b7-1e7b-4d55-9b95-8001ab364097/id/34276170

No Nips for Us! Strip Club Review feat. Ryan Keely & Dana Scarborough [Episode 69 Special Part Two] 11/27/2024

No Nips for Us! Strip Club Review feat. Ryan Keely & Dana Scarborough [Episode 69 Special Part Two] No Nut November + the 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. Note #2: This was also recorded before the decision was made to shake up the show's format this season, so it's the final episode to contain "This Is Way Too Much," "What's Going On Over There?" and no super awesome cold opens. Sam's Hofbrau is technically a strip club, but not based on what we experienced! I brought adult film star Ryan Keely and Dana Scarborough of the I Seduce the Dragon podcast to the strip club for the food which is like reading Playboy for the articles! A metal detector that everyone's setting off, and no one's doing anything about it Ryan details why we legally weren't able to see any nips "It's my first day" What's Going On Over There with Herbert asking an actively-dancing stripper to do a pull-up?? What we ate: Street tacos, hamburger, breakfast sandwich, wings, fries, & coffee Ryan trashes J.W. Marriott while Dana lauds Korean BBQ in the Calibration Station Ryan tries to cause chaos by unrigging and rerigging the You-Must Bowl drawing to force me to go somewhere of her choosing next week "Fine" Dining is now on video! Head on over to 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 ! Get an extra episode every month (My November Patreon exclusive episode about Pacific Northwest Seafood institution Ivar's Acres of Clams comes out in just a few days on the 30th! From bomb threats to no working water, my guest, author Temple West and I went through a LOT just to eat here), 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 ! Send in your strip club food stories at [email protected]. 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: California Pizza Kitchen History [Part One]! Comedian Holly Brown Ioves CPK with a passion, so naturally she had to be my guest. Ever work at California Pizza Kitchen? Send your stories to /episode/index/show/9369c4b7-1e7b-4d55-9b95-8001ab364097/id/34170700

Strip Club Eats feat. Ryan Keely & Dana Scarborough [Episode 69 Special Part One] 11/20/2024

Strip Club Eats feat. Ryan Keely & Dana Scarborough [Episode 69 Special Part One] My 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 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 ! 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 ! Send in your strip club food stories at [email protected]. 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 /episode/index/show/9369c4b7-1e7b-4d55-9b95-8001ab364097/id/34023227

Casa Bonita Is My New Favorite Restaurant feat. Ify Nwadiwe [Part Two] 11/13/2024

Casa Bonita Is My New Favorite Restaurant feat. Ify Nwadiwe [Part Two] 10 months on the waitlist, and well worth it! Casa Bonita is the definition of a dining "experience" with its hodgepodge collection of oddball acts and entertainment, but is it worth flying out of state to grab dinner? I break down this kitschy paradise with my guest, the hilarious Ify Nwadiwe (Dropout TV, Um Actually, Maximum Film) in this week's review episode! The Good: Cliff divers are tremendous fun, the puppet show is expertly entertaining, the magician is a pro, the merch is unrivaled, the food is way better than its reputation would have you believe, a Love Tester machine tells me I'm "burning" with passion, and much more! The Not Good: Manbearpigrilla's handler snubbed us out of a photo op, there's too much to do in one visit, the service pace is overwhelmingly fast, a food assembly line, and there's a lack of clarity on the best way to experience the show The Just There: Rice & beans were whatever What We Ate: Horchata, the Wooly Bully, Chips & Salsa, Mole, Carnitas, Rice, Beans, Enchiladas, & Sopaipillas Ify details his worst & best restaurant experiences in The Calibration Station The second highest score in the history of the podcast! "Fine" Dining is now on video! Head on over to 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 ! 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 ! Send in your Casa Bonita stories at [email protected]. Follow the show on TikTok and Instagram @finediningpodcast Follow Ify on Instagram @ifynwadiwe 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: The History of Dining at Strip Clubs! Adult film star Ryan Keely and her I Seduce The Dragon podcast costar Dana Scarborough join me to learn about the development of strip clubs as restaurants, and dive into a few Yelp reviews that are all over the place. Ever work at a strip club buffet? Send your stories to /episode/index/show/9369c4b7-1e7b-4d55-9b95-8001ab364097/id/33910682

The Story of Casa Bonita feat. Ify Nwadiwe 11/06/2024

The Story of Casa Bonita feat. Ify Nwadiwe As seen on South Park! Casa Bonita, an institution near Denver, Colorado blends the kitsch of a sprawling indoor theme park with Mexican food, and Ify Nwadiwe (Dropout TV, Um Actually, Maximum Film) is here to learn all about it with me The location that everyone knows and loves isn't the original Casa Bonita, which used to have locations in four different states The Secret Menu: Edible TV Shows I name the winner of the Septemburger $500 giveaway The South Park creators buy Casa Bonita and find themselves hemorrhaging money to the tune of $42 million to restore it A Yelper desperately tries to convince us that post-renovation Casa Bonita is clean now, and we don't know how good we have it "Fine" Dining is now on video! Head on over to 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 ! 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 ! Send in your Casa Bonita stories at [email protected]. Follow the show on TikTok and Instagram @finediningpodcast Follow Ify on Instagram @ifynwadiwe 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: Casa Bonita Review [Part Two]! Ify Nwadiwe is back to break down the Good, the Not Good, and everything that was Just There at this experience that is way more about the atmosphere than the food. Ever work at Casa Bonita? Send your stories to /episode/index/show/9369c4b7-1e7b-4d55-9b95-8001ab364097/id/33810707

Season 3 Trailer! 10/30/2024

Season Finale: A Nightmare on WingStreet Review feat. Rachel Bryant (Actor) [Part Two] 10/23/2024

Season Finale: A Nightmare on WingStreet Review feat. Rachel Bryant (Actor) [Part Two] The End of Season 2! WingStreet is Pizza Hut's wing brand, and I hit one with my guest this week, actor Rachel Bryant while we both dressed head-to-toe as horror icon Freddy Krueger What's Going On Over There with the pizza boxes replacing the glass on the broken door? Some kids at the Popeyes next door come out to threaten us (some might say it's Way Too Much) The employee had fun putting our order in for "Freddies" The Secret Menu Category: Delicious Hassles What we ate: Wings (4 flavors), Chocolate Donut Bites Rachel talks about dining on top of the Eiffel Tower Two segments get murdered ahead of the new season "Fine" Dining is now on video! Head on over to to watch this episode! Music by: James McEnelly (@Ramshackle_Music) Theme Song by: Kyle Schieffer (@JazzyJellyfish) Segment Transitions Voiced by: Sandy Rose "Fine" Dining is on ! Get an extra episode every month (Next week, I'm dropping the October Patreon episode covering the iconic Mr. Chow restaurant in Beverly Hills), 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 ! Send in your WingStreet stories at [email protected]. Follow the show on TikTok and Instagram @finediningpodcast Follow Rachel on Instagram @rachelamandabryant 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 time on "Fine" Dining: Casa Bonita [Part One]! I'm off to Denver for the season 3 premiere, dropping November 6th, and I brought Dropout's Ify Nwadiwe with me! Ever work at Casa Bonita? Send your stories to /episode/index/show/9369c4b7-1e7b-4d55-9b95-8001ab364097/id/33572892

A Nightmare on WingStreet: History feat. Rachel Bryant (Actor, "A Hard Place") [Part One] 10/16/2024

A Nightmare on WingStreet: History feat. Rachel Bryant (Actor, "A Hard Place") [Part One] Part 1 of the season 2 finale! It's A Nightmare on WingStreet as I cover the history of when Pizza Hut & YUM brands incorporated wings into their menu, and I'm joined by prolific horror actor Rachel Bryant We spend the entire finale fully cosplayed as horror icon Freddy Krueger Rachel's primary experience with wings is watching other people eat them at Super Bowl parties Hear the history of Buffalo Wings as a dish in general A Yelper needs relationship counseling, but regardless, likes his wife's suggestion of WingStreet despite his opposition to Pizza Hut as a whole "Fine" Dining is now on video! Head on over to to watch this episode! Music by: James McEnelly (@Ramshackle_Music) Theme Song by: Kyle Schieffer (@JazzyJellyfish) Segment Transitions Voiced by: Sandy Rose "Fine" Dining is on ! Get an extra episode every month (I just put out the Septemburger 2024 Semi-Finals & Finals episode and it's available for FREE! Go hear who won this year's tournament), 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 ! Send in your Cook Out stories at [email protected]. Follow the show on TikTok and Instagram @finediningpodcast Follow Rachel on Instagram @rachelamandabryant Freddy Krueger Make-Up Artists: Brady Allio & Alexa Althen 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: WingStreet Review [Part Two]! A Nightmare on WingStreet continues as the Season 2 finale concludes! Rachel Bryant and I eat 4 different types of wings and try to make sense of dining in a restaurant with no tables and were never meant to host diners. Ever work at Pizza Hut? Send your stories to /episode/index/show/9369c4b7-1e7b-4d55-9b95-8001ab364097/id/33478832

Cook Out Review feat. Scott Philbrook (Astonishing Legends Podcast) [Part Two] 10/09/2024

Cook Out Review feat. Scott Philbrook (Astonishing Legends Podcast) [Part Two] Maybe the best milkshakes in the game! Cook Out is a staple of North Carolina, and I got to sit with host of the Astonishing Legends podcast, Scott Philbrook and try the burgers, hush puppies, and milkshakes that make them famous The Secret Menu Category: Spooky Restaurants A liminal space with Cheerwine decor What's Going On Over There with the handwashing station on the customer side of the ordering station? There's back of house and front of house, and never the two shall meet What we ate: Onion Rings, Hush Puppies, Cajun Fries, Cook Out Style Burger, Out West Style Burger, Steak Style Burger Scott details a restaurant experience so bad, his whole party left with dire stomach issues in this week's Calibration Station "Fine" Dining is now on video! Head on over to to watch this episode! Music by: James McEnelly (@Ramshackle_Music) Theme Song by: Kyle Schieffer (@JazzyJellyfish) Segment Transitions Voiced by: Sandy Rose "Fine" Dining is on ! Get an extra episode every month (I just put out the Septemburger 2024 Semi-Finals & Finals episode and it's available for FREE! Go hear who won this year's tournament), 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 ! Send in your Cook Out stories at [email protected]. Follow the show on TikTok and Instagram @finediningpodcast Follow Astonishing Legends on Instagram @astonishinglegends 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: WingStreet History [Part One]! Independent Horror superstar Rachel Bryant goes full Freddy Krueger with me for A Nightmare on WingStreet, part 1 of the "Fine" Dining Halloween and Season 2 Finale Special! Ever work at WingStreet/Pizza Hut? Send your stories to /episode/index/show/9369c4b7-1e7b-4d55-9b95-8001ab364097/id/33386247

Cook Out History feat. Scott Philbrook (Astonishing Legends Podcast) [Part One] 10/02/2024

Cook Out History feat. Scott Philbrook (Astonishing Legends Podcast) [Part One] Coming to you from Greensboro, North Carolina this week! I'm cross-country again as this week I'm covering the beloved Southern burger chain Cook Out with host of the Astonishing Legends podcast, Scott Philbrook Scott talks his history with Cook Out from back when he was in college, as most locations are open until 3 in the morning Learn the history of Cook Out and their expansive menu that sells at a fraction of the cost of most fast food brands' offerings A couple incidents at Cook Out got managers and employees fired for either refusing or giving poor service to the police A Yelper complains of a "chemically" hot dog that's unfit for dogs "Fine" Dining is now on video! Head on over to to watch this episode! Music by: James McEnelly (@Ramshackle_Music) Theme Song by: Kyle Schieffer (@JazzyJellyfish) Segment Transitions Voiced by: Sandy Rose "Fine" Dining is on ! Get an extra episode every month (I just put out the Septemburger 2024 Semi-Finals & Finals episode and it's available for FREE! Go hear who won this year's tournament), 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 ! Send in your Cook Out stories at [email protected]. Follow the show on TikTok and Instagram @finediningpodcast Follow Astonishing Legends on Instagram @astonishinglegends 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: Cook Out Review [Part Two]! Scott Philbrook joins me to drink cheerwine, devour a top tier milkshake, and chow down on some burgers! Ever work at Cook Out? Send your stories to /episode/index/show/9369c4b7-1e7b-4d55-9b95-8001ab364097/id/33286687

Shake Shack feat. Jen Kober (Stand-Up Comedian) 09/25/2024

Shake Shack feat. Jen Kober (Stand-Up Comedian) Septemburger 2024's final stop! I cap off a jetsetting Septemburger with the spot I barely had to go a mile to get to, Shake Shack. One of my go-tos in this this bracket, and I was graced with the presence of hilarious comedian Jen Kober The origins of the place were unclear at the time of filming, but I ultimately learned that the original Shake Shack was called I <3 Taxi, and it was a hot dog stand in Madison Square Park The Secret Menu Mini-Game: Disastrous Restaurants A very sterile atmosphere corrals customers towards a row of iPads What's Going On Over There with a peculiar conversion overheard between an employee and a customer? Septemburger: It's time to give the White Castle slider the mercy flush it deserves as it goes head to head with the Shackburger What we ate: Crinkle Fries The Shackburger Cookies 'n Cream Shake Chocolate Shake Chicken Bites Hot Dog Smoke Shack Burger (not reviewed until the Septemburger Finals episode on 9/30 on Patreon) Carolina BBQ Burger w/Fried Pickles (will be reviewed if Shake Shack advances to the finals of the tournament) Jen talks about eating a pig's face as she details the worst and best restaurant experiences she's ever had at the Calibration Station "Fine" Dining is now on video! Head on over to to watch this episode! Music by: James McEnelly (@Ramshackle_Music) Segment Transitions Voiced by: Sandy Rose "Fine" Dining is on ! Get an extra episode every month (August's release covers the other New York restaurant I reviewed: Ess-a-Bagel with my girlfriend Joyce as she reeeeally wanted to try NYC bagels, and the Septemburger Semi-Finals & Finals episode drops 9/30 FOR FREE), 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 ! Send in your Shake Shack stories at [email protected]. Follow the show on TikTok and Instagram @finediningpodcast Follow Jen on Instagram @jenkober 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: Cook Out History. Next year's Septemburger is already in swing, as I travel to North Carolina to cover a fabled burger chain alongside Astonishing Legends podcast host Scott Philbrook. And we're back to 2-part episodes, so you'll hear the review in a couple weeks. Ever work at Cook Out? Send in your stories to [email protected] /episode/index/show/9369c4b7-1e7b-4d55-9b95-8001ab364097/id/33198427

White Castle feat. Coyal Harrison (Visit Vegas Places Podcast) 09/18/2024

White Castle feat. Coyal Harrison (Visit Vegas Places Podcast) Septemburger 2024's most upsetting stop! I'm in Las Vegas this week to hit the nearest White Castle to me with Vegas native (and host of the Visit Vegas Places podcast) Coyal Harrison and is not a good meal Apparently the White Castle slider was literally created in a moment of frustration when the founder couldn't quite figure out how to do meatballs, so he squashed it, put it on a bun, and called it edible The Secret Menu Mini-Game: Comedy Restaurants This White Castle is attached to a casino, so the vibes are nightmarish and should never be experienced sober or in the daylight What's Going On Over There with the signage that insists people refuse to live without White Castle? Septemburger: The White Castle slider gets scored ahead of its match next week with the no. 1 seed Shake Shack What we ate: French Fries Onion Chips Chicken Rings Mozzarella Sticks Chicken Slider Beef Slider Chocolate Shake Coyal details his worst and best restaurant experiences ever at the Calibration Station "Fine" Dining is now on video! Head on over to to watch this episode! Music by: James McEnelly (@Ramshackle_Music) Segment Transitions Voiced by: Sandy Rose "Fine" Dining is on ! Get an extra episode every month (I recently released the episode for the other New York restaurant I reviewed: Ess-a-Bagel with my girlfriend Joyce as she reeeeally wanted to try NYC bagels), 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 ! Send in your White Castle stories at [email protected]. Follow the show on TikTok and Instagram @finediningpodcast Follow Coyal on Instagram & TikTok @visitvegasplaces 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: Shake Shack. The final stop for Septemburger is the top dog, the number 1 seed, and I brought award-winning storyteller and comedian Jen Kober with me. Will they overcome White Castle, a burger so bad that the bar is on the floor? Yes. The answer is yes. Ever work at Shake Shack? Send in your stories to [email protected] /episode/index/show/9369c4b7-1e7b-4d55-9b95-8001ab364097/id/33099812

In-N-Out Burger (vs. Whataburger for Septemburger) feat. Raj Rawal (Tastemade) 09/11/2024

In-N-Out Burger (vs. Whataburger for Septemburger) feat. Raj Rawal (Tastemade) Septemburger rolls on! Formerly of Tastemade, producer Raj Rawal joins me to talk about a restaurant he's very passionate about: In-N-Out Burger The Eat Deets tackle everything from the founder's untimely passing in a plane crash and the struggles with substance abuse of the sons, to In-N-Out's brand loyalty with 7-Up surviving a rift with Pepsi The Secret Menu Mini-Game: Vehicular Goodies An injured employee is helped out of the restaurant by a manager mid-lunch rush in a noteworthy show of human decency What's Going On Over There with the overly competitive drivers in the parking lot? They gave us paper hats! Septemburger: In-N-Out faces off with Whataburger in the first round of the tournament What we ate: French Fries (Well Done) In-N-Out Hamburger Mustard Fried Hamburger with Toasted Bun Animal Style Hamburger with Grilled Onions Black & White Shake Raj details his worst and best restaurant experiences ever at the Calibration Station "Fine" Dining is now on video! Head on over to to watch this episode! Music by: James McEnelly (@Ramshackle_Music) Theme Song by: Kyle Schieffer (@JazzyJellyfish) Segment Transitions Voiced by: Sandy Rose "Fine" Dining is on ! Get an extra episode every month (I just released the episode for the other New York restaurant I reviewed: Ess-a-Bagel with my girlfriend Joyce as she reeeeally wanted to try NYC bagels), 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 ! Send in your In-N-Out Burger stories at [email protected]. Follow the show on TikTok and Instagram @finediningpodcast Follow Raj on Instagram & TikTok @asaprajy 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: White Castle. I drove all the way to Las Vegas to eat at this notorious stoner destination with host of the Visit Vegas Places podcast, Coyal Harrison. I give a full review to the no. 8 seed in the Septemburger bracket one week before their showdown with the top-rated Shake Shack. Ever work at White Castle? Send in your stories to [email protected] /episode/index/show/9369c4b7-1e7b-4d55-9b95-8001ab364097/id/32992512

Septemburger 2024 Kick-Off Spectacular: Steak 'n Shake vs. Rally's, Freddy's vs. Culver's, Whataburger Review 09/04/2024

Septemburger 2024 Kick-Off Spectacular: Steak 'n Shake vs. Rally's, Freddy's vs. Culver's, Whataburger Review Your chance at $500 is here! Septemburger is once again upon us, and this time I've scoured the nation for 8 fast food burger chains to compete in the annual contest I'm joined by a slew of guests: my own Dad, I Think You Should Leave's Steve Moulton, and my friends Kellie Baldwin, Herbert Amaya, and Ashley Robinson Click for a direct link to the Septemburger 2024 Bracket Google Form (due by end of day September 10th, 2024)! Septemburger Rules explained: 24 burgers across 8 fast food/fast casual restaurants are sampled First round matches pit basic burgers against basic burgers (the #1 on their menus) to see who has the fundamentals Burgers are given a score by Michael & guest, which are averaged and compared to their opponent each round Winning chain advances to the next round, while the loser is eliminated from the tournament (therefore, their other two burgers don't factor in) Semi-Finals & Finals conducted on a FREE episode on September 30th on the First Round Match-Up: Steak 'n Shake (#2 seed) - The Original Steakburger vs. Rally's Drive-In (#7 seed) - The Big Buford First Round Match-Up: Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers (#3 seed) - The Freddy's Original Double vs. Culver's (#6 seed) - The Butterburger Scoring the Whataburger at the #4 seed, Whataburger "Fine" Dining is now on video! Head on over to to watch this episode! Music by: James McEnelly (@Ramshackle_Music) Theme Song by: Kyle Schieffer (@JazzyJellyfish) Segment Transitions Voiced by: Sandy Rose "Fine" Dining is on ! Get an extra episode every month (my Ess-a-Bagel episode just dropped, where I went with my girlfriend Joyce as she reeeeally wanted to try NYC bagels), 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 ! Send in your hamburger stories at [email protected]. Follow the show on TikTok and Instagram @finediningpodcast 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: In-N-Out Burger! I'm joined by Raj Rawal Ever work at In-N-Out Burger? Send me your stories at [email protected]. /episode/index/show/9369c4b7-1e7b-4d55-9b95-8001ab364097/id/32876494

Perkins Review feat. Andrew Canada (Two in the Cooler Podcast) [Part Two] 08/28/2024

Perkins Review feat. Andrew Canada (Two in the Cooler Podcast) [Part Two] Even the name sounds mediocre! I'm joined once again by Two in the Cooler podcast host Andrew Canada to hit up a chain that was a staple of his childhood: Perkins Restaurant & Bakery Perkins has a dingy atmosphere that acknowledges you'd rather be elsewhere What's Going on Over There with advertising the arrival of Dr. Pepper to your menu, and then only serving Mr. Pibb? (This one really upset Michael) Our server was emotionally affected by me not loving my burger Andrew eats his pancakes in a real crazy way What we ate: Orange Juice Mr. Pibb Chicken Fingers Short Stack of Pancakes Turkey Sausage Tater Tots Blueberry Pancakes Sausage Patty Avocado Crunch Burger French Fries Apple Pie Banana Cream Pie "Fine" Dining is now on video! Head on over to to watch this episode! Music by: James McEnelly (@Ramshackle_Music) Theme Song by: Kyle Schieffer (@JazzyJellyfish) Segment Transitions Voiced by: Sandy Rose "Fine" Dining is on ! Get an extra episode every month (on the last day of August, I'll be releasing the episode for the other New York restaurant I reviewed: Ess-a-Bagel with my girlfriend Joyce as she reeeeally wanted to try NYC bagels), 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 ! Send in your Perkins stories at [email protected]. Follow the show on TikTok and Instagram @finediningpodcast Follow Two in the Cooler on Instagram @twointhecooler 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: Septemburger 2024 Kicks Off! I revisit 5 burger chains I've been to already this season as we see Steak 'n Shake take on Rally's, and Culver's matches up with Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers. And then I score Whataburger's hamburger before they go head-to-head with In-N-Out the following week. Fill out your Septemburger brackets ! /episode/index/show/9369c4b7-1e7b-4d55-9b95-8001ab364097/id/32766772

Perkins History feat. Andrew Canada (Two in the Cooler Podcast) [Part One] 08/21/2024

Houston's Restaurant Review feat. Adam Macias (That Was Wild Podcast) [Part Two] 08/14/2024

Houston's Restaurant Review feat. Adam Macias (That Was Wild Podcast) [Part Two] The sushi at Houston's is an unexpected masterpiece! Houston's Restaurant aka Hillstone is one of the higher-end experiences I've had for the podcast, and That Was Wild podcast's Adam Macias joined me on his own birthday to dine there with me The art choices in here were bold (arguably Way Too Much) and their light fixtures straight up looked like a certain Pokémon I straight up misinterpreted the meaning of the phrase "I'm Going to Hit the Head" What's Going On Over There with falsely advertising their artichokes on the menu? Manager gaslighting What we ate: Deviled Eggs, Bread Plate, Spinach Dip, Thai Tuna Roll, Cole Slaw, French Fries, French Dip au Jus, Hawaiian Prime Rib, Brownie with Kahlua Sauce A passionate discussion about our rating scales "Fine" Dining is now on video! Head on over to to watch this episode! Music by: James McEnelly (@Ramshackle_Music) Theme Song by: Kyle Schieffer (@JazzyJellyfish) Segment Transitions Voiced by: Sandy Rose "Fine" Dining is on ! Get an extra episode every month (July's exclusive episode is on Sarku Japan, a delicious mall food court teriyaki chicken joint, and I introduced my friend Michael Slater to their "yummy yummy sauce!"), 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 ! Send in your Houston's stories at [email protected]. Follow the show on TikTok and Instagram @finediningpodcast Follow Adam on Instagram @adamrmac 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: Perkins History [Part One]! From the Two in the Cooler podcast, I'm joined by Andrew Canada as we talk all about this history of Perkins, a chain he grew up on. Ever work at Perkins? Send your stories to /episode/index/show/9369c4b7-1e7b-4d55-9b95-8001ab364097/id/32570347

Houston's Restaurant History feat. Adam Macias (That Was Wild Podcast) [Part One] 08/07/2024

Houston's Restaurant History feat. Adam Macias (That Was Wild Podcast) [Part One] A chain with 15 different names! Houston's Restaurant aka Hillstone aka 13 other things is one of the more upscale chains, and Adam Macias from the That Was Wild podcast joins me to learn interesting facts about this restaurant Houston's will let you BYOB without charging a corkage fee, and they are very proud of this The Secret Menu: Bougier Restaurants Houston's is currently embroiled in a lawsuit over price-gouging during the pandemic My new favorite review of all-time: an unfashionable Yelper dressed terribly, and then complained that staff let him know he was breaking the dress code in this week's Yelp from Strangers "Fine" Dining is now on video! Head on over to to watch this episode! Music by: James McEnelly (@Ramshackle_Music) Theme Song by: Kyle Schieffer (@JazzyJellyfish) Segment Transitions Voiced by: Sandy Rose "Fine" Dining is on ! Get an extra episode every month (I recently released my July exclusive episode on Sarku Japan, a delicious mall food court teriyaki chicken joint, and introduced my friend Michael Slater to their "yummy yummy sauce!"), 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 ! Send in your Houston's stories at [email protected]. Follow the show on TikTok and Instagram @finediningpodcast Follow Adam on Instagram @adamrmac 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: Houston's Restaurant Review [Part Two]! Adam Macias returns to talk about this fancy birthday lunch we had for him, including some of the best sushi we've ever tasted! Ever work at Houston's? Send your stories to /episode/index/show/9369c4b7-1e7b-4d55-9b95-8001ab364097/id/32455727

Popeyes Review feat. Sierra Katow (Stand-Up Comedian, TV Chef Fantasy League) [Part Two] 07/31/2024

Popeyes Review feat. Sierra Katow (Stand-Up Comedian, TV Chef Fantasy League) [Part Two] We eat the chicken sandwich that caused chaos upon launch! Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen makes it clear that you're not supposed eat it there. But I powered through with my guest, stand-up comedian Sierra Katow Popeyes goes overboard on the signage in the store, outside the restaurant, and on the door What's Going On Over There with the complete silence inside the establishment? The chicken sandwich: is it really that good? Sierra opens up about a stressful Denny's experience What we ate: Strawberry Lemonade Sweet Tea Biscuits Mashed Potatoes & Gravy Cole Slaw Signature Fried Chicken Honey Lemon Pepper Wings Spicy Chicken Sandwich Apple Pie "Fine" Dining is now on video! Head on over to to watch this episode! Music by: James McEnelly (@Ramshackle_Music) Theme Song by: Kyle Schieffer (@JazzyJellyfish) Segment Transitions Voiced by: Sandy Rose "Fine" Dining is on ! Get an extra episode every month (Out later today, my July exclusive episode covers one of my absolute favorite food court spots: Sarku Japan. Joined by my friend Michael Slater, hear me dive into a pool of "Yummy Yummy Sauce!"), 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 ! Send in your Popeyes stories at [email protected]. Follow the show on TikTok and Instagram @finediningpodcast Follow Sierra on Instagram and TikTok @sierrakatow 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: Houston's Restaurant History [Part One]! From the That Was Wild! podcast, host Adam Macias joins me for a fancy birthday lunch at one of the nicer chains out there. Hear the history of Houston's and Hillstone. Ever work at Houston's? Send your stories to /episode/index/show/9369c4b7-1e7b-4d55-9b95-8001ab364097/id/32355517

Popeyes History feat. Sierra Katow (Stand-Up Comedian, TV Chef Fantasy League) [Part One] 07/24/2024

Popeyes History feat. Sierra Katow (Stand-Up Comedian, TV Chef Fantasy League) [Part One] The stories from the sandwich launch are wild! I went to Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen with stand-up comedian Sierra Katow, but before reviewing the place we have to go over the franchise history The Eat Deets unveil founder Al Copeland's master plan to charge the company a "spice royalty" after he was ousted from leadership The Secret Menu: Villainous Treats Beyoncé has a "free Popeyes for life" situation going, but she's too embarrassed to use it A chronicling of the abject chaos that erupted upon the release of Popeyes chicken sandwich A Yelper expresses grave concern over a manager in front of the restaurant working on their black Mercedes in their work-issued gloves and apron in this week's Yelp from Strangers "Fine" Dining is now on video! Head on over to to watch this episode! Music by: James McEnelly (@Ramshackle_Music) Theme Song by: Kyle Schieffer (@JazzyJellyfish) Segment Transitions Voiced by: Sandy Rose "Fine" Dining is on ! Get an extra episode every month (Now's a great chance to catch the Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers episode with my friend Herbert before using that information to fill out your Septemburger 2024 bracket in a little over a month), 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 ! Send in your Popeyes stories at [email protected]. Follow the show on TikTok and Instagram @finediningpodcast Follow Sierra on Instagram and TikTok @sierrakatow 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: Popeyes Review [Part Two]! Sierra Katow returns to help me try a bunch of the different ways Popeyes does chicken: sandwich, wings, traditional fried, etc.! Ever work at Popeyes? Send your stories to /episode/index/show/9369c4b7-1e7b-4d55-9b95-8001ab364097/id/32255682

Shoney's Review feat. Dad [Part Two] 07/17/2024

Shoney's Review feat. Dad [Part Two] A new Worst Restaurant in America is crowned! A restaurant so bad, I don't think my Dad (my guest this week) will ever let me live it down: Shoney's Buffet soups shouldn't have such a thick skin over them that the ladle rests on top...right?? What's Going On Over There with Shoney's thinking they deserve their own food truck? The service team surprises me with a little extra cook time on my steak, despite my wishes to the contrary Fan of the show Travis recounts the story of when Scott Steiner threw him out of a Shoney's! Seriously, a steak cooked this long can only be described as Way Too Much! The previous worst restaurant, GattiTown scored a 2.70 on the Tchotchke of Mediocrity. How much worse can Shoney's be? What we ate: Fries Breakfast Potatoes Eggs Pancakes Slim Jim Sandwich Steak Shoney's World Famous Hot FudgeCake Heinz 57 "Fine" Dining is now on video! Head on over to to watch this episode! Music by: James McEnelly (@Ramshackle_Music) Theme Song by: Kyle Schieffer (@JazzyJellyfish) Segment Transitions Voiced by: Sandy Rose "Fine" Dining is on ! Get an extra episode every month (The Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers episode with my friend Herbert is going strong, and I just released my tentative show line-up through the end of 2024!), 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 ! Send in your Shoney's stories at [email protected]. Follow the show on TikTok and Instagram @finediningpodcast 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: Popeyes History [Part One]! I'm joined by comedian Sierra Katow to learn about the history of my favorite Louisiana-based fast food chicken chain, and its founder's villainous ploy to hold the recipes hostage! Ever work at Popeyes? Send your stories to /episode/index/show/9369c4b7-1e7b-4d55-9b95-8001ab364097/id/32167742

Shoney's History feat. Dad [Part One] 07/10/2024

American Girl Cafe Review feat. Katie Molinaro (Eat It Katie, Comedian, & Foodie) [Part Two] 07/03/2024

American Girl Cafe Review feat. Katie Molinaro (Eat It Katie, Comedian, & Foodie) [Part Two] Edible straws? Actress, foodie, and comedian Katie Molinaro joined me for maybe the weirdest meal yet, as we were total fish out of water at the American Girl Cafe I made an impulse buy and got a doll chihuahua named Barker Posey The stalls in the bathrooms have hooks so you can take your doll with you, and that's Way Too Much... The service team had a noteworthy amount of men on it, and one of them's name tag didn't match his employee badge which makes us wonder What's Going On Over There? What we ate this week: Cinnamon Buns Glitter Bomb for my Sprite + an Edible Straw Ch**se-Topped Cucumber Fruit Skewer Meatballs, Marinara, & Ravioli French Fries Turkey Club The AG Burger with Tomato Bacon Jam & Fried Egg on a Pretzel Bun Chocolate Mousse in a Flower Pot Katie details the best and worst restaurants she's ever been to in the Calibration Station "Fine" Dining is now on video! Head on over to to watch this episode! Music by: James McEnelly (@Ramshackle_Music) Theme Song by: Kyle Schieffer (@JazzyJellyfish) Segment Transitions Voiced by: Sandy Rose "Fine" Dining is on ! Get an extra episode every month (The June exclusive is out now as I head to Septemburger 2024's no. 3 seed ahead of the tournament this year: Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers with my good friend Herbert Amaya), 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 ! Send in your American Girl stories at [email protected]. Follow the show on TikTok and Instagram @finediningpodcast Follow Katie on TikTok and Instagram @eatitkatie 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: Shoney's History [Part One]! My own Dad joins me on the road in North Carolina to go to a chain that I'd only heard of from Rick & Morty: Shoney's. Hear the history of this former member of the Big Boy family and some Yelp reviews. Ever work at a Shoney's? Send your stories to /episode/index/show/9369c4b7-1e7b-4d55-9b95-8001ab364097/id/31958612

American Girl Cafe History feat. Katie Molinaro (Eat It Katie, Comedian, & Foodie) [Part One] 06/26/2024

American Girl Cafe History feat. Katie Molinaro (Eat It Katie, Comedian, & Foodie) [Part One] Lunch at a restaurant for dolls!! Comedian and food influencer Katie Molinaro doesn't hesitate to join for a silly dining experience, so we hit up the American Girl Doll Store Boutique & Bistro Katie grew up with a doll she didn't vibe with This week's Secret Menu mini-game: Unfun Children's Toys American Girl was founded by a cancer-surviving textbook writer who used her royalties to make this brand explode "The first experiential dining experience" The brand forayed into movies while inspiring aspiring filmmakers to make American Girl stop-motion animations A guy fails to realize that this place just simply isn't for him in this week's Yelp from Strangers "Fine" Dining is now on video! Head on over to to watch this episode! Music by: James McEnelly (@Ramshackle_Music) Theme Song by: Kyle Schieffer (@JazzyJellyfish) Segment Transitions Voiced by: Sandy Rose "Fine" Dining is on ! Get an extra episode every month (New Patreon episode drops 6/30: the No. 3 seed in this year's Septemburger tournament, Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers with my buddy and perennial dining-mate, Herbert Amaya), 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 ! Send in your American Girl stories at [email protected]. Follow the show on TikTok and Instagram @finediningpodcast Follow Katie on Instagram & TikTok @eatitkatie 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: The American Girl Cafe Review [Part Two]! My new friend Katie Molinaro is back to break down what it's like to eat at an experience meant for children as an adult. Ever work at American Girl? Send your stories to /episode/index/show/9369c4b7-1e7b-4d55-9b95-8001ab364097/id/31886917

Cracker Barrel Review feat. Jen Liv (Stand-Up Comedian) [Part Two] 06/19/2024

Cracker Barrel Review feat. Jen Liv (Stand-Up Comedian) [Part Two] I debut a music video about the new frontrunner in Mediocrity! Coming closer to mediocrity than Applebee's (who scored 5.02/10), Cracker Barrel is the life-blood of this week's guest, stand-up comedian Jen Liv The rocking chairs aren't the only thing that swings in this Cracker Barrel Country Store... This week's Secret Menu mini-game: Kinky Restaurants The hostess was desperately trying to earn her fourth star Their biscuits are GOATed What we ate this week: Hand-Rolled Buttermilk Biscuits with Apple Butter Cornbread Biscuit Beignets Fried Pickles Chicken Fried Chicken Country Fried Shrimp Sirloin Steak Macaroni n' Ch**se Fried Apples Baked Potato Corn Peach Cobbler Rap music video premiere: "Cracker Barrel is Mid" "Fine" Dining is now on video! Head on over to to watch this episode! Music by: James McEnelly (@Ramshackle_Music) Theme Song by: Kyle Schieffer (@JazzyJellyfish) Segment Transitions Voiced by: Sandy Rose "Fine" Dining is on ! Get an extra episode every month (May's exclusive episode: the No. 7 seed for this year's upcoming Septemburger tournament: Rally's Drive-In with special guest Steve Moulton), 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 ! Send in your Cracker Barrel stories at [email protected]. Follow the show on TikTok and Instagram @finediningpodcast Follow Jen on Instagram @itsjenliv 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: American Girl Boutique & Bistro History [Part One]! I'm joined by comedian and food influencer Katie Molinaro (aka EatItKatie) to hit up a lunch with dolls. But before we can talk about it, we're gonna let you know about the franchise's founding and read some Yelp reviews about it. Ever work at an American Girl store? Send your stories to /episode/index/show/9369c4b7-1e7b-4d55-9b95-8001ab364097/id/31786542

Cracker Barrel History feat. Jen Liv (Stand-Up Comedian) [Part One] 06/12/2024

Cracker Barrel History feat. Jen Liv (Stand-Up Comedian) [Part One] I went to Cracker Barrel with a CB Superfan! Stand-up comedian Jen Liv LOVES Cracker Barrel so much (she's been to over 40 different ones!) that she hopped my car and road tripped with me to go there In this Eat Deets episode, the history of Cracker Barrel includes the franchise's humble beginnings as a gas station restaurant before growing into what it is today Learn what a "cracker barrel" actually is Jen laments her allergy to eggs (or as Cracker Barrel calls them, "aigs") Cracker Barrel has its own Indiana Jonesesque warehouse filled with decor A woman gushes about her Cracker Barrel experience so hard she rambles in poetic stanzas in this week's Yelp from Strangers "Fine" Dining is now on video! Head on over to to watch this episode! Music by: James McEnelly (@Ramshackle_Music) Theme Song by: Kyle Schieffer (@JazzyJellyfish) Segment Transitions Voiced by: Sandy Rose "Fine" Dining is on ! Get an extra episode every month (May's exclusive episode: the No. 7 seed for this year's upcoming Septemburger tournament: Rally's Drive-In with special guest Steve Moulton), 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 ! Send in your Cracker Barrel stories at [email protected]. Follow the show on TikTok and Instagram @finediningpodcast Follow Jen on Instagram @itsjenliv 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: Cracker Barrel Review [Part Two]! NEW RAP SINGLE INCOMING! But why? Well, you're gonna have to listen as Jen Liv returns to review this iconic chain that was a staple of her 20s. Ever work at Cracker Barrel? Send your stories to /episode/index/show/9369c4b7-1e7b-4d55-9b95-8001ab364097/id/31687342

Shrekfast! The Original Pancake House Review feat. Chad Opitz (Stand-Up Comedian) [Part Two] 06/05/2024

Shrekfast! The Original Pancake House Review feat. Chad Opitz (Stand-Up Comedian) [Part Two] "I've got the celebrity!" Comedian and world-class cuddler Chad Opitz is here once again to talk about dining with Shrek (me, having lost a bet) at The Original Pancake House Michael gets a looooot of attention as Shrek and makes some kids' day What's Going On Over There with OPH cooking a baby? The service staff embraced me with open arms Chad orders an entree that isn't in the name of the restaurant Their bacon was incredible The Apple Pancake may be WAY TOO MUCH, but the food offerings here are delicious What we ate: Biscuits & Gravy Joe's Special Hot Chocolate Eggs & Bacon Corn Pancake Apple Pancake Hash Browns "Fine" Dining is now on video! Head on over to to watch this episode! Music by: James McEnelly (@Ramshackle_Music) Theme Song by: Kyle Schieffer (@JazzyJellyfish) Segment Transitions Voiced by: Sandy Rose "Fine" Dining is on ! Get an extra episode every month (May's exclusive Patreon episode just dropped and cover's Septemburger 2024's No. 7 seed, Rally's Drive-In), 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 ! Send in your Original Pancake House stories at [email protected]. Follow the show on TikTok and Instagram @finediningpodcast Follow Chad on Instagram & X @chadopitz 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: Cracker Barrel History [Part One]! Comedian Jen Liv is in the house to revisit a spot that was near and dear to her in her 20s. Now that she's worked at top-tier restaurants, how will Cracker Barrel look by comparison? Find out as we cover the history of Cracker Barrel Old Country Store! Ever work at Cracker Barrel? Send your stories to /episode/index/show/9369c4b7-1e7b-4d55-9b95-8001ab364097/id/31605452

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