If You’re Not Eating Here, You’re Doing It Wrong

Darden Restaurants, the parent company behind full-service restaurant chains like Longhorn Steakhouse, Olive Garden, and Yard House, announced this year that it would be acquiring Chuy’s, a Tex-Mex restaurant chain. Analysts expressed concern at the state of Tex-Mex restaurants, with many Tex-Mex operators now out of business. However, Darden Restaurants believes that the Chuy’s acquisition could provide the perfect avenue for continued growth. (For restaurants that probably won’t be growing: customers hate this fast food restaurant.)

According to the National Restaurant Association’s 2024 State of the Restaurant Industry report, the food service industry is forecast to reach $1 trillion in sales in 2024. The full-service restaurant industry plays a huge part in that growth, including chain restaurants. But not every restaurant chain is made equal — and some offer delicious meals (and prices) that consumers enjoy more than others. To understand customer satisfaction with large full-service restaurant chains nationwide, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the American Customer Satisfaction Index’s Restaurant and Food Delivery Study 2024. We used the change in score from last year to break ties when possible. We added information on the 13 major chains in the report using mostly public records such as Security and Exchange Commission filings or the company’s own websites. The information includes ownership, sales in the most recently complete fiscal year, number of locations (from the most recent quarterly report when possible), and the type of restaurants. We also added popular menu items for each chain, which came from such sites as Ranker, Mashed, and others.

Why You Need to Know

According to the National Restaurant Association, Americans love going out to eat. 90% of American adults say that they enjoy going out to restaurants, and many people connect with their friends, family, and other loved ones over food. With so many options to eat out, Americans can choose the exact type of food, setting, and ambiance to fit their needs. At the same time, life is expensive — and many consumers are more value-conscious than ever. With that in mind, it’s interesting to see which large full-service restaurant chains satisfied customers — and which left people less satisfied.

Here are the 13 chain restaurants that leave customers the most satisfied: 

13 (tied). Red Robin

• Customer satisfaction index score, 2024: 76 out of 100 (-1% from 2023)
• Customer satisfaction index score, 2023: 77 out of 100 (10th highest of 13 restaurants)
• Red Robin owner: Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. (NASDAQ: RRGB)
• Sales in most recent fiscal year: $1.3 billion
• Restaurant type: American casual dining
• No. of Red Robin locations (inc. int’l and franchises): 500+
• A few popular menu items: Whiskey River BBQ; Red’s Double; Saucy Bone-In Wings; Royal Red Robin Burger; Mountain High Mudd Pie; Red Robin Gourmet Cheeseburger; Whiskey River BBQ Ribs

13 (tied). Denny’s

Denny's (CC BY 2.0) by Mike Mozart

• Customer satisfaction index score, 2024: 76 out of 100 (-1% from 2023)
• Customer satisfaction index score, 2023: 77 out of 100 (10th highest of 13 restaurants)
• Denny’s owner: Denny’s Corporation (NASDAQ: DENN)
• Sales in most recent fiscal year: $463.9 million (for company including Keke’s)
• Restaurant type: American casual dining
• No. of Denny’s locations (inc. int’l and franchises): 1,541
• A few popular menu items: The Grand Slamwich; Double Berry Banana Pancake Slam; Double Cheeseburger; French Toast Slam; All-American Slam; Moons Over My Hammy; Slamburger

11. Red Lobster

Red Lobster Restaurant (BY 2.0) by JeepersMedia

• Customer satisfaction index score, 2024: 78 out of 100 (-1% from 2023)
• Customer satisfaction index score, 2023: 79 out of 100 (6th highest of 13 restaurants)
• Red Lobster owner: Fortress Investment Group (sale in process from Thai Union Group following May Chapter 11 filing)
• Sales in most recent fiscal year: $2.4 billion in 2022
• Restaurant type: Seafood casual dining
• No. of Red Lobster locations (inc. int’l and franchises): ~650 (but over 100 locations are closing)
• A few popular menu items: Twin Maine Tails; Cheddar Bay Biscuits; Bar Harbor Lobster Bake; Fish and Chips; Lobster Lover’s Duo; Cajun Chicken Linguine Alfredo; Lobster Dip

10. The Cheesecake Factory

• Customer satisfaction index score, 2024: 78 out of 100 (+0% from 2023)
• Customer satisfaction index score, 2023: 78 out of 100 (9th highest of 13 restaurants)
• The Cheesecake Factory owner: Cheesecake Factory Inc. (NASDAQ: CAKE)
• Sales in most recent fiscal year: $2.6 billion (Cheesecake Factory restaurants only)
• Restaurant type: American casual dining; cheesecake
• No. of The Cheesecake Factory locations (inc. int’l and franchises): 340
• A few popular menu items: Ultimate Red Velvet Cake Cheesecake; Jamaican Black Pepper Shrimp; White Chocolate Raspberry Truffle Cheesecake; Ahi Poke Nachos; Macaroni and Cheese Burger; Cajun Jambalaya Pasta; Shepherds Pie

9. IHOP

IHOP - Kingsland, Georgia, USA (BY-SA 2.0) by pom'.

• Customer satisfaction index score, 2024: 78 out of 100 (+8% from 2023)
• Customer satisfaction index score, 2023: 72 out of 100 (13th highest of 13 restaurants (the lowest))
• IHOP owner: Dine Brands (NYSE: DIN)
• Sales in most recent fiscal year: $822.7 million (for all brands)
• Restaurant type: American casual dining; pancake house
• No. of IHOP locations (inc. int’l and franchises): 1,657
• A few popular menu items: Breakfast Sampler; Original Short Stack Buttermilk Pancakes; Original French Toast; Chicken & Waffles; Belgian Waffle; Big Steak Omelette

7 (tied). Buffalo Wild Wings

Buffalo Wild Wings (BY 2.0) by JeepersMedia

• Customer satisfaction index score, 2024: 79 out of 100 (+0% from 2023)
• Customer satisfaction index score, 2023: 79 out of 100 (6th highest of 13 restaurants)
• Buffalo Wild Wings owner: Inspire Brands LLC (owned by private equity Roark Capital Group)
• Sales in most recent fiscal year: $4.0 billion
• Restaurant type: American casual dining; sports bar
• No. of Buffalo Wild Wings locations (inc. int’l and franchises): 1,300+
• A few popular menu items: 10 Traditional WIngs + Fries; All American Cheeseburger; Buffalo Ranch Chicken Wrap; 6 Boneless WIngs + Fries; Smoked Brisket Burger

7 (tied). Applebee’s

2021-10-27 22 03 43 View of the State College Applebee's at night along Colonnade Way in Patton Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania (BY-SA 4.0) by Famartin

• Customer satisfaction index score, 2024: 79 out of 100 (+0% from 2023)
• Customer satisfaction index score, 2023: 79 out of 100 (6th highest of 13 restaurants)
• Applebee’s owner: Dine Brands (NYSE: DIN)
• Sales in most recent fiscal year: $822.7 million (for all brands)
• Restaurant type: American casual dining
• No. of Applebee’s locations (inc. int’l and franchises): 1,642
• A few popular menu items: Bourbon Street Chicken and Shrimp; Boneless Wings; Classic Broccoli Chicken Alfredo; Shrimp ‘n Parmesan Sirloin; Quesadilla Burger; Chicken Wonton Tacos; Triple Chocolate Meltdown

6. Outback Steakhouse

• Customer satisfaction index score, 2024: 80 out of 100 (-4% from 2023)
• Customer satisfaction index score, 2023: 83 out of 100 (the highest of 13 restaurants)
• Outback Steakhouse owner: Bloomin’ Brands, Inc. (NASDAQ: BLMN)
• Sales in most recent fiscal year: $2.3 billion in U.S.
• Restaurant type: Steakhouse
• No. of Outback Steakhouse locations (inc. int’l and franchises): 688 in U.S.
• A few popular menu items: Victoria’s Filet Mignon & Lobster; Seared Pepper Ahi; Perfectly Grilled Salmon; Spicy Jammin’ Meatloaf; Caramel Mustard Glazed Pork Chops; Sydney Shrooms; Butter Cake

5. Chili’s

Chili's (CC BY 2.0) by Mike Mozart

• Customer satisfaction index score, 2024: 80 out of 100 (+4% from 2023)
• Customer satisfaction index score, 2023: 77 out of 100 (10th highest of 13 restaurants)
• Chili’s owner: Brinker International, Inc. (NYSE: EAT)
• Sales in most recent fiscal year: $3.6 billion
• Restaurant type: American Tex-Mex casual dining
• No. of Chili’s locations (inc. int’l and franchises): 1,566
• A few popular menu items: Chicken Bacon Ranch Quesadillas; Big Mouth Bites; Chicken Fajitas; Crispy Honey-Chipotle Chicken Crispers; Southwestern Eggrolls; Quesadilla Explosion Salad; Molten chocolate cake

4. Cracker Barrel

Cracker Barrel, 10/2014 by Mike Mozart of TheToyChannel and JeepersMedia on YouTube #Cracker #Barrel (BY 2.0) by JeepersMedia

• Customer satisfaction index score, 2024: 82 out of 100 (+0% from 2023)
• Customer satisfaction index score, 2023: 82 out of 100 (2nd highest of 13 restaurants)
• Cracker Barrel owner: Public (NASDAQ: CBRL)
• Sales in most recent fiscal year: $3.4 billion
• Restaurant type: Southern country casual dining
• No. of Cracker Barrel locations (inc. int’l and franchises): 660
• A few popular menu items: Momma’s Pancake Breakfast; Chicken n’ Dumplins’; Meatloaf; Grilled Chicken Tenders; Country Fried Steak; Roast Beef; Chicken Fried Chicken; Southern Fried Chicken

3. Olive Garden

• Customer satisfaction index score, 2024: 83 out of 100 (+4% from 2023)
• Customer satisfaction index score, 2023: 80 out of 100 (5th highest of 13 restaurants)
• Olive Garden owner: Darden Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE: DRI | DRI Price Prediction)
• Sales in most recent fiscal year: $5.1 billion
• Restaurant type: Italian-American casual dining
• No. of Olive Garden locations (inc. int’l and franchises): 920
• A few popular menu items: Chicken Alfredo; Chicken and Shrimp Carbonara; Tour of Italy; Shrimp Alfredo; Lasagna Classico; Chicken Parmigiana; Eggplant Parmigiana

1 (tied). Texas Roadhouse

Texas Roadhouse restaurant Westland Michigan (BY 3.0) by Dwight Burdette

• Customer satisfaction index score, 2024: 85 out of 100 (+4% from 2023)
• Customer satisfaction index score, 2023: 82 out of 100 (2nd highest of 13 restaurants)
• Texas Roadhouse owner: Public (NASDAQ: TXRH)
• Sales in most recent fiscal year: $4.6 billion (including about 50 Bubba’s and Jaggers locations)
• Restaurant type: Steakhouse
• No. of Texas Roadhouse locations (inc. int’l and franchises): 650
• A few popular menu items: Ribeye steak; Ribs; Steak Filet Salad; Sirloin and Shrimp combo; Fresh Rolls and Honey Cinnamon Butter; Tater Skins; Country Fried Sirloin

1 (tied). LongHorn Steakhouse

Longhorn Steakhouse (CC BY 2.0) by Mike Mozart

• Customer satisfaction index score, 2024: 85 out of 100 (+4% from 2023)
• Customer satisfaction index score, 2023: 82 out of 100 (2nd highest of 13 restaurants)
• LongHorn Steakhouse owner: Darden Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE: DRI)
• Sales in most recent fiscal year: $2.8 billion
• Restaurant type: Steakhouse
• No. of LongHorn Steakhouse locations (inc. int’l and franchises): 575
• A few popular menu items: Outlaw Ribeye; Parmesan Crusted Chicken; The LongHorn Porterhouse; Flo’s Filet; Wild West Shrimp; Cheddar Stuffed Mushrooms; Chocolate Stampede