rev:text
| - I've been visiting places lately in hopes of completing my long ago started list for cheap weeknight grub in the eastern burbs, alas, I must remove Champps from that list because they killed their happy hour. They have their big corporate drink menu with a whole page devoted to happy hour, and should you choose to turn to that page, you will find it blank. If I had a list called "Places I Won't be Watching the Game" this place would be on it. So sad...
They do, however have a pint night on Thursdays with $2.50 pints. So, that will redeem them.
But, why, even without happy hour food would they earn a mere 2-star review? I was debating between one star and two stars, but I would like to reserve the precious one stars for places that are truly awful in some way, and as I say below, these guys are more mediocre than awful. Nevertheless, they bear several distinctions that have helped them earn their low rating.
1. They have distinguished themselves with the slowest lunch service anywhere near my office. If you have a meeting after lunch, you can't even think about this place. Getting in and out in about 90 minutes is pretty average.
2. They served me the worst steak I've ever had in my life. It was overcooked, chewy, and gamy. And I've had the steaks at buffet type restaurants.
3. Finally, general mediocrity. These guys embody the American corporate restaurant ideal of quantity over quality. And they sure do give you quantity. Alas, their beer list is mediocre, and their prices are mediocre. I'll pass.
But, I should be fair and point out a couple redeeming traits. They have TVs everywhere and aside from that one steak, the food is pretty decent. It's heavy, filling food and lots of it. Finally, there is pint night on Thursdays, which is likely the only day you'll see me there now that their happy hour was abolished.
|