How Taco Bell Became Fast Food’s Most Creative Brand

We're diving back into Joe's Hole! Comedian Mike Perkins is back once again to represent Italy in the case against the food at Buca di Beppo Michael & Mike are just a couple of Midfellas The breadiest love-making session ever is What's Going On Over There Buca di Beppo's decor is funny how? The portions at Buca are insane, as two men individually order a family style entree each The dessert is "diabetes in a glass" according to the boys' server Chip psychoanalyzes the characters on the Buca di Beppo kids menu in this week's Munchkin Menu Musings! Mike's Instagram handle is taken to task JUB's about to get pinched!   Music by: James McEnelly (@Ramshackle_Music) Midfellas Song by: Gabe Alvarez (@austinaudiolab) Theme Song by: Kyle Schieffer (@JazzyJellyfish) Segment Transitions Voiced by: Sandy Rose "Fine" Dining is on Patreon! Get an extra episode every month (just out this New Years Eve, the Kentucky Fried Chicken episode), 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 Buca di Beppo stories at finediningpodcast@gmail.com.   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: Hot Dog on a Stick (Eat Deets)! I'll be joined by the Restaurant Fiction podcast's host Monis Rose. He knows more than I do, so can I manage to surprise him with some new info? We also dive into Yelp reviews, and get ready to bear Santa Monica traffic to review the original Hot Dog on a Stick stand. Ever work at Hot Dog on a Stick? Send your stories to finediningpodcast@gmail.com.   Totally Not Sponsored by: Harrison Augustine 💸 Arrylius XIV

3 Jan 20241h 4min

I took a real Italian to Buca di Beppo! We're joined by comedian Mike Perkins to dive into inauthentic Italian slophouse, Buca di Beppo Hear all about the Pope's room, the "vulgar" decor, and the fact that Buca's founder literally intended to "poke gentle fun" at Italians in this week's Eat Deets Learn the rather interesting translation of Buca di Beppo Harrison Augustine 💸 Arrylius XIV is anti-work You could have bought the entire franchise for a few million dollars... The Mother's Day debacle is detailed in this week's Yelp from Strangers The full review comes next week   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 (dropping New Years Eve: the Kentucky Fried Chicken episode), 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 Buca di Beppo stories at finediningpodcast@gmail.com.   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: Buca di Beppo (Part Two: Review)! Comedian Mike Perkins joins once again as he and Michael talk about Italian food that's...fine. Also, they're just a couple of Midfellas. Ever work at Buca di Beppo? Send your stories to finediningpodcast@gmail.com.   Totally Not Sponsored by: Harrison Augustine 💸 Arrylius XIV

27 Des 202338min

The Roadhouse Devil feeds at dusk! We're back with friend and magician Michael Moore to talk about the atmosphere, service, and food at Texas Roadhouse Willie's Corner, the suspicious absence of floor peanuts, hoedowns, and taxidermy galore Some concerning verbiage from the service team has the Michaels speculating the presence of an otherworldly, Lovecraftian being skulking about the area in this week's What's Going On Over There? A three-part audiodrama addressing said monster Maxwell gives his thoughts on the Texas Roadhouse Kids Menu in the return of Munchkin Menu Musings! Are the rolls at Texas Roadhouse the new best restaurant table bread? Petunia leaves JUB a voicemail Additional voices: VyVy Nguyen (@cest_la_vyvy) & Nick Adams 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 (dropping New Years Eve: the Kentucky Fried Chicken episode), 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 Texas Roadhouse stories at finediningpodcast@gmail.com.   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: Buca di Beppo (Eat Deets)! My friend and comedian Mike Perkins joins me in Pasadena, California to try out Buca di Beppo. It's Eat Deets time, so we learn the history, read Yelp reviews, and prepare to put our Italian heritage to the test. Ever work at Buca di Beppo? Send your stories to finediningpodcast@gmail.com.   Totally Not Sponsored by: Harrison Augustine 💸 Arrylius XIV

20 Des 202358min

Stay tuned to the end: new outro song!! Michael is joined by friend and powerhouse of a man, Michael Moore (no relation to the filmmaker/documentarian of the same name) to dine at Texas Roadhouse The restaurant started as a spot in a mall in Indiana, so it was neither a roadhouse nor Texan, but that didn't stop owner W. Kent Taylor from building an empire after giving up on opening a Colorado-themed restaurant Learn all about the history of the chain dubbed the "Loudest Restaurant in America" in this week's Eat Deets Harrison Augustine 💸 Arrylius XIV has had it with the mistreatment of corporations: they're people too, dammit! Hear Michael & Michael's first impressions of the place, from the wall of veterans to the lack of peanuts on the floor Michael Moore compiles a few very catfish-centric Yelp reviews about this Texas Roadhouse in the middle of nowhere, almost halfway between Los Angeles and Las Vegas More to come next week!   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 (November had a New York-themed episode as we pitted Joe's Pizza vs. Famous Original Ray's), 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 Texas Roadhouse stories at finediningpodcast@gmail.com.   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: Texas Roadhouse (Part Two: Review)! Michael Moore returns for the second part of the episode, we'll review the restaurant's dancing servers, the delicious rolls, and there's even a 3-part horror-themed audiodrama throughout Part Two! Ever work at Texas Roadhouse? Send your stories to finediningpodcast@gmail.com. Totally Not Sponsored by: Harrison Augustine 💸 Arrylius XIV

13 Des 202343min

NYC's legendary deli gets reviewed! We're in New York City! Michael's girlfriend Joyce joins him once again to talk about the hectic atmosphere, a hunky meat carver, and the matzo ball soup she's waited her entire life to try Katz's Delicatessen has so many lines and ordering stations that the chaos proves challenging to our duo Killer Mike walks by the table What's Going On Over There with the segration of those paying via card vs. those paying with cash? Harrison Augustine 💸 Arrylius XIV laments that Katz's doesn't have a register that accepts gold bars A review of the pastrami on rye, Katz's hot dog with mustard & sauerkraut, matzo ball soup, and chocolate babka! Plus the worst hot dog in New York (it's not Katz's...) Did Katz's hold an orgasm contest?? JUB is in yet another post-credits scene   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 (Last week I released another New York-themed episode as we pit Joe's Pizza vs. Famous Original Ray's), 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 Katz's Delicatessen stories at finediningpodcast@gmail.com.   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: Texas Roadhouse (Eat Deets)! My good buddy Michael Moore drives out to Rialto, California (halfway between LA and Las Vegas) to dine at a Texas Roadhouse in the middle of very little. It's Eat Deets time, so we learn the history, read some catfish-centric Yelp reviews, and brace ourselves for a meal that's certainly questionable. Ever work at Texas Roadhouse? Send your stories to finediningpodcast@gmail.com.   Totally Not Sponsored by: Harrison Augustine 💸 Arrylius XIV

6 Des 202348min

Katz's restaurant experience drops next Wednesday! Michael's girlfriend Joyce joins Michael in New York City, and they dive deep into the history of the world-famous deli that's over 100 years old in this episode of Eat Deets Katz's Delicatessen has been a staple of New York culture, amplified by its appearance in several movies and TV shows, most notably When Harry Met Sally Current owner Jake Dell has rules for how to conduct oneself at Katz's to avoid being thrown out Michael & Joyce address their anxiety over the intimidatingly complicated ordering process A truly hot take in Yelp from Strangers as someone knocks Katz's for being too far away from where they were coming from... More to come next week!   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 (Look out tomorrow for another New York-themed episode as we pit Joe's Pizza vs. Famous Original Ray's), 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 Gordon Biersch stories at finediningpodcast@gmail.com.   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: Katz's Delicatessen (Review)! I'm joined once again by my girlfriend Joyce, and for the second part of the episode, we'll give our thoughts on some world-famous pastrami, hot dogs, matzoh ball soup, and more! Ever work at Katz's? Send your stories to finediningpodcast@gmail.com.   If you're a fan of "Fine" Dining: The Search for the Most Mediocre Restaurant in America, you’ll love Banned Camp - a comedy podcast about why books are banned. Be sure to check it out and give them a listen.  Search for them wherever you listen to podcasts - that's Banned with two Ns.

29 Nov 202329min

The review for Gordon Biersch is here! All Elite Wrestling & Ring of Honor's "Pretty" Peter Avalon joins Michael to review the restaurant of the week The Gordon Biersch Brewery that Michael & Peter hit up closed its doors just 7 days after the boys dined there Peter eulogizes the Burbank Gordon Biersch Ever wondered what it'd be like living in a Buffalo Wild Wings? Harrison Augustine 💸 Arrylius the XIV takes offense to vulgarities Michael pitches a restaurant-themed wrestling gimmick to Peter Peter discusses his relationship with chain restaurants while staying in shape for wrestling Peter details his injury history A review of the food, including the garlic fries Gordon Biersch invented (Michael & Peter do NOT see eye-to-eye on these) Michael swaps out the Headline Game with a brand new game tailored to Peter Avalon's specialties: it's Chain Wrestling! JUB got a phone...???   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 (October's episode explored Dave's Hot Chicken), 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 Gordon Biersch stories at finediningpodcast@gmail.com.   Follow the show on TikTok and Instagram @finediningpodcast Follow "Pretty" Peter Avalon on Twitter @PPAallday   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: Katz's Delicatessen (Part One: Eat Deets & Yelp from Strangers)! I'm off to New York City with my girlfriend, Joyce! Learn the storied history of the NYC establishment that's allegedly been in business since 1888 (which has maybe been debunked). Ever work at Katz's? Send your stories to finediningpodcast@gmail.com.   Totally Not Sponsored By: Harrison Augustine 💸 Arrylius the XIV

22 Nov 202352min

Get Part 2 next Wednesday! All Elite Wrestling & Ring of Honor's "Pretty" Peter Avalon joins Michael in Burbank to learn all about the restaurant of the week Gordon Biersch Brewery stands behind the claim that they invented garlic fries Michael dives into the Eat Deets about Gordon Biersch Gordon Biersch cost Oskar Blues Brewing approx. $32,000 from a cease & desist Michael drops knowledge about Shakey's Pizza Parlor's prominence in the Philippines An embarrassing story from 25+ years ago about Michael's dad, and his special way of saying "Gordon Biersch" Michael & Peter read the negative end of the review spectrum in this week's Yelp from Strangers   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 (October's episode explored Dave's Hot Chicken), 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 Gordon Biersch stories at finediningpodcast@gmail.com.   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: Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant (Review)! I'm joined by All Elite Wrestling's "Pretty" Peter Avalon, and for the second part of the episode, we'll dish all our thoughts and feelings about our meal at a Gordon Biersch that closed down one week later. Ever work at a Gordon Biersch? Send your stories to finediningpodcast@gmail.com.

15 Nov 202326min