"Fine" Dining

"Fine" Dining

Comedian Michael Ornelas dives deep into the stories behind your favorite chain restaurants like Cracker Barrel, McDonald's, and Dunkin' before determining if they are better or worse than Chili's: the most mediocre restaurant in America.

Episodes

December 3, 2025 โ€ข 42 mins

๐Ÿ๐Ÿš‹๐Ÿ•ฏ๏ธ The Old Spaghetti Factory: Trolleys, Mizithra, and Guss Dussin's Dream ๐Ÿ•ฏ๏ธ๐Ÿš‹๐Ÿ

This week, VyVy Nguyen (@cest_la_vyvy) joins me for a deep dive into the charming, old-world history of The Old Spaghetti Factory. We uncover how a humble warehouse filled with antiques became one of Ameri...

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๐Ÿƒ๐Ÿ”ฅ๐Ÿ— Buffalo Wild Wings GO: Garfield, Barbed Wire, and the Blazin' Knockout ๐Ÿ—๐Ÿ”ฅ๐Ÿƒ

This week, Shannon Bengston (@SSBengston) returns as we finally taste the chaos that is Buffalo Wild Wings GO. From an earnest-but-overwhelmed employee taking our order to a Read more

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๐Ÿƒ๐Ÿ”ฅ๐Ÿ— Buffalo Wild Wings GO: The Fourth Jonas, Blazin' Heat & a Fightin' Manager ๐Ÿ—๐Ÿ”ฅ๐Ÿƒ

This week, Shannon Bengston (@SSBengston) joins me to trace the wild story behind Buffalo Wild Wings GO:ย from its roots as "BW3" in Columbus, Ohio to its modern takeout-only spin-off. We cover Hank the B...

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๐Ÿฅฉ๐Ÿฆ˜๐Ÿบ Outback Steakhouse: "No Rules, Just Right," Survivor, & Bloomin' Onion Perfection ๐Ÿบ๐Ÿฆ˜๐Ÿฅฉ

This week, I'm joined by VyVy Nguyen (@cest_la_vyvy) to explore the not-so-Australian history of Outback Steakhouse, the restaurant that proves authenticity is optional when the vibes are right. ...

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October 29, 2025 โ€ข 79 mins

๐Ÿฅด๐Ÿฝ๏ธ๐Ÿšซ Hometown Buffet: The Absolute Bottom of the Tchotchke of Mediocrity ๐Ÿšซ๐Ÿฝ๏ธ๐Ÿฅด

This week, we revisit a meal that has haunted me since 2014: Hometown Buffet, the worst restaurant experience of my life. Joined by Trey Burch, I relive the sleepy Sunday morning buffet that somehow managed ...

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๐Ÿฅฉ๐Ÿ”ฅ๐ŸŽ chi SPACCA: The Perfect 10 on the Tchotchke of Mediocrity ๐ŸŽ๐Ÿ”ฅ๐Ÿฅฉ

This week, I finally crown my very first perfect restaurant: chi SPACCA, the Italian butcher by Nancy Silverton and the best dining experience of my life. On Valentine's Day 2023, I di...

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๐ŸŽฉ๐ŸŸ๐Ÿ’ฐ McDonald's Monopoly:ย History, Scandal, and Astronomically Bad Odds๐Ÿ’ฐ๐ŸŸ๐ŸŽฉ

This week, we peel back the golden arches on one of the biggest promotions in fast-food history: McDonald's Monopoly. From the McMillions scandal that rocked the 2000s to the ...

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October 8, 2025 โ€ข 36 mins

It's here! The finale of the 2025 Septemburger tournament pits Wendy's against Dairy Queen and Carl's Jr. against A&W. Who will make it to the finals, and more importantly: who will take home the ability to proclaim themselves th...

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๐ŸŸ๐Ÿค–๐Ÿ” Wendy's: Savage Roasts, French Fry Glow-Up, and Are the Nuggets Perfect? ๐Ÿ”๐Ÿค–๐ŸŸ

This week, Ali Gordon joins me to put Wendy's through the Chili's Test. Between Frostys, spicy nuggets, and a fireplace straight out of HGTV, things get interesting. We try three Wendy's burgers for Septemburger, but will they all get a c...

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๐ŸŒฎ๐Ÿคก Jack in the Box: See-Through Tacos, Clown Mascot, and Legendary Curly Fries ๐Ÿคก๐ŸŒฎ

This week, we went toย Jack in the Box to try some burgers, and got so much more than we bargained for. I'm joined by Honey Butter Popcorn from the Ragmop & Goose Puppet Adoption Agency and we went deep on the Jack in the Box menu. From a wild history including a name change and blowing up their old mascot, t...

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September 10, 2025 โ€ข 95 mins

๐Ÿ’ Sonic Drive-In: Full History and Honest Review ๐Ÿ›ป

This week, SONIC Drive-In gets the full treatment: history and review, all in one. From the retrofuturistic drive-in vibes and "Two Guys" commercials to a dashboard covered in onion rings, we dive deep into everything SONIC does right, wrong, and in-between. Special guestย Marc Pope (Geek Off the Street podcast) joins me for cherry limeades, corndogs, and a Septemburger showdown t...

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๐Ÿ” Septemburger 2025: The Burger Tournament Begins! ๐Ÿ†

GET HYPED!! It's that time of year again: Septemburger! The annual hamburger tournament is back, and eight chains are entering this greasy gauntlet. In this episode, I reveal all the contenders, break down how the tournament works, and review the first five burgers of roun...

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๐Ÿš’ Firehouse Subs: Premature Halloween & Sticky Bottles ๐ŸŽƒ

This week, Jon Glover (from On Brand with Jon & Marisa) joins me again as we finally taste Firehouse Subs for ourselves. From cops hooking up in the bathroom* to pickle buckets better left unopened, this visit had more than its share of noteworthy moments. The subs didn...

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๐Ÿš’ Firehouse Subs ๐Ÿฅ’

This week, we head into Firehouse Subs to see what the fuss is about. Emmy Award-winning guest and cohost ofย On Brand with Jon & Marisa Jon Glover joins me to talk steaming meats, charity pickle buckets, Titanic lore, and why being put on hold too long might just drive you insane. Along the way, Jon invents his dream restaurant "Capades" (an ice-themed wonderland), brushes shoulders with James Cameron (not to b...

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๐Ÿ• Deep Dish in LA? Reviewing Gino's East of Chicago ๐Ÿ€

This week, Jacquis Neal (Host of Dropout's upcoming showย Crowd Control) returns as we give our full review of Gino's East of Chicago in...not Chicago, but Sherman Oaks, California. From the deep dish pizza to the dessert (and the GIARDINIERA RANCH), we talk hits, misses, and whether this spot truly feels lik...

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๐Ÿ• Gino's East of Chicago: Graffiti, Deep Dish, & Biscuit Crust ๐Ÿงฑ

This week, we take a bite out of the legacy of Gino's East of Chicago โ€” a deep dish pizza joint started by cabbies and made famous by its buttery biscuit crust and graffiti-covered walls. With a flavor profile heavy on cornmeal and sausage (sometimes too much sausage), it's one of Chicago's big four pizza spots โ€” but is it the GOAT?

Joining me is actor and comedian ...

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๐Ÿฝ๏ธ This Place Sure Had a Lot of Food Items Score a 1-out-of-10 ๐Ÿซ 

This week, we return to Golden Corral - this time, to eat. Joined by comedian and podcast host Ben Cassil (@bencassil), I finally test the buffet itself, from rock-hard bread to surprisingly okay tacos. We found joy in the strawberry shortcake Fanta ICEE and the sheer chaos of none of the food being accurately labeled.

Also, someone talked to their mom on speakerpho...

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July 23, 2025 โ€ข 64 mins

๐Ÿฅฉ Golden Corral's 100-Year Plan & Dumpster Drama ๐Ÿ—‘๏ธ

This week, we dive into the sprawling buffet empire that isย Golden Corral. From hygiene scandals to military youth camps, this chain has been through it all and somehow, it's still opening new locations.

Joining me isย Ben Cassil, host of Li...

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July 16, 2025 โ€ข 76 mins

๐Ÿ‘ Better Than Chili's? We Finally Taste Jollibee ๐Ÿ—

This week, we're putting Jollibee through the Chili's Test. From sweet pies that taste like vacation to spaghetti that... didn't, we finally try the food and decide whether this beloved Filipino chain lives up to its reputation. With special guest Jason Patrick Galit (JPG) guiding the way, we get the full experience, even if we have to be Sweaty Little Boys in the process.

It's j...

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July 9, 2025 โ€ข 67 mins

๐Ÿ— Jollibee Is a Filipino Treasure ๐Ÿ—

This week, we dive into the sweet, crunchy, culturally iconic legacy of Jollibee, the Filipino fast food chain with a bee mascot, a cult following, and a spaghetti recipe that would confuse most Americans. But to millions of Filipinos, it's more than just a restaurantโ€”it's home.

Joining me is Jason Patrick Galit (JPG) from InterMyth, who grew up with Jollibee and has the love to prove it. From ...

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