"Fine" Dining

Michael Ornelas
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  • CHAQUE SEMAINE

Comedian Michael Ornelas dives deep into the stories behind your favorite chain restaurants like Domino's, BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse, and Long John Silver's before determining if they are better or worse than Chili's: the most mediocre restaurant in America.

  1. -1 J

    Tony Roma's: King of (Chain) Ribs

    🍖🤖 Tony Roma's Review: Robot Waiters, Trying All the Ribs, and "Champion or Chumpion" 🤖🍖 We're back at Tony Roma's with Gabe Legg (@gabe_legg), and this visit throws us for a loop almost immediately thanks to a ROBOT WAITER gliding through the dining room like Tony Roma's like a better Roomba. Between three different rib styles, Gabe trying lobster tail for the first time ever, and a human waiter who refused to accept me turning down his upsell, this meal was a bizarre little journey. 🍖 Ribs Ad Infinitum: Beef, St. Louis, & Baby Back 🦞 Gabe Tries Lobster Tail for the First Time Ever 🤖 A Robot Waiter Steals the Show 💸 The Human Waiter Judges Me for Declining a Bargain 📺 We Rate the "Show Us Your Rib Face" Contest Winners 🎭 Vibes Swing Wildly Between Medieval Times and Bank Office 🔥 Gabe's Worst Restaurant Experience: Bad Melting Pot Energy 🫕 Gabe's Best Restaurant Experience: Literally The Melting Pot 💬 COMMENT BELOW: Would a robot waiter improve your dining experience, or make it weirder? 📢 SUPPORT THE SHOW & JOIN THE COMMUNITY: 🎉 Patreon (Bonus episodes, extended Yelp segments & more): patreon.com/finediningpodcast 💬 Discord (Food talk, memes, cursed Yelp): discord.gg/6a2YqrtWV4 🎥 Watch full episodes: youtube.com/channel/UCLbraNhL6KhDPkdSWt2yiuw 🔗 All links: linktree.com/finediningpodcast 🎤 Guest: Gabe Legg | IG: @gabe_legg Patreon Producers: Sue Ornelas, Joyce Van, & Robert McLaughlin Patreon Subscribers: David Ornelas, Kellie Baldwin, Jeremy Horwitz, Herbert Amaya, Simone Davalos, Scott Bennett, Amy Reinhart, Josef Castaneda-Liles, & Travis Langley Free Patreon Followers: Joe Warszalek, Lauren Cummings, Grace Krainak, Keri Estes, Robert Duran, Patrick Elliott, Michelle Elmer, Dave Plummer, Nicholas Volney, Michael Gerard, Tracy Molino, Phuong Duong, Tyler Robinson, Brandon Gully, Mason Cruz, Michael Milito, Mez, Aaron Hubbard, Steff, Jewell Hermann, Renae Michael, Crystal C. 👉 NEXT WEEK: I dive into the history of Gen Korean BBQ House with Jon Durnell.

    1 h 8 min

  2. 29 AVR.

    Tony Roma's: Playboy, Pivoting to Ribs, and "Winning Best Ribs in America"

    🍖🔥 Tony Roma's: The Rib Pivot That Took Over the World (and Then Left America?) 🔥🍖 This week, Gabe Legg (@gabe_legg) joins me to unpack the history of Tony Roma's, a restaurant that stumbled into ribs, built an empire on them, and somehow ended up bigger overseas than in the US. From Playboy beginnings to NFL ownership to a string of financial shakeups, Tony Roma's might be one of the strangest success (if you can call it that?) stories in chain restaurant history. 🍖 A Random Rib Special That Completely Rewrote the Menu 🍸 Tony Roma & Hugh Hefner 🏈 A Dallas Cowboys Owner Added Tony Roma's to His Portfolio 📉 Bought, Sold, Flipped, Bankrupted...Repeat? 📺 "Show Us Your Rib Face" Is a Messy But Clever Campaign 🧅 The Onion Loaf: The Bloomin' Onion's Spiritual Cousin 🔥 The Heat Lamp Debuts: Gabe Fires Off His Controversial Restaurant Hot Take 🤢 Yelp from Strangers: Violent Illness Still Nets FOUR STARS?? 💬 COMMENT BELOW: How do you like your ribs? 📢 SUPPORT THE SHOW & JOIN THE COMMUNITY: 🎉 Patreon (Bonus episodes, extended Yelp segments & more): patreon.com/finediningpodcast 💬 Discord (Food talk, memes, board games): discord.gg/6a2YqrtWV4 🎥 Watch full episodes: youtube.com/channel/UCLbraNhL6KhDPkdSWt2yiuw 🔗 All links: linktree.com/finediningpodcast 🎤 Guest: Gabe Legg | IG: @gabe_legg Patreon Producers: Sue Ornelas, Joyce Van, & Robert McLaughlin Patreon Subscribers: David Ornelas, Kellie Baldwin, Jeremy Horwitz, Herbert Amaya, Simone Davalos, Scott Bennett, Amy Reinhart, Josef Castaneda-Liles, & Travis Langley Free Patreon Followers: Joe Warszalek, Lauren Cummings, Grace Krainak, Keri Estes, Robert Duran, Patrick Elliott, Michelle Elmer, Dave Plummer, Nicholas Volney, Michael Gerard, Tracy Molino, Phuong Duong, Tyler Robinson, Brandon Gully, Mason Cruz, Michael Milito, Mez, Aaron Hubbard, Steff, Jewell Hermann, Renae Michael, Crystal C. 👉 NEXT WEEK: We put Tony Roma's to the Chili's Test and see if the ribs hold up.

    32 min
  3. Zaxbys: Good Egg Rolls, Terrible Fries, Mid Chicken

    22 AVR.

    Zaxbys: Good Egg Rolls, Terrible Fries, Mid Chicken

    🍗🔥 Zaxby's Review: Fingerz, Wings, and a Whole Lot of Disagreement 🔥🍗 We're back at Zaxby's with Alex Stedman (@alex.paisley.stedman), and this one is...divisive. We did not see eye to eye on a LOT of these items, the vibes were aggressively brown, and one unexpected menu item rose above it all as the most consistent treat. 🍗 Fingerz & Wings Meal with Tongue Torch Sauce Sparks Debate 🍞 Texas Toast Holds It Down (As It Usually Does) for Michael Only 🥟 Veggie Egg Rolls Somehow Become the MVP 🥒 Fried Pickles: Alex Says Nay 🍪 Chocolate Chip Cookie Is Straight-Up Garbage 🍰 Fried Cheesecake Bites with Strawberry Sauce (Alex Only!) 🤠 "Retro Farmhouse" Decor That Feels More Like a Saloon 🎭 Alex's Best & Worst Restaurant Stories: Rule-Breaking Fallout vs. Recency Bias 💬 COMMENT BELOW: How does Zaxby's compare to the other chicken chains? 📢 SUPPORT THE SHOW & JOIN THE COMMUNITY: 🎉 Patreon (Bonus episodes, extended Yelp segments & more): patreon.com/finediningpodcast 💬 Discord (Food talk, memes, cursed Yelp): discord.gg/6a2YqrtWV4 🎥 Watch full episodes: youtube.com/channel/UCLbraNhL6KhDPkdSWt2yiuw 🔗 All links: linktree.com/finediningpodcast 🎤 Guest: Alex Stedman | IG: @alex.paisley.stedman Patreon Producers: Sue Ornelas, Joyce Van, & Robert McLaughlin Patreon Subscribers: David Ornelas, Kellie Baldwin, Jeremy Horwitz, Herbert Amaya, Simone Davalos, Scott Bennett, Amy Reinhart, Josef Castaneda-Liles, & Travis Langley Free Patreon Followers: Joe Warszalek, Lauren Cummings, Grace Krainak, Keri Estes, Robert Duran, Patrick Elliott, Michelle Elmer, Dave Plummer, Nicholas Volney, Michael Gerard, Tracy Molino, Phuong Duong, Tyler Robinson, Brandon Gully, Mason Cruz, Michael Milito, Mez, Aaron Hubbard, Steff, Jewell Hermann, Renae Michael, & Crystal C. 👉 NEXT WEEK: I dive into the history of Tony Roma's with Gabe Legg.

    54 min
  4. Zaxbys: Chicken Fingerz, The "Sauce Boss," and The Letter "Z"

    15 AVR.

    Zaxbys: Chicken Fingerz, The "Sauce Boss," and The Letter "Z"

    🍗🔥 Zaxbys: Sauce Boss, $16K Beginnings, and the Cult of the Z 🔥🍗 Brought to you by the 2025 Septemburger Tournament bracket winner Craig Majors, this week, I'm joined by actress and improvisor Alex Stedman (@alex.paisley.stedman) to break down the history of Zaxbys. From a tiny college chicken joint called "Zax" to a 1,000+ location powerhouse, this is a story of an obsession with the letter Z that borders on ztupid. We dig into their rise, their ownership changes, and how this Southern favorite carved out its niche in the chicken wars. Also which is a better improv name: Tony Townley or Bernard Acoca? 🍗 Humble Beginnings: Just $16,000 and a Dream Called "Zax" 📈 Rapid Growth to Over 1,000 Locations Nationwide 💰 Acquisition by Goldman Sachs (Now Do Me Next!) 👔 New Leadership from a Former El Pollo Loco CEO 📺 "Sauce Boss" Ads That Don't Deliver on the Promised Vibe 🔤 A Brand Identity Built Almost Entirely Around the Letter Z 🚽 Alex's Dream Restaurant #1: Eat on a Toilet for Maximum Efficiency 💘 Alex's Dream Restaurant #2: A Dining Experience for Singles to Meet ⭐ Yelp from Strangers: Ken R. Decides His Wife Also Won't Be Returning 💬 COMMENT BELOW: Is the Zaxbys branding genius, or just a little too Zilly (I'm not proud of that...)? 📢 SUPPORT THE SHOW & JOIN THE COMMUNITY: 🎉 Patreon (Bonus episodes, extended Yelp segments & more): patreon.com/finediningpodcast 💬 Discord (Food talk, memes, cursed Yelp): discord.gg/6a2YqrtWV4 🎥 Watch full episodes: youtube.com/channel/UCLbraNhL6KhDPkdSWt2yiuw 🔗 All links: linktree.com/finediningpodcast 🎤 Guest: Alex Stedman | IG: @alex.paisley.stedman Patreon Producers: Sue Ornelas & Joyce Van Patreon Subscribers: David Ornelas, Kellie Baldwin, Jeremy Horwitz, Herbert Amaya, Simone Davalos, Scott Bennett, Amy Reinhart, Josef Castaneda-Liles, & Travis Langley Free Patreon Followers: Joe Warszalek, Lauren Cummings, Grace Krainak, Keri Estes, Robert Duran, Patrick Elliott, Michelle Elmer, Dave Plummer, Nicholas Volney, Michael Gerard, Tracy Molino, Phuong Duong, Tyler Robinson, Brandon Gully, Mason Cruz, Michael Milito, Mez, Aaron Hubbard, Steff, Robert McLaughlin, Jewell Hermann, Renae Michael, Crystal C. 👉 NEXT WEEK: It's time to put Zaxbys to the Chili's Test with Alex Stedman.

    46 min
  5. Torchy's Tacos is So Good

    8 AVR.

    Torchy's Tacos is So Good

    🌮🔥 Torchy's Tacos Review: Damn Good (Hey! That's Their Slogan!) 🔥🌮 We're back at Torchy's Tacos with my mom Sue Ornelas, and despite forgotten items, cooled-off food, and a few service hiccups, this ended up being a remarkably positive experience. The decor is packed with personality (pitchfork door handles are peak), and the food carries the day. Also, we unpack the long-standing psychological damage Torchy's has done to me assuming guacamole has cheese on it. 🌮 The Threesome: Tomatillo Salsa, Guacamole (with Cotija cheese smh...), and Queso 🌽 Street Corn That Shows Up Ready to Play 🌮 Taco Gauntlet: The Democrat, Green Chile Pork, Brushfire, Wrangler, and Baja Shrimp 🍩 Churros Close Things Out Strong 🧀 Cotija vs. "Cojita": A Full Mandela Effect Crisis 🤦‍♂️ Torchy's Made Me Ask If Guac Has Cheese Everywhere Else 🍴 Service Misfires But at Least They're Nice About It 🏰 Sue's Best & Worst Restaurant Stories: Sleeping Waiters and a Real-Life Wine Castle 💬 COMMENT BELOW: Does great food outweigh bad service, or is that a dealbreaker for you? 📢 SUPPORT THE SHOW & JOIN THE COMMUNITY: 🎉 Patreon (Bonus episodes, extended Yelp segments & more): patreon.com/finediningpodcast 💬 Discord (Food talk, memes, cursed Yelp): discord.gg/6a2YqrtWV4 🎥 Watch full episodes: youtube.com/channel/UCLbraNhL6KhDPkdSWt2yiuw 🔗 All links: linktree.com/finediningpodcast 🎤 Guest: Sue Ornelas Patreon Producers: Sue Ornelas & Joyce Van Patreon Subscribers: David Ornelas, Kellie Baldwin, Jeremy Horwitz, Herbert Amaya, Simone Davalos, Scott Bennett, Amy Reinhart, Josef Castaneda-Liles, & Travis Langley Free Patreon Followers: Joe Warszalek, Lauren Cummings, Grace Krainak, Keri Estes, Robert Duran, Patrick Elliott, Michelle Elmer, Dave Plummer, Nicholas Volney, Michael Gerard, Tracy Molino, Phuong Duong, Tyler Robinson, Brandon Gully, Mason Cruz, Michael Milito, Mez, Aaron Hubbard, Steff, Robert McLaughlin, Jewell Hermann, Renae Michael, Crystal C. 👉 NEXT WEEK: I cover the restaurant requested by my Septemburger bracket winner, a fried chicken chain called Zaxby's with actor, comedian, and friend Alex Stedman.

    52 min
  6. Torchy's Tacos: The Next Great Mexican Chain?

    1 AVR.

    Torchy's Tacos: The Next Great Mexican Chain?

    🌮🔥 Torchy's Tacos: From Trailer Park to Taco Empire (Damn Good Origins!) 🔥🌮 This week, I'm joined by my mom, Sue Ornelas, to dig into the history of Torchy's Tacos. From humble trailer beginnings to an expanding national chain, Torchy's built its reputation on pork tacos, the devil, and tacos named after political affiliations. We talk about its early days, the wild marketing stunts, and whether this Austin-born taco spot has what it takes to become one of the next dominant Mexican chains in America (eagle sound). 🌮 Founder Hustle: Free Tacos from a Red Vespa to Build the Brand 🏕️ Trailer Park Origins and Eating at the Original Location 📣 The "Damn Good" Slogan Came Straight from Customers 🎉 SXSW Parachute Drop Is Badass 📈 Expansion Across 15+ States and Growing Fast 🔮 Could Torchy's Become the Next Big National Mexican Chain? 🎡 Sue's Dream Restaurant: A Game Show Wheel That Builds Your Meal 🕵️ Yelp Drama: Staff Steals Your Purse and Still 3 Stars?! 💬 COMMENT BELOW: Is Torchy's actually "Damn Good," or just great marketing? 📢 SUPPORT THE SHOW & JOIN THE COMMUNITY: 🎉 Patreon (Bonus episodes, extended Yelp segments & more): patreon.com/finediningpodcast 💬 Discord (Food talk, memes, cursed Yelp): discord.gg/6a2YqrtWV4 🎥 Watch full episodes: youtube.com/channel/UCLbraNhL6KhDPkdSWt2yiuw 🔗 All links: linktree.com/finediningpodcast 🎤 Guest: Sue Ornelas (my mom!) Patreon Producers: Sue Ornelas & Joyce Van Patreon Subscribers: David Ornelas, Kellie Baldwin, Jeremy Horwitz, Herbert Amaya, Simone Davalos, Scott Bennett, Amy Reinhart, Josef Castaneda-Liles, & Travis Langley Free Patreon Followers: Joe Warszalek, Lauren Cummings, Grace Krainak, Keri Estes, Robert Duran, Patrick Elliott, Michelle Elmer, Dave Plummer, Nicholas Volney, Michael Gerard, Tracy Molino, Phuong Duong, Tyler Robinson, Brandon Gully, Mason Cruz, Michael Milito, Mez, Aaron Hubbard, Steff, Robert McLaughlin, Jewell Hermann, Renae Michael, Crystal C. 👉 NEXT WEEK: We're back w/my mom to put Torchy's Tacos to the Chili's Test.

    41 min
  7. The Burger Den (Denny's) Ghost Kitchen Review (or: Saved by the Claw Machine)

    25 MARS

    The Burger Den (Denny's) Ghost Kitchen Review (or: Saved by the Claw Machine)

    🍔👻 The Burger Den (Denny's?!): We Ate INSIDE a Ghost Kitchen… and It Felt Illegal 👻🍔 Ansley Layne (@spookyfoodie) and I return to paranormally investigate The Burger Den, except…we're now criminals. Eating inside the Denny's, being served like it was completely normal, despite the Burger Den being take-out only?? My stars!! Our waitress actually served us despite not expecting a tip (which she DID receive), the food ranged from "dad cooked this" to "please stop cooking," and there was a claw machine full of absolute nonsense. 🍔 Wake & Bacon Burger and the Double the Fun Burger (But Not Actually That Burger) 🍟 Wavy Fries That Get Worse…and Worse…and Worse 🧅 Onion Rings That Save the Food Somewhat 🥤 Oreo & Strawberry Shakes ❓ The Mystery of the All-American Sauce Remains UNSOLVED 🚽 A Bathroom So Bad Ansley Refuses to Participate 👩‍🍳 Unexpected Table Service at a "Takeout-Only" Dining Concept 🪟 Transparent Ad Screens That Feel Like Sci-Fi 🧸 Claw Machine with Italian AI Brain Rot Plushies (including the Legendary Tire Frog) 💬 COMMENT BELOW: Would YOU eat inside a ghost kitchen if you technically weren't supposed to? 📢 SUPPORT THE SHOW & JOIN THE COMMUNITY: 🎉 Patreon (Bonus episodes, extended Yelp segments & more): patreon.com/finediningpodcast 💬 Discord (Food talk, memes, cursed Yelp): discord.gg/6a2YqrtWV4 🎥 Watch full episodes: youtube.com/channel/UCLbraNhL6KhDPkdSWt2yiuw 🔗 All links: linktree.com/finediningpodcast 🎤 Guest: Ansley Layne | IG: @spookyfoodie Patreon Producers: Sue Ornelas & Joyce Van Patreon Subscribers: David Ornelas, Kellie Baldwin, Jeremy Horwitz, Herbert Amaya, Simone Davalos, Scott Bennett, Amy Reinhart, Josef Castaneda-Liles, & Travis Langley Free Patreon Followers: Joe Warszalek, Lauren Cummings, Grace Krainak, Keri Estes, Robert Duran, Patrick Elliott, Michelle Elmer, Dave Plummer, Nicholas Volney, Michael Gerard, Tracy Molino, Phuong Duong, Tyler Robinson, Brandon Gully, Mason Cruz, Michael Milito, Mez, Aaron Hubbard, Steff, Robert McLaughlin, Jewell Hermann, Renae Michael, Crystal C. 👉 NEXT WEEK: I dive into the history of Torchy's Tacos with my mom.

    57 min
  8. Ghost Kitchens: Deceptive or Delicious?

    18 MARS

    Ghost Kitchens: Deceptive or Delicious?

    👻🍔📦 Ghost Kitchens: The Pandemic, Chain Alter Egos, and Uber's Co-Founder 📦🍔👻 This week, I'm joined by Ansley Layne (@spookyfoodie) for a haunted deep dive into the world of ghost kitchens. We tell the entire history like a ghost story, tracing how these delivery-only concepts rose from the shadows to dominate the pandemic era. From secret alternate restaurant identities on delivery apps to celebrity-backed virtual brands, this episode pulls back the curtain on one of the most fascinating and unsettling trends in modern dining. And yes, multiple Yelp reviewers feel personally obligated to warn us that The Burger Den… is just Denny's. 🌫️ The Rise of Ghost Kitchens During the COVID-19 Pandemic 📱 Restaurant Alter Egos Hiding in Plain Sight on Delivery Apps 🚗 The Uber Connection and the Tech Behind the Movement 🍔 Celebrity Ghost Kitchens including the infamous MrBeast Burger 👻 Eat Deets Told Entirely as a Ghost Story 🌴 Ansley's Dream Restaurant Becomes a Haunted Rainforest Cafe 🗣️ Yelp Reviewers Desperate to Expose The Burger Den 🕵️‍♂️ Which Chains Are Secretly Operating Under Different Names? 💬 COMMENT BELOW: Have you ever accidentally ordered from a ghost kitchen without realizing it? 📢 SUPPORT THE SHOW & JOIN THE COMMUNITY: 🎉 Patreon (Bonus episodes, extended Yelp segments & more): patreon.com/finediningpodcast 💬 Discord (Food talk, memes, cursed Yelp): discord.gg/6a2YqrtWV4 🎥 Watch full episodes: youtube.com/channel/UCLbraNhL6KhDPkdSWt2yiuw 🔗 All links: linktree.com/finediningpodcast 🎤 Guest: Ansley Layne | IG: @spookyfoodie Patreon Producers: Sue Ornelas & Joyce Van Patreon Subscribers: David Ornelas, Kellie Baldwin, Jeremy Horwitz, Herbert Amaya, Simone Davalos, Scott Bennett, Amy Reinhart, Josef Castaneda-Liles, & Travis Langley Free Patreon Followers: Joe Warszalek, Lauren Cummings, Grace Krainak, Keri Estes, Robert Duran, Patrick Elliott, Michelle Elmer, Dave Plummer, Nicholas Volney, Michael Gerard, Tracy Molino, Phuong Duong, Tyler Robinson, Brandon Gully, Mason Cruz, Michael Milito, Mez, Aaron Hubbard, Steff, Robert McLaughlin, Jewell Hermann, Renae Michael 👉 NEXT WEEK: We step into The Burger Den and put this ghost kitchen to The Chili's Test to see if the disguise holds up.

    41 min
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À propos

Comedian Michael Ornelas dives deep into the stories behind your favorite chain restaurants like Domino's, BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse, and Long John Silver's before determining if they are better or worse than Chili's: the most mediocre restaurant in America.

Informations

  • Création
    Michael Ornelas
  • Années d’activité
    2022 - 2026
  • Épisodes
    170
  • Classification
    Contenu explicite
  • Copyright
    © 2022
  • Site web de l’émission
    "Fine" Dining

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