"Fine" Dining

Michael Ornelas

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. Is Papa Murphy's Worth a 4 Hour Drive?

    1 DAY AGO

    Is Papa Murphy's Worth a 4 Hour Drive?

    🍕🔥🏠 Papa Murphy's Pizza Review: When Take 'N' Bake Fights Back 🏠🔥🍕 We're back with Part 2 of Papa Murphy's, and this time Peter Murphy (@peter_murphy) and I actually put the take 'n' bake concept to the test after a four-hour round-trip to experience it properly. What followed was a very kind cashier, a slightly alarming health department confession, and instructions that nearly burned my apartment down. From my first time trying olives to a variety of Crush products, it's all on the table as we see whether Papa Murphy's can survive the Chili's Test. 🍕 Reviewing the Murphy's Combo 🍕 Ultimate Pepperoni? More Like Dull-timate Pepper-NO-ni! (idk...) 🧄 Garlic Knots Try to Steal the Spotlight 🍪 Cookie Dough vs. Fully Baked Cookies 🔥 Faulty Instructions Lead to a Flaming Paper Tray 🚨 Smoke Alarms, Panic, and the Consequences of Trust 🧑‍🍳 A Cashier So Nice She Accidentally Shares Health Department Lore 🎙️ Peter's Worst Restaurant Experience Involves a Chicken Bone Where It Should Never Be 🥩 His Best Experience Includes His Grandfather's Favorite Steak Joint Actually Delivering 📊 Papa Murphy's Faces the Chili's Test 💬 COMMENT BELOW: Is take 'n' bake pizza a smart idea or a less good take on pizza? 📢 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: Peter Murphy | IG: @peter_murphy 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 dive into the history of On the Border Mexican Grill & Cantina with Trent Tucker from the Geek Off the Street podcast, as another restaurant steps up to the Chili's Test.

    1h 2m
  2. You Might Also Like: On Purpose with Jay Shetty

    1 DAY AGO · BONUS

    You Might Also Like: On Purpose with Jay Shetty

    Introducing Dating Expert Sabrina Zohar: You’re Not Confused, You’re Ignoring the Signs (THIS Mindset Shift Will End the “What If” Loop for Good) from On Purpose with Jay Shetty. Follow the show: On Purpose with Jay Shetty Why do we chase people who don’t choose us, confuse anxiety for attraction, and stay in relationships that leave us questioning our worth?  Today, Jay sits down with Sabrina Zohar, podcast host and one of the most influential voices in modern dating, to unpack the emotional patterns that quietly shape how we love. Drawing from her own healing journey and work with thousands of clients, Sabrina explains how our childhood experiences, nervous system responses, and unhealed wounds influence who we’re drawn to often without us realizing it. Together, Jay and Sabrina explore what emotional availability really looks like, why consistency matters more than intensity, and how boundaries aren’t about pushing people away but protecting your peace. They break down common dating traps, from overanalyzing texts to mistaking butterflies for chemistry, and reveal why self-advocacy is one of the most important relationship skills we’re never taught. Through practical insights and deeply personal stories, Sabrina shows why asking for what you need isn’t “too much,” and why love should feel safe, not confusing. In this interview, you'll learn: How to Stop Chasing People Who Don’t Choose You How to Date Without Abandoning Yourself How to Set Boundaries Without Fear of Losing Someone How to Recognize Emotional Availability Early How to Break the Cycle of Situationships How to Ask for What You Need Without Feeling “Too Much” How to Stop Confusing Intensity for Intimacy You don’t need to chase clarity, overperform for love, or silence your needs to be chosen. Real connection begins when you feel safe enough to be honest, brave enough to set boundaries, and grounded enough to walk away from what doesn’t honor you. With Love and Gratitude, Jay Shetty Join over 750,000 people to receive my most transformative wisdom directly in your inbox every single week with my free newsletter. Subscribe here.  Check out our Apple subscription to unlock bonus content of On Purpose! https://lnk.to/JayShettyPodcast  What We Discuss: 00:00 Intro 01:01 How to Tell If Someone Is Truly Interested 02:52 Why You Date the Parts of You That Aren’t Healed 06:04 Understanding Your Emotional State Before You Date 07:59 Don’t Ignore These Red Flags! 10:33 What Should a Healthy, Secure Relationship Feel Like? 13:34 Why Slowing Down Creates Real Connection 20:07 What’s Really Draining You About Dating? 24:09 Your Partner Will Trigger You, That’s Okay! 29:03 Building a Strong Foundation for Dating 32:45 How to Advocate for Yourself Without Fear of Losing Them 39:20 Are You Feeling Alone? 42:03 How to Spot Emotional Unavailability Early  44:51 Why Boundaries Are Non-Negotiable 46:56 How to Be Honest About Your Feelings 50:20 How to Communicate Your Needs Clearly 54:52 Why Relationships Must Support Growth 56:57 Timing Is Not a Reason to Hold On 59:23 Texting Etiquette in Modern Dating 01:12:33 Why Real Change Takes Time and Practice 01:18:36 Dating Rapid Fire  Episode Resources: Website | https://www.sabrinazohar.com/   Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/sabrina.zohar  YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@sabrina_zohar  TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@sabrina.zohar   Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/p/The-Sabrina-Zohar-Show-100094409286590/  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to team@podroll.fm.

  3. Papa Murphy's Pizza: A Spiteful Dough Recipe, Food Stamps, and DIY

    4 FEB

    Papa Murphy's Pizza: A Spiteful Dough Recipe, Food Stamps, and DIY

    🍕🔥🏠 Papa Murphy's Pizza: Take 'N' Bake, No Ovens, No Mercy 🏠🔥🍕 This week, comedian Peter Murphy (@peter_murphy) joins me to break down the strange, fascinating history of Papa Murphy's, the pizza chain that refuses to cook your food for you. We dig into how take 'n' bake became the brand's entire identity, why you literally cannot buy a hot pizza there, and how that decision shaped everything from employee working conditions to who can even buy the product. We also check in with the internet, because of course someone on Yelp is furious about flip-flops. 🍕 The Origins of Take 'N' Bake and the Merger That Created Papa Murphy's 🔥 Inventing a Dough That Works in a 425-Degree Home Oven 📈 Explosive Growth Into One of America's Biggest Pizza Chains 🧊 No Ovens, No Cooking Licenses, and a Safer, Cooler Workplace 🧾 Why Papa Murphy's Pizzas Count as Groceries (and What That Means) 🍕 Stuffed Pizzas, "Larger Than Large" Pies, and Other Menu Swings 🎃 Heart-Shaped and Jack-O'-Lantern Pizzas as Annual Traditions 📉 The Mid-2010s Slump and the Challenge of Staying Relevant 📱 Apps, Online Ordering, and the Modern Take 'N' Bake Pivot 🧇 The "Hub of Hacks" Includes Waffle Irons, Football Pepperonis, and Dough Experiments ⭐ Yelp From Strangers Includes a Reviewer Outraged by an Employee Wearing Flip-Flops 💬 COMMENT BELOW: Does take 'n' bake pizza feel convenient or like homework? 📢 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: Peter Murphy | IG: @peter_murphy WATCH PETER'S SPECIAL "OUT OF NOWHERE" HERE  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 actually review Papa Murphy's and put take 'n' bake pizza through the Chili's Test to see how it stacks up against the ultimate casual-dining benchmark.

    50 min
  4. BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse: Amazing Wings, Polarizing Pizza, and a Bunch of Pizookies

    28 JAN

    BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse: Amazing Wings, Polarizing Pizza, and a Bunch of Pizookies

    🍕🍪 BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse Review: Extreme Pizza, Elite Wings, and Too Much Chocolate 🍪🍕 We're back with Part 2 of BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse, and this time PJ McCormick (@peejmccormick) and I actually sit down to eat. The service feels a little detached, the vibes are exactly what you'd expect from a brewery, and PJ remains baffled that this place ever started as a pizza joint. 🍕 Pepperoni Extreme Pizza Surprisingly Lives Up to the "Extreme" (What is this, 2002??) 🍪 A Trio of Pizookies: Salted Caramel, Strawberry Shortcake, and WAY Too Much Chocolate 🍤 New Orleans Jambalaya Didn't Matter At ALL 🥨 Big Twist Pretzel Hanged for Pickpocketing 🍗 BJ's Original Wings Steal the Whole Meal 🎙️ PJ Shares His Best and Worst Restaurant Experiences 🚫 Domino's Earns PJ's 0 out of 10 (and I Protest) 🏆 A 10.00 Goes to Vegan Italian Pasta 💬 COMMENT BELOW: Is BJ's as good as we scored 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: PJ McCormick | IG: @peejmccormick 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 👉 NEXT WEEK: I head to Papa Murphy's Take 'n Bake Pizza with stand-up comedian Peter Murphy. Yes, we drove 4 hours just to pick up a pizza that we had to cook at home...

    53 min
  5. BJ's Restaurant: Snooki, Deep Dish, & The Pizookie

    21 JAN

    BJ's Restaurant: Snooki, Deep Dish, & The Pizookie

    🍕🍺📚 BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse: Finding the Gimmick (It Was Beer) 📚🍺🍕 This week kicks off Part 1 of our BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse coverage with a full Eat Deets history episode, joined by PJ McCormick (@peejmccormick). We trace BJ's unlikely evolution from a Chicago-style pizza experiment to a beer-forward empire, debate whether pizza was ever really their best foot forward, and draw a completely reasonable comparison between BJ's brand identity journey and Stone Cold Steve Austin ditching the Ringmaster gimmick. Also yes: b*****b jokes. 🍕 "BJ Grunt's" Got a Cease-and-Desist 🍺 Explaining the Real Gimmick via Stone Cold Steve Austin 📈 From Pizza Joint to National Restaurant & Brewhouse Chain 🍪 The Birth of the Pizookie and How It Stole the Whole Show 🎤 PJ Pitches His Dream Restaurant: A Pho Spot Where You're Immortalized for Not Coughing ⭐ Yelp From Strangers Includes a "Fat and Ugly" Man Mad His Hot Waiter Wouldn't Hustle for the Tip 💬 COMMENT BELOW: Is BJ's a pizza place, a brewery, or just a Pizookie delivery system? 📢 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: PJ McCormick | IG: @peejmccormick 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 👉 NEXT WEEK: Part 2 as we actually eat BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse and find out if the pizza, the wings, or the Pizookie can beat Chili's.

    45 min
  6. My Go-To Domino's Pizza Order, An Incredible Dessert, & Are They Better than the Competition?

    14 JAN

    My Go-To Domino's Pizza Order, An Incredible Dessert, & Are They Better than the Competition?

    🍕📊🍴 Domino's Pizza Review: Three Pizzas, Vibes, & Getting  Deputized 🍴📊🍕 Season 4 continues as James Werner (@jamesyjoehenry) returns for Part 2 of our Domino's Pizza episode, this time putting the pizza where the mouth is. We actually ate inside a Domino's, sat at a real table, and watched the pies come together from what can only be described as the Young Pizza Inspector overlook. With all-star service, we break Domino's down category by category to see if it can clear the Chili's bar. 🍕 Reviewing the Full Spread (and Absolutely No Salad) 🔥 BBQ Chicken Pizza, Ultimate Pepperoni, and Pan Pizza with Pepperoni, Bacon, & Garlic 🍝 Penne Pasta, Garlic Bread Bites, Cinnamon Bread Bites, and Chocolate Lava Cake 🏆 James Is the Champion of Shouting People Out 🎨 Decor That Made Us Wish We Could Vandalize the Walls 👀 Deputized to Inspect Pizzas 🍕 Yes, I Do Crave Pizza Despite Not Liking Cheese ✈️ James' Worst Restaurant Experience Ever Involved an Airport Sandwich 🍌 His Best Experience Was Weighted by Flashiness of Bananas Foster 📊 The Final Score: Is Domino's Better or Worse Than Chili's? 💬 COMMENT BELOW: What's your go-to Domino's order? 📢 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/@thefinediningpodcast 🔗 All links: linktree.com/finediningpodcast 🎤 Guest: James Werner | IG: @jamesyjoehenry   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   👉 NEXT WEEK: I head to BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse with comedian PJ McCormick and dive into their history (including pretty dumb etymology).

    1h 10m
  7. Domino's Pizza: Hostages, Food Tampering, and Turning It All Around

    7 JAN

    Domino's Pizza: Hostages, Food Tampering, and Turning It All Around

    🍕📦🚗 Domino's Pizza: Hostages, Food Tampering, and Turning It All Around 🚗📦🍕 Season 4 (omg, what??) kicks off with a deep dive into the wild, complicated, and occasionally Noidy history of Domino's Pizza. Joined by improviser and musician James Werner (@jamesyjoehenry), I trace how a tiny Michigan pizzeria turned into the world's largest pizza chain by making bold promises, bad mistakes, smarter apologies, and some genuinely fascinating tech gambles. This is a story about shame, sincerity, and why sometimes admitting "our pizza sucks" is the smartest move a company can make. 🍕 Two Brothers, $500, and a Volkswagen Beetle That Changed Pizza History ⏱️ The 30-Minute Delivery Promise That Built the Brand (and Nearly Broke It) 😈 The Noid, a Nintendo Game, and One of the Strangest Ad Campaign Aftermaths Ever 📉 "Our Pizza Sucks": The 2010 Recipe Overhaul That Saved Domino's 📱 Domino's Becomes an E-Commerce Company That Happens to Sell Pizza 🕳️ Paving Over Potholes Because "Bad Roads Shouldn't Happen to Good Pizza" 🧠 The Pizza Tracker Is Mostly Fake and That's Kind of the Point 🎅 James Pitches His Dream Restaurant: Santa's Kitchen, Serving What Santa Eats ⭐ Yelp From Strangers Includes a Reviewer Furious About a Tip Request on Mother's Day 💬 COMMENT BELOW: Did the Domino's recipe change actually win you back? 📢 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/@thefinediningpodcast 🔗 All links: linktree.com/finediningpodcast 🎤 Guest: James Werner | IG: @jamesyjoehenry 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 👉 NEXT WEEK: We put Domino's to the Chili's Test with a full review (and we actually found a Domino's that had tables for dine-in)!!

    59 min
  8. Rainforest Cafe, Bob's Big Boy, Waffle House, Pappadeaux, & Chuy's Get Yelped

    24/12/2025

    Rainforest Cafe, Bob's Big Boy, Waffle House, Pappadeaux, & Chuy's Get Yelped

    🗣️⭐🍽️ Yelp From Strangers: Rainforest Cafe, Bob's Big Boy, Waffle House, Pappadeaux & Chuy's 🍽️⭐🗣️ VyVy Nguyen (@cest_la_vyvy) is back as we wrap up our two-part Yelp From Strangers special during the final stretch of Bridge Season. This week's batch is truly unhinged. Once again, the food is secondary and the feelings are loud. Also, wtf does "we are bar people" even mean?? 🥩 A Rainforest Cafe Review That Treats the Jungle Steak Like Fine Art 🧠 My Personal Connection to David Lynch Lore at Bob's Big Boy 🪑 A Waffle House Review That References the Flying Chair Incident! 📱 A Chuy's Text Message That Woke a Man from His "Sleep Cycle" 👨‍👩‍👧 A Reviewer Who Seems Actively Mad That Her Own Children Exist 🍤 Pappadeaux Through the Eyes of Someone with Very Specific Expectations 🔥 Turtle from Entourage Writes a Review (from a Terrarium??) 💬 COMMENT BELOW: Which chain do you think has the most chaotic Yelp reviews of all time? 📢 SUPPORT THE SHOW & JOIN THE COMMUNITY: 🎉 Patreon (Bonus episodes, extended Yelp chaos & more): patreon.com/finediningpodcast 💬 Discord (Food talk, memes, cursed Yelp): discord.gg/6a2YqrtWV4 🎥 Watch full episodes: youtube.com/@finediningpodcast 🔗 All links: linktree.com/finediningpodcast 🎤 Guest: VyVy Nguyen | IG: @cest_la_vyvy 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 👉 NEXT WEEK: Enjoy your holidays! The Bridge Season is officially over, but Season 4 will hit your table January 7th with an episode detailing the history of Dominos Pizza!

    43 min

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About

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.

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