"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. Smashburger: Good, But Not Smashed Enough!!

    hace 15 h

    Smashburger: Good, But Not Smashed Enough!!

    🍔🥔 Smashburger Review: Incredible Hot Tots, Garlic Fries, and the Elderly Invade! 🥔🍔 This week, Bennett Cohen (@bennettrcohen) and I put Smashburger to the Chili's Test. As the No. 7 seed in Septemburger 2026, Smashburger has a showdown with Five Guys looming in just a couple of months, so the stakes are high. Are they doomed solely by writing a check they couldn't cash (or, SMASH!?). Because these "smash" burgers are not smashed enough to our liking! 🍔 We Review Smashburger's Three Entrants into the Septemburger Tournament 🥔 Smash Fries with Garlic & Rosemary Are a Win 🔥 Scorchin' Hot Tots Steal the Entire Meal (They're Not TOO Hot, Either) 🌭 The Americana Dog Has a Fantastic Bun 🍗 Chicken Tenders That Disappoint 🥤 Bennett and I Diverge on the Milkshakes 👴 The Dining Room Has Too Many Elderly People 🍬 Werther's, Gibberish, and Disregarding Social Norms 🤔 The Cashier Asks Me About Myself, Then Walks Away Mid-Answer..??? 💬 COMMENT BELOW: Which chain deserves the edge in Septemburger 2026: Smashburger or Five Guys? 📢 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: Bennett Cohen | IG: @bennettrcohen 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, Jewell Hermann, & Michelle Elmer Free Patreon Followers: Joe Warszalek, Lauren Cummings, Grace Krainak, Keri Estes, Robert Duran, Patrick Elliott, Dave Plummer, Nicholas Volney, Michael Gerard, Tracy Molino, Phuong Duong, Tyler Robinson, Brandon Gully, Mason Cruz, Michael Milito, Mez, Aaron Hubbard, Steff, Renae Michael, Crystal C., NiZ, & Science Broe 👉 NEXT WEEK: I dive into the history of Raising Cane's with D'Angelo Reyes. 🐔

    59 min
  2. Smashburger Comes From Fast Food Royalty

    24 jun

    Smashburger Comes From Fast Food Royalty

    🍔🥩 Smashburger: McGriddle Meets Quizno's, The "Smash Pass," and False Advertising 🥩🍔 This week, my wonderful guest Bennett Cohen (@bennettrcohen) joins me to dive into the history of Smashburger, a burger brand created by one of the most influential minds in fast food history Tom Ryan (the guy who invented the McGriddle). From custom-forged burger presses to being named America's most promising company by Forbes, Smashburger's history is, at the very least, surpising. 🍔 Smashburger Was Founded by a Literal Fast Food Legend in Tom Ryan 📈 Forbes Named Smashburger the "Most Promising Company" in 2012 🎟️ The $54 "Smash Pass" That Offered 54 Burgers in 54 Days ⚖️ You Can't Say "Double the Beef" When It's The Same Amount of Beef 🎵 We Offer Smashburger a Jingle in the Style of Yacht Rock 🌎 Smashburger Was Acquired by Jollibee Very Slowly 🔥 The Heat Lamp: Bennett Claims Lactose Intolerance Is a State of Mind 💥 Yelp from Strangers: A Customer and Employee Are Actually Beefing (And We Get to Hear Both Sides!!) 💬 COMMENT BELOW: Would you actually use the Smash Pass? 📢 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: Bennett Cohen | IG: @bennettrcohen 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, Jewell Hermann, & Michelle Elmer Free Patreon Followers: Joe Warszalek, Lauren Cummings, Grace Krainak, Keri Estes, Robert Duran, Patrick Elliott, Dave Plummer, Nicholas Volney, Michael Gerard, Tracy Molino, Phuong Duong, Tyler Robinson, Brandon Gully, Mason Cruz, Michael Milito, Mez, Aaron Hubbard, Steff, Renae Michael, Crystal C., & NiZ

    45 min
  3. Fazoli's: Mom's Spaghetti, GOATed Breadsticks, and Sh*tting with my Shirt Off

    17 jun

    Fazoli's: Mom's Spaghetti, GOATed Breadsticks, and Sh*tting with my Shirt Off

    🍝🥖 Fazoli's Review: Breadsticks, Nostalgic Pasta, and the Trader Joe's Restroom 🥖🍝 This week, Sabrina Carmichael (@brina711) and I finally put Fazoli's to the Chili's Test. Between "unlimited" breadsticks, pasta that reminds me of my mom's pasta, overly sweet desserts, and a pizza that looked like it had been "touched," Fazoli's delivered one of the more unique fast-fast dining experiences I've ever had. 🍝 Spaghetti with Meat Sauce Unlocks Childhood Memories (Plus: My Homemade Garlic Pasta Sandwiches!) 🥖 Breadsticks Better Than Olive Garden's 🍕 The Double Slice is Presented Interestingly... 🧀 Fettuccine Alfredo Rocks Sabrina's World 🍪 Great American Cookie Desserts Are Sweet Enough to Cause Structural Damage 🥤 Sabrina's DIY Arnold Palmer Goes Wrong 📦 Breadsticks-To-Go? Not On Their Watch! 🧹 To Bus or Not to Bus? An Existential Crisis 🚻 What Men Use Hooks for in Public Restroom Stalls - A Cautionary Tale 🎭 Sabrina Gets Poetic About the Magic of Musso & Frank Grill 💬 COMMENT BELOW: What's the best chain restaurant breadstick in America? 📢 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: Sabrina Carmichael | IG: @brina711 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, & Jewell Hermann 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, Renae Michael, Crystal C., & NiZ 👉 NEXT WEEK: A few months out from Septemburger 2026, I cover the history of the No. 7 seed Smashburger with Bennett Cohen.

    1 h
  4. Fazoli's: Fast Food Italian, Wayne Gretzky, and a Roving Breadstick Bus

    10 jun

    Fazoli's: Fast Food Italian, Wayne Gretzky, and a Roving Breadstick Bus

    🍝🥖 Fazoli's: Admitting they Can't Compete with Pizza, the "Breadstick Express," and Dr. Lee Zagna 🥖🍝 This week, Sabrina Carmichael (@brina711) joins me to explore the history of Fazoli's, a restaurant that looked at the pizza wars and wisely decided, "No thanks." Instead of trying to battle the delivery giants head-on, Fazoli's carved out a niche with pasta, breadsticks, and a surprisingly unique place in the fast food landscape. Along the way, we uncover one of the strangest restaurant name changes ever and even though my guest "grew up loving Fazoli's," she'd never actually been..??? 🍝 Originally "Gratzi's" (But the Public Confused it with Wayne Gretzky) 🍕 The Self-Realization that they Can't Compete with the Pizza Giants 🥖 The Legendary Breadstick Express (My New Actual Dream Car) 🩺 Dr. Lee Zagna in Fazoli's Marketing 📈 How Fazoli's Found Success as Fast Food Italian 🍽️ Customers Compare It More to Olive Garden Than McDonald's 🔥 The Heat Lamp: Sabrina's Got Buffet Strategy 💄 Yelp from Strangers: A Customer Gets Called "Old" and Takes Shots at the Cashier's Makeup 💬 COMMENT BELOW: What's your stance on salad at a buffet? 📢 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: Sabrina Carmichael | IG: @brina711 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, & Jewell Hermann 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, Renae Michael, Crystal C., & NiZ 👉 NEXT WEEK: We eat our Fazoli's to put it to the Chili's Test. 🍝🏆

    42 min
  5. MOOYAH: Eat Here ASAP

    3 jun

    MOOYAH: Eat Here ASAP

    🍔🥔 MOOYAH Review: They Sure Know Their Way Around a Potato...and Beef 🥔🍔 This week, Sandy Rose and I put MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes to the Chili's Test. I'm not lying when I say that all of their potato things are top notch. The fries taste fresh, the chips are just as good as the fries, and the BUNS! Potato buns have rented space in my daydreams (did that make sense...?) because they're all I can think about. 🍔 The MDC Shows Why MOOYAH Should Be Huge 🧅 The Well D'Onion Divides Sandy and I (We'll be okay tho...) 🌭 The Hamburdog is as Fun to Say As It Is to Consume 🍟 French Fries That You Can Taste the Skin 🥔 House-Made Potato Chips Somehow Aren't a Downgrade 🥤 Reese's vs. OREO Milkshakes 🗣️ A Sweet Employee Who Sounds Like She Was Trained by the Brand Itself 😬 The Manager Gives Off "Nobody Wants to Work Anymore" Vibes 💬 COMMENT BELOW: Would you order a Hamburdog, or are you higher class than 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: Sandy Rose 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., NiZ 👉 NEXT WEEK: The history of fast food Italian chain Fazoli's.

    41 min
  6. MOOYAH: A Funny Burger That's Expensive But Delicious

    27 may

    MOOYAH: A Funny Burger That's Expensive But Delicious

    🍔🔥 MOOYAH: Better Burger Boom, Secret Menus, and Bird Poop 🔥🍔 This week, Sandy Rose joins me to break down the history of MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes, a burger chain that emerged from the "better burger" gold rush and somehow managed to stay decent even after private equity got involved. Along the way, Sandy and I debate whether being pooped on by a bird is actually good luck, unpack MOOYAH's aggressively goofy brand voice, and discover that apparently every restaurant chain on Earth is trying to expand into Dubai. 🍔 Founded by Veterans During the "Better Burger" Wave 🤣 The Chain's Extremely Silly Brand Voice 📜 The Hall of Dang and the Magic of Secret Menus 🌍 Dubai Expansion Because EVERYONE'S Doing It 💰 Surviving Private Equity Ownership Without Losing the Plot 🔥 The Heat Lamp: Sandy Claims You Shouldn't Need a Drink with Dinner 💘 Yelp from Strangers: A Cashier Accidentally Helps a Customer Get Laid 💬 COMMENT BELOW: What's the greatest secret menu item of all time? 📢 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: Sandy Rose 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., NiZ 👉 NEXT WEEK: We head to MOOYAH to review the food and put it to the Chili's Test.

    38 min
  7. Gen Korean BBQ House: Meat So Good We Cried

    20 may

    Gen Korean BBQ House: Meat So Good We Cried

    🥩🔥 Gen Korean BBQ House Review: Incredible Meats, Stingy Napkins, and Disappointing Wagyu 🔥🥩 We're back at GEN Korean BBQ House with Jon Durnell (@jon024durnell), and this meal absolutely delivers. Even if we die of smoke inhalation, the genuinely fantastic cuts of meat allow Gen to put together one of the strongest overall food experiences I've had in a while...even if the service staff was "napkin stingy." 🥩 LA-Style Galbi Always Delivers 🍖 Premium Skirt Steak with Garlic Brings Us Close to Orgasm 🥒 Banchan Parade: Pickled Onions, Radish, Kimchi, Potato Salad & More 🥭 Mango Tango Bites and Hotteok Close Things Out Strong 🦐 Jon Is NOT Feeling the Shrimp 🐄 A5 Wagyu Somehow Underwhelms 🧻 The Staff Guards Napkins Like State Secrets 🥗 A Sign at the Front Takes a Shot at Vegetarians 🏆 Calibration Station: Jon Names a Steak Worth Killing For While Absolutely Destroying Shoney's 💬 COMMENT BELOW: Have you ever had Korean BBQ? 📢 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: Jon Durnell | IG: @jon024durnell 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 MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes with the returning Sandy Rose.

    57 min

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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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