The Absolute Best Chain Restaurant Guilty Pleasures

We may get to eat at Atlanta’s best restaurants on a regular basis filming for Atlanta Eats TV, but that doesn’t make the Atlanta Eats staff immune to the lure of a Red Lobster cheddar bay biscuit. Here are some of our favorite guilty pleasures from local chain restaurants and fast food spots.

1. Wendy’s 4 for $4

Wendy’s 4 for $4 is a post-flight ritual for our Director of Buffalo Wing Development, Megan: “I saw a tweet a few years ago saying it was a better deal then the entire Louisiana Deal and that stuck with me. Best deal, best quality.”

2. Panera’s Broccoli Cheese Soup In A Bread Bowl

Our Marketing Mixologist, Hannah, loves a tasting menu at one of Atlanta’s finest restaurants but also can chow down a bread bowl from Panera: “It’s cheesy, it’s creamy, it has veggies in it but it’s also in a bowl make of delicious sourdough bread.”

3. Culver’s Deluxe Burger and Milkshakes

Any mid-west folks out there who also love Culver’s as much as our editor OJ? The deluxe burger and their milkshakes are his go-to: “There’s only two locations in Georgia, and it’s underrated. It’s actually made fresh and really good!!!”

4. Uno Pizzeria & Grille’s Pizza Skins

Leave it to our Director of Digital Carbs, Jorge, to love something as strange as this: “The best thing about chain restaurants is their willingness to do insane stuff like mix potato skins with a deep dish pizza. And when it works like this appetizer dish, it’s incredible. These are basically a flaky deep dish pizza crust with mashed potatoes, bacon and cheddar on the inside. I looked it up and the closest location is right outside of Columbia, SC so definitely worth stopping by when you go watch the dogs up there in ’22.”

5. Cheesecake Factory’s Pasta Di Vinci 

The mushrooms, onions, madeira, and wine sauce all are a great combo of flavors for our host, Steak Shapiro. 

6. Popeye’s 3 Piece Spicy 

Are you team Zaxby,’s Chick-fil-a, or Popeye’s? It’s Popeye’s three piece spicy meal forever that has our Pastry Chef, Jon’s heart: “It’s THE BEST combination of crispy, yet juicy fried chicken on the market & the biscuit absolutely rocks!”

7. Wendy’s Everyday Value Menu

Lots of Wendy’s stans in the Atlanta Eats house, including with our Executive Chef Kyle: “If I’m going fast food, I’m probably in a place where I need a couple of JBC’s, chicken nuggets, and a Frosty. The Everyday Value Menu allows me to get that without breaking the bank, just my diet.”

8. Red Lobster’s Cheddar Bay Biscuits

For our High-Calorie Content Creator, Trisha, it’s the cheddar bay biscuits at Red Lobster that are her siren call: “Pretty sure there’s literally nothing I enjoy at Red Lobster besides these biscuits. I could easily house like 5 of them. There’s also a box mix of this stuff you can buy at the grocery stores though unfortunately, it doesn’t taste quite as good as what you could have at the restaurant.”

9. McDonald’s Big Mac

For our marketing intern, Alana, it’s all about the sauce at Mickey D’s: “It’s no surprise that McDonald’s burgers are dry and need saving. In my opinion, the Big Mac sauce makes this burger! It’s creamy, it’s sweet & it’s salty: my go to on the McD’s menu for sure. The sauce makes the burger!” says Alana.

10. Outback Steakhouse’s Cheese Fries

For our Director of French Fries, Dani, it’s no surprise that it’s all about the fries for her at Outback Steakhouse. Oh, and the sauce of course: “THE RANCH! It’s the best chain restaurant ranch out there – no debate! Not to mention a nostalgic classic,” says Dani.