Table Talk: Consumer Reports releases survey of chain restaurants

Which chain restaurants satisfy customers the most? Which have the best values?

A just-released Restaurant Satisfaction Survey conducted by Consumer Reports shows that high marks for food have been given to The Original Pancake House, Bonefish Grill and Morton's The Steakhouse, as well as other chains not located in the Richmond area.

Five restaurants earned exceptional scores for value, though none of them is in Richmond: Black-eyed Pea, Sonny's Real Pit BBQ, Azteca Mexican Restaurant, Cheddar's Casual Café and First Watch.

Of the 101 most popular chains rated, Maggiano's Little Italy and the supposedly coming-soon-to-Richmond McCormick & Schmick's earned the highest overall marks, along with The Capital Grille, First Watch and Biaggi's Ristorante Italiano.

For the best meals for less than $20, magazine readers chose Mimi's Café, Abuelo's, Cheddar's Casual Café, Elephant Bar Restaurant and Texas Roadhouse.

The Consumer Reports National Research Center gathered responses from 70,403 subscribers who made 158,744 visits to 101 restaurant chains between April 2007 and 2008.

A complete list of ratings can be found in the current issue of Consumer Reports or at http://www.ConsumerReports.org.

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With First Fridays Artwalk taking place in its neighborhood, Chez Foushee, 203 N. Foushee St., is offering a special bar menu for tomorrow night.

The menu is available at the bar only and will offer appetizers for $6.75.

Among the choices: steamed pork and shrimp potstickers, chilled silky avocado soup, mini burgers on toasted buns and petite jumbo lump crab cakes.

Desserts -- classic lemon butter cake, chocolate mousse martini and amaretto pound cake among them -- will also be available for $6.75.

For details, visit http://www.chezfoushee.com or call (804) 648-3225.

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Caliente, 2922 Park Ave., is serving brunch Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Items include bananas Foster French toast, eggs Benedict with smoked pepper hollandaise, shrimp and grits, a Creole pan scramble and Welsh rarebit.

Adult beverages, such as mimosas and bloody Mary's, are also on the menu.

Caliente's patio is open as well.

For details, visit http://www.calienterichmond.com or call (804) 340-2920.

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As of this week, 1 North Belmont is open for lunch daily, except Sundays.

Choices include French dip with pommes frites and garlic butter for dipping ($15); pan-seared sea scallops with black truffle risotto, warm bok choy, oyster mushrooms and bacon bits ($17); and wild Alaska smoked salmon on toast with fresh dill aioli ($15).

For details about the restaurant (named after its address), visit http://www.1northbelmont.com or call (804) 358-0050.

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The VCU-area Chipotle 810 W. Grace St., on the corner of Grace Street at Laurel Avenue -- will open next Thursday.

However, on Wednesday from 5 to 8 p.m., the chain will hold a benefit for Byrd House Market and Grace Arents Community Garden. A $5 donation gets you either a burrito, an order of tacos, a bowl or a salad, plus an order of chips with salsa or guacamole and a regular drink.

On opening day, the first 100 people after 3 p.m. will receive a free T-shirt, a free burrito card to use another time and the chance to register for a year's worth of free burritos.

The location will be open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

If you have a tip for Table Talk, call (804) 649-6120 or e-mail . The deadline to receive items is noon Friday one week before publication.