"Fine" Dining

Season 4 Premiere!! 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)!!

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!

Denny's, Pizza Hut, Olive Garden, Gyu-Kaku, & Bubba Gump Shrimp Company Get Yelped

🗣️⭐🍽️ Yelp From Strangers: Denny's, Pizza Hut, Olive Garden, Gyu-Kaku & Bubba Gump 🍽️⭐🗣️ This week, VyVy Nguyen (@cest_la_vyvy) joins me for a pure Yelp chaos episode as the Bridge Season barrels toward its finale. No history, no food review, just unfiltered opinions from the internet's most confident critics. From late-night diners to shrimp shrines, this first of a two-part Yelp special proves once again that the most unhinged storytelling lives in the review section. 🥞 A Denny's Customer Furious About Being Mistaken for Homeless Flaunts His iPhone 🍕 Pizza Hut Favoritism Allegations That Will Not Be Forgotten 🍝 Olive Garden and the Unavoidable Consequences to One's Digestive Tract 🔥 A Deeply Uncomfortable and Kind-of Racist Gyu-Kaku Review 🦐 Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. Through the Eyes of a True Shrimp Evangelist 😡 Entitlement, Pettiness, and Selective Outrage Across Multiple Chains 📉 The Internet Continues to Be the Worst (and Best) Place on Earth 💬 COMMENT BELOW: Which chain has the wildest Yelp reviews in your experience? 📢 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: Yelp From Strangers Part 2 as the Bridge Season comes to a close with even more reviews, more grievances, and absolutely no self-awareness as VyVy Nguyen is back to chat about Rainforest Cafe, Bob's Big Boy, Waffle House, Pappadeaux, & Chuy's.

Is Islands the Best Casual Burger Chain?

🍔🏄‍♂️🍟 Islands Fine Burgers & Drinks: The Best Casual Burger Chain? 🍟🏄‍♂️🍔 This week, VyVy Nguyen (@cest_la_vyvy) returns for another round of Eat Deets as we surf the waves of flavor offered by Islands Fine Burgers & Drinks. From their golden fries and proprietary fry salt to surf videos looping endlessly on the walls, Islands is a California chain that perfectly captures chill beach energy. We explore its expansion beyond the West Coast, the founder's wild journey from selling to buying the company back, and why seasoning > sauce every single time. 🍔 Burgers So Good 🧅 Island Reds (Crispy Onion Strings) Make Burger So Better 🍟 The Legendary Fry Salt That Outshines Any Sauce 🌊 Surf Videos and Tropical Vibes at Every Location 🗺️ From California to Hawaii and Back Again ⚓ The Founder Sold, Bought It Back, and Righted the Ship (Literally, He's a Navy Vet) 🪨 Yelp Reviewer Claims She Found Rocks in Her Food 💬 COMMENT BELOW: What's the best beachside burger you've ever had? 📢 SUPPORT THE SHOW & JOIN THE COMMUNITY: 🎉 Patreon (Bonus episodes, full Yelp segments & 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 👉 NEXT WEEK: VyVy returns for a Yelp from Strangers special covering some hilarious Yelp reviews I discovered when looking at the restaurants I reviewed during season 1!

The Old Spaghetti Factory: "Why the Trolley?", Mizithra Cheese, & the Nashville Bombing

🍝🚋🕯️ The Old Spaghetti Factory: Trolleys, Mizithra, and Guss Dussin's Dream 🕯️🚋🍝 This week, VyVy Nguyen (@cest_la_vyvy) joins me for a deep dive into the charming, old-world history of The Old Spaghetti Factory. We uncover how a humble warehouse filled with antiques became one of America's most distinctive restaurant chains, complete with a refurbished trolley car centerpiece and chandeliers that make every meal feel like a special occasion. From its signature mizithra cheese and brown butter pasta to a story of explosive disaster, this chain has us asking the question: is "meat sauce" a good euphemism for jizz? 🏭 Founded in a Real Warehouse Filled with Antique Décor 🚋 The Iconic Refurbished Trolley Car in Nearly Every Location 🧀 The Legendary Mizithra Cheese & Brown Butter Dish 🔥 How the Nashville Bombing Led to a Lost Lease 👑 Founder Guss Dussin Has the Best Name in Restaurant History 🍽️ A Reviewer So Petty He Roasted a Waiter from Another Restaurant Too 💬 COMMENT BELOW: Have you ever eaten inside one of The Old Spaghetti Factory's trolleys? 📢 SUPPORT THE SHOW & JOIN THE COMMUNITY: 🎉 Patreon (Bonus episodes, full Yelp segments & 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 👉 NEXT WEEK: VyVy returns as the Bridge Season continues with the history of Islands Fine Burgers & Drinks, a tropical twist on California casual dining!