If you haven't wolfed down a slab of meat at Stuart Anderson's Restaurants lately, maybe now's the time. Consumers love the place, according to Restaurants and Institutions' Choice in Chains survey. The Los Altos, Calif.-based family steakhouse chain has a commanding presence in this year's ratings, nosing ahead of 92 other restaurants in the 18th annual poll of consumer tastes and preferences. Diners also show fond affinity for HomeTown Buffet, Wendy's, Kenny Rogers Roasters and Baskin-Robbins. But consider this a compendium of consumer yens.
Cleanliness is more important than food quality, consumers tell pollsters.
After that, preferences shift a bit. A cafeteria, for example, racks up high marks for menu variety, but to make the top list of winners, San Diego-based HomeTown Buffet has to please customers on many fronts, including service, cleanliness and value. That's a curveball for niche players. When very little separates the leaders from the rest of the pack, differentiation becomes daunting. But they're quick to admit they aren't too keen on the value and say the food's not that great, either.