Survey roasts 2 chains, adds to Dave's fame

Unless you're taking BBQ to go, there's not much to celebrate among Minnesota-based chain restaurants. That's according to the latest Consumer Reports readers' survey, which handed dismal marks to Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar and slightly less dismal ones to Buca di Beppo, two of three national restaurant chains with local ties that were included in the survey.

It wasn't all indigestion for Minnesota restaurant companies, though. Famous Dave's BBQ escaped the readers' wrath to tie for first place in the barbecue category. It also won top honors for its takeout, a business that makes up 20 percent of sales at the Minnetonka-based Famous Dave's.

The survey rated 101 restaurant chains on taste, value, service, mood and menu choices, with at least 250 visits to each restaurant between April 2007 and April 2008.

Buffalo Wild Wings, which despite a share price that has more than doubled since November, earned the lowest score out of every chain tested. It was listed in the "Pub Style" category in last place, just below Hooters.

Ouch.

The results surprised folks at Buffalo Wild Wings, who said in a company statement that their own research says customers like their shops.

"Buffalo Wild Wings continues to be an industry leader by being focused on great food at a reasonable price in a very fun and social environment," the company said. "Our ongoing research shows our guests rate their Buffalo Wild Wings experience very favorably."

Famous Dave's spokesman Aric Nissen said although the chain tied for first place overall, it took first place for taste. Most of their locations have a separate area for takeout, and employees take phone orders in the morning before the restaurant opens, Nissen said. "We really realize that selling takeout is about providing more convenience for the guests."

The company sold $140 million of barbecue last year through 170 restaurants in 36 states.

The survey amounted to something of a "caveat emptor" for Planet Hollywood, the Las Vegas-based company that bought Buca di Beppo from its Minneapolis owners in August for $28.5 million, including debt. The survey was conducted in the months leading up to Planet Hollywood's purchase and reflected the dismal state of affairs at the 15-year-old Italian chain before its purchase. (Buca was a middle-of-the-pack performer in the survey three years ago.)

Since then, a Planet Hollywood spokeswoman said, the company's gone through a makeover.

"We've been putting a lot of time and effort into upgrading our food and making it as fresh as possible," said Amy Sadowsky of Planet Hollywood. "We take that very, very seriously." An executive chef has traveled across the country to visit some of the chain's 88 locations, she said, and recipes have been refined.

Will it pass muster with the finicky readers of Consumer Reports?

Time will tell. It may be three years or more before the magazine runs another survey.

Matt McKinney • 612-673-7329