Restaurants & Institutions Announces 2008 Consumers' Choice in Chains Winners
	3,100+ Consumers Rate Chain Restaurants on Specific Dining Attributes
Restaurants & Institutions (www.rimag.com) has announced the winners of its 28th annual Consumers' Choice in Chains study. The award winners are selected by a thorough and rigorous consumer polling process. As part of its mission to provide industry insights and intelligence, R&I annually commissions exclusive consumer research, polling more than 3,100 chain-restaurant patrons. For each of the chains they have visited, respondents are asked to assess eight attributes that factor into the total dining experience: food quality, service, convenience, cleanliness, value, menu variety, atmosphere and reputation. Those chains with the top scores in each of 13 industry segments are named R&I's Consumers' Choice in Chains winners. The 2008 Consumers' Choice in Chains winners include: BURGERS: In-N-Out Burger Platinum Winner Gold Winner Fuddruckers Silver Winner CAFETERIA/BUFFET: Sweet Tomatoes/Souplantation Platinum Winner Luby's Gold Winner Golden Corral Silver Winner CASUAL DINING: The Cheesecake Factory Platinum Winner Mimi's Cafe Gold Winner P.F. Chang's China Bistro Silver Winner CHICKEN: Chick-fil-A Platinum Winner Zaxby's Gold Winner El Pollo Loco Silver Winner COFFEE/SNACKS: Starbucks Platinum Winner Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Gold Winner Cinnabon Silver Winner FAMILY DINING: Cracker Barrel Old Country Store Platinum Winner Bob Evans Gold Winner Marie Callender's Silver Winner ITALIAN: Carrabba's Italian Grill Platinum Winner Olive Garden Gold Winner Romano's Macaroni Grill Silver Winner MEXICAN: On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina Platinum Winner Moe's Southwest Grill Gold Winner Chipotle Mexican Grill Silver Winner PIZZA: Papa Murphy's Take 'N Bake Pizza Platinum Winner Round Table Pizza Gold Winner Papa John's Silver Winner SANDWICH: Panera Bread Platinum Winner Jason's Deli Gold Winner Jimmy John's Silver Winner SEAFOOD: Bonefish Grill Platinum Winner Red Lobster Gold Winner Joe's Crab Shack Silver Winner STEAKHOUSE: LongHorn Steakhouse Platinum Winner Outback Steakhouse Gold Winner Tony Roma's Silver Winner TREATS: Jamba Juice Platinum Winner Cold Stone Creamery Gold Winner Ben & Jerry's Silver Winner 'Consumers' Choice in Chains awards are hard-earned prizes, proud and important accomplishments that reflect relentless dedication to all aspects of excellence,' says Patricia Dailey, Publisher and Editorial Director of R&I magazine. 'These awards represent the most important restaurant metric there is - customer satisfaction.' All winners were honored in an Aug. 18 ceremony at The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel, in Dana Point, Calif.