Shop Talk

When it comes to getting the most bang for a buck at sit-down restaurants, Olive Garden, Cracker Barrel, Golden Corral, Applebee’s and Chili’s get top marks, according to 5,000 diners recently polled online by BrandIndex.

Brands with the worst perceived value were Ground Round, Benihana, Bahama Breeze, Landry’s Seafood House and Hooter’s.

Sit-down restaurants have been discounting heavily as consumers cook more meals at home and “trade down” to lower-priced fast-food chains to save money amid a long recession that has sent U.S. unemployment to a 26-year high.

BrandIndex is owned by market research company YouGov.

Here is the full list of results:

(A score can range from 100 to -100 and is compiled by subtracting negative feedback from positive. A zero score means equal positive and negative feedback.)

CASUAL DINING — VALUE SCORES (July 10, 2009)

Oliver Garden: 56.80
Cracker Barrel: 55.61
Golden Corral: 54.85
Applebee’s: 47.24
Chili’s: 46.14
Famous Dave’s: 44.28
TGI Friday’s: 41.43
Red Robin: 41.28
Ruby Tuesday: 40.70
Hometown Buffet: 34.64
Fuddrucker’s: 32.31
Macaroni Grill: 30.58
Pei Wei Asian Dinner: 29.40
Carrabba’s: 26.24
California Pizza Kitchen: 24.70
Buffalo Wild Wings: 22.50
Sizzler: 22.27
Luby’s: 18.25
Red Lobster: 17.68
On The Border: 16.42
Houlihan’s: 3.62
Ground Round: 0.00
Benihana: -7.66
Bahama Breeze: -11.63
Landry’s Seafood House: -12.26
Hooter’s: -41.98