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I'm not Italian or Australian or Chinese, but I still find it insulting that these creeps have no problem borrowing elements of a culture they have no connection with, then turning out a mockery of the real thing.

See! Hilarious! 

anyone been to a chipolte?

I've never been to PF Chang's, and I don't really intend to. I suppose I should go just once, just so I can roundly denounce it with authority. No Chinese chain restaurant could possibly compete with a good local one, I think. Actually, I think the same holds true for any other kind of cuisine.

Actually, there's one near me that I should probably make it to. For some reason Baltimore has no really good Chinese -- chain food can't be worse than what we get around here from the local places. We have great Greek, very good Italian, a fantastic Afghani place, and a lot of good diners and crab houses, but very little Chinese that's even passable.

ooo, how could i forget this chain (and i hesitate to call it a chain.)

a greek family in stl has about 5 restaurants called spiro's (actually, some of them aren't called spiro's but they're the same thing) and they are delicious.  it's some great greek cuisine.

My boyfriend's best friend's family owns that. We go to the one at Olive and Woodsmill a lot. It's ok, I don't care for greek food that much and I hate steak so it kind of limits me.  Wild that you know if it.

The Syberg's chain and the Growler's chain both rock.  Gitto's too.

Chipotle kicks ass. We need one in StL.

If you've ever eaten Mexican food in Mexico, you'll notice right away that it isn't the same as the Mexican food you get at most places in the US, chain or not. Same goes with Chinese, German, etc. because they have all homogenized their dishes to suit American tastes. The exception to the rule is if you go to a restaurant in their neighborhood, and even then some cultures have 2 menus, one for the locals and one for the 'gringos'.

The pf changs in Palm Desert has great food, but once again the caste system rears it's head (rich neighborhood, better service), so maybe it's not so great in your neighborhood. It isn't traditional Chinese food , either, so anyone looking for that experience is bound to be disappointed. I'd go back for the duck anytime, it was the tastiest I've had in a long long while.
The best indicator of a good ethnic restaurant is whether or not people from that ethnic group eat there.