Which do you prefer to go to? Restaurants that are family owned...or the bigger chain restaurants?  In my opinion, I would rather patronize locally owned businesses. That's not saying that I don't go to places like Olive Garden, Red Lobster, Eat-n-Park, etc...but I would rather go to small, family owned restaurants. We have a place in our area called, "Jioio's"...they have the best pizza and Italian food. Chris and I go there a lot of times on our date nights.  I don't know...there's just something cozy about sitting in that type of restaurant on a Friday or Saturday night....it's totally packed with patrons...and run by family members...they usually have the best food too.

I have no preference.

I used to go to Family Owned Restaurants often, but the food they serve is usually too much for me to eat.  Fries and Gravy comes on this jumbo sized plate with a mountain of fries.  I get

I'm prefer family owned places.  There's a little Italian resturant near our house called Chef Tom's, and it has, hands down, the best Italian food I've ever had.  We go there at least once a month.  I also like little family bakeries and coffee shops - I would much rather support a local family than a big corporation.

I'm a fan of the family owned joint.  There are three on the island that i love.  Canlon's has great italian and steaks and a 5 person bar that I love.  it's been in their family for three generations.
The Rosebank Fountain is an old soda fountain that is now a little diner.  The food is ready in seconds.  Great for a grilled cheese or burger.
Last is The Bridge- it is the place where the movie "Two Story House" (wrong title...something like that- about a bar and the people that live upstairs...)  was filmed...It has been open since before the construction of the Bayonne Bridge (not sure the year) and though it changed hands, the decor is the same since then.

I usually like Family Owned better. We had the best mexican restaurant that was family owned. Sadly it closed down 2 years ago. :\'(

No preference here.

Family owned.  More often than not the overall quality of food is better, and if the family cares to stay in business, so is the service.

Well, I'll go to any restaurant at least once, but I prefer neither the chain nor the family owned. I prefer the privately owned haute cuisine places with a talented chef and an excellent wine list. That comes from having worked in one of those places for a long time. One thing I like is that around here, a lot of restaurants let you bring your own wine, which certainly saves money. You know the kind of mark-up a restaurant pulls on a bottle of wine.

Well, I'll go to any restaurant at least once, but I prefer neither the chain nor the family owned. I prefer the privately owned haute cuisine places with a talented chef and an excellent wine list. That comes from having worked in one of those places for a long time. One thing I like is that around here, a lot of restaurants let you bring your own wine, which certainly saves money. You know the kind of mark-up a restaurant pulls on a bottle of wine.


Yeah, but do they charge a corking fee? Most places that let you bring in your own wine, charge a small fee to open it.

Yeah, but do they charge a corking fee? Most places that let you bring in your own wine, charge a small fee to open it.


I believe they do, but I'd rather pay a $5 fee than a $50 one.

Family owned in my opinion........... Better Quality food,etc............ (And today thats quite important)

Family owned in my opinion........... Better Quality food,etc............ (And today thats quite important)

I agree... in fact, I have been to several family-owned restaurants which I enjoy, including an Italian one that we go to frequently. :)

On the other hand, there are various chain restaurants I like, particularly of the sit-down type. But if I had a choice, I'd pick family-owned first.

I would say family-owned restaurants cause you get to know most of the people there and you can start a relationship with them when you visit the place frequently.

I would say family-owned restaurants cause you get to know most of the people there and you can start a relationship with them when you visit the place frequently.

So true!

In fact, the Italian restaurant that I mentioned in my last post, we know the owners of the place, and they are great people. We've also gotten to know a number of the wait staff members there, who also are cordial.

So true!

In fact, the Italian restaurant that I mentioned in my last post, we know the owners of the place, and they are great people. We've also gotten to know a number of the wait staff members there, who also are cordial.


There are places My Parents and I go to and we start a relationship with staff and the manager, we say how are you doing and shake hands and all, they have smiling faces. :)

There are places My Parents and I go to and we start a relationship with staff and the manager, we say how are you doing and shake hands and all, they have smiling faces. :)

That's wonderful to know. It's always nice to be on excellent terms with people like that. O0

That's wonderful to know. It's always nice to be on excellent terms with people like that. O0


like last year My Parents took me to a restaurant on my birthday and he knew the waiter that went to his senior center and he treated all of us very well. :)

like last year My Parents took me to a restaurant on my birthday and he knew the waiter that went to his senior center and he treated all of us very well. :)

Awesome.  :)

I always prefer family owned restaurants simply because I want to support the local economy.  :)