Before we moved here full time we lived in the Town of Southold (north fork of long island). Franchise restaurants of any kind were not allowed by town statute. We always ate at mom & pop places that wouldn't stay in business very long if they weren't good.
I'm not surprised at the mixed reviews, obviously management is to be faulted. Poor service and/or bad food is always the result of poor management, from the local management team up to the regional and beyond.
Bob Evans and others like it are not in business to please their customers but to make as much money as possible. They don't take pride in customer service nor buying the best food supplies, most of which are frozen anyway.
I would not waste my time critiquing such places any more then I would critique a Publix bought box of fig newton cookies.
Bob Evans and others of it's ilk are just plain yuck ( my critique? ).
Most of the time we eat at home and we're happy.
