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"Fine" Dining

Michael Ornelas
Yelp
Chili's
Fast Food
Cracker Barrel
Wendy's
Dairy Queen
Whataburger
Casa Bonita
Texas Roadhouse
Papa John's
Culver's
California Pizza Kitchen
Mcdonald's
IHOP
Friendly's
Domino's Pizza
Subway
Papa Murphy's
California
Panera Bread

Comedian Michael Ornelas dives deep into the stories behind your favorite chain restaurants like Domino's, BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse, and Long John Silver's before determining if they are better or worse than Chili's: the most mediocre restaurant in America.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes183Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
FoodComedyArts

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Latest Episodes

🍕🏆 Slice House by Tony Gemignani: World Champion Pizza, "Hot Mario (Lopez??)," and Pizza Acrobatics 🏆🍕 This week, Court McGowan (@the_courtjester_) joins me to dive into the history of Slice House by Tony Gemignani, the pizza empire built by one ... more

🍔🥜 Five Guys Review: Worst Bacon Ever, Amazing Fries, and Competitive Burgers 🥜🍔 This week, Seif Rahoumi (@seifrahoumi) returns as we put Five Guys to the Chili's Test. With Five Guys entering Septemburger 2026 as the No. 2 seed, it's time to fin... more

🍔🥜 Five Guys: Shaq's Five Guys Empire, The Secret Sixth Guy, and An Old Yelper Yells at Clouds 🥜🍔 This week, Seif Rahoumi (@seifrahoumi) joins me to look into the history of Five Guys, a family burger business that has scaled massively. Faced wit... more

🐔🍟 Raising Cane's Review: Amazing Sauce, Terrible Sandwich, and Where Are the Knives?! 🍟🐔 This week, D'Angelo Reyes and I finally put Raising Cane's to the Chili's Test. We order literally everything on the menu, from the famous chicken fingers t... more

Key Facts

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Contact Information
Podcast Host
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Recent Guests

Seif Rahoumi
Friend and performer invited to discuss Five Guys, comedy background
Shared Experience Studio / Upright Citizens Brigade Theater
Episode: Five Guys Was Actually Six Guys and a Lady
D'Angelo Reyes
Improviser, performer at Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in Los Angeles
Episode: Raising Cane's: Named After a Dog, Assumed to Fail, and Post Malone
Bennett Cohen
Performer and improviser; performs with Orion's Belt
UCB (Univeristy of California, San Francisco? actually Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre)
Episode: Smashburger Comes From Fast Food Royalty
Sabrina Carmichael
Former improv teammate, actress with a calm, entertaining presence
Episode: Fazoli's: Fast Food Italian, Wayne Gretzky, and a Roving Breadstick Bus
Sandy Rose
Returning guest; known for her rousing sign-off in episodes
Episode: MOOYAH: Eat Here ASAP
Jon Durnell
Comedian and improviser
UCB and comedian circuit
Episode: Korean BBQ's Fascinating History and the Rise of Gen KBBQ House
Gabe Legg
Actor, writer, director; featured guest discussing Tony Roma's
Episode: Tony Roma's: King of (Chain) Ribs
Alex Stedman
Improviser in Los Angeles; friend of the host
Freelance performer/Improv
Episode: Zaxbys: Chicken Fingerz, The "Sauce Boss," and The Letter "Z"
Sue Ornelas
Mother of the host and discussion participant
Episode: Torchy's Tacos: The Next Great Mexican Chain?

Host

Michael Ornelas
Host of Fine Dining; introduces the show and leads discussions.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 254 ratings
  • I miss Garrett

    Love this podcast but i miss him, some of the other guests are funny luckily

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ksnsnzns
    United States5 months ago
  • A real costumer

    If I could give this zero stars, I would.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Superdasher92
    United States7 months ago
  • If I could give this podcast less stars than zero I would!

    The audacity the ego the humanity of this host to make a show about restaurants that most of us have visited at one time or another to discuss its history and whether its still worth participating with our presence how dare you sir with entertaining shows that I enjoy, no one and I mean no one tells me what I should like but you sir help me make that choice 5 stars!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    samwise san
    United States7 months ago
  • If I could give this zero stars I would!

    I’m offended as a costumer of this show. The “manager” told me to give this 5 stars! How impulsive! If I could give this zero stars I would

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    PodcastListener56
    United States7 months ago
  • Isn’t this just dough boys?

    Why would I want a second version of my least-favorite podcast

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    My Dooood
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some reviews note strong guest variety; occasional critique centers on pacing or sound quality.
Many appreciate the entertaining take on familiar chains and the calibration segments.
Listeners love the banter and humor, and the surprising depth on branding and history.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#218
Canada/Arts/Food
Apple Podcasts
#37
South Korea/Arts/Food
Apple Podcasts
#137
Philippines/Arts/Food

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Raising Cane's: Named After a Dog, Assumed to Fail, and Post Malone
Q: What is your restaurant hot take?
The host and guest agree that kitchy themed restaurants are often more engaging and memorable than Michelin-star prestige, arguing that whimsy and story-telling can elevate a dining experience even when the food isn't exceptional.
MOOYAH: A Funny Burger That's Expensive But Delicious
Q: Sandy, do you have a history with MOOYAH?
No, I had never heard of it until we went.
Tony Roma's: King of (Chain) Ribs
Q: What would you score as a zero out of ten and a ten out of ten in calibration terms?
Gabe explains his extremes: a nostalgic ten rooted in personal experiences at Melting Pot and similar fond memories, and a zero that likely ties to a particularly disappointing or off menu experience (the exact restaurant isn't stated in this excerpt). The hosts then pivot to apply a balanced, context-rich rubric to Tony Roma's, acknowledging both high moments (surprising rib quality) and low moments (dull sides, confusing menu).
Korean BBQ's Fascinating History and the Rise of Gen KBBQ House
Q: What stood out about Gen Korean BBQ House's growth strategy?
The episode highlights how Gen leveraged inexpensive, widely distributed gift cards—initially in Costco and similar stores—rather than traditional advertising or celebrity endorsements, which helped fuel rapid expansion.
Zaxbys: Good Egg Rolls, Terrible Fries, Mid Chicken
Q: What was the standout item at Zaxby's, and how did it compare to your expectations?
The egg roll ended up being the surprise: it impressed more than the chicken, while the fries disappointed, and the overall menu branding felt overpromised yet underdelivered.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About "Fine" Dining

What is "Fine" Dining about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Lighthearted, humor-forward show that dissects a wide range of chain restaurants through tasting notes, historical context, branding analyses, and culture commentary. Episodes mix personal dining anecdotes, data-driven menu critiques, and playful calibration segments to weigh whether brands live up to their reputations and how they stack against a benchmark of mediocrity. A recurring strength is the host's quick banter, willingness to riff on pop culture, and guest variety—from comedians to content creators—which keeps debates lively, accessible, and entertaining for listeners who enjoy food, branding insights, and comedic storytelling. A standout throughline is how expansion, marketing gimmicks, and nostalgia shape consumer perceptions of ... more

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How many listeners does "Fine" Dining get?

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Which podcasts are similar to "Fine" Dining?

These podcasts share a similar audience with "Fine" Dining:

1. Candy Is Dandy: The Candy Review Podcast
2. On Brand with Jon and Marisa
3. Doughboys
4. A Hot Dog Is a Sandwich
5. Food News

How many episodes of "Fine" Dining are there?

"Fine" Dining launched 4 years ago and published 183 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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Where can I see ratings and reviews for "Fine" Dining?

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What guests have appeared on "Fine" Dining?

Recent guests on "Fine" Dining include:

1. Seif Rahoumi
2. D'Angelo Reyes
3. Bennett Cohen
4. Sabrina Carmichael
5. Sandy Rose
6. Jon Durnell
7. Gabe Legg
8. Alex Stedman

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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