My family of 4 went to Applebee's. Our $65 meal didn't feel worth the cost — and the teens wish we'd gone to Chili's.

• My family of four spent $65 on dinner at Applebee's. Our food wasn't bad, but it wasn't amazing. • We tried the chain's "2 for $25" menu, but weren't impressed with what we received for the price. • Next time, my teens said they'd rather go to Chili's. I probably would, too.

My husband and I have never been big on chain restaurants, but our teenagers love visiting them, so we've tried quite a few in recent years.

Luckily, plenty have pleasantly surprised us, from upscale steakhouses like Ruth's Chris to surprisingly affordable spots like Waffle House.

Now, we sometimes even look forward to checking out different chains — especially on double dates with our son and his girlfriend.

The four of us regularly go to see a movie and get dinner at a restaurant near the theater. Their fav