As someone who has been around a little while, I've noticed that your typical casual-dining chain has a lifecycle that usually ends with bankruptcy. Their stayi

As someone who has been around a little while, I've noticed that your typical casual-dining chain has a lifecycle that usually ends with bankruptcy. Their staying power depends mostly on their quality (both food and dining experience) and somewhat on their trendiness. Lower-tier restaurants, e.g. McD's or even Domino's, probably have some immunity to this problem because the expectations are rather low. As far as pizza goes, I've been known to eat the frozen stuff, so the big delivery chains are a huge step up. I have also noticed when dining at more ethnic places (in my case, Viet pho), younger people are more common there. Ditto for tapas - which some people my age don't seem to like because the portions are small. So if millenials are to blame - to echo the sentiments of another commentor - for the de-mediocritization of American dining, then I will die a little happier.