chain restaurant

Meaning

A chain restaurant is one of a group of restaurants with the same name, design, and menu, owned by the same company. They offer consistent food quality and service across many locations. People often visit them for quick, predictable, and affordable meals.

Examples

• I usually prefer local diners, but sometimes a chain restaurant is just more convenient.

  I usually prefer local diners, but sometimes a chain restaurant is just more convenient.

• That new chain restaurant has locations all over the state now.

  That new chain restaurant has locations all over the state now.

• We stopped at a familiar chain restaurant along the highway to grab a quick lunch.

  We stopped at a familiar chain restaurant along the highway to grab a quick lunch.

• While chain restaurants offer consistency, they sometimes lack unique local flavors.

  While chain restaurants offer consistency, they sometimes lack unique local flavors.

• Is Olive Garden considered a chain restaurant?

  Is Olive Garden considered a chain restaurant?

Common Mistakes

• ✗ We ate at a network restaurant last night.

  ✓ We ate at a chain restaurant last night.

  The word 'network' is used for television, computers, or professional connections. For businesses with multiple identical locations, the correct term is 'chain'.

• ✗ I don't like to eat in chains restaurants.

  ✓ I don't like to eat in chain restaurants.

  When 'chain' acts as a noun modifier before another noun, it must remain singular, even if the main noun ('restaurants') is plural.

Related Expressions

Practice

• I'm tired of eating at the same ___ every time we travel; let's find a local diner instead.

  💡 A corporate-owned eatery with many identical locations.

  Show answer

  chain restaurant

• Although it is a massive ___, their customer service is surprisingly warm and personal.

  💡 A group of restaurants with the same menu and branding.

  Show answer

  chain restaurant