Recommended if You Like: Local Alternatives to National Chains

Dino’s burger and animal-style fries Photo: Angelina Castillo Industry estimates place the total number of chain restaurants in the United States somewhere in the neighborhood of 349,000. That’s a chain location for every 1,000 Americans. Over the past 75 years, corporate food-slingers — particularly fast-food outposts — have been baked into daily American life thanks to convenience and affordability. But most of us would probably rather spend our money with local businesses.In this issue you’ll find Scene staff and contributors’ recommendations for where to spend your cash in lieu of corporate chains. And no — eating local doesn’t have to mean sacrificing convenience and affordability! Schulman’s burger and loaded fries Photo: Angelina Castillo Like In-N-Out? Try Dino’s, Schulman’s Neighborhood Bar and M.L.Rose. The burgers at In-N-Out, one of the many recent interlopers arriving from the California-to-Middle Tennessee pipeline, are legit good … for a fast-food restaurant.

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