Bob Evans Restaurant Review

This Ohio based regional chain grew in the "go-go" 80's to a national presence. The perception that it is just a place for breakfast (probably due to the linkage with breakfast sausage), limited sales across dayparts, and the newly public company was forced into an ugly retrenchment, including the closure of many locations.

The resulting withdrawal from the public eye really helped them refocus and take advantage of their fundamentally conservative culture. They became solidly profitable without compromising food and service standards. One of the benefits of all this was that Bob Evans found itself on a position to be able to buy a significant chain for additional growth prospects.

One of the gems of growing regional chains at the time was Mimi's Cafe. It had values similar to Bob Evens, was developed and succeeding in California, a challenging climate for restaurants, and had a unique benefit, 3 significant dayparts, something very few eateries enjoy.

So why do we look for Bob Evans? Biscuits and sausage gravy! How has it held up after all these years? Weeeellll, not as well as I hoped. Still the best biscuits and sausage gravy in a restaurant, but not as good as they were, sadly. Less meaty, a bit over done, biscuits not quite as light. Good not great.



- Paul/ BlogPress/ iPhone