T.G.I. Friday's

Nearly sixty years after the first T.G.I. Friday's opened in New York City, this venerable chain of almost 500 locations is still working the "singles" concept, advertising itself as a low-key meeting spot for men and women on the prowl, and emphasizing its drinks menu more than most chain restaurants. Many modern diners may not realize that Friday's earned its reputation as a swinger's paradise; according to a 1973 story in Newsweek, it was founded by an unmarried perfume salesman who figured that opening a restaurant with "Tiffany lamps and mod waiters" would be a good way to meet the stewardesses who lived in his neighborhood. Whether his quest was successful is unclear; either way, Friday's is today better known for inventing menu items such as the Pizzadilla—a signature creation that's equal parts Italian pizza and Mexican quesadilla. St. Louis diners, and pretty much everyone else in the country, also know all about Friday's baby back ribs, thanks to an aggressive and alliterative ad campaign that ran for years. Find your local T.G.I. Friday's on Voice Places.