One place that should close in Santo Domingo is Fridays. Overpriced food with horrible service.
I rarely went to an IHOP in the US unless I was staying at a hotel that had no breakfast and an IHOP was close. They were good, but I can imagine that one in the DR would not be up to the same level. I can't think of one chain I have been to here that is at the same level as one in the US. I try them once and not again.
I disagree 1000% I find most american franchises in DR to have exact same quality as in US. KFC, Fridays, Outback, Johnny Rocketts, Chili's, Wendys, McDonald's etc etc etc all taste the same as US.
Now, in US I rarely eat in any of those as there are way better options for the types of food they provide. However if I am in the mood for wings, I go to hooters, Hard Rock or Fridays, Burger I head to Johnny Rocket's, Prime Rib the only option is Outback.
My wife loves Prime Rib at Outback. To me it is just OK. She has never had smith and wollensky's or Lawrys though. Not only a different league, but playing a different sport!
Having said that, I have been to the "best" steakhouses in Medellin, Bogota and Cartagena and I would take Outback over any of them any day if just going by quelity of meat not ambience or location. There are also a bucnh of places in SD that have much better steaks than outback, Patagonia, David Crockett, Asadero Argentino, Don Nestor, Sofia's, etc etc etc but none of them have prime rib.