Best meals best deals. (Chain Restaurants).

If you're like most people, you're probably cooking less and eating out more. Many of your meals out might be at familiar restaurant chains like Applebee's, Denny's, or Red Lobster. Those aren't bad choices, but you could do better--in some cases, much better.

That's the main finding from our latest and broadest restaurant survey. Close to 71,000 readers dined at 88 U.s. restaurant chains, representing nearly 166,000 visits, and told us which did the best job of turning hungry patrons into happy ones.

Our readers gave some of their highest marks for overall satisfaction to survey newcomers such as seafood specialist McCormick & Schmick's, Maggiano's Little Italy (a throwback to pre-World War II Little Italy restaurants), and the Asian-themed P.F. Chang's China Bistro. All three are emerging players that were barely on the radar screen of many diners until fairly recently.

As a group, the 28 chains making their survey debut turned in an impressive performance. Newcomers own or share the top spot in seven of the eight categories in the Ratings on pages 22 and 23. Besides the three standouts noted above, category toppers include J. Alexander's, a traditional American chain that strives for architectural distinction in each of its locations; Azteca Mexican, a hacienda-themed restaurant that offers healthful options; and pub-style Hops Restaurant, Bar & Brewery which pays homage to the brewer's craft in style and decor.

Most of the chains we rated are known as dinner houses (typically serving just lunch and dinner, and selling alcohol). The Ratings group them loosely by type of food. We also rated a smaller group of coffee-shop-class operations known as family restaurants, usually serving break-fast, lunch, and dinner, but not alcohol.

The biggest survey surprise came in that segment. After more than a decade at the top of the family-restaurant category, roadside icon Cracker Barrel, known for its county-style fare, was displaced by survey newcomer First Watch, a break-fast, lunch, and brunch chain with a Southwestern and tropical flair. Two other survey first-timers, Original Pancake House and Le Peep, were in a statistical dead heat with Cracker Barrel.

An analysis of the survey data reveals that neither Cracker Barrel nor the other survey holdovers have faltered. One-third of the repeat chains earned higher marks this time around. Rather, the new players seem to be raising the performance bar.