Just a Rant about Fast Food Joints...

wanderingjew



90% of the people (or more) who post here just like FOOD.  Where ever it comes from, they don't care, quality- who cares, just as long as its inexpensive, served in mass quantities and is fried, greasy or both.

 
you've made this comment before. Are you prepared to tell us who you think is in the 90%? or, save yourself some time and post who you think is in the 10%?
 


 

I agree, Baah Ben. Good food is good food, no matter what kind of restaurant it comes from. Just because a place fits in the fast food catagory doesn't automatically guarantee lousy food. Look at how many roadfooders love those little burgers at White Castle ( myself included. ) 

And being that the powers that be decided Steak n' Shake was an appropriate Restaurant of the Day at one point, how can we argue that national chains have no place here?

Scorereader

wanderingjew



90% of the people (or more) who post here just like FOOD.  Where ever it comes from, they don't care, quality- who cares, just as long as its inexpensive, served in mass quantities and is fried, greasy or both.

 
you've made this comment before. Are you prepared to tell us who you think is in the 90%? or, save yourself some time and post who you think is in the 10%?
 


 

Pointing fingers would be counter productive. Lets just say I can assure you I'm not the only  person who has this opinion...(well actually its not really an opinion, I'm just nailing the truth right on head)

http://www.roadfood.com/insider/photos/4273.jpg

One benefit of discussing the larger fast food places are the tips we can glean from others.   My wife likes a Big Mac once in a while, but does not like the bread-to-meat ratio, the patties too thin for the amount of bread.

Today she wanted a Big Mac, and I told her about John A.'s tip of ordering a McDouble with lettuce and Mac sauce.  She tried it, and the proportions are perfect for her.  This is now her new big thing! 

Best of all, no extra charge.  She also got a fry off the dollar menu, and total tab was 2.11.  Can't go wrong!

Just to add, we both think those grey little patties are not so appetizing.  I can tolerate it, but she always orders well done.  Actually, it does seem to make them taste more like hamburger.

So her order today was one McDouble, well done,  with lettuce and Mac sauce.  The counter girl didn't bat an eye.

And she always goes in when doing a special order.  Much better results by looking them in the eye.

Hahaha. Remember the old BK jingle from the '70s, "Hold the pickles, hold the lettuce. Special orders don't upset us"? I wonder if that's still true.

wanderingjew

Scorereader

wanderingjew



90% of the people (or more) who post here just like FOOD.  Where ever it comes from, they don't care, quality- who cares, just as long as its inexpensive, served in mass quantities and is fried, greasy or both.

 
you've made this comment before. Are you prepared to tell us who you think is in the 90%? or, save yourself some time and post who you think is in the 10%?
 


 

Pointing fingers would be counter productive. Lets just say I can assure you I'm not the only  person who has this opinion...(well actually its not really an opinion, I'm just nailing the truth right on head)

Well over 90% of the people who have an account, don't post. But 90% of regular posters is pretty high mark. But, I'm not here to argue. Just saying, it's pretty damn pompous to say such a thing.  
You seem to think that only trip reports and going on Stern bus trips and to meet and greets is the sign of a true roadfooder. But, rest assured, there are those who seek out roadfood places constantly (with varied success), and don't have the vacation time to spend on meeting strangers and posters on a website.

easydoesit


One benefit of discussing the larger fast food places are the tips we can glean from others.  

 
I have to disagree. Learning about the finer points of ordering at McDonald's is hardly useful. Most foks, when going to Mcdonalds, know what they serve. Usually, one is there for a quick bite to fill the basic need of hunger - not to figure out a way to make it some sort of highfalutin dining experience.
 
 

Scorereader

easydoesit


One benefit of discussing the larger fast food places are the tips we can glean from others.  

 
I have to disagree. Learning about the finer points of ordering at McDonald's is hardly useful. You're at Mcdonalds. You know what they serve. You're there for a quick bite to fill the basic need of hunger - not to figure out a way to make it some sort of highfalutin dining experience.
 
 

apparently you're wrong, as the poster stated that he benefited from the discussion, and it was useful.  I'm not sure how one could debate that.  Now, whether or not you find it useful is another story, and you could certainly easily prove that one way or the other by just stating that.  But you'd have to be on the chain restaurant forum to do that, and i'm sure you wouldn't spend any time there.  :D

Scorereader

wanderingjew

Scorereader

wanderingjew



90% of the people (or more) who post here just like FOOD.  Where ever it comes from, they don't care, quality- who cares, just as long as its inexpensive, served in mass quantities and is fried, greasy or both.

 
you've made this comment before. Are you prepared to tell us who you think is in the 90%? or, save yourself some time and post who you think is in the 10%?
 


 

Pointing fingers would be counter productive. Lets just say I can assure you I'm not the only  person who has this opinion...(well actually its not really an opinion, I'm just nailing the truth right on head)

Well over 90% of the people who have an account, don't post. But 90% of regular posters is pretty high mark. But, I'm not here to argue. Just saying, it's pretty damn pompous to say such a thing.  
You seem to think that only trip reports and going on Stern bus trips and to meet and greets is the sign of a true roadfooder. But, rest assured, there are those who seek out roadfood places constantly (with varied success), and don't have the vacation time to spend on meeting strangers and posters on a website.

No I never said that, I said that there are people who feel that posting on a forum and "writing" is a lot less proactive than "doing" and that the fact that there is a fast food forum and off topic forum that probably has more topics than any of the other forums put together,  speaks volumes about my assessment of the majority of posters on this forum.  I can assure you that I am not the only person that feels that way, I can assure you that there are many others here that do to, perhaps even others that you've met and "broken bread with" but again, I have no reason to "name names"

This thread is leaning pretty far over the line into personality disputes and other non-approved actions. I suggest that the topic of FF is resolved as far as the site goes (with this forum being the result) If you don't care to contribute here, go elsewhere...If you do wish to post about something related to FF or Chain Foodstores/restaurants...then Post away.
  All of you on both sides of the argument need to knock off the dumping on folks who think differently from your opinion.  Failure to comply will see this thread disappear shortly...as many others have.
AB

I feel bad for being the one that started the thread now...
 
I only wanted to complain about the price of fast food.

I order a McDbl w/ no cheese and they make it fresh but... they still charge me 25c extra for lettuce... hmmm?
Joe

Kirstinem Your original thoughts were good, other folks steered the thread into theirown personal fight...That's what my warning was for.
Farmer Boys, In n Out, Culvers, and a whole bunch of others that fit this label get my dollars now and then. Sometimes convenience is the criteria for a choice from this group.

Oh yeah, just who says McDonald's is not a highfaluting place?  I noticed a recent post on this site that not only expressed a fondness for the McDouble, but referred to it as a repast!  If a patrician like Michael Hoffman can confess to such plebian tastes, why, there must be hope for us all..... 

I think that Fast Food is a necessarily evil so indulge me for a moment.

Would we truly appreciate some of the RoadFood joints or Mom n' Pops as much if we didn't have some sort of mediocrity to compare it to? I feel like most of our enjoyment comes out of the fact that we know that we are getting "better" food or experience that some other place and traditionally the Fast Food & Chains are typically the best way to do said comparisons.

I feel like most of us really feel like we can get "better" food at small local places but sometimes chains can crank out some pretty good food as well.  There are a few chain places that I like to go to because well I feel like the quality , taste, experience etc. ; that you can typically get only at local places is there. California Pizza Kitchen and  The Pub are two chains that I will go to because I feel like they give me what I am looking for in a local/RoadFood place and I am not going to discriminate against them just because they are a corporation.

easydoesit


Oh yeah, just who says McDonald's is not a highfaluting place?  I noticed a recent post on this site that not only expressed a fondness for the McDouble, but referred to it as a repast!  If a patrician like Michael Hoffman can confess to such plebian tastes, why, there must be hope for us all..... 

I don't know, Michael Hoffman eats regularly at Waffle House...so, not sure if his confession is of such great wonderment as you suggest, considering his well established propensity for "plebian" food.
 
 
 

Soccer862923


There are a few chain places that I like to go to because well I feel like the quality , taste, experience etc. ; that you can typically get only at local places is there....and I am not going to discriminate against them just because they are a corporation.

 
sorry about the triple post, but I agree with Soccer. I'm a big fan of Chipotle's. Given their corporate policy whereby most all of their ingredients come from local producers, I think they're worthy of mention and have a good corporate model. They support local farmers and that is a good thing. And, they are not a franchise, so there's no chance of some oddball owner messing the model up.

 

At the risk of wasting my time posting to a soon-to-be-deleted thread . . .

I like McDonalds. It's comfort food. It's not fancy or the "ideal" burger. But I don't just go there because it's fast and cheap. I genuinely like something about it.

Particularly their fries. They're not "the perfect fries", but there's something about the limp pastiness that evokes childhood memories that I enjoy.
 
And I like the taste of their burgers, too. They're not particularly juicy or delicious in and of themselves, but the combination of flavors and textures just makes me happy.  It is what it is. If I wanted a nice juicy fabulous hamburger, I'd go somewhere else. But once in a while I get a McDonalds burger.  I just like the taste.

The fact that it's fast, cheap, and predictable is just a bonus.

I used to love their McMuffin breakfast sandwiches a whole bunch.

Have not had one in eons - now get by breakfast sandwiches as White Castle.

Jennie,
  I have given this thread Two major reviews. I know what you are trying to say, and I agree with your train of thought. I am, However, growing tired of reminding people who should know better, to take their petty arguments to email rather than use the forum to fight their verbal battles.  Last chance here folks. Another outbreak of verbal stupidity and poor manners will result in a couple of folks losing their posting priviliges.

I have no intention of letting this blow up, so I'll let this lay and respond no longer to you. You can insult me if it makes you feel better. Also, if you're really pissed, you can send me a private message saying whatever you wish, so that this baggage isn't aired on the public forum.

to the mods: my apologies. 
 

Chipotle are all company owned stores?

easydoesit


Oh yeah, just who says McDonald's is not a highfaluting place?  I noticed a recent post on this site that not only expressed a fondness for the McDouble, but referred to it as a repast!  If a patrician like Michael Hoffman can confess to such plebian tastes, why, there must be hope for us all..... 

It is true that I am a person of refined upbringing and manners,  but one should always remember that manners are for the purpose of making others comfortable. When I eat at McDonald's, White Castle, Waffle House and the Refectory I always seek to make others comfortable.

NYPIzzaNut


Chipotle are all company owned stores?

yes.
 
I believe there was a small franchise in Chicago, maybe? that was done short term in order to allow Chipotle to come to that town. But the stores were bought back by the company. McDonalds was a principle investor which allowed for the company's expansion, but Chipotle bought McDonalds out (which was the intention all along) and McDonalds made a profit.
 
 

tommyeats

Scorereader

easydoesit


One benefit of discussing the larger fast food places are the tips we can glean from others.  

I have to disagree. Learning about the finer points of ordering at McDonald's is hardly useful...

apparently you're wrong, as the poster stated that he benefited from the discussion, and it was useful.  I'm not sure how one could debate that.  Now, whether or not you find it useful is another story, and you could certainly easily prove that one way or the other by just stating that.  But you'd have to be on the chain restaurant forum to do that, and i'm sure you wouldn't spend any time there.  :D

ok, look, I'm not wrong. I'm just stating my own opinion. I've change the original post to take out references to "You" - I didn't mean "you - easydoesit" I was using "you" colloquially, as in "the collective people" - so, hopefuly the change will clear up any confusion.
 
 

Are there other well known chains that serve fast food that are all company owned?

I do occasionally go to national chains, but I find them lacking.I think it is because as a newlywed, there were not that many around in the area I lived in 1979.So we learned to like the Mom and Pop places.I still frequent some of those places( 30 years later) and will drive to some distance to get them.I think in this day and age, its just the norm-meaning that is what is around major communities. When the family wants to go to Olive Garden, for instance, it is ALWAYS packed.I only go because it is the request of a family member because of a birthday, etc...And my cousin lives in Greensboro, N.C., and while she lives in an area with some wonderful, out of the way seafood places, she loves to go to Red Lobster.Its a matter of taste, in my opinion, availability, and speed of service to the public.

There was a time when availability and convenience figured into my restaurant choices, but not anymore. I finally decided that there's no good reason for me to spend my money on food that I know that I'm not going to enjoy. Of course, trying a place for the first time is another thing altogether; you know up front that you're taking a chance on having a bad meal. As a matter of fact, it happened to me yesterday evening. I'd heard positive things about John's Pizza on Ridge Road in Munster IN, and decided to give it a try. Bad, bad decision - it was without a doubt the worst pizza that I've ever had here in the Chicago area. No Italian herbs or spices in the sauce or sausage, but there was salt... LOTS of salt. Twenty bucks wasted on something that ended up in the garbage can! Next time I'll just stick with Waldo Cooney's here in Lansing...