Just a Rant about Fast Food Joints...

I am really stumped as to why people even bother to eat/spend money at fast food places after this week...(not that I didn’t question it before).
 
On Canada Day we were hanging with some friends and they wanted to go to A&W for lunch, I would have preferred the local burger joint but hey ho off we went.  I couldn’t believe it $18 for two meals this included the grumpiest server I had ever encountered...an elderly lady who just couldn’t be bothered and preferred to bark at customers, she even got annoyed when Darren ordered a sirloin burger because there was a wait for those...heck the place wasn’t even busy.  It didn’t stop there of course...I asked for no cheese, I got cheese, when Darren eventually got his burger 5 minutes after my meal and his sides were served he discovered it had onions, pickles, etc on it which he asked to be left off..so off he goes to the counter again to inform the server and she rolls her eyes, he waits another 3 minutes and practically gets the new burger shoved at him.  We sit down to eat the meal and it’s sooo sooo salty, my burger patty is salty and my onion rings seem to have salt as their main ingredient.
 
So today we were out shopping and hadn’t eaten and Darren suggested we get something in the mall but I refused...no way was I paying $18 for crap so off we went to our local, favourite mom and pop burger joint.  So for $19 we got to sit down in a nice relaxed atmosphere, wonderful service and get served 6oz fresh and never frozen beef burgers on fresh bakery rolls and toppings that haven't been sitting for hours, home cut fries and a non-watered down drink.   I also get to feel good because I’m giving my money to someone I feel deserves it.
 
I guess my overall point is that half of these places aren’t value for money as people claim, they are expensive!  The fact I could have 10 times the experience and much better food for a dollar more just makes me wonder why people frequent these chains.
 
I emailed a complaint off to A&W on Thursday but I doubt they will ever bother their ass to grace me with a reply so I may well just keep bugging them. ;)
 
Sorry but I just had to have a rant!!

kirstinem1



So today we were out shopping and hadn’t eaten and Darren suggested we get something in the mall but I refused...no way was I paying $18 for crap so off we went to our local, favourite mom and pop burger joint.  So for $19 we got to sit down in a nice relaxed atmosphere, wonderful service and get served 6lb fresh and never frozen beef burgers on fresh bakery rolls and toppings that haven't been sitting for hours, home cut fries and a non-watered down drink.   I also get to feel good because I’m giving my money to someone I feel deserves it.

A 6 lb. burger for $19 is a pretty good deal. Did you take any home?

Haha silly me! Mean't to write oz after that! You can get a 2lb burger for $19 there though! :)

I'm fascinated that you can go anywhere and have to pay that much for just a burger and fries.  In my world, $19 for two meals comes to $9.50 each.  Which translates to downtown near the major hotels and the convention center.  Which means that is WAY too much to pay for a burger and fries unless you have no other choice.  It does not, however, translate into anything remotely resembling a mom & pop place, the burgers would be frozen patties, and the toppings would probably have been fresh that morning.

If you went to my local mom & pop burger joint, you'd get a 1/3-pound cheeseburger loaded with fresh toppings (they cut the onion and tomato in front of you) and chips (granted, not fries) with a beer for $4.50.  If you wanted a soda instead of a beer, it would be $3.50.

Re-read my post, this IS what we did get...extremely fresh.  The owner buys the meat fresh everyday from her butcher, it is never frozen, the burger buns are freshly baked and picked up from the bakery shop every morning, no pre-packaged supermarket buns here, the toppings are all freshly prepared, including the homemade relish.  We were served fries and potato chips, both of which were fresh and homemade.

My meal was $5.95, my partner’s was around $7, two refillable drinks at $2.50 (average price around here) plus taxes equals $19, extremely reasonable for around here.  This place is no over-rated, over-priced trendy place in the city centre...it’s a cosy little tucked away restaurant on the edge of an industrial area.  I did a report on it a month or two ago if you check my history you will see pictures.

I am located in Canada and prices are higher here but I think under $20 for the service and food we receive each time we go here is great, especially considering how I come from the UK and you would be hard pushed to get a meal under £10 which is the current exchange rate for $19 CAD.  Also it’s nearly $5 for a beer in Canada! ;)

$18 Canadian = $15.56 US today.

While I understand that while traveling you don't always have time to seek out real food, this site is called Roadfood and I fail to see why we have a fast food thread. I mean really, what can you say interesting or new about MickeyD's, BK, Arby's, Wendy's or Taco Bell?

MilwFoodlovers


While I understand that while traveling you don't always have time to seek out real food, this site is called Roadfood and I fail to see why we have a fast food thread. I mean really, what can you say interesting or new about MickeyD's, BK, Arby's, Wendy's or Taco Bell?

Because of regional fast food chains like Whataburger, In-n-Out Burger, Runza, Krystal's, Spangles, etc.

Niagra, if that's what the focus of this forum was, I'd have no problem with it. McDonalds is probably the most posted about though. That and how Arby's, BK, Arthur Treachers and the rest tasted better when Warren G Harding was president. I usually ignore this forum but the posting about A & W caught my eye. I used to enjoy their root beer (JFK era, of course  ) but their food was always crappy and it sounds like they've somehow managed to remain consistant through the years. You'll never convince me that an Angus Big Mac is better than a Solly's butter burger or a DQ Blizzard is better than Ted Drewes, Kopps or Culvers and I don't understand why this drivel is written about here? Someone, actually more than one person,  posted that mom and pop places are uneven and the average fast food is of better quality. This is a free country and if that's what you want to believe, go for it but  WHY are you even coming to this site?
www.Roadfood.com
 
What is Roadfood?





Roadfood means great regional meals along highways, in small towns and in city neighborhoods.

It is non-franchised, sleeves-up food made by cooks, bakers, pitmasters, and sandwich-makers who are America’s culinary folk artists.

Roadfood is almost always informal and inexpensive; and the best Roadfood restaurants are colorful places enjoyed by locals (and savvy travelers) for their character as well as their menu.

It is our intention that Roadfood.com will lead the way to:

• great local color
• the best regional specialties
• unforgettable diners, celestial barbecue, and four-star pig-outs galore!

/rant

Ah yes...it's time for the semi-annual "why do we talk about fast food and chains" rant.  Those of you who do this all the time, I do hope you've simply saved your previous posts to a Word document so you can simply copy and paste rather than wasting all your valuable time typing it again.   What I can never figure out is since the FF/chain threads are confined to this one forum...why the bloody he!! do you insist on entering it?  I tend to avoid things that make my blood pressure rise...it's way easier on my health and mental well-being.  If you know it makes you crazy to have your world soiled by FF discussions, don't look at them!  Kind of like how we change the channel on the television to avoid shows we don't like.  Shoot...for that matter, you can even change your settings so you don't even SEE the FF/Chain forum when you come to the forums list!

@ kirstinem1: I know what you said, and I don't need it repeated.  But if you read what I said, the fact remains that I would never pay as much as you do for a really good burger with fresh toppings, when I can get it for less than half what you pay where you are.  What I was trying to do was point out that everyone's concept of "paying too much" varies by location, attitude and income.  What seems reasonable for you to pay seems outrageous for me, and what seems outrageous for you pay probably seems reasonable for someone else.  It is not the restaurant's fault what it must charge to make a profit based on its location and the surrounding competition.

This is gonna morph into a whole other topic...

I just wanted to state that I think the fast food prices are ridiculous, I never realised until last week when I went to a fast food place (I never go to these places).  So I just wanted to compare what my other half had paid for a terrible meal and a terrible experience to what I paid for a great meal at a wonderful little independant restaurant for a dollar more yesterday.  The prices just shocked me and made me wonder why people are so willing to pay so much for fast food when there is much better options out there for less or little more money.

MilwFoodlovers


While I understand that while traveling you don't always have time to seek out real food, this site is called Roadfood and I fail to see why we have a fast food thread.

All I'm going to say, is that its for the same exact reason that the majority of folks who go on the annual Sterns Bus Tours have never posted on the forums.

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.

This is an interesting thread, and some good points have been made on it. After giving it some thought, I've decided that this is my last time posting on the subject of the big national fast food and restaurant chains. McDonald's, Applebee's, KFC, Chili's, Arby's... their food sucks, we all know that it sucks, and there really is nothing much left to say on the subject. There are, however, a sizable number of small local and regional chains that make a real effort to turn out decent food. Some that come to mind are Portillo's, Biscuitville, Schoop's, Eat n' Park, White Castle, Tudor's Biscuit World, Hackney's, Runza ( haven't been but I've heard good things about it ), Zel's and Skyline Chili. From now on, I'm going to limit my comments on this forum to the "little guys" out there that try a little bit harder than the industry giants.   

I've eaten at and enjoyed the food at several fast-food joints.  Some that come to mind are:

Super-duper Weenie in CT
Rutt's Hut in NJ
Jody Maroni's in CA
Grey's Papaya in NY

And I have a looong list of fast food places across the country that I'd like to try.
 
 
edited to correct wrong word

kirstinem1


I am really stumped as to why people even bother to eat/spend money at fast food places after this week...(not that I didn’t question it before).
 

i enjoy cooking at home, roadfood-type places, Michelin-starred restaurants, and the occasional fast-food burger or chicken.  What is so hard to understand about that? Do you really require an explanation beyond that?  

MilwFoodlovers

 Someone, actually more than one person,  posted that mom and pop places are uneven and the average fast food is of better quality. This is a free country and if that's what you want to believe, go for it but  WHY are you even coming to this site?

see my post right above, so I don't have to retype it.

nocarolina


This is an interesting thread, and some good points have been made on it. After giving it some thought, I've decided that this is my last time posting on the subject of the big national fast food and restaurant chains. McDonald's, Applebee's, KFC, Chili's, Arby's... their food sucks, we all know that it sucks, and there really is nothing much left to say on the subject. There are, however, a sizable number of small local and regional chains that make a real effort to turn out decent food. Some that come to mind are Portillo's, Biscuitville, Schoop's, Eat n' Park, White Castle, Tudor's Biscuit World, Hackney's, Runza ( haven't been but I've heard good things about it ), Zel's and Skyline Chili. From now on, I'm going to limit my comments on this forum to the "little guys" out there that try a little bit harder than the industry giants.   

Bob,

Is Zel's still pretty good?  (I assume that you are talking about the Italian beef place in the Chicago area.)  I haven't eaten there during my recent trips to NW Indiana but might have to try them again on the next trip.

wanderingjew

MilwFoodlovers


While I understand that while traveling you don't always have time to seek out real food, this site is called Roadfood and I fail to see why we have a fast food thread.

All I'm going to say, is that its for the same exact reason that the majority of folks who go on the annual Sterns Bus Tours have never posted on the forums.

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.

WJ,

I hope that's not the case for the upcoming Buffalo tour.  I think we have a lot of the regular posters coming, but then again, you have been doing this longer than I and have a better feel for what happens based on experience.  In any event, those who come here in September will find some good food, and I hope no one is looking for typical fast food.  Yes, Ted's is a regional chain, but I wouldn't put it on a par with the so-called Golden Arches.

tommyeats

i enjoy cooking at home, roadfood-type places, Michelin-starred restaurants, and the occasional fast-food burger or chicken.  What is so hard to understand about that? Do you really require an explanation beyond that?  

 
Yes and I also enjoy home cooking, roadfood, high end restaurants and I sometimes do consume fast food.
 
I was just stating my findings. I found $18 expensive for a fast food meal, I was shocked as the cost to be honest.  I also thought I'd have a little complaint at just how crap the service was in this particular place whilst I was on the subject of A&W.  Just a rant to get it off my chest.
 
I wanted to give some praise to my local favourite Roadfood joint and also just wanted to state just how much more from a meal I could get for that $1 more.
 
Yes I understand people are always gonna eat in these fast food places and I know they aren't all bad, we actually have a chain local to the Edmonton area here called the Burger Baron that I and most people love.  But I just see no logic in spending $18 for something from the likes of A&W that's been heavily processed, been frozen and sat under a heatlamp for a while when I could spend practically the same for a 100% fresh meal for not much more effort or time taken from my day.
 
Anyway half of these chains are new to me, Northern Ireland has Burger King, McDonalds and KFC and that's about it!  So I do apologize if I have annoyed anyone.
 


 

Buffalo Tarheel

wanderingjew

MilwFoodlovers


While I understand that while traveling you don't always have time to seek out real food, this site is called Roadfood and I fail to see why we have a fast food thread.

All I'm going to say, is that its for the same exact reason that the majority of folks who go on the annual Sterns Bus Tours have never posted on the forums.

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.

WJ,

I hope that's not the case for the upcoming Buffalo tour.  I think we have a lot of the regular posters coming, but then again, you have been doing this longer than I and have a better feel for what happens based on experience.  In any event, those who come here in September will find some good food, and I hope no one is looking for typical fast food.  Yes, Ted's is a regional chain, but I wouldn't put it on a par with the so-called Golden Arches.

Buffalo Tarheel

Sorry, to say that  if you think so I think you're going to be in for a big surprise.  I can never say I'm 100% certain, but I am 99% certain that the majority of folks who are going are those who simply do not post here. I've always felt that those are the real "real roadfood"  (not that we don't have some who do post) warriors and are also the true blue "de facto" Sterns fans, but hey that's just an assumption from an unusually intuitive guy.

I do agree about Teds. Always a must stop for me whenever I'm in Buffalo. I think their onion rings are just about the best rings I've ever had!

wanderingjew




Sorry, to say that  if you think so I think you're going to be in for a big surprise.  I can never say I'm 100% certain, but I am 99% certain that the majority of folks who are going are those who simply do not post here. I've always felt that those are the real "real roadfood"  (not that we don't have some who do post) warriors and are also the true blue "de facto" Sterns fans, but hey that's just an assumption from an unusually intuitive guy.

Thanks for the response.  You're probably right about who's coming because intuition and experience count for a lot.  I was probably expressing wishful thinking more than anything concrete.  I still look forward to the tour and meeting whoever comes on it.  I think I may have taken a slight detour on the original purpose of this post.

Rob, Zel's is pretty good, but it's not an Italian beef chain. They serve regular roast beef and BBQ beef sandwiches, along with hot dogs and burgers. Zel's has five locations ( or is it six? ), all of them in northwest Indiana.

nocarolina


Rob, Zel's is pretty good, but it's not an Italian beef chain. They serve regular roast beef and BBQ beef sandwiches, along with hot dogs and burgers. Zel's has five locations ( or is it six? ), all of them in northwest Indiana.

Thanks Bob.  I haven't had their food in several years but pass the location on Columbus Avenue in East Chicago whenever I am driving to the plant from my hotel in Merrillville.  As I learned in my last trip, the Italian beef from Portillo's was pretty good, although I still hope to visit some of the Italian beef places in Chicago proper on the next trip.

Next time that you're in the Chicago area, Rob, we've got to go to Al's #1 on Taylor St., just outside of the Loop. Last week I took ayersian ( Chris and Amy ) there and they were wild about the beef and sausage combo that they shared. Mr. Beef on Orleans is another great choice for an Italian beef sandwich. 

tommyeats

...........
i enjoy cooking at home, roadfood-type places, Michelin-starred restaurants, and the occasional fast-food burger or chicken.  What is so hard to understand about that? Do you really require an explanation beyond that?  

I too enjoy cooking at home, BBQing at home, fine dining and I occasionally enjoy Popeye's spicy chicken, their greasy  biscuits and their touched with horseradish cole slaw. It's just that I wouldn't dream of going to a website devoted to fast food (if there is such a site) and telling those people that slow cooked or regional food is much better than fast food. I mean this site's reason for existing is to praise the regional, the unique, the hand made food items, not something off a Sysco truck and nuked. I'm not a purist, everyone should eat and enjoy what they want; that's the American Way. No one (so far) in this thread mentioned  that chain food is superior but that has been posted several times on this web site and I think those people have no business posting here. That's my only pet peeve. I don't read this forum. I don't go looking for a web argument. The title caught my eye  and I was feeling puckish so I posted. The original poster kirstinem 1 complained about a lack of value for his/her loon at a fast food restaurant. kirstinem is correct and I'd like to apologize for hijacking the thread but not for my posts.
MiamiDon, none of your places are what gets my underwear in a knot. It's the nationwide one size fits all assemblers of food product that does.

nocarolina


This is an interesting thread, and some good points have been made on it. After giving it some thought, I've decided that this is my last time posting on the subject of the big national fast food and restaurant chains. McDonald's, Applebee's, KFC, Chili's, Arby's... their food sucks, we all know that it sucks, and there really is nothing much left to say on the subject. There are, however, a sizable number of small local and regional chains that make a real effort to turn out decent food. Some that come to mind are Portillo's, Biscuitville, Schoop's, Eat n' Park, White Castle, Tudor's Biscuit World, Hackney's, Runza ( haven't been but I've heard good things about it ), Zel's and Skyline Chili. From now on, I'm going to limit my comments on this forum to the "little guys" out there that try a little bit harder than the industry giants.   

Good luck finding a Runza outside of Nebraska.  While many regional chains are expanding, Runza has contracted.  They used to have 3 Runzas located in Kansas within an hour of my house, and now there's only one left in Kansas, one in Iowa and two in Colorado.  All the rest are in Nebraska.

If the food is good..Does it matter what the category is?  For me, it's like music.  I have amazed myself by how many different types of music I really love.

I just want really good food at a reasonable price.  I don't like foo foo food places and I guess that's not being flexible.     

What do I consider good food?  A lot of things many would consider unhealthy.  So, my favorites may not be your's.  I'm big on fried foods, desserts, meat...Yeah..I know. 

I enjoy hearing about places (fast food, non-fast food, etc) a lot of you get to go to that I won't ever make it to.  I have my favorite "go to posters" who I enjoy hearing from.  We all do.  That's what makes this site so interesting and helpful.  Great pictures..good descriptions...etc.

A small rant in agreement with kirstemen---living here in Oklahoma--BEEF COUNTRY--i too can not understand how fast food burger joints ever get anyone in the door---the quality of the average burger around here is awesome---and the onions burgers are to die for and MEERSBURGERS!!!---amazing stuff--grass fed longhorn beef from the family farm!!---i mean--what more could you ask for--we even have a local chain--Braums--great dairy  and burgegers that wont open a store more then 350 miles from the family farm and ranch---and yet---McD's seems to be thriving!----i just dont get it!

Mmmm, onion burgers! When I'm not grilling, my indoor burgers are onion burgers, copied after the pictures I've seen posted here. When we get to Oklahoma some day, it'll be blues and onion burgers for us.

tiki


A small rant in agreement with kirstemen---living here in Oklahoma--BEEF COUNTRY--i too can not understand how fast food burger joints ever get anyone in the door---the quality of the average burger around here is awesome---and the onions burgers are to die for and MEERSBURGERS!!!---amazing stuff--grass fed longhorn beef from the family farm!!---i mean--what more could you ask for--we even have a local chain--Braums--great dairy  and burgegers that wont open a store more then 350 miles from the family farm and ranch---and yet---McD's seems to be thriving!----i just dont get it!

I used to do fast food more so than nowadays...I have been retired a decade and I am more choosy about what food I eat out so I do not have to depend on fast food as I had done in the past..now about the only fast food I buy are White Castles..because I love them..

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...