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..