I think McDonald’s is better than it was 15 years ago. Not the prices, but the quality of the sandwich assembly is greatly improved.
This is true. I didn't eat McDonalds from the early 2000's to 2020. They heard the complaints and improved food quality and made changes.
If McDonalds go national with their new crispy recipe chicken sandwich and tenders it will be a hit. They’ve been testing it in certain markets and all the reviews say it’s incredible.
In the Memphis area, Wendy's is definitely hiring the very bottom of the fast food hiring pool barrel. It's worse than Popeye's. Sad bc I could crush a double or a 3 piece dark for lunch today. But I wouldn't get it even if I tried.
Unfortunately while what you say may be true, they remodeled all of their restaurants to look like doctor's office waiting rooms, removed drink machines, and you walk in and don't see an employee. If they'd bring back some 1980's McDonalds ambiance, it would go a long way.
I've probably eaten there twice in the last five years and the last time was probably a year ago at this point, so this may not be representative, but the food was still better than McDonald's (which granted, I've probably eaten there only a few times more over the same period). I assume it's just the same thing hitting pretty much all the fast food places. Hard to keep prices low enough to offer a good value compared to better, more specialized fast or fast'ish food (e.g., Five Guys, Chipotle, Chik Fila, cane's, zaxby's, etc) while also offering decent food. Their value menus are I think practically loss leaders for them and also generally not good or small portions, but if you leave the value menu you might as well go to a decent place to eat.
I'm not doubting you are correct in your area. But in every case, this is 100% dependent on the franchisee, his hiring practices, and the attention (or lack thereof) he gives to each of his stores.
I ate at a Burger King in I think Brookhaven? Maybe McComb? And it was the cleanest and nicest fast food place I've been in in years. Food was good and service was great. I actually like Burger King's breakfast, but the rare times I actually go to a burger king to get it they always seem like the most run down and understaffed stores.
I don't think it's so much about them pushing corporate policy down as it is basically requiring owners to work the stores. I'm also unaware that their service has dropped. I don't go there because even knowing the line will be incredibly quick, I just can't make myself wait in a line like that. But would be interested in knowing what has changed.
I don't eat at chikfila a lot - which will SHOCK some of you - but probably average 2-3 times a year. The quality dropoff on the chicken sandwich is impossible not to ignore. And the wait time is more in line with what you used to see at any other fast food joint years ago. That kale salad isn't bad at all but they're sure proud of it.
CFA has by far the best points system for getting free food. Taco Bell has a good one too. McDonald’s and Wendy’s are more restrictive on what you can use your points on.
I feel like there HAS to be a lone Wendy's somewhere in the middle of nowhere still rocking the SuperBar
Great example. The Burger Kings around Ridgeland/Madison/Gluckstadt are (or were, some have closed down) some of the worst-run restaurants I've ever seen. But even that old and tired brand can still have clean and well-run stores.
That's part of what I meant by 'pushing policy down' to the store levels. A lot of franchises will take almost any applicant who can write the check, train said new franchisee for a few days, give them marketing materials and the menu, then tip their hats and say "good luck".
The chilren took over....yes, at least one of them was a hysterical person who identifies as a female.
Given that I can hit a better quality establishment for roughly the same food cost as fast food, I never go fast food unless I'm just in real hurry and don't have quick access to nabs.
If you ever grabbed a tong-ful of salad from that thing only to see another clump of salad hanging about 8 inches below what you grabbed via a string of hair, you no longer wanted this. Happened in Starkville circa 1991. Caused me to give serious consideration to all salad bars, the reason they have sneeze "guards", etc. Haven't done a salad bar since.
Burger King and Popeyes in Madison have something in common. About every 5-7 years I forget how bad the service is and make the mistake of going in.
Yup. For me it's always either I'm on the road, or I have to get something for kids immediately and quickly, or sometimes if I'm hungover. I will say that I've had Culver's once and I thought that was worth eating. Would put it more on par with five guys than fast typical fast food.
A lot of times with fast food restaurants, I have to debate with myself about whether they truly declined or else I just enjoyed greasy, crappy food a lot more as I kid than I do now. You’re spot on with Wendy’s though.
I think the food is about the same quality across the board. What has dropped off tremendously is staffing ie service and value. Taco Bell has always sucked quality wise, but when you could get a Mexican pizza, a supreme burrito, & 2 tacos for $5 is was great. Now that’s like $20. A jr bacon cheeseburger has never been a good burger but the value prop at .99 was awesome.
