Decline in quality of fast food....

[mwilson]

Has anyone else noticed the decline in fast food quality in at least two of the chains...

I don't eat much of it anyways, but if working late I like to grab something before the hour to hour and a half drive home so that I am not trying to sleep on a full stomach.
I gave up completely on McDonald's three weeks ago after yet another cold meal. Last night I tried Burger King and threw most of it away. It was cold and disgusting.
I am not noted for being a fussy eater so when I throw something away you know it was gross. These are not to go orders either, right onto a tray and into the Dining Room. Should have taken it back, but decided to vote with the wallet instead. Never again.

Wendy's used to be good and still does better that the other two but have been disappointed there as well.

Time to switch to gas station Sushi I guess, it can't possibly be any more disgusting. So with all the talk of paying $15.00 per hour to fast food workers I say given the current conditions it will simply put them out of business faster...

Mike.

 

[Regcabguy]

I go to El Pollo Loco here. Excellent quality food.
I avoid the rest anymore.

 

[mwilson]

We don't have any of those up here for sure, of course right now it would be "El Pollo Bear" ........

 

[jgillott]

Just about the only place that I will stop now is Subway. Nothing special there, but at least you get to watch your food being made for you. And, you can get something at least remotely healthy if you want.

 

[mwilson]

Yes, I should have sought a Subway out last night. The ones in our area are fairly good.

I just really like a good burger on occasion but don't want to sit at restaurant waiting for a half hour when I want to head for home.

So I'll consider a bread sandwich along with my gas station Sushi as alternate dining options......:-laf

 

[GCroyle]

Mike,

You snowed in again or something?

Gary

 

[The patriot]

5 guys for burgers. Their (double) is about $7.00, but it just cant be compared to Md's etc. It's nirvana.....
There's another local small chain here called Charley Browns. It's a bar/restaurant steak type of place.
They keep giving me $10 coupons preloaded on my membership card. Last week the wife, daughter and I ate there for .51 after utilizing our coupons. (no alcohol)
I HATE Mc D's, B king and most of the rest.
We eat out a LOT. Outback, longhorn, Charley Browns, Qdoba, Chipotle, are out go to places.
There's a Red Robin opening up locally too.
Cracker barrel is once or twice a month.
I like food.....

 

[RustyJC]

Sounds like it's time to hit the stop-and-rob for some potted meat, mustard and saltine crackers. Or maybe some vienna sausage or beanie weenies.

Rusty

 

[The patriot]

Last time I tried a Subway, their (I think it was roast beef) was sitting there.....GREEN!
I walked away....

 

[JR]

ETA from ingestion to "recycle" mode is a pretty good measurement of fast food quality...McD's or BK is generally inside of an hour. I stay away.

One of the guys at work went to McD's for lunch and brought back one of those value box thingies...couple samiches, fries, etc. Supposed to be a family value meal of some sort. 2 of the burgers were missing the meat. He wasn't impressed :-laf

 

[Tractorat]

I think it depends on where the fast food place is and who the boss and employees are. I go to the local mcdonalds for coffee every morning. The coffee there is as good or better than any other restaurant Ive been to, and Ive been to alot all over the country. I dont eat the food their though. Not because it doesnt taste good, but because of how bad it is for you. Maybe once or twice a year Ill have a bacon egg and cheese biscutt, or a qtr lber with cheese. But not more often than that. It is addicting, and I could get myself into trouble if I didn't have some self control.:-laf

BTW, I did stop at a mcdonlds down in seattle the other day just to get a cup of coffee. Their coffee was terrible, and this place was one of the dirtiest mcdonalds Ive ever been in. Im including the actual restaurant, the employees, and the customers.

 

[mwilson]

Mike,

You snowed in again or something?

Gary

It hasn't really ever stopped snowing this month.......we are all going a bit nuts up here....

 

[mwilson]

We are fans of Longhorn and Cracker Barrel as well. The first Cracker Barrel in the State Of Maine finally opened in Portland a few years ago. Some day they will get one here in Bangor, I hope...

My wife is a great cook and we eat quite healthy. Home made soups, Turkey, Chicken etc.... I just have trouble eating now after 8.30 or so at night and then flopping into bed an hour later.

It used to be that I could get away with a couple McD Double Cheeseburgers, no fries, and just a Coke when running late. They can't even do a Double Cheeseburger right anymore.

We now have a 5 guys in Bangor but I have not tried it yet. Wife and I need to take a break, maybe we will check it out Saturday.

Last night I was in Houlton though, and after 6.00pm it is a complete crap shoot trying to get something quick and good to eat. And not wait a half hour for it. And not get glared at because the wait staff wants to set the tables all up for breakfast.......so they wish you would hurry up and leave....

 

[jgillott]

I think there is a 5 Guys now in Greensburg which is about 25 miles from here. I'll have to give it a try. They also have a Red Robin in the same area. I've been there once for lunch. It wasn't bad. Just a little far out of the way for something quick.

We still are lucky enough to have a couple of mom and pop local places that are very good. When we go out, it is most likely to one of those.

 

[mwilson]

When I have to go to Mass. and work I usually seek these out...I have NEVER gotten a bad meal at any of their locations that I have tried...

99 Restaurant and Pub. No more pricey than Applebee's for example.

Locations here....http://www.99restaurants.com/location-view-all.aspx

Menu here....http://www.99restaurants.com/menus-standout-starters.aspx

 

[Regcabguy]

Last time I tried a Subway, their (I think it was roast beef) was sitting there.....GREEN!
I walked away....

Deli style roast beef will react to a stainless steel slicer blade sometimes. I retired from the school food service here and we had to slice and use the beef immediately. With all the preservatives in lunch meat it's highly unlikely especially at a high volume restaurant like Subway that the meat had gone bad. Visually,not too appealing regardless. On the road we use Subway a bunch.

 

[Bill Stockard]

During the years I traveled for I-H as a factory rep and after spending a day with a dealer and sometimes a few of his customers, the last thing I wanted to eat a night was a big heavy, greasy meal. I usually had a couple of hours of paperwork, reports to prepare, and plan the next day's work after I returned to my hotel room. Many times when it was late, I would stop at a grocery store and purchase a small package of saltine crackers and a quart of milk which would be my evening meal.

Bill

 

[WCPoe]

I definitely agree that most of the fast food now is for the most part terrible. The wife and I had stopped at a Wendy's a while back and I didn't know what the meat product was in our burgers. Then had a fish sandwich at Burger King a few weeks back and thought I would go into sodium overload. WTH.
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As others have said I think a Subway or Blimpie sandwich seems to be the best choice for me. I just can't seem to tolerate the late night greasefest since I'm older.
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I did notice in the the grocery stores around here they have some appetizing looking salads with chicken tenders, cranberries, nuts and other recognizable items. Just my 2 cents.
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For those of you that have a weak moment and get the fast food fried gastronomic specials pick up some Pepcid chewables.
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http://www.pepcid.com/products?utm_...EZ+Chews|mkwid|skNJd7nYM_dc|pcrid|37769289309
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Oo.

 

[jhenderson]

I vote for 5 guys. We've had one in RI for a while now but Jackie and I just got there a couple of weeks ago. It's a limited menu but the best store bought burger I've ever had. The fries are great also.

 

[The patriot]

Never heard of 99. Next time I'm up there visiting my parents I will suggest it.
Theyre big on the seafood...me not so much.
They go to Governors, and weather vane a lot.