Food. Barely.
Written: Nov 03 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: inexpensive; big sodas
Cons: truly bad for you, inconsistent service
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| kilinahe's Full Review: McDonald's |
The Good
Fast food, in general, saves me from having to cook now and then, like when it's 7:30 p.m. and my husband is just getting out of work. There are many, many fast food restaurants that are superior, but sometimes beggars just can't be choosers. I don't hate McDonald's, but it's not my first choice. McDonald's does have a few redeeming qualities. There is a decent selection of chicken sandwiches available. A value meal, consisting of a chicken sandwich, fries, and a drink costs under four bucks. The McSalad Shakers are a pretty good size and are also pretty cheap. And the new breakfast bagels rule. McDonald's in Hawaii has a few menu items not available anywhere else (fruit punch, portuguese sausage); we also have this weird thing called McExtra. It's a frequent-diner rewards system--you earn a free drink after you spend ten dollars and so on. We don't eat at McDonald's often enough to earn very much food, but for people short of time and on a budget, it can be a big plus.
The Bad
There is only one McDonald's location on the entire island of O'ahu that I will deign to visit and even that place sometimes gives me a headache. McDonald's service is, generally, phenomenally bad. Even at my McDonald's, mistakes are common and the employees look like they could use some of that piping-hot coffee. Cleanliness and decor vary widely, ranging from appalling to pretty okay.
The Annoying
The worst service invariably can be witnessed at around 10:30 a.m., which is when breakfast service stops for the day. If you walk into the restaurant at 10:31 jonesing for a McMuffin, you're out of luck. This is a concern that really, truly needs to be addressed. If a customer wants breakfast, he should get breakfast, timetables be damned.
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Food:
Jack-in-the-Box could teach McDonald's a few things. There is not a lot of variety on the menu. The above-mentioned chicken sandwiches are about the only alternative to hamburgers. Vegetarians might as well just stay away; parents of small children might want to think twice, too, because the nutritional value of McDonald's food has been well documented (that is to say, completely absent). Again, quality varies widely from location to location. Breakfast is really the best time to go. Infuriatingly, McDonald's has yet to offer childrens' breakfast meals and they refuse to hand over happy meals before 11 a.m. The new breakfast bagels are huge and fluffy and chewy. They're wonderful. Of course, McDonald's is famous for their fries. They really are superior to the fries anywhere else. Otherwise, the food is quite unremarkable. The meat is fried and is served with different combinations of toppings and in different sizes. That's what they do.
Service:
Do we even need to talk about the service? It's inconsistent, to say the least. McDonald's always seem to be severely understaffed. Visiting at any meal rush times will only result in stress and a bad mood. I have found that when someone makes a mistake, they're more than willing to rectify the situation, but I would rather not have to complain.
Decor:
Again, we're paying for convenience, not ambience. There really isn't any decor to speak of. McDonald's restaurants are never sparkling clean. They do their best, but the sheer volume of customers prevents staff from paying more attention to detail.
Special Notes, Tips or Menu Recommendations:
I often buy a McSalad and share it with my daughter. It's the best way to give her Happy Meal a boost. I have yet to determine if the shakes are made with real ice cream, but they're a good size and fill you if you can't bring yourself to eat a Big Mac.
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
kilinahe
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Location: Honolulu, Hawaii
Reviews written: 74
Trusted by: 23 members
About Me:
"In your face, Space Coyote!"
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