TACO BELL, It's OK to pronounce something wrong.
Written: Apr 21 '04 (Updated Apr 21 '04)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: The food is good if you like Mexican foods
Cons: You won't like the place if you do not like Mexican foods.
The Bottom Line: I don't go to Taco Bell's often. I may with my family.
They love the stuff. I can take it or leave it. I have never left it yet.
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| popsrocks's Full Review: Taco Bell |
The first time I ever saw a Taco Bell was on my first cross country trip by auto in the early 1970's. I remember seeing a stucco building that looked much like a mission church "Remember the Alamo" with a Bell in the top arch area.
I had no idea as to what they offered and though we saw many of them out west, we never stopped at one. Years later the Taco Bell came east of the Mississippi and made a home on our Atlantic coast.
I recently learned that the Taco Bell is named after Mr. Glen Bell the originator of the franchise. In recent years it is now part of company that also owns KFC, Pizza Hut, Long John Silvers and A&W restaurants worldwide. The name of this company is Yum Brands Inc.
Though I have been to a few Taco Bells over time, quite a few, I will be using my particular nearby franchise in Merrick, Long Island as a reference for many points I may make. They also sell Pizza Hut products under the same roof. It is a fairly limited menu for Pizza Hut consisting mostly of their value meals. I'll get to the Pizza Hut another time.
ARRIVAL
This is a fast food type place with parking around the perimeter of the restaurant. There is plenty of parking here and there is also a drive up window. I prefer eating inside. The lines at the drive in area moved pretty quickly. The outside has a more contemporary look that the old mission style that used to be their trademark look. You still can tell the place has a Mexican feel to it from the outside stucco walls and colourful paints they use to highlight then exterior. The Taco Bell seem to be good neighbors in that they had someone outside picking up errant napkins and wrappings from the ground. The dumpster area I passed while leaving was very clean.
DECOR
Our Taco Bell is very brightly lighted day and night. Full glass windows let in plenty of natural light and at night bright florescent lights come on. Except for the bright colour used to accent the Mexican motif items on the walls, I would say the place had an almost sterile look to it. The place has many small table for two that are bolted with the chairs in place. This guys belly is getting a bit too big for comfort in these booths. I suppose I'll have to start losing weight soon. There is an attendant that goes around cleaning tables after a party is finished. She cleaned them well. The floors are all tiles and the restrooms were clean and well stocked.
ORDERING
The counter for ordering is up front with stanchions directing the lines. A VERY friendly gal is at the register. It's up to her to get the order right. After you have given the order and paid the bill she then sends the requests to the open kitchen where you can watch the attendants putting everything together. Hands don't touch anything. You can see the help in the back kitchen area all wearing gloves.
You hold your receipt and a tray will be brought to the counter and the help will get everything together for you. The receipts are easy to read for cross referencing the items to your order.
There were a few mix-ups of orders. I couldn't tell who was to blame but the customers in both instances did not pay for the items in question so it seems it was at ordering that the cashier didn't hear the request or forgot to bill it. Matters were taken care of immediately and in a friendly professional manner.
REFRESHMENTS
Taco Bell carries Pepsi products. You order the size and then you are given the cup. It's a self serve soda fountain. There is plenty of space at the fountain and duplicates of the more popular items. I happen to like mixing two parts iced tea with one part Mountain Dew.
Water cups are available at no charge at the counter upon request. The water is at the fountain. Again serve yourself. Hot products of tea and coffee are also available.
It's at the refreshment stand that condiments and utensils are stocked. The Taco Bell has three different add on sauces, mild, hot and fire. These come in small packets and can be added to particular taste. The fire is what it says it is.
The MENU
As one might expect the Taco Bell serves many Mexican foods. Tacos, crunchy and soft, seem to be ordered more than anything else. It was the crunchy corn taco shell that started the business. The crunchy ones just don't make it for me. It's too sloppy when the shell breaks.
I happen to like the soft tortilla ones. The taste and consistency is just right.
Both the soft and hard are available in chicken and beef. The beef and/or chicken is ground and spices added. They are the main item in the shell and are topped with lettuce, tomato, and cheddar cheese. Steak is also available in some markets. These are the basic meats for most of their offerings. It seems to me that there is more chicken put into the items than there is beef.
Taco Supremes are on the menu. These are much the same as the regular taco only these have a glob of sour cream in them. That really does bring the taco up to another level.
The last time I was there happened to be the first time I had ever had Chalupas. These were excellent. The grilled bread the mix was folded into was hot and tasted very fresh with just a hint of oil. I understand the bread is first fried and then grilled. All I can tell you is that this is the most delicious shell you can order your meats in. You had that grilled taste and some light crunch on the grilled parts while the rest was soft and rich with flavor. The mix of cold lettuce and tomato along with the hot meats, and mixed cheeses is something I crave after the first one. These are the best item on the menu for my taste.
Another favorite in sales, but a disappointment to me, is the Burrito. They just lack a good flavor. I taste the beans but not much in the spices and cheese.
Quesadilla are excellent. These are big tortilla that are stuffed with beef or chicken and then have a three cheese mix with a jalapeno creamy sauce. This is all folded up and grilled to a slight crispness. Mmmm, gooood! Their special gives you one quesadilla, one taco and a soda for $3.99. Most dinner specials like this were about $3.79-$3.99. It's hard to give prices because they vary wildly from area to area.
No matter where you get them I feel this is a good value. For those who like a little extra add ons like hot peppers and sour cream you can pay just .25 cents for a little side container. I order extra guacamole. It happens to be pretty good. For those who like a strong cilantro taste in your guacamole I don't think you will be happy with it.
The Taco Bell now has salads for those watching their caloric intake. They have them with crispy tortilla shaving mixed in the salads. They really are good. There are a few different salads.
In trying to be more aware of peoples better diet habits the Taco Bell serves what they call Fresco Style in some markets. This means that instead of the cheese mix and sauces, they would be substitutes with a "Fiesta Salsa". I haven't tried it but I suppose it's good to know there are other options.
The Taco Bell does have desserts but I have never had any of them.
SUMMING IT ALL UP
I'm not crazy about Mexican fast food but I do like a change from time to time. I like the Taco Bell because I rarely have to wait on a line like a Wendy's, and I get a very different choice than a McDs or Burger King. The food comes out quickly and is very fresh tasting. I like the combined cool and hot temperatures of the items.
I feel the prices are actually better for a meal and a good value as compared to other fast food places. The atmosphere is much the same as a Wendy's with a bit more colour. My overall experience at the Taco Bell have always been good.
More chain eateries by popsrocks
Applebee's / Arthur Treacher's Fish and Chips / Burger King / Charlie Browns / Checkers Burgers / Cheesecake Factory / Cold Stone Creamery / Cozymel's / Dunkin' Donuts / KFC / Romano's MACARONI GRILL / McDonald's / OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE / OUTBACK Restaurant / Red Lobster / Taco Bell / TGI Friday's / Ralph's Famous Ices / Wendy's / The White Castle
Recommended:
Yes
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