McDonald’s

This is just a typical McDonald’s that serves the purpose. If you need a place to fill up your empty stomach and are that desperate, this is the place for you. The guy who took our order, assuming was the shift manager, was nice. I guess it was enough said.

I rarely ever eat at McDonalds, but I’ve stopped by here in a pinch. It’s not that bad, but then again, it’s McDonald’s so it’s not that great either. However, due to the convenience, I supposed I’d eat there again if in a pinch.

McDonald’s sucks. Burgers are really flatish and pretty much everything on the menu tastes like it’s made of sugary soft plastic. There’s a «kitchen» in the back, but don’t be fooled because the staff doesn’t really cook anything there.
McDonald’s chains are pretty much giant microwaves that you can walk into. You basically pay for leftovers that have been heated up after being made weeks ago in some factory hundreds of miles away.
Strangely, once in awhile I’ll get a craving for the french fries (hence the 2 stars), but besides that, you should look into eating food that a human body can actually digest — like carrots.
Also, they sell Coke here which is really bad for you. Drink Pepsi instead.

Meh is just about right. For all that this outpost is conveniently located across the street from my work and seems fairly well staffed, there always seems to be something slightly off here. To wit: I came in today with my appetite whetted for my annual Shamrock Shake (seeing as how there is only one more day left, as of this writing). Surprise, surprise, the machine was down. When I asked the toothless (?!) cashier how much longer it would be before it is back up and running again, she gave me an ETA of one hour. Since the clock is ticking, I will most likely try another location tomorrow, as it seems the problems with the shake machine at this location are systematic, at least to hear my colleagues tell it (up until now, I thought they were just fussing). With all the aggravation, I will be ready for any shake I order to be spiked.

History repeats itself. I should take this old adage and remember it each time I decide to go and give this McDonald’s another chance. Maybe it will be fine this time. Wow, am I a fool to believe.
This must be the most disorganized location know to the chain. The army of cashiers really do mean well, and take your order. But it’s hard to understand some of them, especially with the chants of «Can I help you» streaming loudly from their cohorts. I know it’s not the fault of the employees, but there is no semblance of order in this place. Customers are just standing around with dazed, deer in the headlights looks on their faces. You never know who’s waiting in line to order, who’s standing waiting for their order, and who’s just standing around begging for change. After you place your order, you just stand aside and hope you can hear the employees call out your order. And fight off anyone trying to snag it from you. (I had to snag my order from the hands of a homeless guy the other day. Mean, but come on, I was hungry, too.)
And the food quality is usually poor. I wind up here often near closing time, and it shows. Fries that have been sitting under the heat lamp for way too long, reheated burgers, rock hard chicken nuggets. And then the biggest pisser of all. They have soft drinks pre-​poured into cups so they can just grab and serve. But if they have been sitting for more than ten minutes, (which most of the time they have) I end up with a flat, crappy Coke.

Reviewing chain places, especially a McDonald’s is so very lame, but I have to give credit where credit is due. This Mickey D’s is the bomb.
There’s an army of cashiers all shouting, «Can I help you!?» You place your order (I’m at the point now where some of the cashiers know me and don’t even ask what I want. They just ring up a large diet Coke) and then kind of shuffle to the side to await your food/​drinks. It sounds like the most inefficient process ever, with herds of people lingering around waiting for their eats and drinks, but I’ve never seen a McDonald’s move people in and out so quickly. They must be doing something right!
And let’s all agree that McDonalds diet Coke is a form of liquid crack, it’s that good, so being able to get my fix quickly and easily every morning makes me a happy camper.

«Well, the train isn’t for another hour, so let’s just eat.» I say to my mom who wonders aloud if she wants Cinnabon or Pizza Hut.
«How about McDonald’s?» I remark.
«Ok… lets pick some up for Dad too.» she says.
«CAN I HELP YOU?» says the short latina woman with some urgency in her voice, «CAN I HELP YOU?» says the slender and cute black woman, «CAN I HELP YOU, SIR?» the teenage guy asks in an off-​putting baritone.
«CAN I HELP YOU?»
I’m at a loss for words momentarily. I gather myself and tell my mom that this ones on me and to tell me what she wants and to grab a seat because this isn’t just any McDonalds, this is chaos.
«CAN I HELP YOU?»
«Get fish for Dad and me.» she says a with her eyes locked on the service counter. She scuttles off into the corner to claim our stake.
«CAN I HELP YOU?»
«UHM YES, CAN I HAVE, UH, TWO FILET OF FISH SANDWHICHES – „
“CAN I HELP YOU?“
„SINGLE OR DOUBLE,“ retorts the short latina woman, let’s call her „Elena.“
“SORRY?»
“CAN I HELP YOU?”
«SINGLE FILET OR DOUBLE?» says Elena
«UHM SINGLE.» I reply
«ANYTHING ELSE?»
«CAN I HELP YOU?»
«UHM, TWO MEDIUM FRIES, TWO COKES, AND A BIG MAC»
«ANYTHING ELSE?» Elena inquires.
«NO THATS IT THANKS.» I say as I search my wallet for my debit card. The next few moments are a blur as I try to find someway to stand that will imply that I do not need help.
«CAN I HELP YOU?»
«CAN I HELP YOU?»
«CAN I HELP YOU?»
«TWO FISH COMBOS BIG MAC»
«RIGHT HERE!» I say and hurriedly grab my meal. I swing over to the corner table my mom has secured. Hopefully, no blood had been spilled in order to claim it.
«CAN I HELP YOU?»
We settle down and begin our meal. The food certainly came quite fast but I my Big Mac required a bit of assembly before it became a sandwich.
«CAN I HELP YOU?»
My mom said this place reminded her of the markets in her Mexican home town. Lots of bustling people and vendors shouting to make there wares known.
«CAN I HELP YOU?»
We quickly finished and made our way for the train home.

This location by far has the fastest service of all McDonald’s I have been in. Conveniently located across the street from my work (in Union Station), I can run over and have 8 cashiers yelling «Can I help you?» all at once! Even after you’ve finished ordering, the other cashiers still want to help you!
I love the Chipotle BBQ Grilled Chicken Snack Wraps. I grab two of those and an extra BBQ packet. Occasionally, I’ll add in a Diet Coke, and the apples & caramel dipping sauce packs they use as alternatives to fries in the Kid’s Meals. Makes eating at McDonald’s a bit more healthy and they’re very filling.