McDonald's in the Crescent

BESman

I've been to many a McDonald's in my time, but there is something about the Crescent McDonald's that just rubs me up the wrong way.

1. The drivethru is dog awkward to get into. If you're coming from the city centre direction, its not too bad. If you're coming from the Dooradoyle side, you'll be blocking traffic for 5 minutes before you find a gap.

2. Service is slow. Very slow. Its supposed to be fast food. One morning, I was in the drivethru and decided I just wanted a coffee. This should have taken a few seconds. It took over four minutes before someone spotted me waiting at the second window and went over to the machine to get the coffee. Staffing levels inside seem inadequate for demand also. There are always big queues but usually only 2 or 3 out of 5 counters are staffed.

3. Non existent service at drivethru on some occasions. I was there one morning and waited at the order box but no one took my order. I waited a good three of four minutes and drove round and could see people inside but there was no one manning the drivethru. Wtf?

4. Questionable food. Ok, I know its not fine cuisine, but compared to other McDonald's, I find the food a bit off. Their Big Mac's and McChicken Sandwiches just aren't as nice as other McDonalds and often taste like they've been sitting out on the rack for a good while. I also got a bacon roll one morning and there was actually blue mould on the roll. I couldn't believe it for a company with such strict quality control.

5. Restaurant layout. I just think its awful compared to others. Very little seating and they're arranged in such a way that you can't sit someplace without facing someone else.

Am I the only person that feels this way? I can't help but get the feeling that there is very poor management at the Crescent McDonald's and if Head Office were aware of this, it wouldn't be long before the franchise is taken off them.

I'll save my rant on the Henry Street Subway for another day...

Poxyshamrock

BESman wrote: »

I'll save my rant on the Henry Street Subway for another day...

Looking forward to it

vkid

BESman wrote: »

I've been to many a McDonald's in my time, but there is something about the Crescent McDonald's that just rubs me up the wrong way.

1. The drivethru is dog awkward to get into. If you're coming from the city centre direction, its not too bad. If you're coming from the Dooradoyle side, you'll be blocking traffic for 5 minutes before you find a gap.

2. Service is slow. Very slow. Its supposed to be fast food. One morning, I was in the drivethru and decided I just wanted a coffee. This should have taken a few seconds. It took over four minutes before someone spotted me waiting at the second window and went over to the machine to get the coffee. Staffing levels inside seem inadequate for demand also. There are always big queues but usually only 2 or 3 out of 5 counters are staffed.

3. Non existent service at drivethru on some occasions. I was there one morning and waited at the order box but no one took my order. I waited a good three of four minutes and drove round and could see people inside but there was no one manning the drivethru. Wtf?

4. Questionable food. Ok, I know its not fine cuisine, but compared to other McDonald's, I find the food a bit off. Their Big Mac's and McChicken Sandwiches just aren't as nice as other McDonalds and often taste like they've been sitting out on the rack for a good while. I also got a bacon roll one morning and there was actually blue mould on the roll. I couldn't believe it for a company with such strict quality control.

5. Restaurant layout. I just think its awful compared to others. Very little seating and they're arranged in such a way that you can't sit someplace without facing someone else.

Am I the only person that feels this way? I can't help but get the feeling that there is very poor management at the Crescent McDonald's and if Head Office were aware of this, it wouldn't be long before the franchise is taken off them.

I'll save my rant on the Henry Street Subway for another day...

No offence but you have a lot to be worried about.

BESman

vkid wrote: »

No offence but you have a lot to be worried about.

Inches of column space are wasted on trivial matters like the US deficit, turmoil in the Middle East and the ongoing European financial crisis. I'd like to see a discussion on the issues that matter - the marginal declining quality of our local fast food outlets.

touts

In the times I've eaten there or used the drivetru I saw no difference to any other McDonalds. To be honest you're expecting too much from McDonalds. They aren't exactly pitching at a Michelin star.

BESman

touts wrote: »

In the times I've eaten there or used the drivetru I saw no difference to any other McDonalds. To be honest you're expecting too much from McDonalds. They aren't exactly pitching at a Michelin star.

I'm only comparing it to other McDonalds and I think its below par on that basis.

ShatterProof

BESman wrote: »

......
1. The drivethru is dog awkward to get into. If you're coming from the city centre direction, its not too bad. If you're coming from the Dooradoyle side, you'll be blocking traffic for 5 minutes before you find a gap.
.........

Go down to the round about and come back up much easier.

Also you wont be holding up all the traffic behind you while trying to get in that way.

krudler

the one out by Storm cinema is much nicer alright.

alanhiggyno1

With the way the country is now this minute this guy wants to talk bout the state of fast food.I'll sum this up in one sentence.get a life!!and quick

ShatterProof

ShatterProof wrote: »

Go down to the round about and come back up much easier.

Also you wont be holding up all the traffic behind you while trying to get in that way.

Actually is it illegal to make that right turn ???

BESman

krudler wrote: »

the one out by Storm cinema is much nicer alright.

Never been, must put onto my to do list.

To be fair, most fast food connoisseurs know that there are subtle differences between each branch. For example, I remember a few years back, the Supermac's in Gort was a lot to different to other Supermacs'. It had red sauce in the burgers. Its been brought in line with other branches in recent years.

FCUM

europa11

By no means would I be described as a fast-food junkie and tbh, since watching "Super Size Me" I haven't entered a McDonalds - I know, American beef is shlte and the ones here use Irish beef (well I hope so). It's a place which for me has never held much appeal and BESman's post, esp. in relation to the mouldy roll won't have me changing my mind soon. I thought these franchises were subject to QC tests from headquarters. Perhaps not as rigourous as they'd have you think.

But if you are looking for decent and really good fast-food in the Crescent, get out of the car and try the KFC outlet there. Very surprised by just how good the food was when I (sceptically) tried it during the ....ahem, summer...and have gone back on a few occasions since. Best chicken I've had in ages.

Looking forward to that review on Henry St. Subway , the whiff of whatever it is, be it seasoning or MSG out of that place is enough to get me running past like Willie O'Dea on skates.

krudler

europa11 wrote: »

By no means would I be described as a fast-food junkie and tbh, since watching "Super Size Me" I haven't entered a McDonalds - I know, American beef is shlte and the ones here use Irish beef (well I hope so). It's a place which for me has never held much appeal and BESman's post, esp. in relation to the mouldy roll won't have me changing my mind soon. I thought these franchises were subject to QC tests from headquarters. Perhaps not as rigourous as they'd have you think.

But if you are looking for decent and really good fast-food in the Crescent, get out of the car and try the KFC outlet there. Very surprised by just how good the food was when I (sceptically) tried it during the ....ahem, summer...and have gone back on a few occasions since. Best chicken I've had in ages.

Looking forward to that review on Henry St. Subway , the whiff of whatever it is, be it seasoning or MSG out of that place is enough to get me running past like Willie O'Dea on skates.

that aint chicken you're eating in KFC :pac: I dont mind stuff like the popcorn chicken but the actual breasts of chicken are awful, the underside is like eating the inside of a greasy scab. greasy, sickening sh1te.

europa11

Well maybe its the coating that was doing the trick for me, in any case it tasted fine, it looked clean and thoroughly cooked when I was eating it at the premises. Have to admit no drink induced false appetite was involved either - that's what God built The Chicken Hut for.

So apart from that it was the best scabby. greasy, sickening sh1te I ever had

Berty

ShatterProof wrote: »

Actually is it illegal to make that right turn ???

Unfortunately it is not and the reason is because there is a broken white line. Most people with common sense would realise this broken white line is for traffic wishing to cross over to the surgery/vet but those without common sense, ignoring the roundabout, hold up the entire lane of traffic trying to cross the road.

Speaking of McDonalds. I am now boycotting McDonalds in Shannon because it is privately owned and he has not reduced his prices. I asked the girl why the McMuffins are more expensive here than other places and was told that basically he sets the prices and when the VAT went down he put down the VAT but put the prices back up as well. :mad:

BESman

Not a huge fan of KFC. Its very slow and busy all the time. The imaging is very misleading too. Portions are never as big as advertised. It is nice for a change though and its kind of a more "premium" fast food restaurant.

Post above re Shannon - very surprised by that. I would have thought in a country as small as Ireland that McDonalds' HQ would demand uniform pricing, regardless of private ownership. Definitely ain't good for image if he isn't passing on VAT decrease and has higher prices for certain menu items.

Aidric

krudler wrote: »

that aint chicken you're eating in KFC :pac: I dont mind stuff like the popcorn chicken but the actual breasts of chicken are awful, the underside is like eating the inside of a greasy scab. greasy, sickening sh1te.

How many greasy scabs have you eaten?

Berty

BESman wrote: »

Not a huge fan of KFC. Its very slow and busy all the time. The imaging is very misleading too. Portions are never as big as advertised. It is nice for a change though and its kind of a more "premium" fast food restaurant.

KFC has 98% fat free chicken with the process of Pressure Cooking they use. Salt content is quite high in the breading though so it kind of cancels each other out.

Chips are bland. Burger King chips, KFC chicken and that elusive gassy fountain coke which nobody has would be good also.

BESman wrote: »

Post above re Shannon - very surprised by that. I would have thought in a country as small as Ireland that McDonalds' HQ would demand uniform pricing, regardless of private ownership. Definitely ain't good for image if he isn't passing on VAT decrease and has higher prices for certain menu items.

Don't be too hard on him. He DID pass on the VAT decrease but increased his prices afterwards. This is the story I was told from the employee when I asked about the pricing.

jonski

BESman wrote: »

I've been to many a McDonald's in my time, but there is something about the Crescent McDonald's that just rubs me up the wrong way.

1: as already said go down and around the roundabout
2: I don't use the drivethru anymore , I park around the side and go in , can't say I have noticed any big queues recently , maybe it's the time I am in there .
3: see 2
4: I actually think the food is consistent in there and prefer it to both Cruises St. and the one out in Dunnes on the Ennis road .
5: I never sit down in there so can't really comment but I wouldn't be expecting much privacy in a fast food joint .

All in all I think they are on a par with any of the other MCDs . The staff there are very nice and have been there a good while . I remember backl a few years ago with the place was absolutely brutal for both service and food but it has improved greatly since then .

The main comment I would make about Subway is ........................ I just love the smell coming from there when you walk in the front door of the Crescent .

And I'll also add this here because ( I forgot/was too lazy/there was no summer ) to start a thread about it . Quigley in the Crescent has the best Ice Cream Cones in Limerick ! fact !

bazz26

Haven't darkened the door of a McDonald's in about 8 years. Absolutely terrible food. Would not even touch their "healthy" food. If I drank coffee it was also be the last place I would buy it from.

TestTransmission

BESman wrote: »

Am I the only person that feels this way? I can't help but get the feeling that there is very poor management at the Crescent McDonald's and if Head Office were aware of this, it wouldn't be long before the franchise is taken off them.

I'll save my rant on the Henry Street Subway for another day...

Have you actually made any complaints?
Have you ever requested to speak to management?
Why don't you write a letter to the franchise office and and follow it up with a phonecall.I can't see how you expect anything to be done by just posting up here

Berty

bazz26 wrote: »

Haven't darkened the door of a McDonald's in about 8 years. Absolutely terrible food. Would not even touch their "healthy" food. If I drank coffee it was also be the last place I would buy it from.

Ah to be fair about their Coffee. It is produced/roasted by United Coffee in the UK and is a very good blend they have. It is Fairtrade and Organic which is fairly good. Their bean to cup machines are fairly good as well and McDonalds will have better training than most people in the business.

Much better than most of the Coffee on sale in Limerick. Even places with great Coffee can be terrible at preparing it.

http://www.unitedcoffeeuk.com/

BESman

Beer Baron wrote: »

Ah to be fair about their Coffee. It is produced/roasted by United Coffee in the UK and is a very good blend they have. It is Fairtrade and Organic which is fairly good. Their bean to cup machines are fairly good as well and McDonalds will have better training than most people in the business.

Much better than most of the Coffee on sale in Limerick. Even places with great Coffee can be terrible at preparing it.

http://www.unitedcoffeeuk.com/

I would agree with this. The coffee there is high quality and keenly priced at €2. Subway coffee is excellent also. If I can't get a Tim Hortons, I'll go for McD's or Subway.

In response to earlier comment re complaining, I would only have complained about the blue mould on the roll, which is pretty unacceptable for any restaurant. But I was long gone before I noticed it and couldn't really be bothered over a couple of euro. If I had discovered it on the premises, I would definitely have complained.

Correct me if I'm wrong... but wasn't there a major scandal in the Crescent McDonald's a few years back over something a customer found in their order? I must try this Google thing and see...

Berty

BESman wrote: »

Correct me if I'm wrong... but wasn't there a major scandal in the Crescent McDonald's a few years back over something a customer found in their order? I must try this Google thing and see...

I thought I had found it earlier but it was an old link to a Swiss issue. I think it was a Condom in the Crescent Branch though.

Mc Love

BESman wrote: »

I'll save my rant on the Henry Street Subway for another day...

Whats wrong with the Henry st Subway - would love to hear why you hate it?!

BESman

Beer Baron wrote: »

I thought I had found it earlier but it was an old link to a Swiss issue. I think it was a Condom in the Crescent Branch though.

Yes thats what I thought it was... Apparently they were very flippant to the woman who found it too.

Skottoman

As an American who travels to Europe fairly often, It saddens me to see the crap fast food stuff from America invading the rest of the world. I avoid it here as much as I can.

What other country has invaded America with their chains of fast food? None really... So when I'm in Europe, and I stand on a corner and see a Starbucks, McDonalds, KFC and Pizza hit on each corner, it's a real bummer...

I'll actually be visiting Limerick next week, and will be avoiding any "American" fast food stuffs....

Oh, to stay relevant, even the quality of the McD's over here vary widely. From nasty scummy, badly designed ones, to posh ones that play classical music and serve pastries and coffee.

Cheers,
Skottoman

BESman

Skottoman wrote: »

As an American who travels to Europe fairly often, It saddens me to see the crap fast food stuff from America invading the rest of the world. I avoid it here as much as I can.

What other country has invaded America with their chains of fast food? None really... So when I'm in Europe, and I stand on a corner and see a Starbucks, McDonalds, KFC and Pizza hit on each corner, it's a real bummer...

I'm still waiting for Taco Bell, White Castle and Windy's to make it over the water....

Berty

BESman wrote: »

I'm still waiting for Taco Bell, White Castle and Wendy's to make it over the water....

Hell Yeah. Fatten me up. (more)

Throw us in a Red Rooster from Australia as well.

@ Skottoman. At least your Mcds serves Beer and Dr Pepper. Even a bad restaurant chain like Ponderosa would be good because they have all you can eat. :D

Mc Love

BESman wrote: »

I'm still waiting for Taco Bell, White Castle and Windy's to make it over the water....

The only one I am waiting for is In 'n' Out Burger! That place is heaven!!

Berty

Mc Love wrote: »

The only one I am waiting for is In 'n' Out Burger! That place is heaven!!

Googled In n Out Burger and went to home page. Home page looks like something you might see in a "Road Trip" Movie. It's looks cool and cartoonish but I'm sure the burgers don't look like that. Could be a "Falling down" moment.

Still / books ticket to America and brings waist 38" with me.

Skottoman

They don't actually serve beer at any McD's I've ever seen in America. That is something that you can get in France or somewhere else...

Taco Bell? Perhaps someday in europe.... it's not really "mexican" food though. OR very good... California has some "real" mexican food though for sure!

In-n-out Burger? I agree, pretty good for what it is.

To stay relevant, I'll say that all these places vary in the quality of food/cleanliness/restaraunt design. They are changing the corporate look of the McDonalds in our town. Food is the same, building is completely different now!

I say you push Chicken Hut or Abrakebabra to start invading America. Haha....

Cheers,
Skottoman

Mc Love

Beer Baron wrote: »

Googled In n Out Burger and went to home page. Home page looks like something you might see in a "Road Trip" Movie. It's looks cool and cartoonish but I'm sure the burgers don't look like that. Could be a "Falling down" moment.

Still / books ticket to America and brings waist 38" with me.

Its as close you can get to an actual chipper in America! They cut the potato's in the restaurant, and the burgers are way way way nicer than Mc D's.

The others I would like to see cross over are Taco Bell and Jack in the Box...plenty of good memories from Santa Cruz!

Berty

Ah but you see I have plans to either drive the old Route 66 next year or do a West Coast Drive including Vegas so I plan on stopping off in many many fat inducing spots.

I may possibly even try to follow a "Man Vs Food(Discovery/Food Channel)" themed route If I was brave enough.

BESman

Eddie Rockets is a rip off of Johnny Rockets in the US.

Berty

BESman wrote: »

Eddie Rockets is a rip off of Johnny Rockets in the US.

So is the D4 Accent / North Circular Road Accent but you learn to live with it.

bazz26

Skottoman wrote: »

As an American who travels to Europe fairly often, It saddens me to see the crap fast food stuff from America invading the rest of the world. I avoid it here as much as I can.

What other country has invaded America with their chains of fast food? None really... So when I'm in Europe, and I stand on a corner and see a Starbucks, McDonalds, KFC and Pizza hit on each corner, it's a real bummer...

I'll actually be visiting Limerick next week, and will be avoiding any "American" fast food stuffs....

Oh, to stay relevant, even the quality of the McD's over here vary widely. From nasty scummy, badly designed ones, to posh ones that play classical music and serve pastries and coffee.

Cheers,
Skottoman

You will just love the local delicacy of the Chicken Hut so.

bazz26

Burger King drive thru is more convenient for some:

Poxyshamrock

BESman wrote: »

Eddie Rockets is a rip off of Johnny Rockets in the US.

Have tried Johnny Rockets and it's not anything as nice as Eddie's

IsaacWunder

I'll never forget the queues when the McDonald's in the Crescent opened. Reminded me of the images of the queues outside the first McDonalds in Moscow in the 90's. Thousands of Russians lining up to literally get their first taste of capitalism.

Berty

Except those Russians had to pay around €100 for a meal in McDonalds. I remember my father being over there in the "ERA" and the company used to take clients out for Dinner to McDonalds.

BESman

IsaacWunder wrote: »

I'll never forget the queues when the McDonald's in the Crescent opened. Reminded me of the images of the queues outside the first McDonalds in Moscow in the 90's. Thousands of Russians lining up to literally get their first taste of capitalism.

There were major traffic jams when KFC first opened in Galway a year or two ago. Some society we live in.

Cherrycoke

I'd love a Carls Junior here, mmmm greasy monster burger heaven :P

Berty

Cherrycoke wrote: »

I'd love a Carls Junior here, mmmm greasy monster burger heaven :P

There was a place in Amsterdam that did a Hunga Busta Burger but we sheepishly asked for the Double Busta Hunga Burger and even the guy said "NO WAY MAN"(likely stoned). These massive massive massive massive massive burgers arrived. I swear they were 18oz burgers or something.

One of the lads managed to finish mine and another lads and then proceeded to eat a dessert. :eek:

bullets

Myself and a few lads from work have our Dirty Monday each week where
we head down to the Crescent for Junk food, not sure if its me getting old
but as much as I love the taste of utter crap unhealthy food my stomach can barely take it these days. We've kinda gone through phases of going to different places at this stage.

Mc Donalds
The Drive through used to be fast and get priority but its just as fast
these days to walk to the counter as a lot of the time people end up parking
while waiting for the food.

Some of the staff are there quite a while now, and are chatty and friendly
as in some of them will have a bit of banter with you. And there is an even
mixture of Irish and Non Irish people working there.

Personally I love the taste of the ordinary cheeseburgers, and love chicken nuggets with BBQ sauce. 1/4 pounder I love too. Everything else I cant stand. I've tried a chicken salad there before and heard with the sauce its got more calories than the burgers.

KFC.
The food in KFC at least is nearly always ready so when you pay you get what you ordered straight away (Unlike McD's and other places)
The staff when I first went there I could not understand what they were asking me due to the accents so it took me a while for my ears to tune in
or I got into the routine of knowing what questions they were asking me and I could answer regardless of if I could understand the person or not.
I could be wrong but KFC staff seem to be exclusively non-Irish. I dont think
I've ever been served by a Paddy or someone with an local accent.
Nothing wrong with this, just making the observation.

Wicked Zinger meal with Gravy while nice, the gravey messes with my
insides and I've found one more than one occasion by the time I get home
from work I'm running to the Loo as whatever is in it, runs right through ya.

Eddy Rockets.
I hate this place, but its the place where the Lads seem to want to go constantly and they seem to think the food is great.

I hate the way you have to wait by a bloody sign and cant just walk in and decide to sit where you want. I hate the way there is an expectation of giving the girls a tip simply because they take your order and ask if the junk food was alright. (Dont tip in McDonalds or KFC why is Eddy Rockets so special??) I find the food horrible and overpriced.
I hate the way you have to wait bloody ages for the food to actually arrive.

A tender meal I got. I was given 2 small tenders chicken strips, fries and a coke and ended up paying a tenner or something.

A redbasket appears to be way better value getting 2 tenders, 2 mini burgers, fries and potato salad.....the catch is here you dont get a drink so end up paying extra for that.

I hate the routine you have to go through where a waitress give you
this false niceness, false smiles, and the automatic question "is everything alright for you, do you want anything else" when you've a burger shoved down your gob and in the middle of chewing. Most of the staff are not Irish,
but their english is great and you can understand them perfectly, there is one Irish lad there and he looks miserable and you barely get a grunt out of him, he almost looks like he would fall asleep on his feet.

O'Briens
Over priced sandwich bar thats always busy and very hard to get a seat!
However I did get an awesome toasted bagel, and the tea actually tastes like tea!! and it feels like your somehow not eating junk.

The New Italian place that used to be spurs. Another Cringe type place.
Wait at the door until we show you to a seat type of place.
Wait ages for food that tastes like you've just microwaved Tesco Pasta Bake.
Waitress that Opens your bottle of coke and pours it into the glass for you as if it was expensive wine makes me uncomfortable as a customer and feels like one of these artificial gestures to encourage you to tip or to pretend the service is better in some way.

The staff there I've noticed and also when it was spurs were a mixture of
Irish and non Irish staff who had great language skills so say if tourists from
other countries arrived in to eat, one of the waitresses there would a lot of the time be able to speak to them in their own native Language.

Subway. Closed down, re-opened and now is opening a 2nd unit.
Have not been there is a while, Food tasted lovely, You got the food
ultra fast, but the seating was horrid absolutely horrid.

Burgerking out in the Parkway was someplace we visited when not at the Crescent. Another place I hate.
The place always is deserted, looks very run down, and you wait ages
for the food. When you get it the burgers I've found in the fewimes I've been there have been barely luke warm, and the meat feels dry and tough.

What's really annoying for the money you pay in these fast food joints you could just as easily
goto Russells, The Unicorn, or Frans and get a better value meal for a tenner or 11 yo yo's
sit where ya want and still get great service.

First world problems

BESman

bullets wrote: »

Eddy Rockets.
I hate this place, but its the place where the Lads seem to want to go constantly and they seem to think the food is great.

I hate the way you have to wait by a bloody sign and cant just walk in and decide to sit where you want. I hate the way there is an expectation of giving the girls a tip simply because they take your order and ask if the junk food was alright. (Dont tip in McDonalds or KFC why is Eddy Rockets so special??) I find the food horrible and overpriced.
I hate the way you have to wait bloody ages for the food to actually arrive.

A tender meal I got. I was given 2 small tenders chicken strips, fries and a coke and ended up paying a tenner or something.

A redbasket appears to be way better value getting 2 tenders, 2 mini burgers, fries and potato salad.....the catch is here you dont get a drink so end up paying extra for that.

I hate the routine you have to go through where a waitress give you
this false niceness, false smiles, and the automatic question "is everything alright for you, do you want anything else" when you've a burger shoved down your gob and in the middle of chewing. Most of the staff are not Irish,
but their english is great and you can understand them perfectly, there is one Irish lad there and he looks miserable and you barely get a grunt out of him, he almost looks like he would fall asleep on his feet.

O'Briens
Over priced sandwich bar thats always busy and very hard to get a seat!
However I did get an awesome toasted bagel, and the tea actually tastes like tea!! and it feels like your somehow not eating junk.

..............

What's really annoying for the money you pay in these fast food joints you could just as easily
goto Russells, The Unicorn, or Frans and get a better value meal for a tenner or 11 yo yo's
sit where ya want and still get great service.

First world problems

I would agree with the Eddie Rockets opinion. We used to joke that you'd need your mortgage going in the door. So overpriced its not even funny. Some of the food is quite good though. The only reason I'd go now is for the Oreo malts, they're unreal. The one out by the Travel Lodge is the best I've been to. Staff don't annoy ya much. Some of the staff in the Galway branch are rude.

O'Briens is another place I've never really understood the appeal of. Its overpriced, there isn't really anything unique about it and its always busy. Like they're just sandwiches. I know Subway are sandwiches but they have unique sandwiches on the menu. The stuff in O'Briens you could get in any deli really.

I often question the value of fast food restaurants compared to some higher quality eateries like Russels and others you've mentioned. For example, Chocolat offer a nice meal like a wrap and fries for €6.50. A Big Mac Meal or 12 inch sub would cost more. There are so many great early bird deals in fine restaurants around town too.

diol07

Beer Baron wrote: »

Unfortunately it is not and the reason is because there is a broken white line. Most people with common sense would realise this broken white line is for traffic wishing to cross over to the surgery/vet but those without common sense, ignoring the roundabout, hold up the entire lane of traffic trying to cross the road.

I drive in there almost every day and any driver with half a brain doesn't need to hold any traffic up when making the turn. You just edge over to the white lined space on the road, wait and turn. No traffic held up either way.....

cson

Just to temper this by saying I spent the summer in the USA so a result of laziness I have rather extensive experience of their fast food outlets. My McDonalds meal over there was buying the $1 Salad and $1 McChicken, cutting up the latter burger, tossing it into the salad, bit of cesar dressing, few croutons and away you go. $2 couldn't be bet for filling a gap - they're Menu Chicken Cesar Salad is something like $5/6.

Anyway...

BESman wrote: »

I'm still waiting for Taco Bell, White Castle and Windy's to make it over the water....

Taco Bell is mediocre, if I was to bring a Mexican franchise restaurant to Ireland it'd be Chipotle.

White Castle I liked, notwithstanding this it is the filthiest food I came across in my time in the States. Absolutely caked in grease and fat.

Wendy's is tied 1st for my favourite fast food place. Burgers are top notch and their version of the McFlurry [Frosty] is 10 times better than said McFlurry. Wendy's.

Mc Love wrote: »

The only one I am waiting for is In 'n' Out Burger! That place is heaven!!

I liked this place too. Can only get it in Cali/Nevada area but it is one of the nicer fast food places I've eaten - think a way more relaxed and tastier version of Eddie Rockits. Love that 50s vibe off the place. Afaik all the food comes from a distribution centre no more than 2hrs away to ensure freshness.

Cherrycoke wrote: »

I'd love a Carls Junior here, mmmm greasy monster burger heaven :P

Had it in Vegas. A bit meh tbh. Its like Wendy's, only worse.

Chick-Fil-A is my tied 1st favourite restaurant with Wendy's. Really really nice chicken, waffle fries [yum!] a ton of sauces and just really great service. Doesn't open on Sundays either! -> Owners are big Christians. The non-opening on Sundays caught me out and annoyed me a few times.

You'll never go near Subway again if you have any of the following; Potbelly's, Jimmy Johns, Bon Appetit. Sandwiches = yum.

I'm hungry.

Berty

diol07 wrote: »

I drive in there almost every day and any driver with half a brain doesn't need to hold any traffic up when making the turn. You just edge over to the white lined space on the road, wait and turn. No traffic held up either way.....

You mean you stop with part of your car on the other side of the road, or on the Chevrons(the parts of the road you CANNOT cross or stop on)?

Nonoperational

bazz26 wrote: »

Haven't darkened the door of a McDonald's in about 8 years. Absolutely terrible food. Would not even touch their "healthy" food. If I drank coffee it was also be the last place I would buy it from.

Absolute bollox. They're coffee is quite good and their fast food is excellent for what it is.