It seems we are mostly in agreement in this thread. Amazing; is this really FlyerTalk? The wooden fruits and vegetables are awful, in that I agree. However, wooden comestibles are one reason food prices are so very, very cheap in the US. The real stuff costs much more, to be sure, but it still is not more expensive than is similar food in many other countries and often still less so.

I also am a fan pof Italian and French motorway food. AutoGrill has consistently very good food at modest prices. I have been known to seek out an AutoGrill rather than take a gamble on the sometimes poor choices in many Italian cities. Those who denigrate lousy US food really need to try the lousy options often available, especially at odd times, in Italy, the UK, Ireland and some other countries. Even France is now stuffed full of really horrible fast food places such as McDonald's and Quick while restaurants in some small cities and towns are quite horrible.

It is not my intention to bash food in Italy or France. It is my intention to bring perspective. The US is not alone in offering tasteless nutritionless frankenfoods. It is easy to stereotype the US in this respect, but unfair.

I cannot quite believe I am defending the US for food options, but honesty makes me do it. Even with chains how about Houston's, El Pollo Loco, Pollo Tropical, P. F. Chang's and myriad others? Those places are inexpensive and still manage to deliver decent food quality.