Consolidated "McDonald's" thread
May 16, 2013 | 4:31 pm
#466
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Central Texas
Programs: Many, slipping beneath the horizon
Posts: 9,859
Any resemblances between the pork patty in a McD's McRib and at least visually, the BK facsimile are less than tenuous. BBQ, be it beef or pork (or other meats), is a cultural icon to those of us who live/have lived in the belt across the US from whence the culinary tradition came and in which it survives in classic form. Sloshing some thick, gummy, over-sweetened glop atop baked, prepared meats in not BBQ, and practitioners and regular consumers thereof are not worth the wood it would take to immolate them at some gala auto-de-fe purging us of heretics.
May 16, 2013 | 9:15 pm
#467
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Baltimore, MD USA
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Posts: 4,430
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May 17, 2013 | 5:35 am
#470
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May 17, 2013 | 5:42 am
#471
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McDonalds Seen Overhauling U.S. Menu From 145 Choices
The Angus burger is going away, and it may not be the only McDonalds dish on the chopping block.
The worlds largest restaurant chain has also considered axing Caesar salads, the McSkillet Burrito, the Southern Style Biscuit and steak bagels, according to a franchisee e-mail obtained by Bloomberg News. While the Angus burger contains as many as 820 calories and costs $4, the culling isnt simply about offering healthier fare and cheaper items. Its an effort by McDonalds Corp. (MCD) to streamline a menu that has expanded by 70 percent to about 145 items since 2007 -- straining kitchen staff, gumming up service and spoiling customers for choice.
Its gotten to the point where the operation has kind of broken down and thats all a symptom of the complication of the menu, said Richard Adams, a San Diego-based restaurant franchisee consultant and former McDonalds store owner. They cant make the food fast enough.
In October, some McDonalds franchisees received an e-mail from a regional representative proposing core menu changes based on information from customer complaints.
Teams had been formed to address menu size and understand whats getting in the way of quality and service, according to the e-mail. Seven menu items were identified for potential removal. So far Fruit & Walnut salads, Chicken Selects and Angus burgers have been eliminated.
The worlds largest restaurant chain has also considered axing Caesar salads, the McSkillet Burrito, the Southern Style Biscuit and steak bagels, according to a franchisee e-mail obtained by Bloomberg News. While the Angus burger contains as many as 820 calories and costs $4, the culling isnt simply about offering healthier fare and cheaper items. Its an effort by McDonalds Corp. (MCD) to streamline a menu that has expanded by 70 percent to about 145 items since 2007 -- straining kitchen staff, gumming up service and spoiling customers for choice.
Its gotten to the point where the operation has kind of broken down and thats all a symptom of the complication of the menu, said Richard Adams, a San Diego-based restaurant franchisee consultant and former McDonalds store owner. They cant make the food fast enough.
In October, some McDonalds franchisees received an e-mail from a regional representative proposing core menu changes based on information from customer complaints.
Teams had been formed to address menu size and understand whats getting in the way of quality and service, according to the e-mail. Seven menu items were identified for potential removal. So far Fruit & Walnut salads, Chicken Selects and Angus burgers have been eliminated.
May 17, 2013 | 6:32 am
#472
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Baltimore, MD USA
Programs: Southwest Rapid Rewards. Tha... that's about it.
Posts: 4,430
When it's fresh, Royal Farms chicken is the best tasting fast food chicken I've had, and it is extremely popular in my part of the country (central Maryland). Most people I know prefer it to KFC or Popeyes.
Dang, I think I just decided what I'm going to have for lunch today...
Back to the original topic, though - I liked the Angus burgers, but they're just too doggone BIG. Replacing them with quarter-pounder versions, but with the same options, is a good move for McDonalds. Since they are reducing the number of different size burgers and buns they need, they will simplify supply ordering, prep time, amount of grill space needed, and overall cost.
Personally, I just wish McDonalds would go back to the make-in-advance model they used in the 1980s when I worked there. Having a stack of ready-made burgers waiting in the heat bin made service so much quicker than the current made-to-order model.
May 19, 2013 | 10:51 pm
#474
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: MEL
Programs: VAG
Posts: 1,861
Y'know what I really hate about Subway? The decision tree. What kind of bread do you want? What size? What kind of sandwich? What kind of cheese? Now, please tell us individually each vegetable you want on your sandwich...
Aaarg! I want a sandwich, not a conversation *about* sandwiches. There is such a thing as decision fatigue, and needing to make fifteen different decisions before I can actually get my sandwich means fifteen more important decisions I can't make after lunch. I might as well just make my own darn sandwich.
Also, the paradox of choice. The more choices you have, the less likely you are to be happy with whatever choice you make.
Aaarg! I want a sandwich, not a conversation *about* sandwiches. There is such a thing as decision fatigue, and needing to make fifteen different decisions before I can actually get my sandwich means fifteen more important decisions I can't make after lunch. I might as well just make my own darn sandwich.
Also, the paradox of choice. The more choices you have, the less likely you are to be happy with whatever choice you make.
May 20, 2013 | 2:03 am
#475
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,251
May 20, 2013 | 2:10 am
#476
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Perhaps you should be able to say, "I want a footlong Club #1125". 1125 would designate bread, and toppings needed. Probably too complicated for many of the Subway workers, though.
May 20, 2013 | 5:50 am
#477
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May 20, 2013 | 7:43 am
#478
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: DCA
Posts: 292
Y'know what I really hate about Subway? The decision tree. What kind of bread do you want? What size? What kind of sandwich? What kind of cheese? Now, please tell us individually each vegetable you want on your sandwich...
Aaarg! I want a sandwich, not a conversation *about* sandwiches. There is such a thing as decision fatigue, and needing to make fifteen different decisions before I can actually get my sandwich means fifteen more important decisions I can't make after lunch. I might as well just make my own darn sandwich.
Also, the paradox of choice. The more choices you have, the less likely you are to be happy with whatever choice you make.
Aaarg! I want a sandwich, not a conversation *about* sandwiches. There is such a thing as decision fatigue, and needing to make fifteen different decisions before I can actually get my sandwich means fifteen more important decisions I can't make after lunch. I might as well just make my own darn sandwich.
Also, the paradox of choice. The more choices you have, the less likely you are to be happy with whatever choice you make.
May 20, 2013 | 8:46 am
#480
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Join Date: Jul 2010
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Posts: 16,593
I finally gave up going to Subway. It was easier than trying to get them to stop putting cheese on my sandwich.
To add I've had similar problems at McDonalds who can't understand why I would want a quarter pounder without cheese. I make it simple for them - I just order a hamburger now and at least that doesn't confuse them.
Last edited by wrp96; May 20, 2013 at 8:57 am