McDonald's

[Jenise]

I have no use for McDonalds except in the morning when I'm starting off on a roadtrip, and a sausage muffin (no egg!) and a cup of coffee (theirs is actually better than most) will tide me over until lunch.

Like the day before yesterday. Leaving Portland, gonna be in Seattle in about three hours, want to lunch at Salumi (Mario Batali's dad's place), the coffee I had two hours before was wearing off, and one of those little muffin sandwiches would keep hunger at bay. So when I saw the golden arches in the distance I turned to Anne, my traveling companion, and said, "Shall we?" Sure.

Used the drive-thru.

"Welcome to McDonald's. What can we serve you?"
"One sausage muffin, no egg, and one...."
"Sausage is over," the voice interrupted.
I thought I misheard. "But it's only 10:30. You serve breakfast until 11:00," I said.
"I know, BREAKFAST isn't over, but sausage IS."
"It's on the menu."
"I know, but we're OUT of sausage. You have to order something else."

Well, no I don't and I didn't. We crept through the line and out the other side. They didn't even offer us a cup of coffee for our trouble. Never again.

The proper response is, "Have you seen Falling Down?"

[Jenise]

That was exactly what I said to Anne and you're right, should have said it to the twit on the intercom!

Several years ago we were cruising down I-81 in the coal belt of Eastern PA. It was a very hot day and the M-Ds we pulled into had a broken A/C. When I got to the front of the line with sweat pouring down, I asked for two quarter pounders, two sodas, and two medium sized bags of fries. The clerk stated that they only had super size, extra large, and large size bags of fries. I stated as cooly as I could that I would have two of the middle size. He stated that they only had super size,........................! I couldn't hear the rest, as the car was heading back to I-81 with no food.

[Robin Garr]

I couldn't hear the rest, as the car was heading back to I-81 with no food.

Why not order one super size? You probably would have had about the same amount of fries for a few less shekels than two "mediums"? It might have felt good to blow them off, but ultimately you went away hungry.

But ultimately, he was better off.

Jeez, you guys are cranky and bitchy today.

@!#$ you, Harden, I'm not cranky!

@!#$ you, Harden, I'm not cranky!

Oh yes you are!


... albeit with good reason in reference to that particular company.

Leave McDonald's alone and go to a Subway for a really good sandwich, or bring one from home.....better yet! Come to think of it, given the news today about the melamine found in pigs that may have got to market, I think it would be a very good idea. This pet food recall is going to get big.......even possibly into the human food chain. Any thoughts?

Really, Karen? You consider Subway a good sangwidge?

I think of them as bland and stingy, with very little flavor from their translucent slices of meat. True, they are not doused in flour and grease to give them flavor....but that doesn't mean I like no flavor at all in my food. Their success is based on advertising themselves as a weight loss alternative food source to greasy burgers and fries and chicken. I've never thought they were any good in the taste category, though.

[James Roscoe]

I'm with Hoke all the way on this one. You all seem a little out of sorts and Subway sucks.

I think McDonald's sucks and should be called McPaste.

Anyone who calls me out of sorts can go %^$# themselves and their equine means of arrival.

Next time, try Burger King's Croissandwich! It's superior to the McMuffin, in my humble opinion.

Last time I was back in the Bronx, all the Subway stores were running a promo for a free pastrami sandwich. That's right, all one had to do was walk in the door and get a free pastrami sandwich.

My brother was all hepped up for his free sandwich - I took a pass.

When he went in, they told him they were sold out. Not one to take no for an answer, he asked the sandwichmeister to make something else - a ham sandwich perhaps.
SM: " Sorry sir, I can't do that."
Bro: " Well, why not?"
SM: " The boss isn't here. I could get into trouble."
Bro: "What better time than when the boss isn't here? Who will know. Just give me a free ham sandwich."
By now the line started stacking up behind my brother. The sm gave in and made him his free sandwich.
It stunk.

Reminded me why I moved.

McDonald's have nicer toilets than the service stations. That influences my travel itinerary...

Really, Karen? You consider Subway a good sangwidge?

I think of them as bland and stingy, with very little flavor from their translucent slices of meat. True, they are not doused in flour and grease to give them flavor....but that doesn't mean I like no flavor at all in my food. Their success is based on advertising themselves as a weight loss alternative food source to greasy burgers and fries and chicken. I've never thought they were any good in the taste category, though.

I've been to Subway twice and have had really good sandwiches. I don't order off the board, but tell them exactly what I want. Whole wheat, turkey, lettuce, no mayo, peppers, I forget what else. But they tasted fresh, bread was fresh.......yes, I had a good experience. I have only tried our local Subway, none out of town.

Really, Karen? You consider Subway a good sangwidge?

I think of them as bland and stingy, with very little flavor from their translucent slices of meat. True, they are not doused in flour and grease to give them flavor....but that doesn't mean I like no flavor at all in my food. Their success is based on advertising themselves as a weight loss alternative food source to greasy burgers and fries and chicken. I've never thought they were any good in the taste category, though.

I've been to Subway twice and have had really good sandwiches. I don't order off the board, but tell them exactly what I want. Whole wheat, turkey, lettuce, no mayo, peppers, I forget what else. But they tasted fresh, bread was fresh.......yes, I had a good experience. I have only tried our local Subway, none out of town.

"I know, but we're OUT of sausage. You have to order something else."

What am I missing here? They ran out of a product, all restuarants run out sometimes, or is what upset you is that they didn't apologise?

"I know, but we're OUT of sausage. You have to order something else."

What am I missing here? They ran out of a product, all restuarants run out sometimes, or is what upset you is that they didn't apologise?

Peter
Personally I'd have been a bit put out by the wording "Sausage is over". What sort of code is that? What do they mean by "over"? Is it that (as implied) they stopped serving it after a certain time. Why not say "I'm sorry we've just run out of sausage, can I get you something else?". It strikes me as rude, but perhaps no more than I'd expect from a drive-through McDonalds.
regards
Ian

That's a usage I've heard often before from non-American speakers of English, and it might be a regionalism somewhere else. For example when tasting a clearly dead wine a couple days ago, a French buddy of mine said, "Oh, too bad, zees wine is over."

But hey, it's Mickey Dees. You expect to be waited on by that squeaky-voiced kid from The Simpsons.

Personally I'd have been a bit put out by the wording "Sausage is over". What sort of code is that? What do they mean by "over"? Is it that (as implied) they stopped serving it after a certain time. Why not say "I'm sorry we've just run out of sausage, can I get you something else?". It strikes me as rude, but perhaps no more than I'd expect from a drive-through McDonalds.
regards
Ian

Well, Ian. Its a different country, different language. I wouldn't expect RP.

A travel writer in the SF Chron today announced that he thought there should be a consitutionally protected right for Americans to use the bathrooms at McDonalds, free of charge and no purchase required, anywhere in the world.

I think the measure would pass (especially when my wife is walking down the Champs Elysees during our usual Paris Death Walk).