Shadowcran's Profile
Sonic onion rings.... is this nationwide or just my sadness in the Midwest?
yes, and they're surprisingly fast to be making good burgers.
Sonic onion rings.... is this nationwide or just my sadness in the Midwest?
Sonic has seemed to make the exact wrong choice for the past decade now in terms of what's good and what is not.
On the flip, here in Hattiesburg, MS we've got a burger place that should be a chain as it's great. Inch thick burgers and onion rings the way you remember. They use a Hawaiian bread type that made me go "yuck, sweet" but on a burger that thick they taste just right. Their seasoned fries are actually seasoned and all in all a great burger place.
Oh, it's name is Tophers.
Chain items that are addictive as crack
What place still calls a chili Cheese Burrito a Chilito? Taco Bell did this as the word sounded "mexican" enough, but means 'Little Penis" in spanish slang. After a lot of laughter, TB just started calling it the chili cheese burrito.
Let's see. Addictive at chains.
1- Big Mac. I hate lettuce and can't really stand Thousand Island Dressing. But on a Big Mac, I get the attack. TI dressing also goes well on the Reuban.
2- Pancakes at Ihop. Plain with butter and syrup.
3- Mushroom Swiss at Backyard Burgers
4- Southwestern Eggrolls at Chili's.
5-goes with post I'm responding to, I've yet to have a bad mexican pizza.
6- 7 layer burrito at Taco Bell.
7- Cheesecake bites at Sonic.
8- That "bit of honey" taste of chicken tenders at Chik-F_Let...don't think I spelled it right.
9-Shrimp Alfredo at Olive Garden
10- Popeye's Red beans & Rice(Popeyes rules in regards to sides)
Backyard Burgers: Tried it?
I wouldn't say I'm a burger snob as I'll eat lesser burgers. I do draw the line with some places though...Sonic and a local chain "Wards" for 2 that I won't eat at. Wards used to have really good chili burgers but they've gone the cheap route the past 10 years or so.
Backyard Burgers: Tried it?
That's a shame. I've a feeling a lot of "lesser" chains are going to be biting the big one due to recession. I hope I'm wrong.
Legals-shrinking portions or anomoly? [moved from Boston board]
Perhaps it's no trick. This is always the trend when a recession is in. Not only will you notice smaller portions but the next step is lower quality. Those shrimps somebody mentioned will start to resemble "half shrimp" as they'll cut them in two.
The sad thing is you can't really fault the place for doing this. They're just trying to "hang around" and ride it out. Otherwise a lot more places will be closing.
Backyard Burgers: Tried it?
First thing, Hamburgers are my favorite food. Second, chains are NOT, and I repeat not, the best burgers you can find(in all honesty, this is a food that's better at home unless it's your favorite as then you tend to undercook it due to impatience).
With that said, the best chain hamburgers I've ever found are Backyard Burgers. They even beat out "sit down" restaurants in quality and taste. The Mushroom Swiss is sublime, and I had never found any good ones before it. The meat is big amounts and juicy, not greasy.
Yet, every time I drive by or into one, I'm about the only person there. Why is this? Maybe, just maybe, it's due to their prices being a little higher than the norm, but the burgers are of the quality that makes them more than worth that little extra. You can't go wrong with any of their burgers as it's all high quality. Maybe it's their limited dessert menu, I don't know. I, for one, go get a burger for the burger, not the "hot apple pie" or whatever.
If you've never tried it, give it a shot. If the experience is bad, it's probably due to their worker's incompetence as is the norm with most chains.
Dickey's BBQ - plesant surprise or cynical disappointment?
There's one rule of thumb I follow with chain BBQ. If it's a chain, it's quality will suffer the bigger it gets. The first one or two times you go to one, the food will be at it's best and you'll wonder how they can sell so much for so little. After that, it's mediocre AT BEST.
I'm lucky, though. There's a ton of BBQ here in the south and all have something good. It's not a chain(yet..I encourage the guy to open more) but we have a place called Smokehouse(In Petal, MS, not Hattiesburg) that has the best Riblets, Jack Daniels Ribs, and has a pretty good pulled pork. Most chains only tend to have one item on the menu that's halfway decent.
My advice is to shop for out of the way, old building, and isolated BBQ for your dining.
New Sonic DriveIn just opened in Mission Viejo
Sonic is a staple in the south...unfortunately. It's burgers and dogs are the lowest quality of any chain. The chili dogs used to be good to me, but about a decade ago they went the cheaper route.
Yes, the drinks are great, the ice cream treats are good, and that's what you should stick to here. Try the cheesecake bites and make sure they provide the caramel dipping sauce. It's pretty good with cinnamon in there.
For that "old tyme" experience, try and get a Checkers or a Bumpers. Both have better quality and unique tastes. Bumpers does tend to overstock their menu with a bunch of crud, but there basic fare is ok.
"Someone f*ck1ng spit on my burger!" ... the Burger King Loaded Steakhouse Burger
Yuck! Glad I read this. I know not to try that one...although I'm on a BK ban the past few years.
Sounds like they've gone overboard with this particular specialty burger. Most tend to be a good choice, despite them always costing more.
Hardee's used to have a $6 Burger but that thing sucked rocks. It was actually about $4 in price but since I threw away more than half of it....and I don't like throwing away burgers. Hardee's even apologized in a commercial years later for how bad their burgers were and vowed to change them. They've done so, for the second best chain burgers I've had(1st being Backyard Burgers). They had a Spicy one years back that had a fried pepper that was huge on it. This big fried pepper was called a Texas Toothpick. Their Philly Cheesesteak burger was also very good.
Backyard Burgers seems like everyone of theirs is a specialty. I despise mayonnaise on a burger but they accidentally left it on with their Mushroom And Swiss I ordered. That burger still melted in my mouth. The "shrooms" were very tasty, the burger meat juicy and thick, and it was just a great all around burger. BYB seems to go cheap on their condiments on the burgers such as Ketchup and Mustard, but I think this is done on purpose in order to focus you on the meat. I'm serious, the meat is that good.
But it sounds like BK went the wrong route. No surprise from the franchise that has a freaky looking mascot who smiles like a serial killer.
White Castle
Both White Castle and Krystals are equally good, but equally different. We had a white castle's years ago, but they folded due probably to a bad location. That was a space of about 3 years when it was here. We have a Krystals and once had 2 but the second one closed also due to a bad location.
Krystal's have some other items on it's menu that's worth trying. I swear the Chili pups are the closest I've found to a ballpark chili dog outside of a ballpark. The Krystal Chik's are pretty good as well. Krystal's Chili(just the plain chili) is pretty good too.
Both White Castle and Krystal's are unique in the "burger world" and require mostly cravers, not regular eaters. Yes, it's often the only choice after the bars close.
Don't feel bad about liking some "low brow" places. I've been to "Epicurian delight" places and most times they're all talk and no substance. The food is usually served cold, the waiter/waitress is surly, the wine tastes like warm piss, and the portions wouldn't fill up a gerbil.
Does the "Burger King" creep anyone else out?
I boycotted BK myself. I gave it several tries before I made that decision and it was a no brainer. The food didn't get any better, and in fact, got a lot worse. BK is consistently the worst at getting an order right. I prefer Ketchup, mustard and onions(except on Big Macs which I take as is, only thing I'll eat lettuce on) but BK can't grasp this concept. Anyone else can.
I sometimes like cheese, or I used to, but lately the cheese is over salted for some reason and the whole burger becomes that way. Pickles have gotten down in value too. I used to love an occasional pickle on a burger but no more.
I honestly don't think BK can take a massive ban, even if it results in going back to the way it was when the whopper was a delight, not a travesty.
Haven't been to a McDonald's in awhile and I won't ever again.
The problem seems to me the time in which you ordered the Big Mac. From 1 to about 4:30, the meat has been sitting in the heating thing for longer due to drop in customers. You have to have meat ready to make into a burger at a moment's notice, but during those times, it's pot luck.
Try any fast food at that time of day. 4 out of 5 times it's going to be horrendous, especially in the summer and holidays when the kids are out and working there. The chicken you order will be harder than usual, the meat will be sitting too long, and the fries sitting out too long.
Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers -- Huh?
There's a Raising Cane's in Hattiesburg, MS. The chicken is always freshly cooked and the sauce is the best there is.
Believe it or not, there are 3 chicken finger restaurants here specializing in it. One is a Zaxby's, another is Willy T's. .....heck I think there's another one who's name I can't recall. The funny thing about Raising Cane's is that about 10 years ago, the place was a chicken finger restaurant of a different name. It's sauce was also the same.....odd, I know. It became a hot dog specialty place and that lasted about 3 or 4 years until it became a Raising Cane's.
EDIT: after reading more of the posts, I recalled the 4th chicken finger place in the city, Gutherie's.
I saw a note about including catfish, okra and other southern faire, but here in the south, places serving those are a dime a dozen. Why is catfish termed seafood? Yeah, I know there's a catfish in the oceans but that one isn't very edible. On the same note, I can truly understand how a niche can be filled in that area. Southern food can be hard to find the further north you go and there's some delicacies you would like. Perhaps a store specializing only in fried? If you ever get the chance, try a fried oreo. There's also, of course, fried chicken, and fried dill pickles, shrimp, tomatoes, sweet potatoes etc. The problem is that all these places in the south never even bother getting a second restaurant, much less a franchise.
A good example of a southern type deli would be McCallisters. This chain has been moving around some and may cross that mason/dixon line someday. However, it's another sandwich specialty shop.
Raising Cane's has all kind of pop memorabilia on the walls, which is quite common. Yes, they have an option to order 100 chicken tenders for parties or whatever. Until I read this post, I thought the place was local only.
Does the "Burger King" creep anyone else out?
You would think that the advertising executives would have realized how people are reacting to this and done something to make him less creepy. But if you think about the other ads, like the one with the "Burger Family" and Whopper Jr., you see they're going for that criminal market or something. I don't know if you can call a guy in a burger suit standing outside of Wendy's making fun of their baked potato (What is this, Russia?) as having attitude, more like nerve. All it made me do was think, "Hey! Wendy's has a baked potato? I didn't know. Must go there and try one.
I think the baked potato has it's origins in the US, but I'm not sure. Looking in Wikipedia, it says it's fast becoming popular in Russia. lol. Perhaps due to that commercial?
Fast food fries have stunk for years. Not good at all. I've tasted other 'side dish" alternatives and most are a lot better than fries. Waffle Fries, Loaded potato bites, etc. are all pretty good. Those loaded potato bites are the best thing at Arby's.
Does the "Burger King" creep anyone else out?
We don't have a Jack in the Box here in Hattiesburg Mississippi, but I do see the commercials. He doesn't look creepy at all, just like you said. If anything, he looks like a good corporate mascot.
I can't say the Burger King is a pedophile, but he sure looks the part of 1) a pedophile 2) serial killer 3) pervert hiding in bushes 4)homicidal maniac. I don't know why the BK executives think this image will sell burgers. Yeah, the new Kingons are just as creepy. Guess BK is going for the "serial killer" dollar.
Yeah, I recall the have it your way. I also remember them having a geek named Herb promoting BK vaguely. He went away when BK started selling Pitas and a common joke about Herb eating a Pita went around.
I agree the fries stink there, but they do everywhere now. No flavor. THey've gotten them to the point there's mostly just skin with little potato. BK's chicken sandwich tastes like cardboard and their breakfast is the last thing people consider. Hardee's dominates the fast food breakfast anyway. I've worked there and when they say the biscuits are from scratch, they're telling the truth. One person's job there in the mornings is to just constantly make biscuits over and over. This is usually an older person as anyone from the south will tell you, biscuits take practice to get good at making them.
Hardee's has also gotten some tasty burgers as well. They used to be a joke. I remember it's the only place I've ever thrown away a burger without finishing. They apologized for having such lousy burgers about 6 years ago and have worked hard making good ones.
McDonald's charging for Big Mac sauce now?
That may be the "special sauce" at one place, but the Mac Sauce is Thousand Island dressing. I may be wrong, but I think the Big Mac was inspired partly by the Reuban sandwich. That sandwich is filled with stuff I wouldn't eat by itself, corned beef, sauerkraut, TI dressing, but put them together and the Reuban is an excellent sandwich. The Big Mac I don't see as a burger at all. It's a hamburger sandwich. The difference is I do indeed have Big Mac attacks, but I never have Quarter Pounder attacks. I hate lettuce, but love it on a big mac.
$1 for ketchup? Is tomatoes rare in Hungary? That would explain the price. That's an interesting little dilemma.
McDonald's charging for Big Mac sauce now?
I don't know if it's national or just your local franchisee, but I don't see how only one Mcd's would do that. It's a matter of the register and that most don't know how to figure things out on their own. I'm serious, they don't really teach math in school, just how to operate a calculator to get answers.
Charging for the sauce. ......What are they thinking? It's a condiment for pete's sake. Once they start charging for that and get away with it, you'll see salt, pepper, mustard, etc. also following suit.
I need to go as I'm now getting a Big Mac attack. I'm disabled and can't drive so I can't just go get one...or two.
Does the "Burger King" creep anyone else out?
That's ok. I used to love whoppers and even preferred them over the quarter pounder at McD's. Once they changed their bread, like I mentioned, It's not even an option anymore.
Yes, I do recall the broiler and how the meat was made tasty that way. Yes, it's not just burger places that have sacrificed quality in the name of speed. Perhaps we need to slow down just a tad and enjoy things more.
Does the "Burger King" creep anyone else out?
Yes, the square butt commercial has gathered a lot of criticism. The whole idea of the Burger King was aimed at children. However, his creepiness makes him one of the LAST I'd put near a kid.
Does anyone remember that years ago, they had another Burger King, complete with court? It had a talking fry machine I remember and some other characters. He'd twist his magic ring and take you to Burger King for a meal. He wasn't creepy and his smile wasn't menacing.
Rochfood, when I go to get a burger, I'm not looking for nutrition. People have got us scared to drink milk or eat eggs or anything. I think they've pretty much said that everything can give you cancer. If they want to have a nutritious option, fine with me but don't change everything to suit that target consumer.
I truly don't see how the local Burger Kings stay in business. All of them are desolate no matter what time of day. And even though they don't have many customers, they manage to mess up over half of the orders. Already 2 have closed and I foresee the other 2 following soon.
We don't have a Red Robin...or White Castle(We've Krystal's Instead) ..or Jack in the box. Mississippi is always the last to get most chains.
Kentucky Grilled Chicken
I'm sorry but Popeye's still betters them. I don't know how it is in other regions, but here in the south, grilled chicken is superb. This KFC offering is ok, but it tastes like our grilled chicken after we've warmed it up after it's spent 2 days in the fridge.
Popeye's is the better one mostly due to it's side dishes. If you don't have a Popeye's in your area, demand one.
Does the "Burger King" creep anyone else out?
We've all seen these commercials. I keep recalling one, where a lumberjack is alone in the woods, and he's cutting down a tree. The tree falls and behind it is a grinning Burger King with a hamburger on a plate. The smile looks like a "serial killer" smile. There's others where a person wakes up and ...there he is at your bed. I think I'd soil myself if that happened, not accept his dubious food offering.
It's been 11 years since I've had a good burger King burger. Then, in order to go for the low carb market, they changed their bread. Since then, every one of their burgers taste only of the bread with a slight burger flavoring. This is everywhere I've dared try one. burgers are my favorite food, but I've turned down free Burger King.
Then there's the BK attitude. They've an actor, with no self respect left, to wear a burger and pretend to be a real person. He stands outside other fast food chains and taunts them. Do they not realize that the workers there are the same types of teens working at BK? Do they realize these teens don't really care? I think I'd go out and fight him though if I worked at one of these. How is he going to hit me? He's wearing a burger for pete's sake.
I think they need to get rid of the Burger King by..I don't know..send him to the nearest asylum , and their attitude should be to change their food so that it doesn't cause gagging. I fondly recall when getting a whopper was a treat, now it's a travesty.
Food Franchises That Don't Suck
I've noticed that every chain has gotten worse and worse the past five years. The local Applebee's is a joke. Last 3 times stunk and that's all I give a place before never going there again. Last time the sirloin had a bad smell, and the potatoes were way overdone. All the other chains have gotten to be a hit or miss, mostly miss.
Burger joints. Here, in Hattiesburg, MS, we have a backyard burgers. I don't know if they're chained everywhere. Anyway, they deliver a great burger, juicy and tasty. Their waffle fries have suffered of late, but the burgers, if possible, get better and better. If you see one of these, order the Mushroom Swiss. You won't be sorry. A Local chain is "Ward's". This used to be a great chili burger or dog restaurant with their special root beer to wash them down. However, each chained outlet now is in charge of where they get their ingredients, and guess what? They went for the cheapest ones. Now it's worse than eating at a school cafeteria. The rest of the chains? Taste the same no matter where you are.
Red Lobsters are too expensive for too little food and it lately tastes like a frozen dinner they simply thawed out and rearranged. O'Charlie's is terrible with their portions and it all tastes bland. I doubt they've heard of even salt and pepper. Heck, all the national "Sit down" restaurants have gotten worse and worse.
Sandwiches. They all still taste the same. We've a McCallister's Deli in the south. I don't know if it's spread north yet. Anways, they're still pretty good despite changing their "BEST seller". This was the Delta Delight. It was a roast beef sandwich, with a tasty BBQ sauce, and Polish kielbasa. They took off the kielbasa and replaced with cheap jalopeno's.
Anyways I'll go before this becomes a novel.
Does anybody remember when Pizza Hut used to be good?
PH did indeed used to be good, and if the right staff was in the back making them, it could sometimes be great. However, over the years, in an effort to increase speed they've lowered the quality to the point you're better off with frozen.
I couldn't put my finger on what all they messed up but eventually figured it all out. First, they 'went natural' with their vegetables for the pie. This sounds good but it's still out of a can like it used to, only in larger hunks. The smaller vegetables you could spread out on the entire pie. These big ones dominate a slice to where if the onion slice is on it, the whole piece tastes like that onion. That's the first thing.
The second thing is they changed the amount of sauce they put on a pie. one scoop of tomato sauce and it doesn't even cover half the pie. Ordering "extra sauce" is therefore a must at PH, although people don't know that option exists. Extra sauce is even free.
The third thing is they lowered the amount of every topping that goes on each pizza. There is a chart showing how many ounces of each topping goes on what pizza. However, they've lowered these amounts. They've also lowered the amount of cheese that goes on so ordering extra cheese for 99 cents is a must as well.
PH is not alone in this. Pizza Inn, Mazzio's, Domino's...all the chains have lowered their amounts the same way. Papa John's seems to be slowly doing the same. About the only good thing you can say is "It would cost too much to make my own".
I used to work at a Pizza Hut in the late 80's. Back then, you could still get a Priazzo. I wish those were still around.
