I've been checking out the blog FastFoodCritic.com lately. It's a relatively new site that "provides news, reviews, prices, diet and nutritional information, food facts, plus original feature stories about fast food, the restaurants, and the quick serve industry." It's a handsomely designed site that turns a crazy obsessive lens on food that many of us often eat but don't often think about. The post on Sonic's tater tots hit a sweet spot for me, championing, as it does, the underdog tater product of the fast-food world. Welcome to the blogosphere, guys!
My sincere thanks to Adam for the welcome. It means a lot to me. I'm honored just to be mentioned on his site, and in the awesome S.E. community that has provided me so much inspiration.
Thank you too Raphael.
P.S. I will soon be buying a new camera for my food reviews, so please bare with me during these tough 1 megapixel times.
I was shocked to find that Sonic makes onion rings from scratch in their stores. I went inside one where you can go inside. There was a door open to a room where there was a guy making them.
The manager was at the cash register and I asked about them. She described the steps they go through getting them ready. It takes over two hours soaking and flouring them.
I like Sonic's onion rings. It's one of my favorite things they serve. The breading is good, the onions are good, and they're not too thick.
Just had some the other day. The Sonic by my house cooks them just the way I like them, well-done, dark brown... mmmm. I gave them 4 out of 5 stars. Hehe. :)
One thing -- I would like to see Sonic work on eliminating the Trans-Fat.
If Chick-Fil-A can make their awesomely-delicious chicken and waffle fries with no trans-fat... then I don't see why everybody else can't do the same thing. Well, actually, I can 'see' why... it's probably a cost issue, new equipment and cooking methods, etc.
But surely it's time for the whole industry to bite the bullet. Health experts have told us how bad the junk is. And the methods and technology exist to eliminate it. Let's do this!
Your new site is very well put together, FFC - and with the sort of focus you have I can see it becoming a favorite of those in the industry as well as those who eat.
Here's a story I'd like to see (having mused on it many a time): A comparison (by user poll? or by other research methods?) of the customer satisfaction levels between Burger King and McDonald's drive-throughs.
I've noticed a distinct difference (give or take a few stand-outs) in the two and not only in my geographic area. It would be fun to see if other people have the same opinion or not. :)
And beyond that, it would be interesting, if there is a trend in "better" to figure out why: whether it may lay in the difference in training programs - or perhaps in corporate philosophy - or in something else such as the details of the employees operational codes or action hints that they follow as they work. Could even be systems-oriented.
Ha, ha! Of course this is all in my mind and if there is no clear-cut winner or loser in the game of "best customer service at drive-through" it really would not matter at all.
I'm just so sure there is a difference between the two.
Karen, thank you very much for the kind words, and awesome idea! :)
I know exactly what you are talking about, and was just recently telling somebody that "Chick-Fil-A" continues to impress me in this area. They have great food -- but they also have GREAT service. And it's not just the things that happen -- but things that don't happen. Lots of the errors and issues I've experienced with other restaurants rarely or never never happen at CFA.
I'm not sure what their secret is, but even the lowest employee on the totem pole is usually well trained and polite.
By the way, I just got my new camera (finally) and I went back to Sonic tonight and have just uploaded NEW - BIGGER - BETTER pics to my tater-tots review.
Yes, Chick-Fil-A is proof that indeed it can be done.
I'll have to check out the tater tots photos. Maybe. Maybe I'll have to wait to look till late at night when I'm unlikely to want to run out and get some. :)
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I've been checking out the blog FastFoodCritic.com lately. It's a relatively new site that "provides news, reviews, prices, diet and nutritional information, food facts, plus original feature stories about fast food, the restaurants, and the quick serve industry." It's a handsomely designed site that turns a crazy obsessive lens on food that many of us often eat but don't often think about. The post on Sonic's tater tots hit a sweet spot for me, championing, as it does, the underdog tater product of the fast-food world. Welcome to the blogosphere, guys!
7 Comments:
Fast Food Critic looks good. Nice lookin' site!
Raphael at 2:29AM on 04/25/08
My sincere thanks to Adam for the welcome. It means a lot to me. I'm honored just to be mentioned on his site, and in the awesome S.E. community that has provided me so much inspiration.
Thank you too Raphael.
P.S. I will soon be buying a new camera for my food reviews, so please bare with me during these tough 1 megapixel times.
Thanks again. Long Live AHT and SE. :)
FastFoodCritic at 4:53AM on 04/25/08
Sonic Tater Tots are really good.
I was shocked to find that Sonic makes onion rings from scratch in their stores. I went inside one where you can go inside. There was a door open to a room where there was a guy making them.
The manager was at the cash register and I asked about them. She described the steps they go through getting them ready. It takes over two hours soaking and flouring them.
eatorama at 11:55AM on 04/25/08
I like Sonic's onion rings. It's one of my favorite things they serve. The breading is good, the onions are good, and they're not too thick.
Just had some the other day. The Sonic by my house cooks them just the way I like them, well-done, dark brown... mmmm. I gave them 4 out of 5 stars. Hehe. :)
One thing -- I would like to see Sonic work on eliminating the Trans-Fat.
If Chick-Fil-A can make their awesomely-delicious chicken and waffle fries with no trans-fat... then I don't see why everybody else can't do the same thing. Well, actually, I can 'see' why... it's probably a cost issue, new equipment and cooking methods, etc.
But surely it's time for the whole industry to bite the bullet. Health experts have told us how bad the junk is. And the methods and technology exist to eliminate it. Let's do this!
FastFoodCritic at 6:25AM on 04/26/08
Your new site is very well put together, FFC - and with the sort of focus you have I can see it becoming a favorite of those in the industry as well as those who eat.
Here's a story I'd like to see (having mused on it many a time): A comparison (by user poll? or by other research methods?) of the customer satisfaction levels between Burger King and McDonald's drive-throughs.
I've noticed a distinct difference (give or take a few stand-outs) in the two and not only in my geographic area. It would be fun to see if other people have the same opinion or not. :)
And beyond that, it would be interesting, if there is a trend in "better" to figure out why: whether it may lay in the difference in training programs - or perhaps in corporate philosophy - or in something else such as the details of the employees operational codes or action hints that they follow as they work. Could even be systems-oriented.
Ha, ha! Of course this is all in my mind and if there is no clear-cut winner or loser in the game of "best customer service at drive-through" it really would not matter at all.
I'm just so sure there is a difference between the two.
Anyway, best of luck with your venture. :)
Karen Resta at 11:14AM on 04/26/08
Karen, thank you very much for the kind words, and awesome idea! :)
I know exactly what you are talking about, and was just recently telling somebody that "Chick-Fil-A" continues to impress me in this area. They have great food -- but they also have GREAT service. And it's not just the things that happen -- but things that don't happen. Lots of the errors and issues I've experienced with other restaurants rarely or never never happen at CFA.
I'm not sure what their secret is, but even the lowest employee on the totem pole is usually well trained and polite.
By the way, I just got my new camera (finally) and I went back to Sonic tonight and have just uploaded NEW - BIGGER - BETTER pics to my tater-tots review.
FastFoodCritic at 12:05AM on 04/29/08
Yes, Chick-Fil-A is proof that indeed it can be done.
I'll have to check out the tater tots photos. Maybe. Maybe I'll have to wait to look till late at night when I'm unlikely to want to run out and get some. :)
Karen Resta at 10:45AM on 04/29/08