Mcdonald's Nostalgia

[Octavious]

So, I've just had a Big Tasty at a Mcdonalds in Cairo that differed from the British version by being both big and tasty. The chips had been salted by someone not possessing a crippling phobia of high blood pressure, and the milkshake came with a plastic straw that made it actually possible to drink the damned thing.

The inner child jumped for joy and insisted that once upon a time all Mcdonalds used to be like that. I confess the rest of me had stopped believing it a long time ago.

Is there anywhere else in the world that Mcdonalds are still worth visiting? The only place with a Mcdonalds more miserable than the British version that I've encountered was New York (it was getting late, we were extremely hungry, and the city that never sleeps had mostly closed for the night), but until tonight I assumed that the decline was mirrored everywhere.

[flash2015]

What was wrong with the NY McDonalds? Where was it? I was always partial to the McDonalds near Astor Place where they had a guard just to ensure no undesirables (non-paying customers) try and use the bathroom .

[Octavious]

It was vaguely near that big building with the monkey. I've never seen more disinterested staff in my life. The food was bland and limp. The only thing that showed any interest in the customers and what was being eaten were the rats on the sidewalk outside.

[Octavious]

To clarify, the big building with the monkey is the one that was famously hit by an aeroplane... but not that one.

[flash2015]

Is this a King Kong reference? Are you meaning the Empire state building?

[Octavious]

Yeah, that's the one. It was a Mcdonalds near there

[Jamiet99uk]

Yeah, that's the one. It was a Mcdonalds near there

The McDonalds physically nearest to the Empire State Building is at 972 6th Avenue. There is also a McDonalds within the ground floor of Macy's at 151 West 34th Street, which is only about 50 yards further away. I assume it was one of those.

They both have ratings between 3.0 and 3.6 on Google Local Guides, which doesn't suggest great things.

[bo_sox48]

You seem to be making an assumption that McDonald’s used to be worth visiting, and I do not know where you are getting this information. Source please?

[Octavious]

The inner child remembers when Big Macs were genuinely nice, and Quarter Pounders were worth eating. In the last decade or so of adult life I'd assumed that this was just the wild imaginings and lack of experience of the younger Oct, but after eating the Egyptian McDonald's and, dare I say it, enjoying the food... I'm inclined to think that maybe it really did used to taste how I remember.

The younger Oct was not entirely undiscerning. Wimpy Burgers and anything from a Little Chef roadside cafe were not eaten without firm resistance.

[flash2015]

I thought the only reason to go to McDonald's was for the breakfast, no?

[dargorygel]

I love eating at McDonald's. Haters gonna hate, though.

[flash2015]

Of course, being Australian I should call it by its correct name - Macca's

[bo_sox48]

Don’t try and take McDonald’s away from my fat American brethren; it’s ours.

[flash2015]

Didn't someone famous say "You'll have to take the greasy burgers and soggy fries from my cold diabetes damaged hands!!"?

[MerryBBuck]

But did the Egyptian McDonald's have Orange Drink and Mayor McCheese?

[Octavious]

But did the Egyptian McDonald's have Orange Drink and Mayor McCheese?

Have what?

[Jamiet99uk]

But did the Egyptian McDonald's have Orange Drink and Mayor McCheese?

Have what?

In most markets up until 2017, McDonalds had its own orangeade drink rather than stocking branded Fanta, etc. This actually had a name (I forget exactly what it was) but most people referred to it as "orange drink".

Mayor McCheese was a fictional character created alongside Ronald McDonald as a promotional figure. He had an enourmous cheeseburger instead of a head. He's no longer used in their marketing.

[bo_sox48]

American marketing really needs to step it up. Nobody likes a creepy clown.

[Octavious]

Lord, no. Come to think of it, do any kids like Happy Meals? Hey, kid, you're getting the cheapest burger and a small drink and a piece of shite plastic... but it's Happy because it's in a colourful box! And if you're really lucky your chips will be replaced with carrot sticks because your parents hate you!

[ubercacher16]

They used to have dino-nuggies.