Mcdonald's Nostalgia

[DougJoe]

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.

The last Big Mac I had here in the States was a few years ago (before Covid?) and I remember it being a disappointment - haven't really been that into having one since. Had 'em and loved them all the time when I was younger, especially as a high schooler in the early 90's. So I somewhat concur with your child/adult experience... but I've never been to Egypt, so I can't make a good comparison.

[Calmar]

The short-lived “El Maco” was the only thing they have ever served that was worth eating.

[kestasjk]

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

Yeah have to admit a class angus burger .. or like flash says a hotcakes and sausage mcmuffin .. Definitely no complaints. Probably once every week or two I'll need something very quick or want to prepare for a big day and stop in.

I'm the opposite to the OP; I remember when you used to get these stale burgers that sat there for ages, having to ask for a small modification so you didn't get something old, the fairly mediocre big macs and not-terrible not-good quarter pounders.. These days I feel they're not bad at all, definitely compared to Hungry Jacks / Burger King, and definitely for what you pay.

(I've heard Australia is where they try their ideas before the US though.. it may be different elsewhere?)

[Crazy Anglican]

Have to say, I've done more damage to my arteries at Wendy's than McDonald's in the past decade or so. Still go for a Sausage McGriddle about thrice a month when I'm running late, but not too late.

[Jamiet99uk]

I have heard great things about Wendy's.

Sadly there are only a very small number of Wendy's in the UK, and all in the South East of England. However they are apparently expanding as those first UK locations only opened within the past year.

[Octavious]

Went to a Wendy's in Caracas once, I think because the people I was staying with wanted to give me a taste of home after my throat had started rebelling against arepas and every other local food made of corn. They were a little disappointed that I'd never heard of it, and I couldn't bring myself to tell them how utterly shite it was.

USA Wendy's may well be better...

[Trigfea63]

Wendy's in the USA ain't what it used to be. They did just bring back the Pretzel Bacon Pub Cheeseburger though ...

https://www.wendys.com/blog/pretzel-bun ... eeseburger

[mrsuitcase]

In Canada,

The fries are oversalted (and I like salt)
The patties are 33% smaller than they should be
The person who assembles the sandwiches takes Drunken Boxing as a side gig.
And the straws... Oh, the horror. Those straws made of paper, so that they biodegrade. I wouldn't mind it, but why do they have to start biodegrading in my pop, or shake? By the time I'm done, they are a soggy mess.

[Octavious]

The worst thing about the paper straws is how it's nothing more than virtue signalling. If they genuinely cared it would be a universal policy rather than one that only exists in certain western nations. But, like with Pepsi sponsoring bull fighting, corporate hypocrisy has always existed

[MajorMitchell]

Good God above!!! Nostalgia for McCrappas?
Thete are plenty of independent small businesses providing much better hamburgers than McCrappas!

The REAL DEBATE should be what ingredients are required in a "Hamburger with the Lot"
For me, they include:
Basics, Bread Roll, Beef Patty, fried Onion, fried Bacon, fried Egg, lettuce, tomato, tomato sauce
Additional essential ingredients, Beetroot, Pineapple, Mayonaise

[MajorMitchell]

Given that I like a big pot of tea with my Burger, these straws are unnecessary for drinking hot tea.
Straws are an affectation imho
Most children graduate from.those drinking cups with lid and spout

[Crazy Anglican]

Lettuce, Tomatoes, Pickles, (not a fan of raw onions), catsup, mustard

***optional add ins: cheese, mayonaise, bacon, cooked mushrooms


Yep, I'm a yank.

[Crazy Anglican]

Given that every hamburger joint has a drive through attached, I do not see the straw as superfluous.

[Fluminator]

There's a little McDonalds in everyone

[Octavious]

It does take an absurdly long time to digest, yes

[Crazy Anglican]

Yeah, it's lining the arteries of most.

[DougJoe]

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!

As a very young kid in the early 80's, I can't say that I craved the Happy Meal, but I never said no to one either. I was pretty hooked on that orange drink - when I was very young I would typically chug that stuff and then not each much of the burger or chips/fries (much to Mom's consternation). I remember the toy being kind of an afterthought and not necessarily a draw, so to speak.

I happened to have a weird situation happen this weekend where I had to have McD's for lunch and had a Big Mac (the first one in literal years). It was... adequate? It wasn't *bad* but I also wouldn't call it great, either. Didn't feel the immediate urge to have another one.