Fastest Fast Food

[vdeane]

I think Panera does, but Five Guys definitely doesn't.

I've seen both with Panera, but having the food brought to the table has been much more common in my travels.

[cpzilliacus]

Applebee's is not fast food.  Period.

Applebee's does not serve edible food in any matter.  Period.

I am not a major fan of Applebee's, but on the other hand, I have not experienced a bad meal there either. 

Maybe not great, but not bad (and I have patronized them from coast-to-coast at times).

[Flint1979]

I don't get what is so bad about Applebee's. Anytime I've been to one they've seemed to be alright and they are usually busy. I wouldn't want to work at one though.

[MNHighwayMan]

Applebee's is great if you want to eat microwaved food in a sit-down restaurant atmosphere.

[signalman]

^Similar to Olive Garden.  While there's no question that it's sit down, as opposed to fast food or even fast-casual; the concept of shitty microwaved food played off and presented to be an authentic home cooked meal is the same.  I avoid both it and Applebee's unless absolutely necessary.

[Rothman]

Glad someone brought up Olive Garden.  Knew a "cook" there that confirmed that all they did was warm up frozen meals shipped to them.

And yet, it remains one of the most popular restaurants here in upstate NY. *sigh*

[signalman]

Glad someone brought up Olive Garden.  Knew a "cook" there that confirmed that all they did was warm up frozen meals shipped to them.

And yet, it remains one of the most popular restaurants here in upstate NY. *sigh*

That is the absolute truth.  I know several former employees of Olive Garden; notice how all the ones that I know are former employees.  Its popularity in northern NJ makes me scratch my head too.  It's not like we're short on real Italian places around these parts.  That's the same way that I feel about Dominos or Pizza Hut here in northern NJ, but I'm straying OT.

[webny99]

I've never had Olive Garden, and I don't really have a desire to, either. Second comments that Applebees is overrated. Sit-down and high-quality were once synonyms, but they seem to be straying apart these days.



Back on topic...
KFC is often slow. They don't strike me as true "fast food"... more in the "fast casual" camp. It's one of those places where the drive-thru is mostly for lazy customers, since there will always be somewhat of a wait.

Arby's seems to be struggling to find their niche, and don't seem to be marketing successfully. Never busy, yet the wait time is still atrocious - never a good sign for "fast food". I actually like a lot of their menu items (curly fries, vanilka shakes, etc.) but they aren't really a top player in the fast food industry, and I wouldn't be surprised if they're on the skids in the long-term.

Dunkin Donuts is pretty good, but when you consider how small most orders are (coffee, coolatta, donuts) then they could definitely expedite things even more. Tim Hortons surprisingly has them beat for fast-moving lines, but then again Tim's doesn't get the volume that Dunkin does.

I, for one, try to prevent the cashier from having to make change (either pay by card or with exact change). I often wonder how fast lines would move if everyone paid exact change. Some mornings at Dunkin I exchange my $3.01 for my iced coffee without even coming to a complete stop.

[ce929wax]

I paid $85 (including tip) for a frozen meal at Olive Garden for me and my family?  Wow.  I don't think I will be going back there.

[MNHighwayMan]

Arby's seems to be struggling to find their niche, and don't seem to be marketing successfully. Never busy, yet the wait time is still atrocious - never a good sign for "fast food". I actually like a lot of their menu items (curly fries, vanilka shakes, etc.) but they aren't really a top player in the fast food industry, and I wouldn't be surprised if they're on the skids in the long-term.

Last couple times I've been to an Arby's it was packed (both inside and the drive-thru) and while of course that meant there was a bit of a wait for my order, it wasn't an unreasonable wait given the volume they were pushing.

Like all nationwide chain restaurants, the quality of service is going to be dictated by the franchisee and the competence of the management staff of each restaurant.

[Scott5114]

I, for one, try to prevent the cashier from having to make change (either pay by card or with exact change). I often wonder how fast lines would move if everyone paid exact change.

As a professional cashier, I can have 94¢ (the worst amount to have to hand out, as it involves all four denominations of coins) out of my drawer faster than most of our customers can find a single quarter. So "slower, probably" would be my answer. Granted, casino cashiers operate on a whole other level than fast-food cashiers, but even when I was a fast-food cashier I often wished people would pay with a round dollar amount so I could give them change and get to the next person, rather than watch them ineffectively pick through a handful of mixed change trying to be "helpful".

Keep in mind that most customers seem to have a vested interest in staring vapidly at the menu board for an unreasonable amount of time and not even bothering to get their money or credit card out until after they've arrived at the window and been told the total due the second time, as well.

[Jardine]

I like Five Guys, although I would prefer that their fries be less soggy/floppy and more crunchy/crisp. (I once heard a rant about the word "crispy" and why it should not exist, because "crisp" means the same thing with one less letter.) It is expensive, which is why the novelty has worn off a bit for me since the first time I dined there.

I've discovered that a number of places have burgers just as good as Five Guys, and usually less expensive (Culver's and Cook Out.)

I have yet to experience In N Out. I'm not impressed whatsoever with Smashburger or Whataburger.

Appreciate the comment about 5 Guys fries, I found them so soft and greasy as to be inedible.  Wondered if I am just too picky, or if there is an issue with their fries.

[adventurernumber1]

I've personally never found such problems with the fries from Five Guys. And actually, the fries from there are among my favorites from restaurants. They might taste, look, or feel unusual, because IIRC, they are fried in peanut oil (like the chicken is from Chick-Fil-A). I love it, and a lot of times, the fries are actually quite crunchy and full of flavor. I may be in the minority, though, it seems. 

[hbelkins]

Appreciate the comment about 5 Guys fries, I found them so soft and greasy as to be inedible.  Wondered if I am just too picky, or if there is an issue with their fries.

I think it's just the way they fix them. I read on one of those "secret menu" sites that you can ask for the fries to be well-done, which means they'll cook a bit longer.

[Jim]

I guess it varies based on location and personal preference, but I would take Five Guys fries over almost any.  Possibly the best order of fries I've had anywhere came from the Five Guys off Northway exit 15 in Wilton.

[webny99]

Last couple times I've been to an Arby's it was packed (both inside and the drive-thru) and while of course that meant there was a bit of a wait for my order, it wasn't an unreasonable wait given the volume they were pushing.

I just haven't been to a busy Arby's in a really long time. I'm not denying that they can be busy, but they sure don't seem to be around here. Not even comparable to the customer volume of, say McDonald's or even Wendy's.

As a professional cashier, I can have 94¢ (the worst amount to have to hand out, as it involves all four denominations of coins) out of my drawer faster than most of our customers can find a single quarter. So "slower, probably" would be my answer. Granted, casino cashiers operate on a whole other level than fast-food cashiers, but even when I was a fast-food cashier I often wished people would pay with a round dollar amount so I could give them change and get to the next person, rather than watch them ineffectively pick through a handful of mixed change trying to be "helpful".

Keep in mind that most customers seem to have a vested interest in staring vapidly at the menu board for an unreasonable amount of time and not even bothering to get their money or credit card out until after they've arrived at the window and been told the total due the second time, as well.

Cashiers (not you, of course  ) aren't always particularly on the ball either, though it's certainly helpful when they are. I always decide where I'm eating out strictly based on what I want to eat, so there's not really a lot of decision-making for me at the menu board. I also (1) pay attention to the total they give me when they take my order, and (2) keep change readily available, so as long as there's at least one car in front of me, I have time to collect it and get it ready before I even reach the window. If there's not, and I roll up and have to pick through change, it's a fairly rare case at a non-busy time period when seconds don't matter as much.

I sympathize with cashiers, in that they can do their best to expedite the line, but certain customers just aren't good at making decisions, finding change, etc., very quickly 

[Rothman]

I frequent Arby's more often than I should and my wife likes stopping there on road trips.  I can't remember having been at one that I'd call packed (maybe a couple of people ahead of us, but that's it).  In fact, more often than not, we are the only one in line.

Had a Five Guys burger just yesterday.  It was great.

Also, Shake Shack = In-N-Out in my book.

[hbelkins]

I'm an Arby's fan, dating back to when there was one on the surface-route portion of New Circle Road on the northeast side of Lexington that had the old style cowboy hat sign that can still be found in a few locations. We often ate there, or at a place called Lott's Roast Beef on North Broadway/Paris Pike (US 27/68) near the interstate. I'm not really fond of the curly (seasoned) fries, but I like the roast beef. Their chicken/bacon/swiss sandwiches are good as well.

Shake Shack opened in Lexington, but it's in a busy area off Nicholasville Road that I avoid at all costs because of the traffic and the crowds. Guess it will be awhile before I try them out unless I encounter one somewhere in my travels.

[jeffandnicole]

Last couple times I've been to an Arby's it was packed (both inside and the drive-thru) and while of course that meant there was a bit of a wait for my order, it wasn't an unreasonable wait given the volume they were pushing.

I just haven't been to a busy Arby's in a really long time. I'm not denying that they can be busy, but they sure don't seem to be around here. Not even comparable to the customer volume of, say McDonald's or even Wendy's.

As a professional cashier, I can have 94¢ (the worst amount to have to hand out, as it involves all four denominations of coins) out of my drawer faster than most of our customers can find a single quarter. So "slower, probably" would be my answer. Granted, casino cashiers operate on a whole other level than fast-food cashiers, but even when I was a fast-food cashier I often wished people would pay with a round dollar amount so I could give them change and get to the next person, rather than watch them ineffectively pick through a handful of mixed change trying to be "helpful".

Keep in mind that most customers seem to have a vested interest in staring vapidly at the menu board for an unreasonable amount of time and not even bothering to get their money or credit card out until after they've arrived at the window and been told the total due the second time, as well.

Cashiers (not you, of course  ) aren't always particularly on the ball either, though it's certainly helpful when they are. I always decide where I'm eating out strictly based on what I want to eat, so there's not really a lot of decision-making for me at the menu board. I also (1) pay attention to the total they give me when they take my order, and (2) keep change readily available, so as long as there's at least one car in front of me, I have time to collect it and get it ready before I even reach the window. If there's not, and I roll up and have to pick through change, it's a fairly rare case at a non-busy time period when seconds don't matter as much.

I sympathize with cashiers, in that they can do their best to expedite the line, but certain customers just aren't good at making decisions, finding change, etc., very quickly 

I'll pull up experiences from my toll taking days, and echo Scott's comments.  Now, granted, on the NJ Turnpike we have the ticket system.  Working weekends when it was people that rarely used the Turnpike, they wouldn't comprehend the toll fares on the ticket (and this was before the tickets showed rates for all classes of vehicles!).  But, that said, for most people, they could easily pull out a $20 and hand that in with the ticket, or have it ready for when I tell them the amount.

Most people though would sit in traffic at the toll plaza. They pull up.  They don't have their ticket in their hand.  I ask them for their toll ticket.  They look around, finally find it, and hand it to me (twice, people handed me their speeding tickets! lol). I then tell them the amount.  They pull out their wallet and look for the money.  They'll count up their ones.  They finally pull out a $20 anyway because they didn't have enough ones.  They'll hand it to me.  I take the money, grab their change, and hand it back to them.  They don't take it, because they're still looking thru their cup holders trying to pull out the odd change they owed.  When they finally grab it and turn to me, I'm sitting there with their change in hand.  They give me the attitude of why am I in a hurry.  And then they'll also give the attitude of why are the toll lines so long.  Exhibit A: You! 

If you multiply this by every driver over and over again, you can see why toll lanes are so backed up sometimes.

Now, unless you have worked in a toll booth, you won't see nor understand the other side of things.  From a motorists' point of view, it's the toll taker that's slow.  But even if that motorist took that time to pull out their wallet, it would speed things up. If they took the time to pull the money out of their wallet, nearly half the wait time is gone.  Same thing in a store, or in a drive-thru.  People insist on waiting until they are at the window, or they're told the exact amount they owe, before they even reach for their money.

Of course, there's some awfully slow toll takers as well, no doubt about that.  But when you have a slow customer combined with a slow employee, you might as well set up camp for the night.  It's gonna be a while!

[abefroman329]

Shake Shack opened in Lexington, but it's in a busy area off Nicholasville Road that I avoid at all costs because of the traffic and the crowds. Guess it will be awhile before I try them out unless I encounter one somewhere in my travels.

Find a time when traffic and crowds are not a concern.  Or fight the traffic and crowds.  It's worth the trip.

[Scott5114]

Most people though would sit in traffic at the toll plaza. They pull up.  They don't have their ticket in their hand.  I ask them for their toll ticket.  They look around, finally find it, and hand it to me (twice, people handed me their speeding tickets! lol). I then tell them the amount.  They pull out their wallet and look for the money.  They'll count up their ones.  They finally pull out a $20 anyway because they didn't have enough ones.  They'll hand it to me.  I take the money, grab their change, and hand it back to them.  They don't take it, because they're still looking thru their cup holders trying to pull out the odd change they owed.  When they finally grab it and turn to me, I'm sitting there with their change in hand.  They give me the attitude of why am I in a hurry.  And then they'll also give the attitude of why are the toll lines so long.  Exhibit A: You!

Exactly this, even down to having the change out before they can get whatever they were hunting for out of their pocket. Most of the time they'll be rooting around for whatever change and look up and I'll have everything, change and bills, laid out on the counter for them. It's honestly faster to do that and then if they do find the coin they wanted, color it up to a bill afterward, because most of the time they can't find it.

One frustrating situation that you probably didn't have to deal with is when someone has several dollars in mixed change that they want to exchange for bills they can use, and they insist on holding it in their palm and picking the quarters out of it one by one. Just toss it on the counter and let me handle it–I do this nine hours a day, I can get everything counted, including your pennies so you are left with more quarters, faster than you can!

A few times I've had people give me the "why are you in such a hurry" attitude, to which I respond with "Our customers come to the casino to gamble, not to stand at the cashier cage," which you can't really argue with.

I always decide where I'm eating out strictly based on what I want to eat, so there's not really a lot of decision-making for me at the menu board. I also (1) pay attention to the total they give me when they take my order, and (2) keep change readily available, so as long as there's at least one car in front of me, I have time to collect it and get it ready before I even reach the window. If there's not, and I roll up and have to pick through change, it's a fairly rare case at a non-busy time period when seconds don't matter as much.

I sympathize with cashiers, in that they can do their best to expedite the line, but certain customers just aren't good at making decisions, finding change, etc., very quickly 

You're an example of the right way to do it. I assure you that the staff at the Dunkin you visit regularly is happy that you help them get their drive-thru times down.

[kkt]

I went to a Five Guys for the first time tonight and thought the food was pretty good, the service wasn't bad either. It seems like it takes awhile but it wasn't too bad to me.

I found it to not only be unmemorable but incredibly expensive for the type of restaurant it is. I'd rather spend that kind of money at somewhere that warrants it.

I agree.  Not fast enough to be fast food, not good enough to be casual dining.

[Jim]

To each his own, of course, but my burger and fries from Five Guys a bit earlier this evening were each top notch, and my $10 was well spent.

[Rothman]

I also think the price equals the quality at Five Guys.  $7 is less expensive than a diner or crap chain, like Applebee's.

[webny99]

I always decide where I'm eating out strictly based on what I want to eat, so there's not really a lot of decision-making for me at the menu board. I also (1) pay attention to the total they give me when they take my order, and (2) keep change readily available, so as long as there's at least one car in front of me, I have time to collect it and get it ready before I even reach the window. If there's not, and I roll up and have to pick through change, it's a fairly rare case at a non-busy time period when seconds don't matter as much.

I sympathize with cashiers, in that they can do their best to expedite the line, but certain customers just aren't good at making decisions, finding change, etc., very quickly 

You're an example of the right way to do it. I assure you that the staff at the Dunkin you visit regularly is happy that you help them get their drive-thru times down.

Well, thanks 

I should mention that there really isn't any one Dunkin I visit on a regular basis. My usual strategy is to find a Dunkin I haven't been to and then travel there (on a morning when I can fit it in), taking the opportunity to clinch new roads and get some highway mileage in. It's amazing how many Dunkin's (and Tim Hortons) there are within a 30 mile radius. I haven't exhausted them yet!

Of course, there are certainly still some I visit more than others; same applies to Wendy's and Taco Bell. The most conveniently located branch gets my business only when I don't have time for a more interesting alternative in terms of roadgeeking.

So, with all that said, maybe someday Dunkin employees statewide will be thanking me