Just wondering if anyone else is experiencing this in Switzerland or whether the McD’s at Murten in the only one doing it.
In case you have no idea what I’m talking about (yes, I know that’s frequently the case with me ) you place your order either using the automatic ordering machines or at the cash register and you take (machines)/get (register) a number and then find a place to sit to eat your meal putting the number on the table where it can be easily seen. A little while later (all being well) your freshly cooked meal arrives.
Murten’s been doing it for about a year or so now I guess. At first it was a bit haphazard as they didn’t use a numbering system at all so the staff were forever walking around the premises inside and out trying to find where to take their order to. I’ve seen some go around 2-3 times before they managed to deliver the meal. It’s a bit better now they have the numbering system, but even so sometimes it takes a couple of circuits to find the right table.
Seems to be a reaction to other more upmarket burger places, but I’m not that convinced about the idea. Also I guess it should help cut down on waste (burgers, etc, cooked and not used by the end of the day).
And if you’re wondering, yes, been spending far too many lunchtimes in there at weekends lately.
We sort of have that at the McDs near Badischer Bahnhof. There, 80% of the time they don't have stuff ready, so you have to go sit with half your order and a metal number. Eventually your burger will arrive, so you can enjoy it nice and hot with your cold chips.
We were forced to go to a Burger King instead of MacD a few weeks ago & I was not impressed. Seemed to be the same crap but more chunky (reconstituted chicken fingers) & the burger was about 1/2 the size our little king was expecting + had to wait for part of the order. Only go once a year so can't really provide any comparison but we've been to a few high turnover MacDs in Geneva, Conthey VS + the Lull y VD motorway place & all seemed to be well organised.
I've not encountered this in Switzerland, but at least one chain I know in the U.S. does this - the burger chain Culver's.
They don't cook the burger until you order it, so you do have to be a bit patient. You place order at the counter, they give you a number, you take your drink cups and fill up whatever you like and take a seat. Then a friendly person brings the nice, hot food to your table. They do the same at the drive-thru - you set the number on your outside mirror and then they come out to the car with your fresh, hot food. Even in the dead cold of winter.
McD's hamburgers are literally always dry because the meat has been done ages ago. Granted, I usually drive thru during off hours but I'd rather wait for freshly made even though this runs completely counter the whole concept. And don't even get me started on the crap they dare call bread. The mixed-pickles style cucumbers "drown" all other tastes, to boot.
Cue the local kebab shop with theirs (burgers, though the kebab's description wouldn't be much different):
Freshly made so meat is still juicy, 2-3 McD's size for only marginally higher price (7 CHF) and the wrap is real and very tasty bread. They add real vegetables rather than those measly pickles and if you pre-order there's hardly any waiting time as well.
It certainly sounded like you were expecting more than a McDonald's when you went to McDonald's. Either that or you went to McDonald's knowing you didn't like McDonald's, then proceeded to complain about it.
They used to be okay, when I was young. Okay, maybe my taste-buds have changed .... I'll never know.
But the past years when I tried, they were simply soggy and lumpy and that is definitely not how they used to be. So I can imagine if they're made freshly, they're back to how I remember them. I'm willing to try
And I also think, the bread is the problem, not the meat.