State of State of the Arches

Hello friends and fans. Hello Archies, Archers and Arch-heads. As I’m writing, the time is approaching 10:30 AM, the official end time of McDonald’s breakfast. Rest assured, this is no accident. It’s been a year since I have done any reporting here at State of the Arches HQ, but at no time in the year were you not on my mind.

Since I started State of the Arches back in 2011, we have seen some changes in the landscape of McJournalism. There was the Huffington Post article, there was a Tumblr, and even a Youtube channel. These were all dollar menu attempts to convey the kind of content that you get at State of the Arches. They are copies of the original. Monopoly stickers on your soft drink—not the ones that you need, but the ones you already have. Do you think that HuffPo knows about the 50 Piece McNugget? Do you think these Tumblrs know about walk-thru windows at airports? Will Youtube report on Hawaiian menu specialty items? Absolutely not. That kind of content is only found at State of the Arches.

And so it is via a lack of honest journalism on this topic that I am so passionate about that I return to the field. Because Arch-heads deserve better. Thank you for your continued support. Consider this your coupon book. Please enjoy a couple of April Fool’s Day themed posts following the break.

Montebello, CA

I finally caved in. I broke my 4 year abstinence from McDonald's today. There was something about those sexy, sparkling golden arches today that tempted me to pull inside the drive through as I was on the way home from work. My co-workers would make fun of me and my strange (and as I've learned today, a pretty damn irrational) don't-eat-anything-from-McDonalds mentality. But, today, several of them just had to buy those damn chicken nuggets, Filet o fish, golden crispy fries, and an apple pie. The smell permeated the whole office and my mouth instantly salivated. Of course, I had to keep a calm exterior when they presented me the food in front of my face. "No, thank you, " I politely told them as I showed them that I'd be happy with my Maruchan instant teriyaki yakisoba box. But, I was dying inside. I couldn't wait to come back to my 'hood, where no one could see me indulge in my childhood favorites. I got a Filet o Fish, medium fries, and a small strawberry shake and I hurried back home to indulge in privacy, just in case any of my co-workers followed me. I took my first bite of the fish fillet and it was like being a virgin all over again to McDonald's. Why did I give up something that was oh so good?!?! I must be nuts because McDonald's fish fillet is tehh sexxx. Mayo smothered all over that fish fillet in between those two soft buns...it was sooo mmm mmm good. If that's not sexy, I don't know what is! It was just like a crispy fish in a fish taco...only it's in a bun. And it's better! The medium fries were just like I remembered. Nice, crunchy. Brings back old memories. The shake wasn't that bad too. This place is near the Y, so just in case you want to indulge yourself after working out to make up for the pounds you lost, this _is_ the spot. Take my word for it....! ..actually, don't. This was written on April Fool's Day, so you shouldn't. But, I'm still abstinent from McDonald's 4 years and counting...now that's no April Fool's joke.

San Diego, CA

Ok, this is after all McDonalds - fried, cheap, fast food and questionable ingredients. I swear if it was not for the smurfs; I would not set foot in this place. However, I did and well...It was yucky. Dirty, tables, cashier had an attitude when I inquired about a happy meal toy. I kept thinking to myself: "Yes, I am in my 30's and about to order a happy meal - get over it, its thanks to fools like me, YOU have this minimum wage job." Cashier gave little eye contact after rolling them upon me asking if PAPA SMURF was in yet. Oh come on, papa smurf!!! Anyway, I got my greasy chicken nuggets and greasy fries and a grumpy smurf to go with the employee's demeanor but no papa smurf. The tables were dirty, the floor had scuff marks all over it. It seems homeless people raise shopping carts inside this McDonalds, where the hell are the scuff marks coming from? eew. Tiny parking lot and those who let children in that filthy play area should be questioned by CPS. *The End*

Edgewater, MD

It's a McDonald's, need I say more?

There is a drive-thru, go thru get food, feed your-self with some over processed food that's made to feed people with little to no interest in their food choices. The food is mass proceeded so a teenager or someone with no education can prepare it perfectly every time.

What did you expect, Ruth's Chris?

No.

It's McDonald's.

Stop being elitists, about fast food, fools. 3-stars because I am sick of these incompetent reviews about how a fast-food place operates and their services my peers receive. Get real, lower your expectations when your food slumming.

Dummies, get real, it's a mass corporation, be real when you review.

San Diego, CA

Um, I know this is a "fancy" McDonald's and all (in fact, a self-entitled "Bistro"--it's ok to start laughing now), and the seating area is decked out to kind of look like a Marie Callender's or something.  So, yes, it's half a step up from the standard restaurants in the chain.

But the counter jockeys are the same clueless and rude idiots you find at any other McDonald's and, frankly, the customers are pretty much the same fools you find elsewhere, too.

They serve all the same tasteless gray meat goodness you get at the other locations but the separate "Bistro" counter offers up spruced-up salads and paninis and what have you.  I haven't tried any of those foods, and I'm not going to try them, so I'll leave it to others to review.  It is amusing that they created a separate counter if you would like to order the "fancier" foods.  One counter for po' folks and one for rich folks?

Let's just not all wet ourselves over this or any other McDonald's, ok?  They serve gray beef.  That's all I need to know.

Flushing, NY

 
This is a very unorganized understaffed and small McDonald's. I had to wait 15 minutes for a big breakfast. And they didn't even have scrambled eggs and they had to substitute egg from a McMuffin into the big breakfast

Flushing, NY

I don't like rating fast food chains because they are basically unhealthy, boring, repetitive, and low-quality food. Basic service (nor friendly nor rude), plenty of seatings and the crowd was like 90% Asian (yeah I know it's Flushing DUH!!) people in their mid 40-50s. I'm guessing they came here for coffee after church service or something. The only reason I came here was because there weren't any space left to accomodate 5 of us in the Paris Baguette located at the strip mall just across this place. Other than that, meh~ boring

Flushing, NY

It is run by kids. These kids are quite good! Yes, they do get overwhelmed during peak hours but it isn't too bad at all! Listen, there are old Asian folk who pay with sometimes thirteen pennies. I'm not kidding, there will be thirteen pennies to count out. Of course that would slow things down.

Austin, TX

On the way to the March Against Hate yesterday, my friend Brian and I realized we were starving balls. There was no particular reason we stopped at this McDonald's other than that it was on the way. And I was craving--simply craving--some McNuggets.

It took 20 minutes to finally get to the window. We spent that time bitching at everyone ahead of us to place their order already and move along. "It's not a complicated menu!" "You should already know what you want!" "Oh my God, what is wrong with you people?!"

And I love that once it was our turn, my friend said "Uhhh...Give me a sec." Hypocrite!

I leaned over and said in my best Mira Sorvino: "Do you have a businesswomen's special?
Employee: A what?
Me: You know, like a lunch....for businesswomen?
And right on cue Brian says:
"We're due in Tucson. You know, for a business thing."
Employee: Huh?
Me: Can we just get a No. 1 with a Diet Coke and a 10-piece nugget to go then?

OK, so we had our giggles and we were probably way more amused with that than we should have been.

The employee at the window didn't look a day over 13, and he promptly handed me a Happy Meal Diet Coke. I know I've been using a new anti-aging cream but does it look like I'm old enough to want a Happy Meal? He also couldn't seem to master the skill of putting Diet Coke in a cup. I think the machine was malfunctioning. His manager came over to help and she smiled politely.

We finally got our food and I devoured it in the car. I suppose Big Macs and McNuggets can sometimes only truly be appreciated during a massive hangover. I'm lovin' it.

Austin, TX

Okay.  I know it's silly to review McDonald's.  I mean, it's McDonald's.  You feel how you feel about it. Period.  I know I won't change your mind.  But here I am anyway.  (Feeling a little like Breckin Meyer in Clueless, though.)

I stop in here for breakfast all the time.  At least once a week.  These guys always get my order right.  Always.  I always get my extra jelly.  When I ask for eight sugars in my coffee, no one laughs.  No one.  And they are unfailing polite and smiley.

It's a nice thing in the morning.  OJ, bottle of water, coffee or coke, and a sausage biscuit. It's a simple thing, but a nice thing.  These guys always make sure this "nice thing" stays nice.  Thanks, McDonald's.

Austin, TX

It's McDonalds, I know, but this location still gives out those ridiculous ketchup packets. They refuse to switch to the much more convenient big dispensers. I won't go to this location because I don't want to bother opening ketchup packets. I can't believe that they think it saves them money in some way.

Austin, TX

Beware, the john is like a walk-in freezer. Holy crap. I like cold, but I have to hope the ladies' isn't so polar; not a place to get one's ass out lightly.

Also, no playscape. Once saw a small boy here running in circles, crying disconsolately "where can I play? where can I play?" Thought for him "it's all downhill from here, man. McDonald's could've abated the pain of existence slightly, for a time, but chose not to."

Low-carb breakfast of 3 scrambled eggs, 2 sausage patties, and large iced black coffee: $8

Austin, TX

This McD's does not taste as good as others.  The filet o fish was soggy, the Big Mac had almost no sauce on it and my husband pretty much banned eating here after getting the quarter pounder.

The fries are good, but the McD's in the WalMart is so much better.

Austin, TX

So, this morning I am watching the Food Network and just as I sit down to dig into my yummy spinach and cheese omelet Tyler Florence starts cooking a Baked Potato Hash Brown that has my salivary glands turning cart-wills....

The only place I could think of that I could get Hash Browns with the Pup in tow was McDonald's drive through.  So, I let the pup finish my omelet and excitedly got ready to indulge in some Hash Browns!

I chose this location because it is 2 blocks from Lady Bird Lake, where I had plans for a morning run.

I pull up order and wait less than 5 minutes for the 3 cars in front of me before the 2 Hash Browns are in my hands along with 2 packets of salt and ketchup.

I drove a block away and parked in the Daughtry Arts Center parking lot and savored every bite of my Hash Browns while my pup whimpered and whined to begin the morning adventure or maybe she wanted a bite, I was no way sharing.

The Hash Browns at this location are purrfect! - hot and crunchy on the outside with a nice non-soggy texture on the inside (if you have ever had a hash brown where they did not wring out all the liquid you know what I am talking about).  I sprinkled  some salt on one and poured some ketchup on the other.  The Hash Browns were so perfectly cooked they really only needed a little salt....

I got home and logged onto http://www.mcdonalds.com to figure out how much damage I had done to my waist line and was pleasantly surprised - the Hash Browns only pack in 150 calories!  I know those 150 calories are not that healthy; but I can run them off in less than 30 minutes......

McDonald's Hash Brown welcome to my weekend morning indulgence list!

Austin, TX

I went to this McDonald's to get a hot fudge sundae in hopes that it might numb the crushing loneliness that fills my every waking moment.

I was told that they were "out of ice cream".

It seems that even Ronald has turned his back on me now. I pulled up to the drive through a shattered being hoping for just the smallest bit of comfort and I left with additional evidence that there is nothing in this life that we can count on aside from constant pain and the eventual relief of death's warm embrace. I will not be returning to this location.

This place looks like the ghetto / retard show.   Could you not hire anyone at all in the place that looks half way normal?     Never never never never again will I go to McDonalds for their garbage.   This location is scary on weekend nights.

Austin, TX

This McDonalds is a disaster. It is always nasty. There are always messes and spills on the floor. I even got FOOD POISONING from this location. Whenever I confronted the management about it they told me to get lost. From this experience I am never eating fast food again. If you do want to eat fast food and have any sense DON'T EAT AT THIS LOCATION unless you want to risk getting food poisoning.

Round Rock, TX

McDonald's exactly what I expect.  Rude on the drivethru.  Ordered 1 thing and still screw my order up.  Person taking the money is talking to the person ordering not me.  Never said a word to me.  A the food pickup window the word spoke was "condiment," and away I go.  Mcdonalds always make me proud.

Round Rock, TX

Well bust my buttons!  Jumping jelly beans I am being attacked!  Driving out last weekend I was attacked by the Big Mac Attack fever.  Big Mac Attack, Big Mac Attack!

It has been a long time since I went to a McDonalds; I drove up to the speaker box and ordered the Big Mac meal, yep I up sized and I added two extra patties on the big Mac!  Then I parked and ate it.

Well  16000 calories later the Mac Attack was over, yep I succumbed and ate it all.

As usual almost everyone has eaten at a McDonalds at some point in time if you never have, you are a great person.   So no change it is the same now as it was 5 years ago, except prices may be higher and they expanded their menu to a healthier type but all the old items are still there and the quality is the same.

I will admit I get the breakfast sausage biscuit ever now and then.

Hum, I see no kiddie's playground here, that's odd.  I stand corrected, a small inside playgroud is there.

Will I go back?  Yes next time I get a Big Mac Attack.

Austin, TX

so on a Sunday morning I get 4 Big Breakfast deluxe but when I get home #1 I had no hasbrowns and no receipt. Their number was not listed so I got it from the location on Pecan. They were busy and when I explained to David the manager abou my missing both hashbrowns and receipt he just asked if I wanted to go by now or later. How about apologizing for their mistake and for your trouble here is a free coffee or apple pie?   Very bad service. At this same Mcdonalds in December there was a woman who appeared to be having a stroke and none of the workers or manager assisted this woman. Instead they looked at her as if she was crazy. Clearly this Mcdonnalds has no leadership and lacks training. It took for a customer to assist this woman and call 911.

Round Rock, TX

Ummm, it's McDonald's. What do you expect? We tried to get their double-dipped cones like six times within a two-week period (we are fans of ice cream and was boycotting Chick-fil-A at the time) and every time their ice cream machine was broken.

But last week, my son and I went there and tried out their double-dipped cones. Meh. They were ok. DQ's is much better and you get more bang for your buck there.

I have a problem with this MickeyD's and their portion size. I also leave there feel gipped and swindled.