Eating Out of Business

 We all know this question:

What's for dinner?

What's for lunch?

I'm hungry...what's to eat around here?

Of course, the answer to any of those questions is to see what is in the house that will satisfy my hunger if I put a few minutes of effort in...right? Right?

OF COURSE NOT!! At least not in this house, sad to say. The intended answer is to leave the house to pick something up to eat and either eat it there or bring it back home, thereby spending about 4 times the amount of moeny it would have cost to get something from the store, bring it home, cook, and hopefully enjoy...hopefully meaning it wasn't cooked by me.

Self deprecating, I know, but as a bachelor I got by ok because I had only myself to feed. When I met Vickie, the first woman to suffer my culinary shortfalls, I was finally met with criticism that has lasted 20 years this year along with our relationship.

The next question is what to eat?

If it is my daughter, the answer is easy: a McDouble meal with a Diet Coke (because she's watching those sugars, you know).

If it is just the 2 of us, there are some more options, not necessarily healthy. Hey, let's be honest, the purpose of going out to eat is convenience and hopefully a delicious or at least expected experience, not a feeling of, "Hey, where can we eat that supplies us with protein, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals?"

To give you an idea of how that last one works, there was an eatery near us called Greens and Proteins for several years, and I hardly saw anyone eating there or ordering out. I was amazed it lasted as long as it did (the staff wasn't all that perky, which likely did not make the place a draw). Replacing it was a Handel's Ice Cream, which is busy every day, even in cooler weather. 

Baskin Robbins is also holding up well, to give you an idea.

However, those are desserts, let's go to fast food.

Here is where I am seeing some realities hit, for better or worse, usually worse.

Question: which fast food places are always crowded and have plenty of staff to keep the operation running?

3 places in Las Vegas come to mind: Chick Fil-A, In N Out, and Raising Canes.

If you look at any of these places (except for Chick Fil A on a Sunday), you will see a well oiled machine, so good that their parking lots are hell to get into or leave. 

But wait, Bryan, having a lot of staff does not mean it is good food.

How true! And yet, Raising Canes has a great main product and they don't vary from it. Same with Chick Fil A and In N Out. I also suspect that the staff of all 3 are paid nicely and that teamwork is promoted.

That to me says one thing: SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS MODEL. I can definitely see where a profitable eatery is rewarded with money pumped back into the business, making it even better. Treat the staff well and be on the lookout for healthy leadership material. Also, KEEP THE PRODUCT CONSISTENT!

Sadly, I see other fast food places I grew up with that are not doing so hot, judging from the lack of consistent business at any given store.

Wendy's may have a couple of decades left, but I have seen the down-trend since the passing of Dave Thomas.

Arby's is also in trouble. I see it at every store I enter.  A few in town have been shuttered. 

Same with Carl's Jr.

Somehow, Burger King has survived, but I'm not sure how. Sure, the food is good (I always like a Whopper here and there). That said, I've seen staff arguments at one near us, and that one is always slow both in the dining room and drive thru. 

Del Taco and Taco Bell seem to breathe on their own all right no matter what.

Same with Natalie's favorite, McDonald's.

Having been a DoorDasher for 6 months now, I am starting to see a difference betwen corporate owned/operated and franchises when it comes to McDonald's. Four that I have picked up orders from have their act together. One does not, and that one almost always has either staffing or organization problems. A new one is being built two miles up the road from that operation, hopefully better. 

Or maybe the ownership isn't the difference, but rather just the management.

Besides McDonald's, I also see differences at a few Little Caesar's. OK, I know pizza is not precisely fast food, though the Hot & Ready setup makes it so for Little Caesar's.

One thing I have noticed is that no matter your own opinion on the food or how many times people complain about the wait or food quality, McDonald's and Little Caesar's have a LOT of business. I have read about the "science" of McDonald's and how they draw customers, or rather draw them back. It's a form of food hypnosis for many. I don't know, I worked at one in Sinking Spring, PA for a few months and aside from a free cheeseburger during break time, all I got form it was a uniform that reeked of grease after every shift.

As for Little Caesar's, my upper and lower GI have agreed they do not like their pizza, 'nuff said. However, Little Caesar's is always crowded with delivery drivers like me and people coming to place an order. One night while I was dashing, a Little Caesar's stopped taking orders because they were so backed up. That was a first.

On the chicken front, it is troubling. I was once a Kentucky Fried Chicken adherent. A 2-piece, mashed and slaw was my go-to for years when I desired fried chicken. I came to like Popeye's a bit better over time, but both companies seem to have some form of issue behind the counter, but there are good exceptions I have seen. 

Looking around town, I also see a plethora of Hawaiian eateries. I tried one once, and if you like rice, Spam, and macaroni salad, enjoy!

Also there is a growing chain of Mexican food  in town called Don Tortaco.Cute name, and if they stay local, they can probably make it last.

All that said, where will we eat?

Usually we will choose locality, and Raising Canes and Domino's are our two main go-to's. If we feel like a sit-down experience and we can afford it, we will share either steak or salmon at Outback.

Dessert-wise (our failing), a Hershey's pie from BK or an apple pie from McDonald's will suffice, or maybe an ice cream from that new Handel's.

At any rate (probably my heart rate after a Big Mac), the dine-out industry is changing and it will be fun to watch...and judging form my watch, some place has anearly bird special! Gotta go!