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Jetlink wrote:I think Sonic has really went down hill. They don't even use real whip cream on their ice cream shakes and other products.

Sonic is actually my #1 nastiest fast food, which I think I've mentioned in the past. Their frozen treats are okay but their food is awful.

redside20 wrote:

AARR wrote:

redside20 wrote:...Panera...

Is Panera fast food?

What would you consider them to be? And what makes them standout say from competitors like Starbucks and Tim Hortons?

The market segment is called "fast casual" and also includes the likes of Chipotle, Noodles, Qdoba, and Five Guys.

The market segment is called "fast casual" and also includes the likes of Chipotle, Noodles, Qdoba, and Five Guys

I guess we can include Culvers in that segment too..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culver%27s

I would put Culvers, Chipotle, Panera and Five Guys all as fast food. Noodles though, eh, they even use real plates and silverware.

Let's face it, calling it fast casual just makes hipsters feel better... lol

MagnumForce wrote:I would put Culvers, Chipotle, Panera and Five Guys all as fast food. Noodles though, eh, they even use real plates and silverware.

Let's face it, calling it fast casual just makes hipsters feel better... lol

And makes the prices go up.

But they're all tasty.

MagnumForce wrote:I would put Culvers, Chipotle, Panera and Five Guys all as fast food. Noodles though, eh, they even use real plates and silverware.

Let's face it, calling it fast casual just makes hipsters feel better... lol

Panera uses real plates and silverware, culvers at least has the people bring the food to you. So it's a blurred line.

It doesn't really cost more though, have you eaten at Wendy's or Arby's lately? I guess maybe a bit more but the quality more than makes up for it although Wendy's has added some really good new stuff lately. Try the pulled pork cheeseburger, it's awesome.

MagnumForce wrote:It doesn't really cost more though, have you eaten at Wendy's or Arby's lately?

Wendy's and Arby's are supposedly higher end fast food. Supposedly.

ns8401 wrote:

MagnumForce wrote:I would put Culvers, Chipotle, Panera and Five Guys all as fast food. Noodles though, eh, they even use real plates and silverware.

Let's face it, calling it fast casual just makes hipsters feel better... lol

Panera uses real plates and silverware, culvers at least has the people bring the food to you. So it's a blurred line.

They also bring your food to you at Hardee's. When you order they give you a plastic number to put on your table then they bring out your food when it's ready. No real plates or silverware there though. Hardee's costs a little more than McDonald's.

Jochs wrote:

ns8401 wrote:

MagnumForce wrote:I would put Culvers, Chipotle, Panera and Five Guys all as fast food. Noodles though, eh, they even use real plates and silverware.

Let's face it, calling it fast casual just makes hipsters feel better... lol

Panera uses real plates and silverware, culvers at least has the people bring the food to you. So it's a blurred line.

They also bring your food to you at Hardee's. When you order they give you a plastic number to put on your table then they bring out your food when it's ready. No real plates or silverware there though. Hardee's costs a little more than McDonald's.

I've always meant to get out to a Rallys or Hardees but there aren't any nearby me.

ns8401 wrote: I've always meant to get out to a Rallys or Hardees but there aren't any nearby me.

Do you live near a Checkers? Basically Rally's under a different name.
I ate at Hardee's because I was in Niles on Saturday checking out the 4 Flags Harvest Fest. The closest Hardee's to me is 20 miles away in Niles. I think the Checker's in South Haven closed, (25 miles from me.) There are some Rally's in the Mishawaka/South Bend area I believe.

There appear to be several Checkers not too far from Ann Arbor
https://checkers.com/locations?location=ann+arbor%2C+MI

I know there is a Hardee's at Love's Truck Stop near Marshall.

Jochs wrote:

ns8401 wrote: I've always meant to get out to a Rallys or Hardees but there aren't any nearby me.

Do you live near a Checkers? Basically Rally's under a different name.
I ate at Hardee's because I was in Niles on Saturday checking out the 4 Flags Harvest Fest. The closest Hardee's to me is 20 miles away in Niles. I think the Checker's in South Haven closed, (25 miles from me.) There are some Rally's in the Mishawaka/South Bend area I believe.

There appear to be several Checkers not too far from Ann Arbor
https://checkers.com/locations?location=ann+arbor%2C+MI

I know there is a Hardee's at Love's Truck Stop near Marshall.

The one at the bottom is actually just up the road a piece, I'll try that. Thanks

Hardees has a sister restaurant named Carls Jr...which are located in the western us...Checkers is Rallys sister restaurant but all four were owned by one company at one time..Checkers originated in Tampa Fla and Rallys in Louisville.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Checkers_and_Rally%27s

At one time there was a burger joint in Northern Ohio called Snaps, there was one in Sandusky, and another one in Toledo..but they were bought out by Rallys.

redside20 wrote:Hardees has a sister restaurant named Carls Jr...

The owners of Carl's Jr. acquired Hardee's in 1997 and has been merging the brands since.

railohio wrote:

redside20 wrote:Hardees has a sister restaurant named Carls Jr...

The owners of Carl's Jr. acquired Hardee's in 1997 and has been merging the brands since.

Sister? Carls Jr sounds more like a brother!

The only place I remember seeing Carl's Jr is along I-35 in Texas when I was there in 2006. I didn't see any in the north-central states in my trips out west over the years. I ate at a Hardee's in Winterset, IA in 2009.

Back in 1989, Carl's Jr. in Sacramento, CA., was one of the first places I ever used a debit card (originally called an electronic checking card). That was probably the last time I ate there, too.

Had to go to Alpharetta GA on Tuesday and back Wednesday.

After driving 350 miles to exit Florida, it was another 270 in Georgia.

It was those 270 Georgia miles that were the problem.
A burning question was ever present every mile.

The return trip was worse.
The constantly daunting question hammered away at me.
The consternation was overwhelming.
Every mile
haunting
taunting
teasing
tormenting

peach or pecan pie?

TSB wrote:Had to go to Alpharetta GA on Tuesday and back Wednesday.

After driving 350 miles to exit Florida, it was another 270 in Georgia.

It was those 270 Georgia miles that were the problem.
A burning question was ever present every mile.

The return trip was worse.
The constantly daunting question hammered away at me.
The consternation was overwhelming.
Every mile
haunting
taunting
teasing
tormenting

peach or pecan pie?

That's easy- Pecan pie!!!

New (not to me, but to this list) favorite: Portillo's Hot Dogs in Chicagoland. Ate there twice this past week. Way more than just hot dogs; on the order of Culvers as far as variety (without the frozen custard). I had a combo sandwich (Italian Sausage + Italian Beef), and an Apple Walnut Chicken salad another night. Both very tasty.

White Castle or Krystal? You decide.

New Map Shows Why Northerners and Southerners Are Divided By Their Burger Chains