Community Chat

[monicakm]

@LTT1 

Same!  We are noticing everyone is cutting corners and has raised prices.  I am the last one to answer honestly when the cashier asked, "how was everything?"  Last week when we ate at one of our favorite local buffets and the cashier asked us how was everything, as politely as I could, I let her know the food wasn't up to the normal standards and we were disappointed.  This isn't the first time we've been disappointed with them lately so I don't think we'll be going back.  We ate at McCalister's sandwich shop recently and that experience wasn't good either.  It's been decades since I've eaten there.  Like your Subway bread, ours was dry too.  Because of all my recent health issues and surgeries, we don't eat out nearly as often as we used and honestly, I don't think I miss it.  We have to drive an hour+ to get to any decent restaurants and we're finding it less and less worth it.

[scatcat]

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@Venezia wrote:

@scatcat - I decided to look into the saga of the $5 footlong and it was quite interesting.

It's been taken out of Subway's offerings and brought back several times; the most recent 2020.  (Probably bad timing for that, given the pandemic.)

However, the reason given for its demise is the discontent of franchise owners who said it cut into their profit margins too much.  Nothing to do with minimum wage.

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@Venezia 

Higher wages definitely impact the bottom line

[monicakm]

@haddon9 

You had to mention waitstaff   One of our go-to Mexican restaurants had a waitstaff malfunction several months ago.  It used to be all female waiters but this particular evening it was all male waiters.  Nothing at all wrong with that except that they ALL had pants that were so low, about an inch and a half to two inches of their butt-cracks were showing.  Now I don't know about anyone else, but butt-cracks are right up there with things I don't want to see or have to think about while eating fajitas.

[monicakm]

@beckyb1012 

I've never heard of FreeBirds.  I Googled the address.  Maybe the next time we're in town, we'll try it.  We love Chipotle and even tho all the food, as a whole, is too hot (pepper hot) we keep going back.  Mercados is our favorite tho

[monicakm]

@LTT1 

A table fee????  I would like to think that if I'm ever presented with a table fee, I would turn around and walk out the door.  If it was a sit down restaurant where I paid after the meal, I'd call over the manager and voice my protest saying they need a sign on the front door and then request that he waive the "table fee".  It never hurts to ask.

[LTT1]

@monicakm 

I sure do agree with you here!

[monicakm]

For those interested, McDonald's had a "secret" menu item (it's not on the menu, you have to ask for it).  It's called a dinner box.  It's $12.  I saw it on YT a couple of days ago.  Here is the title of the vid.  Doesn't include drinks.  Two cheeseburgers, two Big Macs, 4 small fries, a 10 piece McNugget and dipping sauce.

McDonald’s $12 Dinner Box

[LTT1]

@monicakm 

I agree with you.

Yes, the last three times I have eaten out (not including the small cafe near me)

I have been disappointed.

Once at my used-to-be-favorite Mexican place
the chicken in my burrito was old, flavorless and dry!

The waitress  offered to bring me "something different".

Two and three times fav Asian food- tastes as if they added more chemical preservatives to "old" food!

PF Chang's ...I complained and have not been back 

[LTT1]

@monicakm 

Thank you so much for this!❤️

[sunshine45]

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@monicakm wrote:

For those interested, McDonald's had a "secret" menu item (it's not on the menu, you have to ask for it).  It's called a dinner box.  It's $12.  I saw it on YT a couple of days ago.  Here is the title of the vid.  Doesn't include drinks.  Two cheeseburgers, two Big Macs, 4 small fries, a 10 piece McNugget and dipping sauce.

McDonald’s $12 Dinner Box

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@monicakm 

just a note - 

via USA TODAY..... 3/20/24

Different locations, different deals

It appears the deal is highly variable by state and location.

Commenters beneath Kapewa-Latu's videos shared what box or bundle deals were and were not available near them.

"No Dinner box in Vegas, but we have 40 nugs, 4 med fries for $18.99! or 2 big Mac's, 20pc and 2 med fry $18.99," said one. "I need to move to your state 'cause my state it's $35.99 (in mine)," said another.

"The CA variation is called the Classic Big Mac Pack and it’s $28," another added. Others shared the price for the same box in their state, with one saying it was $27 in Pennsylvania, $18 in Mississippi, and $25 in New Jersey.

McDonald's told USA TODAY that franchisee store owners set their own prices and have the flexibility to create promotions that will drive demand in their restaurants. These promotions may vary by restaurant. Generally, shareable, bundled deals vary by location and fans can access them through the app.

Even if your local McDonald's doesn't have this exact bundle, there are still others to look for, some comments advised. The "shareables" or "deals" menus can be viewed on the app, at kiosks or on some board menus. You can also simply ask an employee what they have available.