Sent someone out to 5 guys to pick up a meal. 4 people got burgers/regular fries.

We got 2 bags, 1 with the burgers and one with the fries -- Fry bag had 4 cups full of fries then literally 3/4 of the bag was FULL of fries. It was definitely several pounds of fries. The large order easily serves 4 people.

1) CFA
2) 5 Guys
3) In n Out

All 3 more or less interchangeable, just a different level of ingredient quality compared to other fast food places. Lol at Arby's being in anyone's top 3--maybe 10 or 15 years ago when they weren't using reconstituted frozen stuff and actually shaved roast beef in house. And when they had the squeeze bottles of horsey sauce, etc.

Anyone mention Noodles and Co.? Seeing as I can get my food in more or less the same amount of time if not quicker than a Subway, I don't see how it can't be considered fast food.

#1 Noodles and Co.
#2 Wendy's
#3 BK

I tried Chick-Fil-A once, thought the menu was small and I must have got the wrong thing because I wasn't digging it at all.

Trip report!

so according to your wikipedia argument, there's a link directly off your page to fast food restaurants:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fast_food_restaurant

and there's a whole section naming sub places and dominos pizza.

so guess you're an idiot after all.

There is definitely conflicting information within the wiki pages here.

Fast food is partially defined by:

McD, Wendys, Taco Bell, etc all fit that category very well. I would put Subway and Quiznos in this category as well, although I think they are slightly different.

The wiki for fast food also lists Zaxbys as a fast food place, which I strongly disagree with. It fits nicely in the fast casual category, defined as:

Places like Moes and Five Guys clearly also fit here.

I wouldn't really consider SNS fast food. It is more or less a sit down 50's style diner with orders taking anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes to be finished. Good burgers and shoestring fries though if you eat it there while it's fresh. Always have to top it off with a good chocolate malt shake.

They do have a drive-thru window which I guess you could argue it's fast food but so do many Hibachi restaurants in our area which take 15 minutes to get your order.

Did I call anyone an idiot? Do I see other people agreeing with me. Get off your high horse, you ****ing jackass. It's ridiculous I can't even come in here and render an honest opinion that some other people share. Again, do you consider your local deli fast food? Who does? Doesn't it fit the definition?

Now, see, I definitely think Steak 'n' Shake is fast food. And I am being called an idiot?

Yeah, it might be a sit down place, but it does have a drive-thru, and it serves what other fast food restaurants serve. It tries to market as it is fast food, but high quality fast food. Honestly, I hate their fries, but their shakes are awesome. I honestly do not like fast food hamburgers (although five guys is good, in-n-out might be good, but I've never had it,) so I just stay away from that. Best chain restaurant hamburgers/cheeseburgers can be gotten at Friday's, IMO.


So, again, gfy, oddjob. Why don't you look at other people's opinions that concur with mine along with urbandictionary? Not everyone has the same definition for fast food. If you don't see how the term was originally meant for restaurants only like McDonald's, Wendy's, and BK, then I think you're the idiot. No one would call a street vendor or food at a sports stadium fast food either.

There is a place in NYC that has been said to be an imitation of In & Out. Prob gonna check it out tomorrow unless anyone has been there and advises otherwise.

http://midtownlunch.com/2010/07/23/f...d-i-dont-care/

That's what is nice about NYC. You got a bunch of these places that are far better than the chains, yet people still go to the ****ty chains.


Oh, yeah, the title should be changed to "Definitely Controversial Fast-Food Thread".

You are an idiot if you think In-N-Out is a ****ty chain.

Pretty sure the place I linked to is not a chain. Also, you're an idiot.

FYP



I'm going to have to evaluate why I personally call "fast food" going forward.

I had basically been on your side until this. SnS is clearly not fast food. They have waitresses for Gods sake.

Can "waitstaff" be the acceptable dividing line for fast food? If so, every shopping mall's food court is ff, right?

What are places like Old Country Buffet, or Hoss's? If a waitress is only in place to bring you drinks, that doesn't meet the threshold, perhaps... but I wouldn't call either one "fast food".

My mind struggles with the "fast casual" concept.

Well, you are just making assumptions. Never did I say In-n-Out was a ****ty chain. One, I've never eaten there, and two, I don't think I've seen one in NYC. I was referring to other chains such as McDonald's.

Reading comprehension failure. I said, "that's what is nice about NYC. You have a bunch of these places, yet everyone still goes to the ****ty chains." Bunch of these places = place you put in the link.

It is though. I can go to the drive-thru and get the food at comparable speeds to other fast food restaurants. Just because they have waiters/waitresses does not mean it isn't fast food. I mean, you can sit down at any fast food restaurant. The only difference is instead of going to a counter to order, some comes to take your order. Plus, you can sit at the counter.

I see your points, but the drive-thru alone makes it fast food.



I could flash fry something and call it fast food. Again, no one has answered my simple question of whether you would refer to your local deli as "fast food".


IMO, the type of food, quality, and price, is a bigger factor than how fast the food gets to you. People are so hung up on the speed. The term was originally coined for places like McDonalds that served cheap burgers and fries that were made quickly and could even be taken on the go. It has much more to do with those other factors before the speed. Back then, they had so many diners that served this kind of food, it was all about the speed. I am sure plenty of people here would refer to Pizza Hut as fast food. It isn't fast though; however, it does correlate with the other 3 factors.

No, I don't think waitstaff is the dividing line. Because places like Moe's and Zaxby's clearly are not fast food, but they don't have waitresses. Buffet places are not fast food either.

Fast casual is the perfect way to describe these places. Somewhere between generally pre-made packaged to-go food and full service.

Zaxby's has a drive through. I used to live by a Moe's with a drive through. Sonny's BBQ has drive throughs and they are a full service restaurant.

Drive through isn't the dividing line either.

Yet you made this statement while quoting a post that talked about an independent NYC ripoff of In-N-Out, a FAST FOOD CHAIN. The implication is obvious.

So you commented on it while never having eaten there, while half the damn thread, including ElD, is like, "In-N-Out is ****ing delicious!" And clearly you know nothing about it, since they only exist in CA, AZ, and NV (and maybe Utah now?).

Don't know any of those places, so I can't comment. Ok, so Steak 'n' Shake is debatable. I'm calling it fast food based on the quality and type of food along with the drive-thru aspect.

Well, since I didn't intend to call In-n-Out a ****ty chain, the implication doesn't even exist. Along with the fact that I said I've never even eaten there. Plus, I said NYC has a bunch of these types of places, but people choose to go to the ****ty chains instead. So how does one in NYC go to In-n-Out? They are choosing something like McDonald's instead.

I assume you mean hollandaise sauce, but this is so far off, that the "LoL @ spelling" comment isn't even valid.[/QUOTE]


Yrd I drr ure pont... BUT, did you ever eat one?

wat

This has nothing to do with my comment. I was not commenting on the sandwich itself. No, I've never eaten one and never will.

nittymatt,



Also, I am intrigued by Steak & Shake and last fall was in Indiana and hungry and was driving right past one but was short on time. Now I'm glad I passed it up as I thought what with the drive-thru window and all it would be quick as any (other?) fast food place. Evidently not.

Those steak/egg/cheese bagels from McDs are probably my favorite fast food breakfast item.

They, however, do not have any type of sauce on them, hollandaise or otherwise. just grilled onions.

Most of them dont it depends where you go. But mostly not. Theyre the best.

We have problems than.