EclectEcon

McDonald's came to my hometown nearly fifty years ago and quickly became a favourite for many of us. Later I had a summer job at a McDonald's outlet in that town. I loved the burgers there, and for decades I proclaimed that McDonald's was my favourite restaurant.

Over the years, though, I find that I go to McDonald's less and less. Partly that is because I just cannot eat the way I used to. But my past two visits to two different outlets were more than disappointing. Both times, the burgers were far too salty. And both times the McFlurries (which are nowhere near as good as DQ Blizzards anyway) tasted really awful — sort of sour or something. And, now that I think about it, the shakes have tasted off lately at other times, too.

I find myself at a loss as a result. I like TacoBell a lot, but after awhile the taste of their food gets, well, boring. I also like Wendy's, but I've never been all that thrilled to have square meat on a round bun. And Burger King's flame-broiled burgers have never tasted really great to me.

So I'm in the market for a new favourite restaurant. Recommendations are welcome.

Addendum: For an article lauding the role of McDonald's in the growth of medium-developed countries, see this recent article by Adrian Tschoegl. Here's the abstract:

Critics have excoriated the US fast-food industry in general, and McDonald's most particularly, both per se and as a symbol of the United States. However, examining McDonald's internationalization and development abroad suggests that McDonald's and the others of its ilk are sources of development for mid-range countries. McDonald's brings training in management, encourages entrepreneurship directly through franchises and indirectly through demonstration effects, creates backward linkages that develop local suppliers, fosters exports by their suppliers, and has positive external effects on productivity and standards of service, cleanliness, and quality in the host economies.