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> The store wasn't clean, the food was overly greasy but not in a good way, and they didn't properly season the fries. When they expanded the "new concept" in

> The store wasn't clean, the food was overly greasy but not in a good way, and they didn't properly season the fries. When they expanded the "new concept" in Texas, guessing 90s-00s, they were often coupled together with a Long John Silvers and they obviously shared the same fryer because I could taste seafood with the fries. If I order fried seafood that's fine I suppose, but not when I'm ordering a burger and fries for a meal from A&W which has no seafood (AFAIK). I think I tried it twice in total and swore it off. All to say, when it comes to consistency, they weren't even trying.

cogman10 5y ago
Yeah, I've found A&W to be all over the board in terms of quality. Also, nothing beats whataburger :D. IDK why it's confined to the southern states.
- wavefunction 5y ago
  Whataburger was recently purchased by a Chicago-based private equity firm so you may get your wish for an expansion.
  - conductr 5y ago
    FWIW Shipley Donuts recently got bought by PE too. I talked to them as a then potential franchisee and they have pretty big growth plans. If you're curious, it wasn't right fit for me now that PE is involved. I was interested as a casual absentee owner, but their growth plan doesn't really have much room for that anymore.
- conductr 5y ago
  As a Texan I'm obligated to concur on whataburger however if I'm being truthful their consistency is all over the map too. I'm pretty sure it's a result of store level execution and management. Oddly enough, I find the best ones are those located in pit stop towns between the major cities. They get enough traffic to stay fresh, they probably have low turnover, and the manager might be making a career of it. That how I rationalize it anyhow.
- jrnichols 5y ago
  It's been spreading just a bit. There are now Whataburger locations in Phoenix, AZ. I'm in Northern California, and Phoenix is also our closest Waffle House too.
newman8r 5y ago
I'm very sensitive to any seafood taste as well, and If I ever detect it in something that's not seafood, I'll just instantly throw the meal away. I'll make an exception for caesar dressing. I like seafood too, just not in my onion rings.

cogman10 5y ago

Yeah, I've found A&W to be all over the board in terms of quality. Also, nothing beats whataburger :D. IDK why it's confined to the southern states.

wavefunction 5y ago
Whataburger was recently purchased by a Chicago-based private equity firm so you may get your wish for an expansion.
- conductr 5y ago
  FWIW Shipley Donuts recently got bought by PE too. I talked to them as a then potential franchisee and they have pretty big growth plans. If you're curious, it wasn't right fit for me now that PE is involved. I was interested as a casual absentee owner, but their growth plan doesn't really have much room for that anymore.
conductr 5y ago
As a Texan I'm obligated to concur on whataburger however if I'm being truthful their consistency is all over the map too. I'm pretty sure it's a result of store level execution and management. Oddly enough, I find the best ones are those located in pit stop towns between the major cities. They get enough traffic to stay fresh, they probably have low turnover, and the manager might be making a career of it. That how I rationalize it anyhow.
jrnichols 5y ago
It's been spreading just a bit. There are now Whataburger locations in Phoenix, AZ. I'm in Northern California, and Phoenix is also our closest Waffle House too.

newman8r 5y ago

I'm very sensitive to any seafood taste as well, and If I ever detect it in something that's not seafood, I'll just instantly throw the meal away. I'll make an exception for caesar dressing. I like seafood too, just not in my onion rings.