What the hell are you doing here? You could get mugged or punched by a drug dealer or worse!
No, not really (well, maybe if you're unlucky), though this 24-Hour McDonald's does have discomforting types inside and outside, loitering about trying to look like they're not waiting for a drug dealer when they clearly are. In fact, when I come to this McDonald's, I try to identify the drug dealers' or recipients' 1.) experience in the game and 2.) probable drug of choice. ("Look at that nervous guy! I'm guessing he's buying, he's new, and judging from the clothes and neck chains.... he likes his Ecstasy. Wow, he's really laying low - he's even got both hands in his pockets!" etc.)
It's a fun type of people-watching but perhaps not the safest. And that's the point of this review: not to discount the find food offered by McDonald's (I love McDonald's and I'm proud of it*) nor the politeness of the staff here themselves. The food is typical McDonald's fare, with maybe a few more offerings than the usual chain owing to its size and inner CBD location, and the staff must be saints to deal with the types of patrons they must regularly endure.
The neighbouring car park (sandwiched in the complex between the McDonald's and BP Milton) is the hangout of the drug dudes (of the fast car, not homeless, type) and also of the police constantly patrolling for them. Friday and Saturday nights inevitably bring droves of drunken morons here if there's a football match on at the nearby Suncorp Stadium and even if there isn't. This McDonald's is notorious for cabbies queuing up at the drive-thru at night because drunk passengers want fatty food on the way home from clubbing in the city. (It's grown to the extent that some cabbies will not use the McDonald's Milton drive-thru; obviously the extra pay is not justified by being trapped in traffic with a car full of shouting drunk people.)
There's a kiddie mini-playground attached to the restaurant and thankfully now the staff have the area sealed off at night, so none of your drunk friends can delay your ride home by refusing to come down from the top of the fort.
Despite the obvious dangers that go with visiting this place at night, I've never felt that my life's been threatened here. There's more the threat that a fight might break out, a drunk guy will try to crack on, or someone drunk will do something stupid or possibly even funny.
If you're feeling reckless and in the mood for people-watching, it's the place to be.
*Yeah, yeah, I know, corporations are all corporation-y etc. read more