Came back to this place for reasons unknown; hadn't stepped inside the joint since high school. Nostalgia, maybe?
Other than some of the promotional items, the menu hadn't changed much. I was still able to get my spicy chicken sandwich combination, although you can't get the 'biggie' size anymore, just a large. Likely a concession to all of the health and dietary issues we have here in America, but let's be honest: if we really want people to stop eating crap, we'd just get rid of chains like this entirely and make community gardens.
Anyhow.
The service was reasonable, although there was only one cashier at one register at 2 PM, which seems like a time slot that would warrant more coverage. There were about half a dozen people behind the counter, all stumbling over each other to put the orders together. I asked for no mayo on my sandwich, knowing full well it would have mayo on it anyhow, as indeed it did. It came with a large order of fries and a cup of root beer the size of an oil drum. If you like REALLY big drinks, Wendy's is your place. (Of course, it's just a way for them to offer perceived value using an item that costs them pennies, but still.)
Mayo aside, the food was actually quite good by fast food criteria. I wouldn't call the spicy chicken sandwich 'spicy,' per se, but it's pretty flavorful and the crispy texture is a nice departure from typical slimy fast food chicken. The fries are much better than I remembered - I guess they use a new recipe now with sea salt, which is a winner.
So why only two stars? In a word: price.
My meal cost over nine dollars, which is patently absurd for fast food. We're talking about a modestly sized chicken sandwich with lettuce and tomato, a carton of fries, and the soda. Where could my money possibly be going? The people behind the counter undoubtedly receiving as little pay as legally possible? The ambiance? It boggles the mind. It certainly wasn't going into the decor, which featured aging carpeting and a lake of iced tea by the condiment area the size of a regulation swimming pool. (I don't necessarily fault the staff for that, of course. Considering the usual clientele of fast food places - teenagers and other undesirables - it was likely the 19th massive spill that day that the culprit failed to clean up or even bother mentioning to the employees.) If I made a list of the top places in the area to eat for ten bucks, Wendy's wouldn't make the Top 300.
Pretty good for fast food, but stick to the discount menu or prepare to pay through the nose for something from a deep fryer. read more