This was my spot for a weekly cheat meal for years. I went around 3 weeks ago, saved the receipt, as I knew this was likely the last time I willingly go to one. Went late on the weekend, not wanting to cook, but well before the bars let out. It was like what was already said in the thread, time. It was 15 minutes before I could order (inside, the line for drive thru was just ridiculous and I’m not going to sit there and idle for 30-45 minutes). Then I waited like 50 minutes before it was ready. People kept coming inside, looking at everyone inside with numbers on the tables, and saying F it. Been going there for 40+ years and it’s never been like this. It was bad the previous time I went too but not like this. Not worth the trouble for me. I could have cooked a patty at home, 90% lean ground beef, and made an entire meal in 30 minutes or less. No food from any place is worth dealing with that amount of time to score a bag.

Service sucks everywhere these days. Nobody wants to work any more.

As for the quality of their food, I find it varies from one to another. A new one opened a couple of years ago here in Arm Pit, AL. Their food is not great. The best Whataburger for us is a 45 minute drive North to Clanton, AL off I-85. That place is crawling with people all day long and their food is very good.

RMD

quote:

Originally posted by PASig:
All fast food service has declined significantly within the past 2 years. They can't find competent people any longer, the prices are ludicrous and the food has gone way downhill. You'd be better off just avoiding all of it and cooking your own burgers at home now.

It's not that they have declined except maybe in service as has most everything labor related.
The one thing is that there are so many much better recipes for food now days.
Our tastes have matured with time and technology and just don't accept the fast food as the norm as much.
We have more money so better restaurants exist because of it.

Still many just do it because of the cost and expeditious nature.
Competition has caught up and it is not they have deteriorated - it is that we have advanced.
.02

Eat more chicken!

quote:

Service sucks everywhere these days. Nobody wants to work any more.

THIS is what I hear from several store managers.
They say, kids get hired, work a few days than quit, 'cause the work is too hard, or too boring, or whatever.

Our local WhatABurger is okay...not great, but okay. Since we don't eat burgers and fries at restaurants much, we opt to pay more and go to Five Guys. It's about the same distance away and everything about the place is better.

I agree with Edmond that Fuddruckers was great. I haven't seen one in quite a while. The last one we went to was either in Puerto Rico or Las Vegas. There are none in Alabama.

quote:

Originally posted by GWbiker:

quote:

Service sucks everywhere these days. Nobody wants to work any more.

THIS is what I hear from several store managers.
They say, kids get hired, work a few days than quit, 'cause the work is too hard, or too boring, or whatever.

You want to fix it - eliminate the minimum wage.
As controversial as it sounds ~ it would bring into the workforce younger workers (kids 16+) that need experience and develop them for future jobs as well as provide competition that make the older workers work harder.

That and ship all the illegals back to Mexico or wherever.

Whataburger right across the street from my ofice. Never eaten there looks dead. Lots of fast food on the road from BK to KFC to five other chicken place.

Are there three times , many years ago.
Not a fan.

quote:

Originally posted by xd45man:
I must be lucky. My Whataburger is good. The service is somewhere between Chick Fil A and McDonalds, but the food is delicious. I even buy their ketchup by the bottle.
Here's to hoping everyone finds a good Whataburger.

Same here - lucky... Its even been good at 3am - and they're the only burger place around here still open 24 hours.

quote:

Originally posted by P250UA5:

quote:

Originally posted by Edmond:
Shame that a place like Fuddruckers is nearly gone now. Their burgers were awesome. Ground their own burgers and baked their own bread in the restaurant.

Can't remember the last time I even saw a Fuddruckers
I think the last time I ate in one was in high school. Did the 1lb burger on 2 occasions.
Used to regularly get a triple meat Whataburger as well. Don't think I could do that these days.

There is still a Fudds near me. It isn't as good. I don't think they grind their own meat. It is better than a drive-up fast burger, but not like a deluxe burger any more.

I agree that Whataburger joints have consistency problems. Some are still better than the average fast burger, others no. The service is still usually nicer than McD's. But really - they were always just fast-food burgers. It wasn't like they were fresh-from=scratch ever. They were just better than McD's. That isn't a high bar.

quote:

Originally posted by flesheatingvirus:
At least they have spicy ketchup, though it could be spicier. Plus, they have a really good green chile double in New Mexico. Sorry, rest of America.

I preferred Lotaburger when I lived in New Mexico. At least when I lived there they had uniform quality whichever one you visited.

Whataburger has gone down hill and more so since they sold out and after COVID. I sometimes still go to them for breakfast when I am hitting the road at 5am for a long trip for work.

quote:

Originally posted by StorminNormin:
Whataburger has gone down hill and more so since they sold out and after COVID. I sometimes still go to them for breakfast when I am hitting the road at 5am for a long trip for work.

Sausage egg & cheese taquitos. were still as good as before last time I tried.