Having worked in fast food for a year or so, I feel qualified to share my thoughts on a few things fast food related.

I worked for Burger King.  And I LOVED working the drive through window.  I had an open mike, a pretty decent speaking voice and I really enjoyed the interaction.  It became frustrating when it got so busy that the kitchen couldn’t keep up, but I had fun…

There were a couple of instances that were irritating…the kids that would walk up (sorry, can’t help you), or the kids that would argue that that the grocery cart they pushed up, with their friend in it, was NOT a vehicle.  Once there was an intoxicated driver, with an open bottle visible in the front seat…yeah, we called the police…

What I will never understand is this:  I know the fast food drive thru window is timed.  From the time you place your order to the time you drive away with your food.  What I don’t understand is the inability to receive an order, fill it, give back the correct change and the correct order, in a timely fashion…..

This ever happen to you?

“Yes, I would like a Whopper Jr with cheese, no ketchup, small fries and a small diet coke.”  Pull up to the window and they ask you again what you had.  Huh?  Didn’t I just tell you?  Isn’t it on your screen?  Why do I have to order twice?  They take your card or your money…and you have to wait for the receipt and change.  They pass you the drink (with soda spilled all over the outside, so you have to ask for napkins and your straw.  Then they pass you the bag…

Now, I am driving, remember, so I pull away, and head wherever it is I am going (often a longish drive to a meeting, a rehearsal, to visit someone…), so I don’t open the bag right away….Once I DO open the bag, the fries are spilled all over the bag, and they are cold.  I HATE cold French fries….but I eat them…I’m hungry…and NO they aren’t cold because I waited too long…they are cold because they were sitting under the heat lamp and there were no new, hot fries ready.

I save the beverage, and tackle the burger…I order them without ketchup because ketchup make a mess if it drips…Guess what?  Not only is there ketchup, it is on the wrapper, and dripping out one side…so not only does it drip on the only clean shirt I have with me (the one I have on), it on my seatbelt and my hand…and now the steering wheel.

Finish the burger, and use the single napkin they threw in the bag to clean up a little…and take a sip of ice, cold soda.  Regular coke.  I ordered DIET coke because I LIKE the TASTE better…And it’s REGULAR coke?  I know…I should eat healthy before I leave and bring bottle water or soda with me…

Only ONCE have I ever driven back around to demand hot fries….

How bout this one….You pull up to Dunkin Donuts.  I LOVE the salted caramel hot chocolate….I order and extra large with 4 or 5 ice cubes.  They WRITE it on the cup…You drive away and open it, only to burn your tongue, the roof of your mouth and the gums around your back teeth.  Your esophagus is now on fire and you wonder how many internal organs are now par-broiled?  How difficult is it to throw the ice in the hot, molten, liquid?

Fast Food….slow down and get it right.