Posts Tagged ‘Ronald’

Review: McDonald’s Southern Style Chicken Sandwich

Saturday, May 17th, 2008

Southern Style Chicken SandwichPrice: $2.89; paid – $1.39

Promotion: free chicken with drink-purchase deal

Location: 6900 N. Western, Chicago, IL 60645 (map); phone: (773) 274-6151

Rating: 2 out of 5 – forgettable

McDonald’s other all-white meat addition to its menu was supposed to be better than its crumbling biscuit counterpart (at least in my mind), but it managed to fall short while regularly listing for a dollar more than its breakfast-based brother. So how’d this somewhat larger sandwich manage that? Surprisingly, by not making itself more memorable with a crazy crumbly bun. The Southern Style Chicken Sandwich is simply bland and perfectly fits the description of forgettable.

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Snobbery: Postmodern design makes Ronald look lonely

Tuesday, January 29th, 2008

Lonely RonaldFollowing the lead of its downtown and select suburban locations, McDonald’s has been rapidly changing the look of its northern Chicago restaurants as well. Over the last half year or so, location after location has been abruptly razed and rebuilt in stunning fashion, each barely finishing up just before the next one goes down.

And what’s the result of all this? More adult-friendly architecture (read: no more ball- and tube-filled playplaces for kids) and less of the plastic decor that so long characterized the House of Ronald. Not only does the eponymous clown look forlorn sitting on that cold bench outside, but that stone fireplace inside (see below) seems strangely out of place under those familiar Golden Arches. (more…)