Dublin 43017
Seriously, there's a McDonald's off Avery Road. Caspar and I had time for a quick, greasy lunch today, and Arches is always on the short list of stops. Given that I've already reviewed our favorite McHaunt, we thought we'd try another location -- for your sake. I suggested Tuttle, and Caspar noted there was one in the Perimeter area. I told him he was daft, that there's a Wendy's and a BK, but surely no Arches -- how could I have missed it all these years?
Well it is indeed there, we dined there, and here are some observations. First, I've missed it all these years because the big golden M in the red field is not allowed to exist in this part of Dublin. All signage is brown and small, including signs to get back on the freeway (it's close to Muirfield, meaning rich golfers and golfer wannabe's don't like to know where they're going). So lost in a sea of brown and brick was a McDonald's situated in the Giant Eagle shopping plaza.
Once you've sighted it, getting there is still another challenge when going north on Avery -- you make a right into the shopping plaza and then need to make an immediate left, cutting across traffic turning into the plaza from the southbound lanes. Messy, but no great obstacle if great grease is to be had. Unfortunately, the dining experience left much to be desired.
The place is the Toyota RAV-4 of McDonald's franchises: too damn small to be useful. I ordered my Big Mac meal (I always go with that at a new franchise to test their version of the flagship product) and turned to grab a seat... and found there were none. The restaurant has an odd L-shape, and I wandered around the corner and that side was packed too. No seats. At 11:40. It seemed to have the same amount of capacity as your average Subway strip mall franchise. What the hell do you do at a fast-food restaurant standing there with your tray when you have no place to sit? I was heading over the counter to get a bag when eagle-eyed Caspar spied a hidden (unwiped) bar-height table by itself between a wall and the vestibule. Fortunately the folks coming in behind us all ordered to-go. Perhaps they knew the drill.
Caspar's shorter stature was an obvious hindrance at this location. The drink lids are located unconventionally above the drink dispenser, which is easily missed if your eye-level is lower. Also, the bar-height table and stools were ill-equipped with foot-rests. There were none on the table and the ones on the chairs were quite low, such that Caspar's feet had nowhere to perch.
"What the hell do you suppose that is?" is not one of the top questions I like to have asked of me during a meal, and we agreed to pretend to not notice whatever it was that was stuck to Caspar's tray. In general, the place had a decent decor and was fundamentally clean (no old dirt), but there were numerous places where small, new messes were not attended to. So why three grease spots instead of two?
Because it's all about the food. And the food was pretty good. The Big Mac was a very good specimen of its kind: fresh bun, served hot, sauce evenly applied, and juicy patties. The fries were typical Arches, which is to say quite good. We were served quickly by friendly staff, and as we exited, one of the cashiers yelled out to us to have a good day (mind you we had not made eye contact such that she'd feel compelled to say anything, she just called after us). Nice touch.
If you get friendly service and a good hot meal, the rest becomes less important. I don't think it can replace our staple location on 161, but it'll do in a pinch.
ADDENDUM: This does not typically concern us, but it's worth noting that all three aforementioned McDonald's locations (Tuttle Crossing, 161(Bridge St), and Avery/Perimeter have Wi-Fi access.
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