Re: Why so few ff places in the northeast?

On Mon, 14 Jan 2008, Steve Fenwick wrote:

> In article
> <Pine.SOC.4.64.0801141458350.22968@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>,
> Al Eisner <eisner@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
>
>> However, in my initial comment I was certainly emphasizing the "fast".
>> In'n'Out is rarely fast, even if the line to order is short.  If I
order
>> a burger at a place I think we'd all agree is non-fast-food, such as
>> The Counter or Kirk's on the mid-peninsula **, it doesn't take any
signifi-
>> cantly longer to arrive than it does at IN'n'Out, although perhaps you
>> would distinguish those places by their table-service (or at least
>> table-delivery).
>
> Having just dined at The Counter this weekend, I would disagree with
> your assertion that they do not take significantly longer to deliver
> meals than In-n-Out. Our meal went:
>
> 1) Order (t=0)
> 2) Receive drinks (t+5minutes)
> 3) Receive fries/onion strings (t+10 minutes)
> 4) Receive burgers (t+20 minutes)
>
> This is not unusual for The Counter; the fries are treated (by them) as
> an appetizer.

I guess that matches my maximum-wait experience at The Counter.  I've
only been there about four times, so perhaps I don't have adequate
statistics.  Still, they are serving something in less time.  Kirk's,
which I've been to many more times, is decidedly faster, with waits
rarely more than 10 minutes.

> You're asserting that it takes 20 minutes to receive your burgers at
> In-n-Out? I've never waited that long inside, even when the line was out
> the door (e.g., Vacaville, weekend lunch, summer weekend).

Definitely, I've seen 20 minute waits at In-n-Out. And I don't recall
ever having a wait less than 10 minutes.  Also, given the atmosphere of
the place (which is very fast-food like) the wait *feels* even longer.
-- 

                                                              Al Eisner
                                                      San Mateo Co., CA