![]() ![]() ![]() And that's exactly what McDonald's wants-no, needs-in order to prolong its miserable existence. I saw no less than eight hip-looking millennials flow in through the front door and tap their way through the Create Your Taste kiosks. To my surprise, though, the system actually did seem to be attracting business. It's such a violent departure from the typical McDonald's experience-typified mainly by grease burps and regret-that people might reject it out of sheer confusion. Sure, 10 minutes later I felt like I'd swallowed a fat-soaked cinderblock, but I can't lie: Certain well-proportioned bites of it were actually tasty.Īnd that's why Create Your Taste may be its own worst enemy. But even I, an ardent McDonald's hater, must admit that the burger really wasn't that bad. I'd arrived at McDonald's that afternoon on a pretty high horse, expecting to disdain every part of the experience. MORE: The One Time It's Okay to Eat Fast Food Maybe when they say "artisan," they mean there's an actual artisan in the back coating these things with Mod Podge? Who knows. I also had some reservations about the artisan roll, which was bland and freakishly glossy on top. The beef was the worst part: It was tough, cooked to death, and badly wanting some salt and pepper. Mickey D's was a little stingy with the cheese but that unmistakable salty-nuttiness was still in there. The tomato slice was thick and juicy and the lettuce had a weak but perceptible crunch. The crispy onions were more breading than onion but that was just fine with me. When a server arrived bearing my burger, asking if I needed a drink refill, I was too stunned to do anything but shake my head.Īnd there it was: My meal, nestled inside trendy little wire baskets, the burger lying boastfully open-faced, as if to say Look! This time I have shaved Parmesan instead of fake cheese! These features only add to the disconcerting feeling that perhaps you have stepped into an alternate reality where McDonald's actually cares about its customers. ![]() It has floor lamps instead of overheard fluorescents, huge windows, sleek minimalistic chairs, and boldly-painted murals on the walls. It should be noted that the seating area at this McDonald's is unusually hip. I ordered a quarter-pound beef patty on an "artisan" roll with shaved Parmesan, grilled tomato, creamy garlic sauce, crispy onions, and leaf lettuce (a combo with about 620 calories, according to this Austrailian Create Your Taste nutrition document. The kiosks are unnecessarily gigantic but otherwise unremarkable: You simply choose a meat, a bun, a cheese, toppings, and sauces, swipe a credit card, and take a seat. Upon entering, I was greeted with two options: Enter the chaotic mob of customers waiting in line for the registers, or approach one of the four glowing Create Your Taste kiosks attended by two employees. So I set a date for my lunch at Mickey D's, promised myself I wouldn't look at any ingredient lists or nutrition facts beforehand, and set off down the street. MORE: The 7 Best Fast-Food Chains for Real Food How could I not go and scope out the scene? Really, it was my journalistic duty. The location choice felt like fate-another golden opportunity to ridicule McDonald's as it swings wildly from trend to trend. And just a few weeks ago, Create Your Taste arrived at its very first New York City location: Third Avenue and 58th Street, just a few blocks away from our offices. The system was first launched in Australia but has since made it way over to the U.S. ![]()
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