Willie T.
Yelp
I came to McDonald's in search of a happy meal. Not their signature product, the "happy meal", but a happy meal that brings me delight and joy. I believe that is what many of us are searching for when we venture to the golden arches: a sense of childlike wonder, excitement, and giddiness.
Unfortunately, McDonald's has grown up alongside the rest of us and lost its childhood as well. You can see it and feel it when you walk in, and you can definitely feel it when you look at the prices. Long gone are the days of colorful chairs, in-store GameCubes, and $1 any size soft drinks. Instead, the design takes cues from a mature cafe: muted colors, uniform seating arrangements, and a hushed atmosphere.
The ordering process is very cold and efficient. You punch your order into a machine, take a number, and get seated. An employee will bring your order out to you and give you a curt thank you before returning to the kitchen, and that's the last human interaction you'll have inside this establishment. An introvert's dream. And in terms of ease and efficiency, a win for both the customer and the employees. But why does it leave me feeling so empty inside?
The prices have "grown up" the most out of everything here. Don't go looking for the $1 items, you won't find any (except water, which notably costs $1 instead of being free). It is nearly mandatory to take advantage of the app to avoid spending $15+ on a meal. 20 pieces of chicken nuggets will cost your soul.
The food itself was fine, and the speed of service was impressive, so no complaints there. In fact, we may be looking at the peak of quality and efficiency at McDonald's. But have we lost something along the way? In its effort to grow up, has McDonald's lost some of its innocence? Maybe I am searching for something that was never there. Maybe my happiness no longer resides in those delectably crunchy rows of fried potatoes. Alas, we cannot remain in the past forever. The only constant in life is change.
If you go searching for a happy meal here, you can certainly order one, but you may not find one.