McDonald’s offering free WiFi to its customers

What goes better with greasy fries and corn syrupy sodas than delicate electronic equipment? McDonald’s announced today that they plan to roll out free wi-fi in their outlets that currently offer it for a fee. The goal is to make their restaurants more amenable to people hanging out, and gobble up more of Starbucks’ share of the latte-sipping market.

“McDonald’s had charged a $2.95 fee for two hours of wireless Internet access at 11,000 of its 14,000 U.S. locations. Now the company will scrap that fee beginning in the middle of January, said McDonald’s USA chief information officer David Grooms.
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The move is part of McDonald’s latest efforts to boost its McCafe coffee drinks — and to take on Starbucks. McDonald’s plans to start selling drinks like frappes and smoothies by the middle of 2010, the report said. The fast-food chain in September said it aims to become the No. 1 coffee store in Europe, a position now held by Starbucks.
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Zagat’s Fast Food Survey specifies the best fast food chains

Zagat’s latest Fast Food Survey illustrates the latest situation among fast-food and full-service chains. This survey is based on 6107 respondents, they evaluated 103 chains all over US. The criteria is that the typical respondent eats at a chain restaurant 11 times per month on average. Food, facilities and service given by each chain has been rated on a 30-point scale.

According to Tim Zagat, CEO of Zagat Survey, fast-food chains offer a lot of value to diners. Taking the current economic situation into consideration, this has become more important. Looking at the rankings, there are some interesting results:

• #1 Most popular fast food, Panera Bread
• #1 Most popular mega chain, Subway
• #2 Most popular quick refreshment, Dunkin’ Donuts (Starbucks was #1)
• #1 Best value of fast foods, McDonald’s
• #1 Best burger of full-service chains, Red Robin
• #2 Top facilities among large chains, Zaxby’s

Quiznos has shown the most significant depletion. This sub chain appeared in past top lists, but it does not take place among this year’s top chains. Quiznos’ rival Subway has been ranked in several categories — #2 in top food, #3 in facilities and #1 top service. You can find the full rankings of Zagat’s Fast Food Survey in here.

[via Blue MauMau]

Popeyes Chicken&Biscuits: $4You

Popeyes is making you full by only 4$. A new menu called “$4You” has nine different choices, including Loading Chicken Wrap, Biscuit, Three Louisana Nuggets, and Apple Pie. You pick three out of nine, and make your own menu. And it costs just 4$.

Shaw from Lunch Blog has tried “$4You” with his friends. Everyone has gotten a different choice, and they give their opinions about each of nine foods:

• Loaded Chicken Wrap: This is your best bet — a tortilla stuffed with a chicken tender, cheese, and red beans and rice. Oddly enough, it’s got more or less the same ingredients as the Chicken Bowl, yet is much more appealing.
• Delta Mini: Also decent. A chicken tender on a small bun slathered with Delta Sauce, which is some kind of spicy mayo. Robert split his with me, and I wish I’d got my own.
• Chicken Biscuit: Exactly what its name says — a chicken tender on a biscuit. Good in theory. Disappointing in execution. Somehow managed to be dry and greasy at the same time. Neither of us finished ours. Says online you’re supposed to get a choice of Louisiana hot sauce or honey, although no such offer was made this evening.
• Biscuit: Because you could get a biscuit with a piece of chicken in it instead, you should pick this only if you are new to the planet and have no concept of value.
• Leg or Thigh, Mild or Spicy: Like the KFC Big Box Meal, it’s not enough bone-in chicken to make a true impression.
• Three Louisiana Nuggets: Really, Popeyes? Three whole nuggets? You spoil us. Nets out to 44¢ a pop.
• Regular Side: Should you want some red beans and rice, mashed potatoes and gravy, Cajun fries or Cajun rice, this is a decent option. For the suckers out there, Popeyes also offers cole slaw. Always thought it was weird that Popeyes doesn’t serve spinach, but it turns out the chain is actually named for Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle of The French Connection, rather than the sailor man.
• Regular Drink: I’m sick of sodas being offered as a value menu item. A waste of one of your three picks — especially when you’ve got a few Miller High Life quarts waiting for you.
• Cinnamon Apple Pie: Hmmm.

Read - Lunch Blog

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Kentucky Grilled Chicken: Is it delicious?

As you know, many people believe that fast food is not friendly with health. Many fast foods are being cooked by frying. So, fat is in harness. For recent years, grilling has evolved as a healty cooking method. It seems that fast food companies had seen this trend and prepared special grill menus. The most famous example is KFC’s. Kentucky Grilled Chicken is available in many KFC restaurants.

For example, an original drumstick in KFC has 60 calories from fat. On the other hand, grilled drumstick has only 35 calories. But, what about its taste? Robert Morast from Inforum.com tried grilled chicken from KFC, and shared his opinions. According to Morast, KFC grilled chicken smelled like it had been harvested from a gas station warm plate, but it was nonoffensive. The skin was cripsy while the meat maintained its moistness. The taste of the Colonel’s “secret recipe” was still kept inside.

Read - Inforum