I know most online Aldi groups call it the Aisle of Shame. Can you get through the maze without going there?
There are some crazy Aldi fans in Facebook groups out there. There are some people who like mazes out there. Is there much of an overlap?
It’s really that simple. You can even skip the printing and solve it on your phone or tablet usong a note app or photo editor if so inclined.
Every time I go to a Walmart, Target, Kmart, etc. I’m driven slightly mad. Sure, part of it is because of the stores themselves or the employees who seem to be rather uninterested in working… But most of the problem is the other shoppers. I was going to put a percentage on it, but I’m not sure I can. I think is a small percentage of idiots with a largely negative impact. Well, idiot just implies that they’re stupid. I think it’s more inconsiderate than stupid. I’m talking about people who are generally unaware of the needs, thoughts, and feelings of everyone around them. The best word that I can think of (even though I generally try to avoid being vulgar in print) is asshole. We all know what kind of person that describes. If I owned/ran a department store, I would try to prevent the behavior that goes with this type of personality.
Parking Lot
Curbing unacceptable behavior would start in the parking lot (pun intended). One of my favorite blogs calls these people “Peter Parkers.” They’re where the problem begins. If your jackass behavior can’t make it through the parking lot, we’ll hope you don’t even bother to come in to the store. Whether we’re talking about people driving & parking the wrong way in one way lanes, people who park over the lines, people who don’t slow down/stop at cross-walks, or people who park in handicapped spaces or on the line-covered spaces near the handicapped spaces. That’s just the drivers… Don’t forget that people need to learn how to walk to their car in a parking lot too.
Crossing Guard
To curtail all of this inconsiderate conduct we’d have meter maids, crossing guards, and cameras. I guess the meter maids wouldn’t have meters to read, they’d just be parking enforcers. Cars parked over painted lines, at curbs, or in handicapped spaces without proper tags will be towed. Immediately. I’m saying we’d go after them mere seconds after it happens, perhaps as their door is being shut. The parking enforcers wouldn’t be like the people on that TV show where they argue. They’d just do their job. I’d have a tow truck or two on site at all times. I have no tolerance for people who think that rules somehow don’t apply to themselves. (I’m talking about inconsequential rules here like how to conduct yourself in society. I think it’s always good to question authority & what not… but that doesn’t apply here where you’re just being a self-indulgent dolt.)
People entering & exiting the store wouldn’t have the free reign to walk out into oncoming traffic. Somehow (here in PA at least) people have taken “pedestrians have the right of way” to the extreme, where the actual law is that they have the right of way in crosswalks. Everywhere else, you’re fair game. A crossing-guard would facilitate safe passage and at the same prevent a traffic jam like you get in the front of every Walmart or Giant Eagle when an endless stream of lackadaisical shoppers lumber slowly in front of you without glancing in your direction as you sit in your auto waiting for a break in the action. If the people who like to park wherever they please or run into oncoming traffic with faith in an imaginary no-fault law somehow don’t feel welcome in my department store, then good. We’ve successfully weeded out the first wave of assholes. If they have learned to conduct themselves in a respectful manner while spending time in my controlled outdoor environment, then let ’em in!
Amish parking
(Oh yeah, bicycles would have their own parking lot… they’d share it with buggies & horses in Amish country, and buses would roll to the edge of the parking lot, not right to the front door causing endless amounts of chaos.)
Inside the store, we’d have checkout lines like the bank, Wendy’s, or Best Buy. People can be incredibly ignorant when it comes to getting in line. It’s certainly not everyone, but there are a select few who ruin it for everyone else. See any McDonalds or Sheetz without the rope at lunch time. It’s absolute chaos.
Queue Area
I know they’re not department stores… but it’s easier to see the same behavior there as it’s more concentrated. It would eliminate getting into line behind the people who want to put things back, use expired coupons, write checks, talk on their phones, shop for everything in the impulse-buy section, or search for their method of payment long after everything is rung up.
In fact, no checks. All it does is slow things down. It’s 2012. It’s almost 2013. If you have a bank account, you have a debt card or credit card, some of them are even called check cards now. Use it. Don’t use that antiquated paper log-book that does nothing but slow things down for everyone.
In my store, there would be no greeter that avoids eye contact completely or looks at you like you’re the grim reaper come to take them to hell. Maybe there would be a robot there to say hello. At least a robot could fake sincerity more efficiently.
Even though it doesn’t have to do with behavior exactly, the restrooms would have faucets in the sinks (with hot water) that you can fit your hands under, paper towels that are actually stocked regularly, hand dryers that actually dry your hands, and soap. No foam soap, no hand sanitizer, no bathroom attendants to do it for you. It might put people in a better mood if they can be comfortable.
I’m sure there are many other things I’d have to put in place, and many other bad customer behavior… but these are the ones I can think of now.
What would you do to make a trip to a department store more tolerable? Would you enjoy it if stores weeded out the a-holes? Are you one of the people who behaves like an a-hole by parking in the wrong spots, jumping to lines in front of people, and walking like an idiot in the parking lot? Please, share your thoughts in the comments section below!
last minute shoppers. (Photo credit: the idealist)
I’ve been quiet with blogging lately. I’m not all that busy, and I’m certainly not out of things to ramble on about. I guess I’ve just been doing other stuff. I hope everyone enjoyed their holiday & any time with friends, family, or time off of work. Today. I was inspired to make a post about buttermilk, and thought I’d get it down before I forgot about it.
Charlie’s Old Fashioned Buttermilk
I like buttermilk. Occasionally, when at the grocery store… something hits me that says I want buttermilk. Much to my wife’s dismay, I listen. Buttermilk is an acquired taste to say the least. Most people any more seem to see it as a cooking ingredient. It makes great pancakes, ranch dressing, and mashed potatoes. It’s a good dredge for breading. It’s good in many recipes. But, it’s also a delicious drink.
Generally I prefer Charlie’s Old Time Buttermilk (by Turner’s) or Country Charm Cultured Buttermilk (by Dean’s). Uncle Charlie’s has the tiny added butter flecks. If you like things like sour cream, cottage cheese, or stinky cheeses… you may also like buttermilk. (Maybe if you like yogurt too… but I personally hate yogurt.) You may like it only after your first couple of tries, like beer or coffee.
No, it’s not higher in fat than regular milk like you’d expect. It’s good for you.
I don’t remember not liking buttermilk, but there aren’t many of “us” out there. My parents always drank it, my grandparents drank it. I was used to it forever I guess. It’s delicious, and now something I crave like a special treat. I’ve had people make horrible faces after trying it. I’ve had people swear at me, and even hit me after letting them try it. This is how you man up (no offense to ladies, the dairy-allergic, or the lactose intolerant) & drink buttermilk the right way:
…or just drink straight from the tiny jug or carton if you’re a barbarian.
Tall glass of buttermilk
Insanity.
http://twitter.com/#!/W_a_L_D/status/136910586947715072
That’s right. Boston Market not only reached out via my contact form thanks to Facebook, but also had the cojones to do this…
Boston Market RT!
I still haven’t received a reply to my email to Mr. Wakabayashi, but what now Panera Bread? What now? Clearly, this will pan out to be a bigger rivalry than Neil Young vs. Skynrd, or East Coast Rap vs. West Coast Rap. Maybe even bigger than me vs. the people that think I’m McDonald’s. (At Least Mr. Wakabayashi used my contact form correctly!)
http://twitter.com/#!/W_a_L_D/status/137169033266077696
http://twitter.com/#!/bostonmarket/status/137212008138424321
If you have no idea what’s going on, or if you work for Panera Bread. You can catch up here…
In other news, did you know that they both cater? I wish someone would have told me.
I actually stopped at the local Panera the other night because the wife was sick and wanted some of that cheese-broccoli soup. I went in to get some to go, and got myself a half of a turkey sandwich and a cup of the chicken noodle.
The employee (a young girl, of course) at the counter was quite friendly, asked if I wanted lettuce tomato or onion on the sandwich, and even asked if I wanted mustard and/or mayo. Clearly, someone went over new procedures. Sadly, I asked for lettuce & tomato… and got neither, but I did get mustard and mayo. I applaud the effort, and shame on me for not checking before I left the store.
I have to say, after my initial complaint, they have totally stepped it up service-wise. I still call shenanigans on the new soup. They ought to let sales do the talking… OFFER BOTH. It’s certainly a popular item. Let the consumers decide if they want a great-tasting soup… or the crappy flat-noodled healthy soup. Clearly, as a leader in the Fast Casual industry, you can afford to test the proverbial waters? I think more changes have been made, but it’s still not the old soup. Shenanigans.
Also, I counted 3 signs within a span of about 8 feet on the counter where you wait for your order advertising the catering… and the pop machine still does it too. I think the receipt may have even said something about it.
I spend far too much time contemplating fast food & fast casual dining. If only I could save time buy purchasing already prepared meals. Does anyone out there do that?
I’m just sayin’.
Panera Bread - vs. - Boston Market
From: Waldo Lunar <world.and.lunar.domination@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, Nov 4, 2011
Subject: New Catering Advertisement Opportunities!
To: & Cc: A bunch of Panera & Boston Market EmployeesHello friends at Boston Market & Panera Bread,
I assume that the lack of response to my last email about an all-out catering battle at my house was ill-received. I didn’t get any interest from either camp, or even any kind of acknowledgement of my email. Not even a coupon. Isn’t that the typical response? “Throw ’em a coupon!” Color me disappointed.
No reply is rather rude, don’t you think? Batman movie night has come & gone. We dutifully provided a favorable dining experience to our guests thanks to an incredible local pizza shop. Roasted red peppers as a pizza topping? A hit all around, I tell you! Subs with a homemade feel cut in to bite-size appetizers were also quite delicious.
I’m not sure why neither Panera Bread or Boston Market was willing to enter my catering battle royale. It would have been an exciting opportunity for both of you. I realize now… that you need help with forward thinking. You missed this opportunity to advertise your catering and fight for my dollar.
I believe that I may have come around to your way of thinking. Perhaps I need to fight for your dollar. I previously saw advertisements on the pop machine and all over the windows as borderline obscene… but why stop at the border, friends? Let’s trample the border, deface it on our way through, and not look back! I have some ideas that you may find attractive. I really look forward to your feedback. (Don’t give me any shenanigans about unsolicited ideas and what-not, we’re all friends here.)
- Advertising on the napkins. You already do it on the receipts, walls, & windows. Subway uses their napkins for nutrition information. Show them up, advertise! Think of all that clean wasted ad space ripe for the slinging of your delicious wares. Were one ambitious, this could extend to the “to go” sandwich wrappings, the fancy new plates that you’re both using, and even the trays. Hell, why not the drink cups?
- Guerrilla advertising. You could have employees go into your parking lot at regular intervals, and put flyers under the windshield wipers of cars. If you really wanna get crazy, try bumper stickers! People would love decorations on their autos.
- Me. Send me a T-shirt that advertises your catering services. I play in a band. I’ll wear it to shows. The throngs of bar patrons who rock out with me on a regular basis will be sure to flock to the nearest Panera Bread or Boston Market location. I might be able to convince my band-mates to do the same. If we’d like to get really crazy, may I offer to sell my forehead as a billboard?
- Paystubs. Your employees get paid right? Get that money back! Advertise your catering services on their pay-stubs, and any communications that you need to send. There’s room on that W2 envelope for a 10% off catering coupon.
- Right on the food itself. This is the one that excites me the most! You’ve seen the toasters that produce an image of Darth Vader, and the irons that brand your initials on to a steak, right? There are also printers that print right on things like rice paper & cakes. Why not take advantage of this technology? Think about it. Full color printing on wraps? Toasty images on buns, bread, & bagels? Delicious meat branded with confidence, demanding that you pick up a catering menu. It’s never been done. It’s opulent. It’s genius. (If I do say so myself.)
So, what do you think? Can I help in this new advertising adventure? These are the next steps in the evolution of promulgation. Let’s move onward and upward, into uncharted catering promotional territory. It will be an onslaught to the senses, and an influx in revenue for all involved. I’m excited for this venture, and especially excited to get some feedback from everyone involved.
Excelsoir!
-Waldo Lunar
[ -YOUR AD COULD BE HERE- ]
incessant emails / incessant advertising
Further Reading:
So after my last Panera-related post, I went a little goofy. I put a post on their Facebook wall…
http://www.facebook.com/panerabread/posts/124723480954835
Found this part of that amusing:
…the corporate office (or in your case the corporate office for our franchise partner who operates bakery-cafes in the Pittsburgh area) reviews your email before contacting and working closely with the general manager to try to resolve the issue.
I also tweeted a few times…
http://twitter.com/#!/AiXeLsyD13/status/96920982714990592
http://twitter.com/#!/AiXeLsyD13/status/96949713940643841
…and got this DM from them:
panerabread Hey, thx for sharing feedback through website. Sorry about your disappointing experience, our CS team is looking into & will be in touch.
Heh.
I got this email from the local general manager…
From: 3497 <panera3497@covelli.com>
To: [me]
Sent: Friday, July 29, 2011 10:50 AM
Subject: Contact Us
Dear Mr. Carroll,I would like to introduce myself as Carrie Janota, the General Manager at the Greentree Panera Bread. I appreciate all your feedback and coaching. Your response will definitely help us with current and future training to associates, especially this time of year. The company has made several changes with menu items that you expressed in your comments. First, our turkey is now presliced so the consistency is different than when we sliced it in house. We also changed the recipe of our chicken noodle soup, which makes it all natural. Another healthy initiative we have taken is the removal of sauces on all cafe sandwiches. We offer packets of mayo and mustard at the condiment bar or you are welcomed to inform the cashier that you would like the condiments on the sandwich and we will gladly put them on for you. The “no onions” is our mistake and I would like to compensate you for a free meal next time you visit a Panera Bread. If you could please send me your address, I will gladly put the coupon in the mail for you. Again, thank you for your input, I use all issues as a learning tools for our associates.Carrie JanotaGeneral Manager
So, this is what I wrote back to them…
-餧馕馒-
Boston Market is annoying/obnoxious with advertising their catering too. I get it. You guys cater. I know this. I’m here for dinner. You don’t need to advertise for a place that I’m already in. Imagine going into Walmart & seeing a sign in every aisle that advertises the stuff in the next aisle. This could get quote old quite quickly.
Thank you for your time, I hope you can use my input to your advantage… for your team, and perhaps passed on to a corporate level. I’d like to respectfully decline a free meal. I don’t write these sort of emails in order to get free food… and I’m skeptical of any coupons/certificates flagging me as “oh, here’s that guy”. I may even be done with Panera bread for a while. Bedsides the potentially scary cross-contamination and general utensil-cleanliness issues, our philosophies don’t seem to mesh well. I don’t need you to make health decisions for me, I need you to give me quality meals at the prices you demand. Your new more healthy less tasty soup and lack of condiments disturbs me, and apparently your quality standards aren’t the same as mine at your current menu prices.
-餧馕馒-
I for one can’t wait for a reply.
The last two times I have been to Panera Bread, it’s been a debacle. Okay, I’m exaggerating a bit… but it’s still ridiculous when compared to the price. At the Robinson (Settler’s Ridge?) location, I got the wrong sandwich entirely… but tonight’s experience was absolutely ridiculous. I actually just reviewed my experience at PaneraListens.com (as per the receipt), and through the contact form on their website.
This is what I shared…
I paid $6.69 for a half of a sandwich, which is now lunch meat & used to be actual pieces of turkey. There were onions on the sandwich, and the receipt says “no onions” like I asked. No big deal in itself. There was no mustard/mayo/sauce on the sandwich, except for a thumbprint of something on the top/outside that shouldn’t be there. Didn’t it used to come with a mustard? 1 of the 2 pieces of lettuce had brown edges. The center of the tomato was hard & green. The chicken noodle soup was ridiculously sparse as far as the noodles and/or chicken. I had about 4 or 5 spoonfuls of actual ingredients, and about a half bowl of broth. The (lack of) quality of the meal was astounding. How far has a once-great restaurant fallen? I expect crappy food/service from McDonald’s… but not from Panera Bread.
You can improve by instructing employees to read their screens or receipts or whatever they read to make the orders. You can then teach them how to make sandwiches without using brown lettuce or green tomatoes… and how to not put mustard thumb-prints on the outside of mustard-less sandwiches. (Cross-contamination is a nightmare for people with food-allergies, have you considered this?) You can also teach them how to ladle proper portions of chicken noodle soup… now with lame little noodles instead of the homemade-looking ones of yesteryear.
You can also stop subbing turkey lunch meat for real turkey in your $6 turkey sandwiches. A friggin’ POUND of turkey at the grocery store doesn’t even cost $6, and YOU should be getting restaurant/wholesale prices. Not that I would deny you profit… but REALLY? Do the turkeys that you buy use gold nuggets in their gizzards? Do they drink fine wine?
I neglected to go complain, because everyone working seemed to really care less if my order was correct or not… I also fear some sort of retaliation if I need a re-made sandwich or an actual bowl (not cup) of soup.
My wife had a cream of broccoli soup & a salad that looked spectacular. No brown lettuce even… and it was a whole bowl! She did get a knife that had rust on the handle though… sort of unappetizing. I’d rather see plastic flatware than rusty flatware.
Something was really wrong here today, or I just had some bad karma all around my order.
I know I sound insane, and it’s really not that big of a deal… but this kind of stuff drives me absolutely nuts. I just can’t imagine serving a half-assed sandwich… with a thumbprint on it, either in my house to a guest, or especially not at a job where I’m being paid to do it. Also, you go to a chain for consistency… which I have never received at Panera.
I think I’m most disappointed with the apparent swindling of turkey lunch meat for actual turkey… and whatever those tiny little pasta squares were compared to the old homemade style noodles. Panrea bread… we’re not stupid. I doubt I’ll be back.
There’s a problem I’ve noticed over the years since I first got my driver’s license. It’s ridiculous, rampant, and totally uncalled for. It doesn’t have as much to do with driving as it does walking, but I consider it a road-related issue.
People don’t know how to walk in parking lots. They have this “pedestrian has the right of way” mentality that has inexplicably warped into a strange sense of entitlement and devilish pleasure in making you the motorist yield to their ambling nonchalance.
Below, I have an illustration (thanks to Google Maps) of the new Market District parking lot in Robinson. Please take a moment to study & understand before you move on to the next paragraph.
I get worked up about this quite easily (obviously I guess), and my thoughts are all over the place… so I’ll try to make my points concise with the aid of a bulleted list. (I have blogged about this before too, if you find that you need further reading.) I really would like to start a discussion on this in the comments if you’re so inclined.
Focusing mostly on the middle-of-the-lane walkers, but also on the anglers, and the “too cool for the crosswalk”-ers, I’d just like to comment on the types of people that I believe they may be.
First, there are the truly oblivious. I believe this to be the smallest sect of the parking lot meanderites. I think some people are just really not all that aware of their surroundings, and have no comprehension of the havoc that they wreak around themselves. (Arguably, stopping time in a parking lot is not exactly “wreaking havoc”, but it sure bites my ass.) These people are just like Mr. Bean, and since Mr. Bean is somewhat of a lovable character, I can forgive these people. If you know one of them, please tell them about parking lot urgency. If you don’t know one of them… walk more quickly, in straight angles, in designated areas, and close to the cars in parking lots. (Because you are one of them.)
Then we have category #2. The entitled. They’re a pedestrian. They always have the right of way, and that’s it. In their minds, anyway. I’d like these people to see what Pennsylvania law has to say…
Title 75 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, contains the laws which govern the operation of vehicles on Pennsylvania roads.
Chapter 35: SPECIAL VEHICLES AND PEDESTRIANS
Subchapter C: Rights and Duties of PedestriansSection 3541. Obedience of pedestrians to traffic-control devices and regulations
(a) Traffic control devices.—A pedestrian shall obey the instructions of a police officer or other appropriately attired person authorized to direct, control or regulate traffic.(b) Traffic and pedestrian-control signals.—Local authorities by ordinance may require pedestrians to obey traffic and pedestrian-control signals as provided in sections 3112 (relating to traffic-control signals) and 3113 (relating to pedestrian-control signals).
Section 3542. Right-of-way of pedestrians in crosswalks.
(a) General rule.—When traffic-control signals are not in place or not in operation, the driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within any marked crosswalk or within any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection.(b) Exercise of care by pedestrian.—No pedestrian shall suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle which is so close as to constitute a hazard.
and…
Section 3543. Pedestrians crossing at other than crosswalks.
(a) General rule.—Every pedestrian crossing a roadway at any point other than within a crosswalk at an intersection or any marked crosswalk shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles upon the roadway.(b) At pedestrian tunnel or overhead crossing.—Any pedestrian crossing a roadway at a point where a pedestrian tunnel or overhead pedestrian crossing has been provided shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles upon the roadway.
(c) Between controlled intersections in urban district.—Between adjacent intersections in urban districts at which traffic-control signals are in operation pedestrians shall not cross at any place except in a marked crosswalk.
(d) Crossing intersection diagonally.—No pedestrian shall cross a roadway intersection diagonally unless authorized by official traffic-control devices or at the discretion of a police officer or other appropriately attired person authorized to direct, control or regulate traffic. When authorized to cross diagonally, pedestrians shall cross only in accordance with the signal pertaining to the crossing movements.
And the best part…
Section 3552. Penalty for violation of subchapter.
Any pedestrian violating any provision of this subchapter is guilty of a summary offense and shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine of $5.
Interesting, no? I’m not sure if these apply any differently in a parking lot, as it’s probably private property… but I’d love to see an officer out there passing out $5 tickets for every butthole who steps boldly out in front of a moving car with the incorrect assumption that “pedestrians always have the right of way”. Why not? I mean, they’re cracking down on parking in the South Side after years of chaos. Is this any less ridiculous?
The third and last group? The spiteful. They know you’re anxious to get by, but they don’t care. They derive pleasure in knowing that you’re most likely impatiently waiting to move forward at a speed that actually registers on your speedometer, but that they alone have the power to prevent that from happening. Maybe they had a bad day and want to pass along the crappy karma. Maybe they have a controlling spouse, boss, or family member, and this is how they lash out. This is the group that turns to look at you, but continues to walk down the middle of a driving lane instead of moving to one side so you can get by. This is the woman that stops mid-stride and mid-lane to dig through her purse for her car keys while you idle and boil. This is the group of teenage boys that walks 4 wide and dresses “hard” like they from the streets thanks to mom’s credit card and Journey’s or Hot Topic. This is the wide-angle walker who sees you approaching, but instead of walking straight across the lane quickly looks straight ahead in their “5 rows over from where they started” path. They’re also the ones who let you follow them down the echelon of filled of parking spaces during the holiday shopping season, and cut over to the next row or put bags in their car and proceed to walk right back where they came from without giving you the courtesy wave-off or the universally understood over-exaggerated mouthing of “I’m not leaving” while shaking their head and pointing or waving their arms. I suspect that they’re also the people who double-dip, don’t flush public toilets, and kick puppies.
That should just about cover it. So please, pass this along so we can all get on the same page.
It’s simple, really. It’s a small, simple act that’s a symbolic gesture, and may be complete and total BS in all practicality or reality… but it made me feel comfortable today. I have discussed my shellfish issues before, and have been ridiculed for suggesting that the food service industry take any more action on allergy issues, awareness, and cross-contamination than they already are. I can’t explain why or how, but this one little sign put me at ease. Why? Because it was simply acknowledgment, I guess. Maybe that’s all I want or need. At any rate, kudos to you, Market District Cafe in Robinson! What am I making such a big fuss about? Not much really, just this…
That’s all. No biggie. But, to me, it means so much. I did happen to ask the guy behind the counter about what all was cooked on the grill that I can see, and he was happy to inform me that there is indeed no shellfish that touches said grill surface. It’s not a big deal to you most likely, but it is to me. So I blogged about it.
In a related note… The Market District in Robinson is ridiculously awesome… the grocery store and the restaurant side. I popped up a review on UrbanSpoon.com, here it is…
“It’s like a food amusement park…” by ERiC AiXeLsyD (100 reviews)
January 16, 2010 – Really likes it – I really never thought I’d be this excited about a grocery store. The team at Giant Eagle/Market District that put this place together are geniuses. It’s not the first time I’ve been to the store, but today was the first time eating in their cafe. Floor layout plan and traffic flow not withstanding, this is a great place to eat! It’s almost a cross between a food court and hospital cafeteria… with really really good food. You can choose form a bunch of little islands or counters of food… Pizza, Crepes, Rosti, Salad Bars, Hot Bar, Grill/Rotisserie station, and more that I haven’t really looked into yet.
My wife went for a really nice-looking Italian panini with the thickest slice of mozzarella, I’ve ever seen and a nice little side salad with assorted greens, and dropped it off with a Market District brand peach oolong iced tea. She really thought the sandwich was fresh and filling, and is looking forward to trying of the other options. (They had some nice-looking reubens there too!)
I went right to the rotisserie/grill/BBQ area (of course) and my eyes were drawn to the brisket. I got a combo which included the brisket & side… I chose the grilled vegetables… normally for $6, but I got $1 off with my Giant Eagle advantage card. I also snagged a roll (gotta get those carbs!) and a Boylan’s Birch Beer. I chose a St. Louis Style BBQ sauce with the brisket that was a perfect compliment t the juicy beef, and the grilled veggies were perfect. They were just vegetables, the taset wasn’t hidden with a sauce or too many spices. We got an excellent meal IMHO for just over $14.
The thing that impressed me the most was when I was asking the chef/cook behind the counter about what all was cooked on the grill due to my shellfish allergies, he was very patient, kind, and even double-checked with another employee. Then, when I got to the edge of the counter, I spied a sign noting possible cross-contamination listing all the major allergens, and how one should be sure to ask the staff about any cross-contamination. It’s an odd and very small gesture, but it means the world to someone like me who’s generally in a constantly worrisome state when dining out. I applaud their taking note, and to me it says a lot about the company & the people.
Photos of the sign & both our meals have been uploaded to the photo section.
And oh yeah… they have BEER! In a Grocery Store! in PENNSYLVANIA! Genius. I didn’t get any this time, but I saw 6-packs of Straub Special Dark for $6.97 and the wife was eying up the extra large bottles of Raspberry Lambic for only $12.99. We will be back to get some beer!
We’ll definitely be back when we’re in the area!
1 person likes this review Recommend
And, here are the photos I mentioned…
World (and Lunar) Domination 