Root Beer Virgins

All I wanted was a cold root beer...

Driving about on Sunday afternoon, stopping at plant nurseries and swingset wholesalers, we passed an A&W/KFC restaraunt. I almost pulled in for a cold one, but didn't. But then the thirstier I became, the more I regretted this decision, until... Marshall began the potty dance. So we rushed the kids to the car, and set off for a bathroom. Passing gas stations, grocery stores, and fast food chains, Marshall whined, "Those are all places for me to pee!" But I had A&W on my mind...

We arrived just after 3:00--and rather than just snack, I thought I'd save us some money by getting dinner now so that we weren't dropping coin at both 3 and 6 on food. Big mistake. My favorite Pizza Hut was just down the street--and I am still bemoaning the fact that I didn't stop there instead.

I love KFC chicken, but I know that the food served at places like A&W and Dairy Queen is not going to be very good going in. Good enough for kids, though. So we ordered, and I majored on the KFC menu for myself, except when it came to the root beer. I had a two-piece original recipe chicken plate with kernel corn, cole slaw, and a biscuit. The biscuit looked fine, but it went to Madison so I can't vouch for it, but the cole slaw was more than a day old. The corn was room temperature, and the chicken was undercooked. Not enough to make me sick, but not enough for me to say it was "finger-lick'n good!" either.

I thought I'd better wash down this bile with my good 'ol root beer... but was dismayed to find that it had not taste. None of that bite you'd associate with root beer, only a whimper. I could limp by with nasty food, but not with a bad brew. So I went to the counter and asked if I could have a pour from behind the counter, the tap out front didn't taste right. Sure, they said. Then they watched as I sipped. I reported that this again did not taste even close--and they seemed perplexed. So I asked them to try some for themselves, but neither the manager or her apprentice had ever tasted root beer! How is that possible?? You have two people working for A&W who have no idea how the final product should taste? Unbelievable.

Then just to get the lay of the land, I tried everyone else's food. The A&W hamburger that Emma had tasted like mealworm, and the mac and cheese looked too disgusting for me to eat--all gooping with cheesefood. The only positive feedback I had from the family was with the A&W cheese curds, but alas these were wolfed down before I ever had a bite.

In the 45 minutes we were in the store, they had no store traffic--though they did have a steady stream of drive-up customers and it was between lunch and dinner... but still. Do NOT eat at store 023855.

Comments

[Luann]

I too am a Root Beer virgin!