McDonald's Cooma — Restaurant in Cooma

To whom it may concern,

I pen this correspondence amidst great displeasure and with a level of frustration most unbecoming of a gentleman such as myself. During my journey home from the alpine region of Thredbo, after a most invigorating sojourn amidst snow-capped tranquillity, I found myself wearied by the road and afflicted with an unrelenting, almost savage hunger. Naturally, I resolved to quell this torment with what I had once regarded as a reliable, if humble, repast — a medium Big Mac meal from your establishment.

To say that my expectations were dashed would be a laughable understatement. Upon collecting my order, I was affronted to discover that both the rasher bacon — which I had specifically requested to elevate the otherwise mundane Big Mac — and the much-anticipated cream atop my frappé were entirely absent. Not mistakenly substituted. Not improperly prepared. Simply not there.

It beggars belief how a global institution such as McDonald’s, one that proudly champions efficiency and consistency, could falter in such a basic task. Am I, a paying customer and seasoned traveller, to accept this level of mediocrity as the standard? Is this the kind of “service” that now typifies your brand?

This was not a meal — it was an insult. An affront to my time, my money, and most of all, my palate. I might have endured such negligence at a roadside stall or a dilapidated kiosk, but from a McDonald’s, with all its gleaming signage and lofty promises? Unforgivable.

The absence of cream from a frappé may seem a minor grievance to some, but it is emblematic of a wider issue: carelessness, sloppiness, and an utter lack of regard for the customer experience. If a restaurant cannot be entrusted with the simple task of preparing a basic order correctly, what then can it be trusted with at all?

I departed your premises not nourished, not content, but thoroughly disillusioned. Rest assured, I shall be recounting this tale — with great vigour and in painstaking detail — to friends, colleagues, and indeed, any unfortunate soul who dares sing praises of your establishment in my presence.

You may consider this a formal complaint. I expect, at the very least, an explanation, if not a restitution of sorts, for this lamentable debacle.

In utmost disappointment, A profoundly...

Coming home on Sunday night - on the way to Sydney from the snow, we were looking for a quick stop and not something healthy. The thing is we had food in the car - we didn’t need maccas. But we had promised the kids… It took us 33 minutes from turning into the driveway to receiving food, and we used the app 👀 (as it saves time…)

For fun, after 15 minutes we opened Google reviews. A bunch were phenomenally written (thanks for the honesty and entertainment), the challenge is we were stuck in the lane by this point - but we realised why other cars (three!) left after ten min of waiting…

Kids were scared about bites in their food (read previous reviews) - we didn’t have any. But the drive thru gal was bored and annoyed. The drive thru guy was… trained to hide from the window? And the rest of the staff - who knows. They all seemed to mob and follow single orders - except for the woman standing next to the barista (and the pile of spare cups). She was fingering all the cups before giving to the barista…

Was our food as bad as some reviews? No. Did we wait a horrifically inexcusable time for maccas which built its brand on quick food? Yes. Was the restaurant as dirty and gross as described? You decide, but I don’t see baristas being handed fingering cups in Sydney (even if they’ve washed their hands, it’s still gross to me).

And the positive reviews? The posters look like paid reviewers with the information the polar opposite to my experience and every not positive review… and the positive have the same pics and content too. Good on the franchisee if they have worked out how to buy reviews, but don’t use the same company for them all!

Why should corporate care? The kids know how unhealthy maccas is. But they still choose it as a road trip treat and I oblige to save time. But one child on the way out asked “can we never have...

this is the most disgusting mcdonald’s i have ever been to. the car park was full of litter, that should’ve been our first warning. could hardly see through the glass door walking in, it was filthy and looked like it hadn’t ever been cleaned. the floors and tables were absolutely filthy covered in food. a crew member/barista was stuffing her face with food fingers in her mouth and then touching coffee cups and making drinks and serving people, disgrace. then to look over to the right and see a large woman with no shoes on, feet that were as black as the road, clearly friends with or a team member herself, going through cupboards helping staff look for things and walking past without her shoes and her uncleanliness and lack of hygiene behind the counter where food is served, still with no shoes on. meanwhile, at the coffee machines, the barista is STILL stuffing her mouth with food, full fingers in her mouth. let it be noted, this was not a short staffed restaurant, there were plenty of people working and serving. needless to say, once receiving the two happy meals we ordered, it was thrown in the EMPTY bins, since all other rubbish was left thrown on the floor of the car park. didn’t make it to the bathrooms because if inside the restaurant was that filthy, a hazmat suit was probably needed to enter the bathroom. you know how dirty something is, when you feel sorry for the bottom...