McDonald's — Restaurant in New South Wales

It is not every day that a trip to a fast food restaurant leaves you genuinely impressed, but that is exactly what happened during my recent visit to Cessnock Maccas. I stopped by for a quick bite and ended up having such a smooth and satisfying experience that I felt it deserved more than just a passing compliment. From the quality of the food to the friendliness of the staff and the cleanliness of the restaurant, everything came together perfectly. It reminded me that even everyday meals can feel like a treat when they are done right.

I ordered a McSmart Meal, which came with a cheeseburger, a serving of hot chips, a small Red Fanta, and a small sundae. It might sound like a pretty standard order, but each part of the meal was genuinely enjoyable. The cheeseburger was made just the way it should be — the bun was soft and slightly toasted, the beef patty was warm and juicy, the cheese was melted perfectly, and there was just the right amount of sauce and pickles to give it that signature Maccas taste without being overpowering. It was clear that it had been made with care rather than just thrown together.

The chips were one of the highlights. They were hot, crisp on the outside, and fluffy on the inside — not soggy or lukewarm like they sometimes can be at other places. They were seasoned just enough to be tasty without being too salty, which made them really moreish. I could have easily eaten another serving. The small Red Fanta that came with the meal was ice cold and super fizzy, which made it incredibly refreshing, especially since it was a warm day outside. It balanced out the savoury part of the meal really well.

To top it all off, the small sundae was a perfect dessert. It was smooth, creamy, and not too rich. The ice cream had a light vanilla flavour and the texture was thick enough that it did not melt too quickly. It felt like an actual dessert rather than just a quick fast food add-on. The portion was just right for a little sweet finish to the meal. All together, the McSmart Meal was great value for money and really satisfying from start to end.

What stood out just as much as the food was the service. The team working at Cessnock Maccas were friendly, polite, and clearly efficient. I was greeted as soon as I stepped up to the counter and my order was taken clearly and without any issues. The person who served me seemed like they actually cared about the job, which made a difference. Even though there were other customers waiting, everything was kept moving smoothly and there was no confusion or delays. My order was correct, packed neatly, and came out in just a few minutes. That level of service might not seem like a big deal, but it really added to the experience and made it feel professional and stress free.

The atmosphere inside the restaurant was also worth noting. It was clean, well lit, and calm. I could see staff regularly wiping down tables and making sure the self-serve stations and bins were tidy. The layout made it easy to find a spot to sit without feeling cramped or awkward. There was no loud music or mess, and even though it was busy, it still felt like a comfortable place to relax and enjoy the food. You do not always expect that from a fast food spot, so it was a nice surprise.

Overall, I could not have asked for much more from a quick meal stop. The food was fresh, tasty, and exactly what I ordered. The service was quick, friendly, and professional. The space was clean and easy to enjoy. When you put all of that together, it makes for a genuinely great visit. Cessnock Maccas has definitely earned a five star rating from me. Whether you are passing through or a local looking for a reliable and enjoyable meal, I would absolutely recommend giving this place a go. I know I will...

One word to describe everything about this store .... S**T The food is constantly cold, the buns are stale, the workers pretend to gix issues, the workers are rude when taking orders, a grill slip cannot be read/understood so terrible training and managers, any complaint I have made I have never received satisfactory replies. As a vegetarian I do not get meat on anything and somehow still wait anywhere between 7 and 25 minutes every single time. The burgers are not made how they are supposed to be. They are dry. The chips are cold and floppy and taste like cardboard. Coffee doesn't taste like anything unless I pay the extra to have an extra shot. Never get napkins in my takeaway bags. Tonight my order which was cold and waited just over 15 minutes for was order 110 the order for 199 which is 11 orders before was still waiting when I left, ate my hash browns then came back in to complain about the rest of my order being cold. I have written then entire review while waiting which so far is 12 minutes for onion rings. The team throw orders out on the bench turn around and walk away. Some people do not hear their numbers because its a random shout. Hot coffee and tea is left on the bench ready for collection while children grab orders over the top trying not to spill it and burn themselves. My wife has become ill from eating the fries here and refuses to order here again. There is now another customer getting extremely agitated from waiting as his girlfriend got sick of waiting g and went to the car to get him to wait and he has been here a while. 17 minutes and still waiting. And I have only heard one apology from staff about the waiting. By far this McDonalds has taken the top spot for the most abysmal McDonalds in any of the 4 states of Australia I have travelled to. Worse then any in South Island of new Zealand and not even comparable with Fiji. This store NEEDS better management and every single employee to read anything McDonalds supplies in regards to customer service 25 MINUTES!!!! STILL WAITING AND ASKED TWICE TO HEAR WE ARE BUSY THEY ARE COMING. I also see why Mr Agitated was so ... Agitated... he ordered a happy meal with 2 extra cokes wow. Also 30 extra minutes now waiting on food to be rectified. 6 onion rings I don't even want the sauce. Team members are also so rude to managers .. extremely The photos I added are from a previous order No cleaning has happened, staff are slipping on mess and food on the floor So got my fresh onion rings after 46minutes as the last person left I guess asking again finally helped. UPDATED I got an extra 2 onion rings for free. Which usually I would be stoked at unfortunately they were all lukewarm Most were undercooked and the others hard and brittle. I could have stayed at home, watched a couple of coats of paint dry and eaten the dirt on the floor and most probably got more satisfacthanks for really bringing that christmas...

As a former employee of this McDonald’s I have to say, the quality of food, the service and every single part of the McDonald’s brand core values are disgraced by this store.

For months, my friends and I joke about how awful this place is, but as it’s our only option of delivery of fast food we continue to get it. This being said, I’ve always had such a disrespectful, disappointing time. I’ve witnessed managers talk trash about customers while they are audible. My food hasn’t been correct. The entire store refuses to put pickles and onions on the burgers, which I know for a fact violates procedure. They refuse menu items such as frappes and ice cream randomly. My friend went through the drive through in the span of two minutes. On the first visit they said they couldn’t do frappes, not even a minute later, on the second visit, they said they could. How can a corperate owned McDonald’s allow customers to be denied items like this is awful.

The worst part is that it seems like the managers have given up on the staff. No wonder attitudes are disgusting and customer service skills aren’t being trained, the ones training have no interest in their job, they don’t care.

Today I ordered a delivery, the meal was ten nuggets and a double quart pounder meal with a frozen flavour. This is what I received. -Nuggets -chips -a cup of ice -no burger

I was served a literal cup of melted ice. I will attach photos. This is disgusting. No replacement attempt was made, no opportunity to change. I understand when the machine isn’t working, but to serve a paying customer literal ice makes this brand look awful. You have my number, I ordered through menu log, why wouldn’t you call me and attempt to fix it.

On the topic of calling, after I received this, I called the store four times only to be met with the phone ringing out. I use to work here, I know how busy it gets, but I also know when managers are ignoring the phone.

I wish corperate would do anything about this sinking ship of a store....