A&W Canada — Restaurant in Ottawa

A Culinary Critique of A&W: The Gourmet’s Guide to Fast Food Excellence 🍔🍟👨‍🍳

As an amature chef with a penchant for haute cuisine, I must admit that my foray into the fast-food realm of A&W was nothing short of a gastronomic revelation. When tasked with reviewing this establishment, I approached it with the same level of scrutiny one might reserve for a Michelin-starred restaurant. Here’s my detailed take on the A&W experience.

Ambiance and Atmosphere: Upon entering A&W, one is immediately struck by the charmingly unpretentious décor—an ode to fast-food nostalgia. The establishment’s interior is a masterclass in minimalist comfort, featuring vinyl booths that evoke a sense of retro chic, as if they were plucked straight from a 1950s diner. The color palette of mustard yellow and burnt orange is nothing short of avant-garde, reminiscent of a mid-century modern abstract painting—if said painting were designed by someone with a fondness for ketchup stains.

The Menu: Ah, the menu! It’s a treasure trove of culinary delights that could make any fast-food aficionado’s heart skip a beat. The pièce de résistance, of course, is the iconic Teen Burger. Its construction is a marvel of modern engineering: a succulent beef patty, perfectly complemented by bacon that has been expertly crisped to achieve that elusive balance of crunch and chew. Add to that a slice of cheddar cheese that appears to have been carefully aged in a cheesemonger’s dream and you’ve got yourself a burger worthy of acclaim.

Let us not forget the fries—a true testament to the art of potato preparation. These golden sticks of joy are seasoned with an enigmatic blend of salt that elevates them to near-pulchritude. They boast a crispy exterior that provides a satisfying crunch with every bite, while the interior remains tender and fluffy, like a cloud made of potato dreams.

The Root Beer: Now, let’s discuss the root beer. This frothy elixir is nothing short of a revelation. It arrives with a frosty mug that is so cold, it could give a polar bear frostbite. The root beer itself is a symphony of flavors: a harmonious blend of sassafras and vanilla, with a carbonation level that dances upon the palate like a fizzy waltz. It’s a beverage that would make any sommelier weep with joy.

Service: The service at A&W is a study in efficiency and cordiality. The staff moves with the grace of well-oiled kitchen machinery, orchestrating a ballet of burger flipping and fry scooping. They are equipped with an encyclopedic knowledge of the menu, demonstrating an enthusiasm that would make even the most jaded gourmet smile.

Final Thoughts: In conclusion, A&W offers a fast-food experience that transcends its humble origins. It is a veritable tour de force of culinary craftsmanship, delivering comfort food with an expert touch. While it may not boast the intricacies of a five-star tasting menu, it excels in delivering unadulterated joy with every bite. For those of us who appreciate the finer things in life, including a perfectly seasoned fry and a burger that satisfies like a warm hug, A&W is nothing short of a fast-food masterpiece.

So, hats off to A&W—a true bastion of gastronomic delight in the fast-food world. Your Teen Burgers and frosty root beers have earned a place in the pantheon of fast-food...

Do not go here- the management values profit over their customers and employees' safety.

Today I came in around 11:45 to order lunch to pickup and take home for my family. However, as soon as I came into the parking lot, I saw something that made me change my mind. An employee was standing next to the speaker at the drive thru, with a clip board for what I can only presume was taking orders. The speaker did not turn on as I watched five cars pass. Instead, the employee would approach the car, ask to have the window open, speak to the customer and write something on her clipboard and then proceed to the next car. This employee was only wearing a mask for her protection and the customers were not wearing masks. I don't fault the customers as they were expecting to be served through a drive thru, which would be safe enough under normal circumstances. However, due to the traffic on two busy roads near the restaurant, this poor employee kept having to get within a inches of the window of the cars to communicate with the drivers. Do I fault this employee? No. She clearly had no choice- she was just doing her job. What horrifies me is the MANAGEMENT at this establishment chose to put this employee, in a very health compromising position, instead of fixing their speaker promptly. I observed her go up to five cars, wanting to give the benefit of the doubt and get my lunch as I wanted, and I thought "maybe that first driver simply couldn't hear her", but she had to go this close to EVERY car to have them hear her. She obviously didn't feel comfortable approaching her manager and explaining the health threats she faced by having each of these strangers breathe and throw droplets on her mask which was within inches of their unmasked faces, on her uniform which was just as close, her clipboard, and her forearms which were exposed. This employee then entered the restaurant, taking all the germs she was exposed to, within the restaurant.

I didn't post pictures to respect the privacy of that employee who was clearly dealing with enough already. But for the sake of A&W's own investigation purposes (if they care enough to investigate, I'm sure they have cameras which can show what I'm talking about)

After this incident, I for one, will not go to a restaurant whose management chooses to risk the lives of their employees, and their customers, for the sake of profit during a PANDEMIC. I will make sure to let all my family, friends and colleagues know as well. A&W really needs to reconsider the leadership at this location, because they are clearly making very poor and dangerous decisions for the sake of their personal...

Called this place asking for a coupon book before coming because last time I went to this location, the worker handed out one for me. I took it upon myself to call before coming because this location is far and I have an A&W location like five minutes away from my neighbourhood that I could have easily went to but they said they didn’t have coupon books so I decided to call this metivale location and ask and the lady on the phone said they did so my friend and I drove all the way to the merivale location to get this coupon book and enjoy our meal. When we got there, the same lady who was on the phone telling us that there was coupon books ( WHICH SHE SAID VERY CONFIDENTLY ON THE PHONE), told us that there was no coupon books. I asked her if there was anything she could do because we had called 15 minutes prior and this location is very out of the way, on top of that my friend and I told her that she said there was coupon books, and still , she said no there’s nothing I can do.i said okay whatever and got myself a meal and my friend got hers. The lady was apologizing but I just found it kind of insane the fact that we called before hand and she didn’t even have the courtesy to check when were on the phone with her and just spewed out random words on the phone that she wasn’t even sure of. When we were there we asked her if she had coupon books and THATS WHEN SHE CHECKWD if there was and told us no there’s no more. Like why not just check while we are on the phone? There is a reason why people call before coming…… just very annoying and unpleasant experience. Such a...