McDonald's — Restaurant in Harlem Township

On the first day of 2024, amidst the hustle and bustle at the McDonald's drive-thru on 173 in Machesney Park, IL, patience was truly put to the test. The line stretched long, seemingly frozen in time. However, within this unexpected wait, a remarkable experience unfolded, largely owing to the incredible positivity and warmth emanating from the cashier, Dawn.

As the queue inched forward at a glacial pace, frustration threatened to overshadow the New Year's Day spirit. Yet, Dawn's cheerful demeanor was a beacon of light amid the impatience. Her welcoming smile and genuine enthusiasm uplifted the mood, transforming an otherwise tedious wait into a pleasantly surprising encounter.

In the midst of the lull, a thought emerged—how often do we find ourselves in situations where patience is the only option? It's reminiscent of the Biblical verse Isaiah 40:31, which speaks of waiting upon the Lord: "But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." Just as this verse encourages endurance and faith in divine timing, Dawn's unwavering positivity encouraged us to embrace the wait with grace.

Despite the chaos around her, Dawn managed to engage with each customer, offering not just efficient service but genuine human connection. Her ability to turn a potentially negative experience into a positive one was truly commendable. Her kindness and patience were a testament to the power of a positive attitude in even the most trying situations.

This encounter at McDonald's on 173 in Machesney Park serves as a reminder that sometimes, the best experiences can arise from unexpected places and moments. It highlights the significance of patience, positivity, and the impact a single individual, like Dawn, can have on turning around an entire experience.

In summary, while the long wait might have tested our resolve, Dawn's exceptional service and infectious positivity truly turned it into an unexpected highlight of the day. She exemplified the virtues of patience and positivity, leaving a lasting impression that transcended the confines of a fast-food drive-thru.

In closing, this experience reaffirmed the belief that in life's waiting periods, much like that long January line, there can be hidden moments of grace and joy. And for that, a heartfelt acknowledgment goes to Dawn for making that day at McDonald's a remarkably...

This McDonald's is always slow. I did mobile pick up order. Waited in line for 20 mins, get to the window and a worker opens the window and asks what my order was, I give her the order number and she just looks at me. So I pull my order back up and read it off to her. She then closed the window it took another 15 mins for my order. I honked and knocked on the window to find out what was taking so long after waiting 10 mins, she puts her finger up and then comes to the window I ask how long it's going to take, she doesn't respond but closes the window and walks away. I knock on the window again and ask for a manager. The manager comes to the window with my order 5 mins later and is like here's your order with a smirk. I ask what took so long and what they could do to comp me as a pick up order should not take me almost my entire lunch to get. She proceeded to tell me her kitchen staff all called off.... she shrugged off the fact that I wasted 35 mins of a 45 mins lunch waiting. The only reason I even waited was because I had already paid. The car before me had their coffee drinks and food the minute they pulled up to the window. Apparently they always call off since the service is always slow 20-35 mins at a time. I'll start driving to the Roscoe McDonald's, my loss of business won't effect this location but at least I won't have to deal with slow...

Update: Sept 12, 2018

The drive through line was unbelievably long. It was longer and slower than usual. People were leaving the drive through lanes. Anyway, I ordered ice cream sundaes and hoped that they didn’t have the sundaes sitting out. I was wrong.

I pulled up to the window, and the sundaes were visibly melted. There were bubbles on top of the ice cream. It was disgusting. I asked the woman serving me the food how long the sundaes were sitting there. From behind her, a blonde woman said, “Not long.” I complained about them being melted and having bubbles, so the blonde woman asked if I wanted new sundaes. I said, “Yes, those are disgusting.”

I’m glad I asked for new ones because the lady came back with the fresh sundaes and, lo and behold, the sundaes had the nice swirl on top, no bubbles or anything. I asked the original server to tell the blonde woman not to lie to customers.

I haven’t seen the blonde woman there since. (Because of this, I added a second star to the review.)

One year ago:

Fast service. Clean dining room and bathrooms. Enough supplies in Family Activity Center (color/ draw stuff, coloring...