McDonald's — Restaurant in Los Angeles

As might have been overheard at MCDONALD'S first restaurant, a few years after it opened in 1947:

"Like my new knuckle buster?¹ It's the Woodie²."

"Sure, they're real Aviators³. My uncle, the B-29 pilot, wore 'em."

"That'll be a burger (15¢), fries (10¢), and a nickel Coke."

Those were the prices at the first McDONALD'S in San Bernardino California. In the seventy years that have passed, the Golden Arches have grown to an international chain of 40,000 restaurants.

The recently remodeled Encino, California McDonald's is just 76 miles west of the original. The eatery, like the original, is clean, bright, and well maintained. McDonald's standard menu and fast service are offered, unfortunately, at today's prices.

Now a disclosure. About fifty years ago, just outside Chicago at McDonald's "Hamburger U," I directed a corporate training film, "A Lot of People Sell Hamburgers." (Audiovisual aids are used to improve customer service. In those days every McDonald's had a basement training room.) So, I have a soft spot for the restaurant chain.

For years, before Little League games, our son enjoyed an Egg McMuffin breakfast at McDonald's. After the game it was "Big Mac and fries" time, for the entire team.

Life changes and I have become a vegan. So when I joined a couple of friends, who "required" Big Macs, fries, and large Cokes, I ordered coffee. Their meals disappeared faster than you can say, "Two all beef patties, special sauce, special cheese, lettuce, pickles, onions, on a sesame seed bun." After all these years, I can't forget that jingle.

Inside, the minimalist interior is comfortable. Ordering is automated. Delivery is quick. WiFi is free and fast. No outdoor seating is available.

The customer selects an inside table, takes their meal with them, or eats in their car.

Grabbing a burger in your car is kinda like dinning at a mid-century drive-in. After you find a parking space a roller skating carhop takes your order, then retrieves your meal on a tray, and attaches the tray to the driver's rolled-down window. After your meal the carhop removes the tray, unless, of course, you forget it's there and...

So, enjoy your meal and relieve a long ago era. And if you're a vegan, the coffee is still good.

STUFF: Everything is wheelchair accessible including the well-maintained bathrooms. Parking is free and easy. Drive-thru ordering and pickup windows are open seven days, closing only at 3am for a half hour. A stoplight makes exiting the driveway, onto Ventura Boulevard safe and easy.

¹ A hard to turn steering wheel, sans power steering, occasionally injured knuckles. ² A 1951 a two door, Ford's Country Squire, "Woodie" station wagon costs about $2,000, a $100 more than the Ford's Convertible Coupe. The "Woodie", with mahogany and birch trim, was produced in 1950 and 51. ³ "Aviators," worn by world War II pilots, are the macho sunglasses...

I’ve been going to McDonald’s since I was a kid so I take my McDonald’s very seriously. The problem with this location is that the staff mainly includes teenagers and young adults who lack the basics of customer service skills and overall professionalism. What really bothers me more than anything is when you place an order and it’s custom they usually tend to mess it up.

Lastly, going to this location during nonrush hour times you’ll look forward to getting cold fries and food basically it seems like the food sits around ahead of time rather than being made to order, rush-hour would include early breakfast, noon, and 6 PM Nonrush hour would be any other time. Oh and if you’re looking for a late night treat Friday through Sunday you’re in for a really exceptional time in terms of customer service and quality of food I hope you can understand I’m being sarcastic.

Whoever is the owner of this location needs to get more involved in the hiring process I don’t seem to have any issues with the McDonald’s in Sherman Oaks but this location is an absolute disaster avoid it at all costs only go there if you’re absolutely desperate and starving, terrible management and no leadership from supervisors and lack of care for customers and the bathroom is...

The late night manager is either deaf or dumb. Deserves to be fired for incompetency, not wearing a uniform, wesring a hoodie, jeans, no hat, no gloves, violating health and safety laws, and below the minimum customer service even for a Mcdonald's standard! Here is why. Ordered a number 7, large with a coke and was told to pull up to the window. Pulled up cash in hand and he said I never ordered anything, before asking what i ordered. He said i had to pull up to the drive thru again despite cash in hand telling him I ordered a number 7. Pulled up to the window, re ordered a number 7, large with a coke. Pulled up to the window again and he said, "you ordered a number 6." Left and drove to another Mcdonalds same order and had no problems. Drove back and showed him my meal untouched asked him, "what meal number does this look like?" He looked and shrugged. I told him, "how did you become a manager? you're incompetent, violating dozens of osha laws, not in a uniform with a hat, no gloves, wesring a hoodie and you're a manager? This is a customer service job. Bare minimum serve the customer." This is about the principal of having self respect at a job. Fire this man or i will come back to report this McDonalds to OSHA coming from...