McDonald's — Restaurant in Tucson

What makes a great hamburger? Even if you’re not a celebrated chef, you probably know how to cook a burger on a grill, right? And if you’re like me (I’m average), your burgers are probably better than any fast food restaurant’s. You may not score them a 10 out of 10, but you know they’re better than a Big Mac, right? So let’s rank our own grilled burgers an 8 out of 10 which would artificially set the range for fast food joints at “1 to 7”. I can’t fathom what the 10 out of 10 burger would taste like… but then, it’s only a burger. The winner of this competition will move to the next round to face another of America’s fast food burger giants yet to be determined.

McDonald’s Big Mac === Considered by many in the world to be the very definition of a hamburger, perhaps the very definition of America.

Everyone who spent any years in front of a 1970s television can recite what this sandwich’s ingredients are: “Two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onion on a sesame seed bun.” Remember that jingle? Sounds impressive until you actually taste the thing. The Big Mac I received today was freshly assembled as evidenced by the photo. As I labored my way through it, the overriding flavors were of “pickle” and “special sauce” couched between too much bread. Tiny shreds of iceberg would drop out the sides covered in sauce. The meat was not charbroiled — just tasteless — pretty much as tasteless as videos of the pink slime they used to use to make those patties. Boring.

Service: Below average. Had to wait five minutes. Atmosphere: Drive thru, so not scored.

Bottom line, the Big Mac was the least interesting of the two burgers, paling in comparison, and yet was the most expensive at $7.71 Score: 1 out of 10. Reasoning: “Corporate greed serves boring corporate chow to the masses who can no longer afford it.”

Carl’s Jr. California Classic Double Cheeseburger === My first observation is… no avocado! How can this be a “California” recipe without having avocado amongst the ingredients? Every “California” recipe always has avocado — even a California King Mattress comes with avocado! I guess they’re trying to tell us Carl’s Jr. is somehow a legendary "California Classic” Culinary institution. Anyway, this misnomer is actually quite delicious.

It’s the rough equivalent of the Big Mac, with two beef patties, a single slice of cheese (“double” cheeseburger?), lettuce, onions, a slice of tomato, “Classic Sauce” on a plain bun with no sesame seeds. The beef charbroiled. (A short sentence packed with meaning much like “Jesus wept.”)

With the first bite, I forgot all about the absence of sesame seeds or pickles. The charbroiled beef flavor was abundant, the ingredients fresh. This burger satisfies. Score: 6 out of 10. Reasoning: It was far tastier than the Big Mac for less than half the price at $3.58.

Service: Fine. Atmosphere: Drive thru, so not scored.

Results === WINNER: Carl’s Jr. California Classic Double Cheeseburger (6/10) LOSER: McDonald’s...

Worst McDonald's I have ever been to. Consistently pathetic service. The last two visits went as follows: Waited a long time (10+ mins) for food in the drive thru with a relatively short line. That wasn't a big deal. Was asked to wait and pull forward since they were making the fries fresh. Sounded great to me. After waiting another 5-10 mins, the worker finally walked out with fries but didn't have the other part of my order. He was rude and said "I only work in the front" and stormed off. Whatever, so I went in. The "manager" lady actually was confrontational with me! Asked me what did I expect during lunch time on a Sunday! Definitely not rude as Heck service and a 25 minute wait for "fast food"! Finally, after telling myself for years to stop going to this location, I finally have experienced the straw on the back. I will not be going back to this location ever again because it always leads to a stressful situation. This time it made me late to a football game. So I figured 15 mins would be enough time today to grab a double cheeseburger. Decided to go through the drive thru and had a 15 min window before I would have to leave. I thought I may even have enough time to sit in the parking lot and throw away the trash when I'm done! Nope. Way wrong here, in fact it took 35 mins to get my double cheeseburger, and I didn't even get a receipt. I guess I will have to check my online banking and hope they didn't over charge me like they have in the past. When I knocked on the window to ask for a receipt everyone was mysteriously away and I was so frustrated I decided that it would be best to not talk to anyone there at that moment in time.

Ultimately, it is my fault for continuing to give this location a chance and my $3 - $30 (when I purchase for the whole family). I will NOT make that mistake again, and I highly recommend that if you need fast food at this intersection that you go to Burger King or Taco Bell right next to it. Or just drive a few mins and find another McDonald's, it will be worth...

When I first arrived, I went into the bathroom to wash my hands, where an employee was using the bathroom. After he finished his business, he decided to just walk right out without washing his hands. I went up to the front and saw, who I assumed was the manager wearing a different colored shirt with a collar/tie, and let him know. He said, "Oh, we have a special soap they use in the back here....." C'mon now..... Health violation much? Good thing I didn't see him around the food, stupid me, I decided to order anyways cuz I was hungry as all get out.

The restaurant was disgusting, drink station and ketchup pumps were messy, the fountain drink nozzles had a sludge on them and it seemed to be more of a frat behind the counter, as the employees were just having a good ole time, throwing things and not caring. Had to send the fries back because they were old.

I've attempted to reach out to the restaurant, filled out a survey AND tried to call the corporate customer service, and I have not heard back. Would expect more from a franchise. Seems that the in-store management staff does not hold their employees accountable and just wants to be buddy buddy with them all. Definitely won't be back to this one. Shame...