This McDonald’s is impressively inconsistent.
Every once in a while, you walk in, someone greets you, and the food is fresh and hot. Unfortunately, that happens less than 25% of the time.
Last Sunday, I stood at the counter waiting while no one acknowledged me. No greeting, no “we’ll be with you in a moment,” nothing. I understand the McDonald’s business model: sell increasingly expensive, highly processed food in large volume through a system designed to reduce labor costs and human interaction. However, the system should at least work.
Customers are practically forced to use a kiosk, but the kiosk does not print a receipt. It asks for a table-number tent, yet there were none available. Apparently, customers are expected to participate in a scavenger hunt before receiving their food.
The restroom sign says employees must wash their hands. That is reassuring—except there was no soap or even a soap dispenser. I suppose we are just expected to hope the grill was hot enough to cook away whatever proper handwashing would have prevented.
The food is usually no better. Most of the time, the cheese is still cold and barely melted. We continued coming here only because the location was convenient, but convenience is no longer enough.
When a meal for three costs close to $50, I would rather spend that money somewhere that provides decent service, properly prepared food, and at least acts as though it appreciates the business. McDonald’s—especially the Opal location—is not that place.
It is easy to understand why Chick-fil-A continues gaining customers.
For travelers heading toward I-95, keep driving a few more miles to Bealeton. The service there is better, at the very least.