Fast Food NYC: Fast Food & Casual Dining in New York City

Exotic Fast Food Palace on 44th Street

16 Feb 2010

Yum! Brands' dual-brand restaurants in the suburbs seemed like a novel idea when their rollout began in the early part of the last decade. In the suburbs you went to a KFC, a Pizza Hut, or a Taco Bell - not some combination of two of the three.

However, in New York City the concept of multi-branded food courts run by restaurant management companies is nothing new. For decades these companies, such as Riese Restaurants have run multi-brand food courts, primarily catering to the corporate lunch crowd, in Midtown and Lower Manhattan, as well as Downtown Brooklyn.

Unlike their modern suburban counterparts, the New York City food courts are generally parent-company independent. Nathan's Famous Hot Dogs may be paired with a Roy Rogers, a KFC may be paired with a Dunkin' Donuts and a Subway.

A gleaming example of diverse fast food experience is offered at the food court on the corner of 44th Street & 8th Avenue, two blocks north of the Port Authority Bus Terminal and a block west of Times Square. Here four chains (Subway, Arthur Treacher's Fish & Chips, Nathan's Famous, and Church's Chicken), as well as a pizza counter, are all under one roof. It is furthermore of note that this is Church's Chicken's only location in New York City, and one of the very few of Arthur Treacher's*.

The entire food court was overhauled in early 2009 and now boasts a very clean interior.

*Note that Arthur Treacher's website keeps a very spotty list of locations (it is even down at the time of this writing). This and several others in New York City are not listed.

New York City's In-N-Out Burger Clone

14 Feb 2010

Address: 311 East 23rd St at Park Ave South. 6-Train to 23rd Street.

In-N-Out Burger, a highly-regarded, simple burger chain, only stretches as far east as Nevada and Colorado. Their statement on franchising will probably keep it this way:

"In-N-Out remains privately owned and the Snyder family has no plans to take the company public or franchise any units." - In-N-Out "History"

How do you capitalize on this geographic restriction out East? Start a clone of course! First, create a brand name and color scheme similar (but hopefully distinct) enough to draw in cravers of the real thing. Then set up your menu in a similar fashion, and you're all set!

Let's face it: New York City is the capital of borderline cease-and-desist fast food clones. There was the "Subs Ur Way" in a yellow-and-green color scheme in Greenpoint (which lasted all of two months), and, of course, the infamous hundreds of KFC brand capitlizers, be it Kennedy Fried Chicken, Kansas Fried Chicken, or even New Kantaky Fried Chicken.

Enter Fresh-N-Fast, our new In-N-Out clone, which opened its first location by the corner of 23rd St & Park Avenue South.

While In-N-Out's restaurants generally offer spacious seating, this first Fresh-N-Fast location only has a few barstools along a narrow consumption counter along its left side. The menu boards could hardly be a closer match though. The only real dissimilarity is the fact that In-N-Out's grilled cheese sandwich is a "secret menu item" while at Fresh-N-Fast it's out in the open. Take a look at the comparison below:

In-N-Out Menu Board by roboppy via Flickr

Finally, let's get to how the food actually tastes and what the experience is like. Long story short, the burger was very good (perhaps a notch under Shake Shack) and the fries were world class (similar to but a notch above Five Guys). Price was comparable to the other "upscale burger chains", a double cheeseburger and fries will cost you around $8.50. The service staff appeared somewhat confused overall - at one point it seemed they thought they had already cleared my order. The kicker was when the cashier was asked if "Animal Style" was offered here. The response was "Oh, like In-N-Out?" While you can't get "Animal Style" exactly like In-N-Out, the nearly-identical special sauce and liquid cheese is offered on the side.

Diehard In-N-Out fans will probably scoff at this clone. However, unless you plan on flying out to Las Vegas for lunch, this is the next best thing, and it tastes good. What more can matter? Fresh-N-Fast plans on opening further locations throughout the city.

Submarina California Opens in Astoria

31 Jan 2010

Address: 31-43 Steinway St, Astoria, Queens (Steinway Section) - G,R,V to Steinway St.

New York City's (and the East Coast's) first Submarina California opened this past Thursday in Astoria, Queens. The sandwich shop is located in the back of a Häagen Dazs.

I visited on opening night and a corporate manager from San Diego was present, still mentioning rules to the staff and providing other guidance. I was immediately informed that I could get a six-inch sub, chips, and a drink for $5. I went for the turkey club, which was carefully prepared. In fact, the mustard, the only sauce I chose, was spread across the bread with a knife. An interesting vegetable available was alfalfa sprouts, which I also chose.

Unfortunately the sandwich photo I took was mysteriously lost by my TweetDeck iPhone app. The sandwich was large and certainly tasted refreshingly different than Subway or Quiznos - the closest comparison would be Jimmy John's, a 875-store chain of sub shops mostly found in college towns.

I highly recommend giving Submarina a try. You can even have a dessert from Häagen Dazs at the conclusion of your meal!

Arby's Opens in Downtown Brooklyn

28 Jan 2010

Address: 372 Fulton St., Downtown Brooklyn - Jay Street / Borough Hall A,C,F Station

The long-awaited "World's Most Beautiful Arby's" opened last Thursday on the Fulton Mall. Aside from the amazing historic interior, this Arby's also features an "Arby's Express" counter by the entrance which is generally line-less and only serves cold sandwiches.

If you want any of the traditional menu items you must queue up along the right wall and place your order at the back counter. You then receive an order number and then wait for your order to the left side.

This Arby's features suburban-style self-serve soda fountains and sauce pumps. There's even a "ring if the service was great" bell by the door on your way out. Ring it and the entire staff will shout "thanks guest you're the best." Cute, but it can get a little ridiculous during the heavy lunch crowd.

Overall I was very satisfied with my Large Beef & Cheddar Combo order on the day after the grand opening.

Checkers Expands in Brooklyn and into Queens

3 Jan 2010

Just this past June Checkers opened their first Brooklyn location on Court Street. Since then Checkers has rolled out across Brooklyn with several new locations opening. Late summer also brought a location in the Financial District and recently a location in Jamaica, Queens has opened, giving Checkers a presence in all five boroughs.

New locations in Brooklyn & Queens:

Brooklyn:

1611 Broadway at Eldert St (Bushwick): I visited this location yesterday. It's another non-typical Checkers, seating 19 and having no drive through. For a photo and a longer review, check out BushwickBK.com's article.

970 Flatbush Ave. at Albemarie Rd (Flatbush) : I've got nothing on this location except that Google Maps pairs it with Papa John's.

797 Pennsylvania Ave at Linden Blvd (East New York): This one ran into some problems getting its signs approved. No word on if it's open yet. Based on the permit applications, this location will have at least one drive-through (remember, Checkers likes having two). My guess is it will be more like the Staten Island location with no seating but a pick-up window.

Here is the most recent Google Street View capture - my guess is it's replacing the car wash:

View Larger Map

Queens:

83-45 Parsons Blvd at Coolidge Ave (Jamaica): No word on this one either, but Google Street View shows two red canopies behind a McDonalds at the same address. It certainly looks like a drive-through.

View Larger Map

Remember that the last two locations above are listed on Checkers' website but there's no other confirmation that they're open. Use the location finder to get the most accurate phone number and give the location a call before heading out.

Columbian Chicken in Queens: Frisby

2 Jan 2010

Address: 83-17 Northern Blvd, Queens. 7-Train to 82nd St / Jackson Heights to Q33 bus (LaGuardia Airport-bound) to Northern Blvd.

Columbian chicken chain Frisby, ("Pollo Frisby") only has one location in all of North America, and that happens to be right here in New York City on Northern Boulevard in Jackson Heights, Queens.

At first glance Frisby looks like you're average fast food chicken chain: There are brightly-lit signs out front, posters advertising product everywhere, and even a mascot. However, the experience is somewhat different.

I always stand out when I wander into a fast food establishment for the first time. I stand there, neck strained upward, glancing at the menuboard for several minutes. This tradition was interrupted today as the manager handed me a printed out menu.

Frisby's menu consists of fried chicken items and sides. I ordered a combo of chicken wings and fries. However, Frisby's definition of "chicken wings" is not in tune with the common U.S. fast food definition: They are literally big fried wings of chicken.

After placing my order (and paying the $7.99 plus tax) the experience became truly unique. I was given beverage cup and a metal pole with a number attached to it and asked to sit down. I filled up my cup with Diet Pepsi, not even bothering with a lid or straw. I also grabbed some napkins and then sat down at a table.

Almost immediately a member of the staff came over and placed down a placemat, which was essentially a tray liner. I also received three packets of honey, two packets of ketchup, more napkins, a lid, a straw, and, the best part, two plastic gloves! About a minute later the same staff member brought me my food on a tray, which she unloaded onto my placemat.

I was a bit bewildered by the gloves. I obviously recognized their purpose, but the idea of eating with them on seemed very strange to me. I compromised with my inner-anxiety and put one on, leaving my other hand in the more accustomed uncovered state.

The chicken with honey tasted quite great, while the fries were average. I got through the meal rather quickly and cleanly (the glove served its role well). I was not responsible for clearing off my table, something I'm quite used to from my days in Germany and Austria.

Ultimately, a dinner at Frisby is worth experiencing. I plan on returning again in the near future to try something else off the menu, especially the extensive side dish list.

European-Style McDonald's Arrives in New York City

27 Dec 2009

Address: 541 6th Ave at 14th St, Manhattan - F,V Trains to 14th St; L-Train to 6th Ave

Traditional fast food chains don't exactly have a great image in New York City. They are generally associates with 1980s decor, overflowing trash bins, dirty tables, long food and bathroom lines, and poor and slow service. This seems to have been the accepted norm for over two decades, but a recent wave of hip (and clean) chains such as Chipotle, Qdoba, and Baja Fresh is starting to shift expectations.

The McDonald's experience in New York City is generally dismal. Many, if not all of the characteristics described above tend to be part of the experience. Recently the chain has begun to attempt to change its image in the United States, entering "the coffee wars" with Starbucks and Dunkin' Donuts. Similar "warfare" has been waged for over a decade in Europe, where McDonald's has had to compete with a culture of coffeehouses and a culture generally more embracing of coffee varieties beyond plain diner-style. This experience has generally been branded "McCafé" and can be found in many larger cities outside the United States, including Montreal.

In more recent times, the "distinctly non-plain American interior" has spread to the restaurant portion of McDonald's. In Europe this generally consists of an IKEA-style interior, and that's exactly what has been brought to 6th Avenue at 14th Street.

The menu is the same as any New York City McDonald's. However, you get to enjoy your Big Mac while lounging in comfortable wide chains with high backs. Besides this lounge-like seating there is also a "laptop bar" on the second floor with cushioned bar-stool seating.

Another distinguishing feature appears to be friendlier service from the staff (which wears black uniforms). During my visit the manager stood on the customer side of the counter and reassured customers that their order was on the way. Later she asked me how my meal was. There was also far more table cleaning going on during my visit versus a regular NYC McDonald's.

One vestige of an unwelcoming NYC McDonald's peculiarly remains: The "no loitering" sign which mentions a maximum table stay of 20 minutes "while consuming food". While this rule didn't seem to be enforced (my stay was around 30 minutes), this seems rather ridiculous to me in light of what McDonald's is trying to achieve here. We all know the average Starbucks stay is more around 45 minutes. But maybe its presence is merely a formality.

All-in-all a layout rollout such as this would benefit McDonalds' image in New York City. Unfortunately, given the multitude of operators and franchisers throughout the city, I don't think we'll be seeing an abundance of these "euro-chic" McDonald's citywide anytime soon.

Dinner at Pollo Campero (Brooklyn / Queens Border)

3 Oct 2009

3-57 Saint Nicholas Ave, Ridgewood, Queens. L-Train to Myrtle-Wycoff Aves.

Pollo Campero is a Guatemalan fast food chicken chain. It arrived in the United States in 2002 and currently has three locations in New York City: Ridgewood, Corona, and Washington Heights. A Sunset Park location closed within a year of its opening.

The Ridgewood location is brand new, having opened in July of this year. It is easy to reach as it's only a block from the Myrtle-Wycoff Avenues L-Train station and Brooklyn's Bushwick neighborhood. This restaurant is rather large and even has a small indoor playground similar to what you would find at a suburban McDonalds. The dining area was extremely clean during my visit and the tables were even lightly decorated with colorful tissue paper. Latin music via XM/Sirius satellite radio was playing and some customers were even dancing!

The Pollo Campero menu is split about 50/50 between fried and grilled chicken. There are several small sides available, your choice of which is included in the combo meals, as well as several extra slides, such as a small salad, available at an extra cost. Combo meals also include the choice of either bread or tortillas.

I chose the 1/4 white meat chicken meal ($6.49 plus tax) and chose coleslaw as a side (the meals generally have a specific side mentioned but you can substitute), as well as tortillas. Beverage options include a self-serve soda fountain and several tropical beverage options which the staff will dispense for you. There is a salsa bar next to the soda fountain and also a ketchup pump (always a big plus).

The presentation of the meal was excellent. The chicken was served on a real plate along with the tortillas, which were in a plastic wrapper. My coleslaw came in a bowl and was a larger portion than I had expected.

The meal was absolutely delicious. The grilled chicken had a flavorful coating, was moist, and practically fell off the bone. The coleslaw was of a relatively coarse cut and tasted fresh and not overly-mayonnaise-like. I didn't really have a clue what to do with the tortillas, as I was eating the chicken off the bone, so I simply ripped off pieces of them as I went along.

Overall this is a restaurant worth checking out. The healthy options will certainly be appreciated by many, and the clean and welcoming appearance is certainly leagues better than the average New York City chicken chain. One can only hope that this chain will continue to expand throughout the city.

Fun fact: Both Pollo Campero's Ridgewood and Washington Heights locations are on (completely unrelated) Saint Nicholas Avenues.

Fall Updates: KFC, Baja, Checkers, Submarina

28 Sep 2009

Here are some updates for the beginning of the Fall 2009 Fast Food Season:

Greenpoint's KFC / Taco Bell Opened Today

Not revolutionary news, but this new location, which replaces a strange Taco Bell / Pizza Hut / Blimpie / Carvel / random coffee place location from the late 90s, is in the modern-day Yum! Brands co-branding style like you would see in the suburbs. Quite the departure from the pick-up-only, teller-window-style KFC locations found elsewhere in the city. You can find this new location in the Key Foods Plaza.

Baja Fresh Opens 2nd Manhattan Location

Right by Times Square this location is already extremely popular. A full review will follow.

Checkers Opens 2nd Brooklyn Location

Checkers continues its expansion throughout the five boroughs by opening its second Brooklyn location on Flatbush Avenue in Prospect Park South / Flatbush.

Submarina California Update

After my recent post on the lack of progress on New York City's first Submarina California in Astoria, the kind Submarina team has responded with an update:

"Out of respect for Häagen-Dazs's busy summer season, Submarina halted construction. The Submarina is scheduled to resume construction during the 4th quarter. Submarina looks forward to introducing the Best Subs Under the Sun® to New York City."

Sounds reasonable, and I'm sure we can't wait to try a California-style sub! Be sure to check out Submarina on Twitter.

No A&W or Long John Silver's in New York City

23 Sep 2009

Update (2/15/2010): Of the four locations referenced below, only one is still in existence (the Farmingdale Long John Silvers). Be sure to always check the corporate location finders before heading out, particularly for older entries.

Currently there are no A&Ws or Long John Silvers' in New York City. An A&W existed until recently on Hyden Blvd., Staten Island, but it's no longer in existence (it's now "Mike's Souvlaki Express").

So where can you find these two Yum! Brands chains? New Jersey and Long Island, with the later's locations being slightly closer. Here's a rundown:

A&W:
Menu: "All-American food" (hot dogs, hamburgers, root beer)
Co-branded with: Mostly KFC, occasionally Long John Silvers, rarely Pizza Hut, increasingly rarely not co-branded.
Closest locations to NYC: Jerico and Levittown Long Island (both can be reached by LIRR + bus in about 90 minutes from Penn Station). (Location Finder)

Long John Silver's:
Menu: Fried seafood
Co-branded with: Mostly KFC, occasionally A&W or Taco Bell, increasingly rarely not co-branded.
Closest locations to NYC: Hicksville (walking distance from LIRR stop, one hour from Penn Station) and Farmingdale, Long Island (Location Finder)

Photo credit: Photo by Xenophod. Licence Information

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Fast Food NYC: Fast Food & Casual Dining in New York City

A look into national and regional fast food and casual dining options in New York City.

Exotic Fast Food Palace on 44th Street

New York City's In-N-Out Burger Clone

Submarina California Opens in Astoria

Arby's Opens in Downtown Brooklyn

Checkers Expands in Brooklyn and into Queens

New locations in Brooklyn & Queens:

Columbian Chicken in Queens: Frisby

European-Style McDonald's Arrives in New York City

Dinner at Pollo Campero (Brooklyn / Queens Border)

Fall Updates: KFC, Baja, Checkers, Submarina

Greenpoint's KFC / Taco Bell Opened Today

Baja Fresh Opens 2nd Manhattan Location

Checkers Opens 2nd Brooklyn Location

Submarina California Update

No A&W or Long John Silver's in New York City

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