Way to Russia Talk Lounge

MrSpice · Lounge Wizard Joined: 14 Jul 2003 Posts: 3436

http://www.mosnews.com/feature/2005/11/14/mcruss.shtml

mr. barley · Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2005 8:08 am Post subject:

I spent 3 weeks in Moscow with a Mc Donald's on my way to the Metro ( Kievskaya) everyday and my wife and I resisted going in until the last day we were there. I must admit that even though I never and I mean never go to McDonald's (we like Burger King) it sure was nice to grab a couple burgers and some fries after eating mostly unfamiliar food for 3 weeks. I'm not saying the food is bad. On the contrary. It was just nice to get a taste of home after that long.The food tasted just like an American McDonalds to me.

cdnexpat · Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2005 5:38 pm Post subject:

I grew up in Canada next to Macs, and I raised a family there. We managed to avoid going there except may be once a month, for breakfast.
Even though I have been in Afghanistan for over a year, and we survive on improvised food, when I went to St-Pete for two weeks last month the temptation was there at time to walk into one. They real urge to have a hamburger never materialized. Actually, I had no fast food at all for the whole holiday. Being around fifty, I take care of my health, and this kind of food does not fit in my diet.
I have noticed however that they appeal to Russians, especially the young, who patiently wait in line. That also applies all over the world.
Thank God, Russia still has a lot of russian restaurants, unlike North America where the only choices are other fast food chains.
Cheers,
Bob

camarks · Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2005 7:36 pm Post subject:

Mr. Barley, I had a similar experince at the end of a long trip last February. My wife, daughter, and I went to the TGIFriday's on Tverskaya Ul. It was almost like being at home, except our waiter actually spoke English Laughing

!

Chris

mr. barley · Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2005 8:34 pm Post subject:

We went to a TGIF in Moscow on Novy Arbot on our second to last day in Moscow. It was just like one here in the states except the portions were smaller and more to my liking. In this country they give you way too much food. OUr waitress also spoke good English and the woman manager came to our table and tried to survey us in Russian. Then she switched to English when she realized we were Americans. I'm sure she probably already knew that from waitress but she probbably just wanted to know what we thought of their resturant without looking like she was singling us out because we were Americans in their American style resturant. Does that make sense to you? That's the feeling we got anyway.

MrSpice · Lounge Wizard Joined: 14 Jul 2003 Posts: 3436

mr. barley: She probably wanted to know what you Americans thought of the American-style restaurant. So what?

mr. barley · Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2005 9:59 pm Post subject:

It was no big deal. We just thought it was funny that she came over and talked in Russian first when she knew we were Americans. It was like she was pretending she didn't know and was just asking a random customer what they thought of the food and service. Which was excellent I might add. About the same price as TGIF in the USA also.There wasn't a lot of people in there, but it was a Wednesday night.