# Overrated food and drink (brands) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [October 12, 2023, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overrated-food-and-drink-brands/991515 "2023-10-12T11:40:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![echoreply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/echoreply/32/3641_2.png) [@echoreply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/echoreply)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2023, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overrated-food-and-drink-brands/991515/101 "2023-10-14T20:51:48Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > She suggested a frappuccino, Okay, not bad, plenty of caffeine and sugar, kept me going. Then i realized it had about the same fat, HFCS and calories as a fast food meal.! šŸ˜® šŸ¤Ŗ I am convinced that Starbucksā€™ success comes from taking something that is zero fat and zero caloriesā€”black coffeeā€”and turning it into high fat and high sugar comfort food. > [@LSLGuy](#): > > Their whole measure of merit is that this meal be exactly like the last one. To the degree itā€™s different itā€™s worse, period. I always saw that talked about as the selling point of McDonalds and Starbucks, that it is the same everyplace. Until encountering people like you describe, I never understood why that was a selling point. Iā€™d much rather try the local variation on something Iā€™m familiar with. Sometimes that is fun (Chicago dog!) other times it is not good (I think it was Montreal where the nachos were potato chips with cheese sauce and sliced green olives, shouldā€™ve stuck to the poutine). Variety has a quality all its own. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2023, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overrated-food-and-drink-brands/991515/102 "2023-10-14T20:54:34Z")
> [@echoreply](#): > > Variety has a quality all its own. Yes! Maybe because I grew up eating all different kinds of food (and always had a wide variety of dishes at any potluck Iā€™ve ever been to), I prefer variety, as well. Eating the same thing all the time is something I have trouble wrapping my head around. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2023, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overrated-food-and-drink-brands/991515/103 "2023-10-14T20:59:45Z")
> [@echoreply](#): > > I am convinced that Starbucksā€™ success comes from taking something that is zero fat and zero caloriesā€”black coffeeā€”and turning it into high fat and high sugar comfort food. It sure aint their coffee. I do like a rare Mocha, but not Starbux. Peetā€™s please, or an indy. > [@echoreply](#): > > Variety has a quality all its own. It does, fersure. But maybe not on a road trip, where gastric distress may ruin the trip. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2023, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overrated-food-and-drink-brands/991515/104 "2023-10-14T20:59:59Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Jack in the box? Their ā€˜tacosā€™ and their curly fries are just about it. A few months ago I was grabbing lunch at a Jack in the Box at the airport and discovered that that location didnā€™t carry the tacos or most of the other fried sides - no egg rolls, no jalapeno poppers, etc. Such blasphemies must be rectified. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2023, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overrated-food-and-drink-brands/991515/105 "2023-10-14T21:01:20Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > > [@LSLGuy](#): > > > > A remarkable (to me) percentage of people do not want ā€œgoodā€ food. They want ā€œfamiliarā€ food. > > In one Bay area shopping center there is or was a McD and also a In&Out. I asked the guys and In&Out how on earth the McDs stayed in business, and he answered simply- ā€œKids.ā€ Kids prefer Mcds to In&out. > [@echoreply](#): > > I always saw that talked about as the selling point of McDonalds and Starbucks, that it is the same everyplace. Until encountering people like you describe, I never understood why that was a selling point. The thing today IMO is the large number of adults who still eat like the children they once were. My niece is one such. She doesnā€™t have food ā€œissuesā€, but kid-like convenience food is her natural fodder and is the only food she actively wants as opposed to grudgingly tolerates in small doses until she can get some kid food. > [@echoreply](#): > > > [@DrDeth](#): > > > > She suggested a frappuccino, Okay, not bad, plenty of caffeine and sugar, kept me going. Then i realized it had about the same fat, HFCS and calories as a fast food meal.! šŸ˜® šŸ¤Ŗ > > I am convinced that Starbucksā€™ success comes from taking something that is zero fat and zero caloriesā€”black coffeeā€”and turning it into high fat and high sugar comfort food. Yep. Serve them an ice cream sundae mislabeled as a ā€œcoffeeā€. All the psycho-social virtue of a sober adult beverage and all the kidly sugar-fueled enjoyment of a dessert. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2023, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overrated-food-and-drink-brands/991515/106 "2023-10-14T21:06:48Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > A few months ago I was grabbing lunch at a Jack in the Box at the airport and discovered that that location didnā€™t carry the tacos or most of the other fried sides - no egg rolls, no jalapeno poppers, etc. > > Such blasphemies must be rectified. Yeah, I forgot their ā€œegg rollsā€. Not bad at all. > [@LSLGuy](#): > > Serve them an ice cream sundae mislabeled as a ā€œcoffeeā€. Disney Calif Adv had the _Malibu Mocha Frappe_ , which was more or less a not thick chocolate milkshake with a sot of espresso. Lovely. ---
**Author:** ![echoreply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/echoreply/32/3641_2.png) [@echoreply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/echoreply)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2023, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overrated-food-and-drink-brands/991515/107 "2023-10-14T21:06:51Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Serve them an ice cream sundae mislabeled as a ā€œcoffeeā€. That is such a more descriptive way of putting it. Yes, Starbucks made an ice cream sundae with caffeine acceptable for breakfast or lunch. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2023, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overrated-food-and-drink-brands/991515/108 "2023-10-14T21:09:54Z")
> [@echoreply](#): > > I am convinced that Starbucksā€™ success comes from taking something that is zero fat and zero caloriesā€”black coffeeā€”and turning it into high fat and high sugar comfort food. A co-worker who was trying to eat healthy was surprised to find that the ā€œflat whiteā€ coffee thing he was ordering from Starbucks had 53 grams of sugar. Of course he ordered the same thing the next day. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2023, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overrated-food-and-drink-brands/991515/109 "2023-10-14T21:14:36Z")
Huh, must be different from the flat white I order as my usual go-to drink there. Mine has hardly any sugar. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2023, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overrated-food-and-drink-brands/991515/110 "2023-10-14T21:15:19Z")
I have no idea what exactly heā€™s ordering but he said 53 grams. ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2023, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overrated-food-and-drink-brands/991515/111 "2023-10-14T21:16:12Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > A co-worker who was trying to eat healthy was surprised to find that the ā€œflat whiteā€ coffee thing he was ordering from Starbucks had 53 grams of sugar. Of course he ordered the same thing the next day. The Starbucks nutrition site lists sugars in their flat white as 13 grams. > **[StarbucksĀ®](https://www.starbucks.com/menu/product/565/hot/nutrition)** ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2023, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overrated-food-and-drink-brands/991515/112 "2023-10-14T21:17:36Z")
> [@BippityBoppityBoo](#): > > The Starbucks nutrition site lists sugars in their flat white as 13 grams. Sure, but he could have gotten a flat white drink variation. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2023, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overrated-food-and-drink-brands/991515/113 "2023-10-14T21:18:13Z")
Again, I have _no_ idea exactly what it is that he was ordering. Itā€™s even _possible_ that I was mistaken in calling it a flat white. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2023, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overrated-food-and-drink-brands/991515/114 "2023-10-14T21:20:40Z")
Oh, a hill I am willing to die on: In Nā€™ Out burgers are OK, but not even as good as Wendyā€™s. In Nā€™ Out fries are the worst Iā€™ve had in the fast food industry. Easily the most overrated restaurant out there. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2023, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overrated-food-and-drink-brands/991515/115 "2023-10-14T21:24:59Z")
My impression was that Five Guys fries were also mediocre. The only thing they had going for them is that they were very generous in how many fries they poured into the bag, after putting the little sleeve of fries there. ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2023, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overrated-food-and-drink-brands/991515/116 "2023-10-14T21:30:31Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > In Nā€™ Out fries are the worst Iā€™ve had in the fast food industry. Their fries areā€¦ not good as served by default, but I like them ordered medium-well animal-style. They are crispy, with the bonus of a cheese, sauce, and onion topping. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2023, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overrated-food-and-drink-brands/991515/117 "2023-10-14T21:53:11Z")
Thatā€™s how I order them. Iā€™ve had worse fries. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2023, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overrated-food-and-drink-brands/991515/118 "2023-10-14T22:03:30Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > I have to admit I was out on a field trip with a Starbux fiend (she had one of those special order things, half this, and that etc) and it was hot and I was lagging. She suggested a frappuccino, Okay, not bad, plenty of caffeine and sugar, kept me going. Then i realized it had about the same fat, HFCS and calories as a fast food meal.! The thing that always surprises me is how many people canā€™t tell what they are eating. I got a strawberry frappuccino once, at an airport. It was my supper time, and i was hungry. I was unable to finish it, because it had SO much fat and sugar. It was delicious, but after about half the cup, i was full. I might have been able to nibble on a bit of lean protein, but i was full up on fat and sugar. It was awkward, because i was on an airplane, and i had to hold the damn thing for ages before the flight attendant canā€™t buy and i could their the rest away. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2023, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overrated-food-and-drink-brands/991515/119 "2023-10-14T22:04:37Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > My impression was that Five Guys fries were also mediocre. The only thing they had going for them is that they were very generous in how many fries they poured into the bag, after putting the little sleeve of fries there. I like their fries. They are always fresh, and have all the greasy crispy attributes i want in a French fry. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2023, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overrated-food-and-drink-brands/991515/120 "2023-10-14T22:36:02Z")
Both Five Guys fries and In-N-Out fries are war crimes. At least In-N-Out has decent to excellent burgers. Iā€™ve never had one at Five Guys that was worth writing home about. The two chains have locations basically across the street from one another right at the freeway exit for my town. I usually skip both of them and go to [Bakerā€™s](https://www.bakersdrivethru.com/menu/) instead, which is between the two. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overrated-food-and-drink-brands/991515.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overrated-food-and-drink-brands/991515.md?page=7)