Restaurants with confusing or bizarre ordering systems

I agree. I hate ordering at Chipotle. I hate it enough that I don’t go there willingly. I know that it would clutter their minimalist menu boards, but for chrissakes put a few preset combinations on there. I should be able to ask for a “regular” chicken burrito and not have to specify each ingredient individually. No good burrito place I’ve ever been to makes me do it that way. When I do have to eat at Chipotle I always tell them to make two of whatever my companion is having. I would rather eat something random than have to design my own burrito. In fact, next time I go there I’m going to say “Just make a random chicken burrito. Whenever you would ask me what I want just randomly select an option.”

Five Guys uses the same dumb concept but at least they have the “all the way” option so I don’t have to list everything individually. I could do without the mushrooms but I accept that in exchange for not having to specify the 8 or 9 things I do want.

Subway drives me bonkers because they want me to tall them how to build their poster menu items. If I wanta sweet onion chicken teriyaki, I should not have to specify that I want sweet onion teriyaki sauce. Nor do I want to be asked if i want pickles and jalapeños on it. I don’t know? Do they taste good? Can you just make me what’s in the picture, please?

Where is Killer Burger? I haven’t heard of it. Big fan of Little Big Burger, though. (And Burgerville, of course.)

I’ve seen trenta for cold drinks – they don’t have it for hot drinks – on the menu board, but they don’t call attention to it. If you look at the prices you’ll see that there are four columns. At least at the Starbuckses where I have looked.

Here in Louisville I’ve been stumped twice by the drink menu at Jack Daniel’s Restaurant. I don’t drink or go out to eat very often but on the last two occasions when one of my friends has had a birthday they’ve chosen to go to there. The food is too expensive for my tastes but I do (try) to order a drink but the menu doesn’t immediately make it obvious what the prices are. It is just descriptions of the drinks with random, seemingly unimportant numbers without dollar signs placed up in the upper corner. Only after stopping one of the waif-thin waitresses and asking them to explain does it all become clear. And it’s not just me, each time my whole party has been stumped.

I always buy a venti (20 oz) when I go to Starbuck’s, because they don’t have anything bigger. (I’d never heard of the “trenta” before reading this thread, and still haven’t seen one.)

For being “sandwich artists” they sure are helpless when it comes to slapping some meat, cheese and condiments on bread without hand-holding each step of the way.

I much prefer Jimmy John’s. Gimme a number #12 and I’ll be down here waiting for it when you’re done.

I’ve been planning to try Jimmy John’s since moving to TX but haven’t made it; this encourages me to try them.

Wait, what? [checks menu] Huh. They do have numbers other than 16 on there. Weird.

Sure the have other numbers but nobody who knows sandwiches orders anything other than the #9.
You walk through the door and they see the confident stride, the shape eye, the stunning good looks, and without so much as a nod they start on the #9 as you simply walk to the back to pick up your order; this one will be on the house.
Reach perfect sandwich understanding and this is your providence.

I remember when I first started going to the Yank Sing in the :cough: 70’s, they still used the plate counting method. They didn’t have too much trouble with prices; expensive things came 3 to an order or on double plates and if you wanted half as much they’d take away the bottom plate. Larger dishes came on larger plates and steamed foods came in baskets. Before you left they counted everything and charged you and if you needed extra plates at home, you could save money at the same time ;). Although at that time it was much cheaper and also located on the edge of the tenderloin with a great view of the Carol Doda sign outside and a tacky beer sign with an animated waterfall inside so they’ve gone just a tad upscale since.

Huh, I just ate inside at the Sonic that just opened near me. It had a regular counter like any other fast food place. I didn’t realize this was unusual.

Yes, I know. But if you want a club with bacon, I’m afraid you’ll have to speak up.

Well, how secret can it be when they post it on their website?

EDIT: Ninja’ed. Although, I notice they don’t list animal style fries, fries well done, or extra thick shakes, so I guess that must be the SUPER-secret menu.

People seem to have a love/hate relationship with Subway. My friend used to hate the fact that he had to tell them everything that he wanted on the sub. I on the other hand liked the fact that my sandwich was tailored to my liking. I can appreciate though that some people just don’t want to be faced with the decision and given something good. I’ve never had Jimmy Johns, but Firehouse Subs is more like that, they have very little options. they have about 8-10 subs and you can get them like they are or fully loaded which is lettuce, tomato, mustard, mayo, something along those lines. Of course, you can get just mayo, just lettuce, etc, but if you just want it how they originally designed it, it’s there.

Oh, to be Peter Weller.

NSFW language.

Tangential to the thread, but I had a friend who came over from Paris and was mystified (/horrified?) at how North Americans consume coffee. To him, coffee was a drink enjoyed leisurely, while relaxing at a café. He couldn’t believe we gulp down coffee in our cars, fighting rush-hour traffic.

[QUOTE=chefguy]
So you’ve not been to Burgerville (a Northwest chain), I’m assuming, or Killer Burger (a largely Portland chain that is growing wildly), both west coast fast food places that blow the socks off of anything else out there.
[/QUOTE]

Uh, Portland? :slight_smile:

The Cheesecake Factory’s menu is so ginormous my elderly in-laws are always a bit taken aback, if not overwhelmed.

Love me some Jimmy John’s. Their sandwiches are only 8 inches, but the bread is better and you don’t have to do all the hand-holding. And the #9 is the way to go hands down.