# The "new" Arby's "Roastburger"--w.t.f. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 9, 2009, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-arbys-roastburger-w-t-f/488850 "2009-03-09T17:35:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![rock\_party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e19b73/32.png) [@rock\_party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rock_party)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-arbys-roastburger-w-t-f/488850/61 "2009-03-11T04:07:28Z")
Come on people! We’re supposed to get some veggies in our diets…RAW veggies…so go to Subway or Quiznoes. On whole wheat bread too. White bread and processed, sodium nitrated meat with cheez whiz is EXACTLY what you’re not supposed to be eating…plus it’s gross. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-arbys-roastburger-w-t-f/488850/62 "2009-03-11T06:05:46Z")
The last time I went to Arby’s, I had two of the worst roast beef sandwiches the chain had ever served me. I may just have to go back to their turkey sandwiches. ---
**Author:** ![Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sleeps_With_Butterflies)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-arbys-roastburger-w-t-f/488850/63 "2009-03-11T12:13:31Z")
> [@Snooooopy](#): > > The last time I went to Arby’s, I had two of the worst roast beef sandwiches the chain had ever served me. I may just have to go back to their turkey sandwiches. Eek! The Market Fresh Turkey Sandwiches are 710 calories (turkey & swiss) and 820 calories (turkey, ranch & bacon). In fact, all of the Market Fresh sandwiches have the highest calories of any of their sandwiches. It pisses me off how these things are marketed. I had a patient who thought she was following a decent diet by eating turkey on wheat. She was a big gal so she ate two of them for lunch. That was more than her caloric allowance for the day. Bastard fast food places. Still, that’s a whole different rant. ---
**Author:** ![Who\_me\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/958977/32.png) [@Who\_me\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Who_me_1)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-arbys-roastburger-w-t-f/488850/64 "2009-03-11T12:46:42Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > Yes, they are. They need to have better roast beef. I wish someone would start opening Roy Roger’s out here. Not to rub it in, but maybe I’ll head to a Roy’s tonight, I like their roast beef. Arby’s roast beef is edible, but it’s not roast beef. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-arbys-roastburger-w-t-f/488850/65 "2009-03-11T13:17:45Z")
While we’re on the subject of alternatives, I’d like to throw out a wholehearted recommendation for Backyard Burger. The nearest one to my house is 20 minutes away and there are at least 20 other burger joints on the way… and still I go. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-arbys-roastburger-w-t-f/488850/66 "2009-03-11T14:38:43Z")
I was reading this thread and thinking about how I’ll probably never eat at an Arby’s again…and my coworker just handed around coupons she printed out from the net for a free Roastburger with soft drink. And as it happens, I didn’t bring lunch with me today, and this would be a perfect way to keep my spending down. So I guess I’m trying it at lunch after all. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-arbys-roastburger-w-t-f/488850/67 "2009-03-11T16:16:42Z")
> [@Hi\_Neighbor](#): > > It’s scary that it became so popular. I just read that the Baconator has been named the official burger of the Canadian Football League. I think the name probably has a lot to do with it’s popularity. Would a Baconator by any other name still be as bacony? I haven’t eaten at Arby’s for a long time but when I do it’s usually to satisfy my craving for a Jamocha shake. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-arbys-roastburger-w-t-f/488850/68 "2009-03-11T16:22:21Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > It was originally a limited time thing and turned out to be so popular that they decided to replace the bacon double with it. Not the Bacon Double, the Big Bacon Classic. I loved the BBC, the baconator is a pale pretender. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-arbys-roastburger-w-t-f/488850/69 "2009-03-11T16:37:19Z")
> [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](#): > > Eek! The Market Fresh Turkey Sandwiches are 710 calories (turkey & swiss) and 820 calories (turkey, ranch & bacon). In fact, all of the Market Fresh sandwiches have the highest calories of any of their sandwiches. I still don’t understand how this is even possible. Bread soaked in lard? Concentrated mayonnaise? How do you pack that many calories into a turkey sandwich, and why the hell would they want to? ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-arbys-roastburger-w-t-f/488850/70 "2009-03-11T16:55:35Z")
Arby’s lost me when they kicked the homestyle fries to the curb, and the local one stopped carrying Dr Pepper, a sure sign of an inferior restaurant. You’re dead to me, Arby’s. Bacon, lettuce and tomato will not bring you back, that’s for sure. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-arbys-roastburger-w-t-f/488850/71 "2009-03-11T18:15:52Z")
[QUOTE=Sleeps With Butterflies] Eek! The Market Fresh Turkey Sandwiches are 710 calories (turkey & swiss) and 820 calories (turkey, ranch & bacon). In fact, all of the Market Fresh sandwiches have the highest calories of any of their sandwiches. [/QUOTE] > [@VinylTurnip](#): > > I still don’t understand how this is even possible. Bread soaked in lard? Concentrated mayonnaise? How do you pack that many calories into a turkey sandwich, and why the hell would they want to? I wondered about that too. If Arby’s put about an inch and a half of turkey and an inch and a half of cheese on their sandwiches (like a deli that’s a local institution does), I could maybe see how they might amount to 710 or 820 calories. However, the Market Fresh sandwiches aren’t that big. I’m guessing they must really slather on a lot of mayo and/or ranch dressing for the calorie count to be that high. Or maybe that’s for the entire meal of sandwich, fries, and a soft drink? ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-arbys-roastburger-w-t-f/488850/72 "2009-03-11T18:18:19Z")
> [@scabpicker](#): > > Arby’s lost me when they kicked the homestyle fries to the curb, and the local one stopped carrying Dr Pepper, a sure sign of an inferior restaurant. You’re dead to me, Arby’s. Bacon, lettuce and tomato will not bring you back, that’s for sure. Really? They only have the curly fries now? ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-arbys-roastburger-w-t-f/488850/73 "2009-03-11T18:24:56Z")
> [@Folly](#): > > Really? They only have the curly fries now? Yep, and that’s a big factor in me not eating there much any more. I was going to get the Roastburger for lunch, but I looked at the advertising picture of it on the coupon and decided to get a couple of cheap taquitos and a bag of Doritos at the nearby convenience store instead. I’m quite sure they were tastier than whatever meal I might’ve gotten at Arby’s. ---
**Author:** ![lunar\_elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/35a633/32.png) [@lunar\_elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lunar_elf)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-arbys-roastburger-w-t-f/488850/74 "2009-03-11T18:28:17Z")
We drove past Arby’s this last weekend and my hubby goes ‘Oooh? Arby’s is now making burgers?’ I get a quick look at the sign and tell him, ‘instead of a meat patty, you get roast beef…’. Him ‘Oh, well that’s really creative.’ Speaking of fish, the one that boggles me is the KFC Fish Snacker. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-arbys-roastburger-w-t-f/488850/75 "2009-03-11T18:30:49Z")
> [@NDP](#): > > I wondered about that too. If Arby’s put about an inch and a half of turkey and an inch and a half of cheese on their sandwiches (like a deli that’s a local institution does), I could maybe see how they might amount to 710 or 820 calories. However, the Market Fresh sandwiches aren’t that big. I’m guessing they must really slather on a lot of mayo and/or ranch dressing for the calorie count to be that high. Or maybe that’s for the entire meal of sandwich, fries, and a soft drink? No, just the sandwich, and it sounds about right to me. [Looking here](http://caloriecount.about.com/calories-arbys-market-fresh-roast-turkey-i52242), I’m getting approximately 275 calories from carbs (you subtract the dietary fiber grams from total carbs when computing calories, right? If not, the total is about 300) , 243 from fat, and 180 from protein. Looks like the buns, mayo and cheese that’s killing you there. Makes sense. A slice of swiss cheese is about 100 calories, and so is a serving of mayo. And, although I’m not anti-carb, the calories from buns can add up fast. Watching the carbs has helped me lose weight, not because of any magic biological process, but because it’s so easy to fatten up on carb calories without even noticing. I’m amazed at how energy dense bread products can be. ---
**Author:** ![jujuju](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7993a0/32.png) [@jujuju](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jujuju)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-arbys-roastburger-w-t-f/488850/76 "2009-03-11T22:51:06Z")
I can’t believe no one has mentioned the turnovers. I get two at a time. They heat up great, and are delicious. The roast beef (sic) though, reminds me of Jello. ---
**Author:** ![FalconFinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@FalconFinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FalconFinder)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2009, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-arbys-roastburger-w-t-f/488850/77 "2009-03-12T22:11:08Z")
While I don’t mind eating at Arby’s (as evidenced in my drool post earlier), calling this sandwich a “burger” really annoys the spit out of me. The definition of a burger is (I bolded the key phrase): "burg·er (bûr’gər) Pronunciation Key n. 1. A sandwich consisting of a bun, **a cooked beef patty** , and often other ingredients such as cheese, onion slices, lettuce, or condiments. Often used in combination: a cheeseburger. 2. A similar sandwich with a nonbeef filling. Often used in combination: a crab burger; a tofu burger." SLICED ROAST BEEF DOES NOT A BURGER MAKE!! Whew. Thank you. I feel somewhat better now… (ok, not really. I’ll always get annoyed with that the same way I get annoyed when I see that stupid Barnyard movie/TV show where the MALE cow has udders! Drives me completely crazy!!! Only female cows have udders!!!) ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2009, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-arbys-roastburger-w-t-f/488850/78 "2009-03-13T13:42:39Z")
In fairness, the term “burger” has already been assaulted into meaninglessness by decades of uniform round, grey discs that abut the permissible amount of feces. I was chagrinned to see in Brazil, where privately-run burger stands selling good, cheap, _real_ hamburgers abound, a dual line of cars extending out onto the road at the McDonald’s double drive-through. What, other than pure evil, can explain that? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2009, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-arbys-roastburger-w-t-f/488850/79 "2009-03-13T13:46:02Z")
Yeah… how come nobody calls out Steak n’ Shake for “steakburgers”? ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2009, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-arbys-roastburger-w-t-f/488850/80 "2009-03-13T15:44:46Z")
Damn, I was hoping it was a burger with roast beef on top. ☹ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-arbys-roastburger-w-t-f/488850.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-arbys-roastburger-w-t-f/488850.md?page=5)