By James V. Ruocco
It's not exactly the healthiest menu, but fast foods - French fries, tacos, hamburgers, hot dogs - are totally fine for people on the run who don't want to cook, do the dishes or clean greasy pots and pans.
The choices are endless depending on what you want to eat (or not eat) at the moment.
You can order ahead and have it delivered to your door. Or pick it up curbside.
You can use the drive thru or just park your car and go inside to place your breakfast, lunch or dinner order.
It's as simple at that.
The service at whatever establishment you choose is relatively quick.
The menu has lots to choose from.
The food is prepared to satisfy almost any appetite.
And it's relatively cheap if you find the right deal, uses coupons or pick out items from the value menu.
Listed below are my choices for the 10 best fast food restaurants in the country.
Sonic Drive-In
I love the Slushes (1/2 price when you order on line or use the app) - Blue Raspberry, Grape, Cherry Limeade, Lemonade, Strawberry (I order a medium and if I gulp it down in a hurry, a get a second one), and the made-to-order sodas, iced coffee and iced teas.
For food, it's the American Hot Dog - diced onions, ketchup, mustard, sweet relish. Or the Footlong Quarter Pound Coney Hot Dog with the same ingredients plus a hearty smattering of melted, shredded cheddar cheese. The burgers - Super Sonic Double Cheeseburger, Bacon Jam Cheeseburger are also great choices if you're in the mood for a burger. Other great selections are the Honey BBQ Sauced Cheeseburger, the Buffalo Sauced Cheeseburger and the Jumbo Popcorn Chicken. For fries, there's nothing better than an order of Sonic's Chili Cheese Tots.
Starbucks
Any time I use the drive thru, Blond Roast or Dark Roast Coffee - hot or cold - is my preferred choice of drink. But if I'm not in the mood for coffee, I'm quick to purchase those delicious Starbucks' Refreshers - Kiwi Starfruit, Mango Dragonfruit, Very Berry Hibiscus. Or a mouth-watering Iced Guava Passionfruit Drink or a Hot Steamed Milk with a shot of Vanilla.
I rarely purchase food, but if, on occasion, I need to grab something quick, it's the Cheese and Fruit Protein Box (it's always very fresh) or the Prosnax Gala Apples, Egg, White Cheddar Cheese and Almonds Snack Box with an Iced London Fog Tea Latte or an Iced Black Tea.
Subway
Subway offers a variety of choices and toppings, which, upon visit after visit, you get to pick what you want on your foot long sandwich as you move through the line. There's black olives, green peppers, banana peppers, pickles, jalapeno peppers, lettuce, tomatoes, avocado, cheddar cheese, bacon, feta cheese, carrots, red onions, cucumbers and spinach. You can also have your choice of mayo, hot sauce, oil and vinegar, barbeque sauce, buffalo sauce and salt and pepper. It's that simple. And if you want a little more or less of something, the Subway staffer quickly obliges.
For me, it's a toss between the Cold Cut Combo (ham, salami, bologna, cheese) or the Black Forest Ham Foot Long. Both are tasty, fresh and always enjoyable. Other popular items are the Italian B.M.T., The Meatball Marinara and The DrayPotle Steak Sandwich. I've seen all three of them prepared for other customers and will eventually try them one of these days.
Kentucky Fried Chicken
Whenever I go to KFC, my choice (the only one at the moment) is the Chicken Pot Pie right out of the oven. It's savory. It's well worth the price. It's better than the pot pies for sale at Aldi's, Shoprite and Stop and Shop. The cream sauce and crust are heavenly. And the chicken chunks, carrots and onions are cooked to perfection.
If I'm not in a "pot pie" mood (that is rare), it's a toss between the 3 pc. Chicken Box, the 6 pc. Kentucky Fried Wings or the Nashville Hots Tenders. Mashed Potatoes & Gravy or Cole Slaw are my picks for KFC side orders.
The closest Boston Market in Connecticut for me are the restaurants located in Meriden, West Hartford and East Hartford. The food, as always, is very good. The staff is eager to please. And if you're hungry - really hungry - there's lots to choose from the actual menu.
Most often, I get the Rotisserie Half Chicken, the Meatloaf Dinner or the Rotisserie Prime Rib, all of which is on display in the glass Boston Market food showcase. The portions are huge, comforting and fast food appropriate. All three dishes are freshly prepared with just the right amount of flavorful spices that heighten the "dining out" experience.
The best soups are the Bistro French Onion Soup, the Cream of Chicken & Wild Rice Soup, the Creamy Tomato Soup and the Summer Corn Chowder. All of the salads are well worth trying, especially the Fuji Apple and Chicken Salad and the Caesar Salad. Flatbread Pizza's are a must as are the Asiago and Cinnamon Crunch bagels. If it's a scone you want, the Blueberry and Orange scones go great with Panera Bread's freshly brewed coffees and teas. So do the freshly-baked Cranberry Orange and Blueberry muffins.
Panera Bread also boasts a more-than-satisfying array of specially prepared beverages including the Frozen Lemonade, the Passion Papaya Green Tea, the Prickly Pear Hibiscus Fresca and the Agave Lemonade.
Nothing, and I mean nothing beats an order of hot, lightly-salted fries dipped in ketchup. It's one I call "a guilty pleasure" and one that's impossible to resist, day or night. It's the best fries out there and one I simply can't live without.
The menu has a variety of items that are tasty, delicious and affordable. The best of the burgers are the Big Mac and the Quarter Pounder or Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese. When it comes to Chicken or Fish, the Spicy Crispy Chicken sandwich is a must. So is the Chicken McNuggets and the Filet-O-Fish.
The beverages are grouped accordingly - Slushies, Shakes and McCafe Drinks. Standouts include the Minute Maid Pink Lemonade Slushie, the Minute Maid Strawberry and Watermelon Slushie, the Vanilla, Chocolate and Strawberry Shake, the Iced Caramel Latte, the Caramel Cappuccino, the Iced Mocha and the Iced French Vanilla Latte.
The menu is diverse. The Chicken Combo dishes, the Rip 'n Chicken Big Box, the 1/4 Popcorn Shrimp, the Cajun Flounder Fish Sandwich and the Spicy Chicken Sandwich Platter are among the menu's most popular items. So are the Cajun Fries, the Red & Beans Rice and the Mashed Potatoes with Cajun Gravy.
Taco's rule with plenty of delicious choices - Crunchy Taco Supreme, Quesalupa Black Bean, Cheesy Gordita Crunch, Supreme Taco Party Pack. If you're in the mood for a burrito or quesadilla. the Bean Burrito, the Crunch Wrap Supreme, the Black Bean Quesarito and the Chicken and Steak Quesadilla are well worth the investment. The best of the nacho dishes are the Nacho Bell Grande Combo and the Nacho Party Pack.
To wash it all down, it doesn't get any better than the Mountain Dew Baja Blast, the Blue Raspberry Freeze, the Brisk Mango Fiesta and the Wild Strawberry Lemonade Freeze.
Coffee, of course. remains the preferred beverage at "Dunkin' " and the coffee category boasts a number of popular choices - French Vanilla, Hazelnut, Caramel Swirl, Americano, Expresso, Macchiato, Cappuccino. As always, donuts reign supreme with Boston Kreme, Bavarian Kreme, Old-Fashioned, Glazed, Strawberry Frosted, Cruller and Jelly at the top of the leaderboard. Bagels are a continued tradition with favorites that include Cinnamon Raisin, Sesame, Everything and Poppy.
