MacDo = McDonalds in France

There is always a line at the MacDo on Denfert Rochereau.. and that is not a big tourist area, so it is not just Americans eating there.. Yeh- I’ve been there at least 5-6 times since I’ve been here- and man.. it’s better than in the US. They’ve got a designer menu called “Le M” with sandwiches like “chicken mythic” and “royal deluxe”… and it is not inexpensive: 7.80Euro for a regular sized value meal!!!!!
In order for MacDo to be successful in France, they have to have good food and a nice environment that completely counters the bad wrap that MacDo gets around Europe (France in particular). There is always a security guard in the Denfert location, kickin’ out bums.. The place is always clean.. There’s a flat screen TV, a children’s TV area, and the staple for all European restaurants: an automatic espresso machine. Lots of people order electronically so that they don’t have to wait in line. Americans beware that your credit cards won’t work in these machines because they take a card with a chip, not a magnetic strip :( So you wait in line and pay in cash..
Mostly- I see young people around but the other day I saw a little girl’s b-day party just like in the US!! Lots of people take it to go- and they have really nice packaging, like happy meal boxes for grownups that hold drinks- not just some flimsy bag and you have to hold your own drink ;) You can get the value meals with the regular fountain soda, but they also offer bottled water (sparkling or no gas) and beer :) Instead of frites (=French fries, try explaining that to a French person) you can get potato wedges.. mmm I’m getting hungry.
What I hear from the locals is that it is better than “Quick”, the other fast food restaurant in town.