Categories: Food & Wine

Hardee’s Restaurant: Fast Food, “White Linen” Service

The Woman was hungry, craving the succulent decadence of a charbroiled cheese burger. But outside of Burger King, where could she find this particular taste without having to go through the annoying process of a formal sit-down lunch. Hardee’s, she thought, already conjuring images of fresh, crisp fries and juicy beef. When the imaginary lunchtime bell sounded in her head, she collected her things and headed out of the office for a little taste of Heaven.

The Restaurant

The Hardee’s was located in a busy part of metro Atlanta, close to the Perimeter area. However, it was just enough out of the way for one to avoid the typical lunch rush. Upon opening the door, she was greeted with the familiar sights and sounds of your average fast food establishment. The walls and floors were plain, but clean. But in this particular restaurant, something was a little different:

We have two guests in the dining room!!” shouted a friendly voice from behind the counter.

The Woman glanced around the room and realized that including herself, another customer had entered the restaurant from the opposite door. Well that’s different, she mused, already appreciating the acknowledgement. After briefly perusing the menu, she settled on the #4 combination meal: a bacon cheese Thickburger with fries and a drink. After amending her order with instructions to hold the tomato and mayonnaise, she handed the friendly cashier six dollars in cash, and was rewarded with change.

The Service

Completing the order, the cashier slid over to her a triangular object with the number #53 printed on it.

“Here is your number. We’ll bring your meal out to you. Thank you for coming to Hardee’s,” she concluded with a smile.

The Woman glanced down at the object which resembled a miniature billboard, noticing that underneath the number there were instructions to place it alongside the edge of the table. She selected a cozy booth in the middle of the restaurant, thinking about how odd it was to be treated as such under the bright, harsh lights of a local burger joint.

She filled her disposable cup with ice and a beverage, grabbed some napkins and condiments (the mini-ketcup “buckets” could have been larger), and returned to her seat. Within seconds, another young woman breezed around the corner, holding a basket (not a tray) which contained her piping hot order. Marveling at the expediency, her mouth began to water immediately.

“Is there anything else that I can get you?” asked the server. The Woman courteously responded in the negative, and began to dive into the meal.

Never before had she been treated to such attentive service in a fast food establishment. Ordinarily snatching up her meal in the convenient drive-thru, she noted that the server continued to make an announcement whenever additional guests entered the dining room. She was amazed at the lightning-speed efficiency, and couldn’t wait to eat…

The Food

She had eaten Hardee’s food before, but had never ventured inside at this location. She was so stunned by the service that she took a glimpse around the dining room and observed some of the other patrons. At the table adjacent to her, another server was removing an empty basket and trash for two gentlemen who were chatting and allowing their meals to settle. The Woman unwrapped her burger, noticing that her order was exactly as she had requested.

Taking a bite, she marveled at the freshness, and was surprised once again that the lettuce was in fact green and leafy; she hated the huge, white chunks of tasteless iceberg lettuce that other chains like Burger King and Wendy’s served. She did notice however, that in their apparent haste, they failed to remember the pickles. The taste was so satisfying though, that the Woman opted against alerting staff.

The fries, spilling out onto the wax paper of the basket, were piping hot and not too salty. She noted that they indeed looked as if they had been cut fresh, as bits of potato skin still adhered to the potatoes. Napkin bins and salt and pepper shakers had been placed on every table. It appeared, that Hardee’s had thought of everything. Halfway through the meal, the server swung by, asking if everything was alright. With her mouth full of food, the Woman nodded wholeheartedly, sighing blissfully over her pleaseant lunchtime experience—all for under six dollars.