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So how is it? The drive-through line has been insane. Tuesday night they were backed up six deep onto the service road. At one point, if not more, they had cops directing traffic. Tonight about seven o'clock it was three deep out in the service road. Someone said they waited about 15 minutes once inside. I would hope they could handle the crowds or they'd make a lot of bad first impressions.Quote:
Originally Posted by ChuckK3
Nobody is going because it is too crowded.Quote:
Originally Posted by CutiePie72
That's my plan--give it a month or so until the new wears off. But I thought there were a few on here who couldn't wait for it to open and would have braved the crowds and traffic and then have some sort of critique.
Thanks, Yogi!Quote:
Originally Posted by maddawg
Alas, opening week Chuckie was on the west coast, but I intend to get my Whataburger ON today. I've heard good reviews by folks who braved the crowds...good food, great service...in spite of the store being slammed with people this week.Quote:
Originally Posted by CutiePie72
I'll let y'all know what the Chuckster thinks later today. ;)
Skip the burger and get the chicken strips with gravy. The apple pie is also excellent.
Their BOB (breakfast on a bun) is terrific as well. All fresh ingredients and real eggs.
My impression of Whataburger from here in C. Texas is that they are pretty much always slow. Not as bad as you're describing, but it just takes 2-3 people in line to really slow things down. It's largely their system--"don't make it until it's ordered" that does it. It'll get better as the new wears off, but I wouldn't expect it to ever be lightening quick.Quote:
Originally Posted by CutiePie72
So we got there about 5:30, on day 5 after opening. Cars were 15 deep in the drive-thru, and it was SRO inside. Cars parked on the curbs and in adjacent lots. Anyway, the 4 of us walked up in there...and while you couldn't stir 'em with a stick, the Staff was actually pretty fast. Manager opened an additional register to get orders taken. We walked up, and of course with the kids we had a couple of complicated "hold this, add that" orders. Even with all the chaos, our order was delivered to our table QUICKLY and was 100% CORRECT. Honestly, we were expecting the order to be jacked up, but it was perfect. If they can continue to keep the bar set high, they'll do very well in Dawgtown!
Good job, Whataburger.
Thanks for the report, ChuckK3.
I noticed dirt movement and maybe a slab form going in on Malone's development off Kentucky. Anyone know what that is?
I would love to see Ruston develop its downtown with local eateries and bars. It has potential.
Like Sundown, Ponchatula's, RAW, the place that used to be Monjunis.Quote:
Originally Posted by qng001
I wonder if there are any Tech grads out there with extensive experience in city planning and downtown revitalization .... ???Quote:
Originally Posted by qng001
Apparently not slow enough for the people of Ruston. Whattaburger is NOT McD or Burger King last time I checked.Quote:
Originally Posted by TechDawgMc
All fast foods are as fast as their menu allows.
While generally true, this does not explain all fast-food establishments. At Griffs, for example, your order will be ready whenever the staff decides it will be ready.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dawgpix
And Chick-A-Dilly, of course, is a category all its own.
And, Saturday night at the Shreveport Griff's, it was <2 minutes from the order being paid for at the first window.Quote:
Originally Posted by Champ967
And, yes, the FF's were awesomely limp.
That was intentional right?Quote:
Originally Posted by Dawgpix
I don't know of any.Quote:
Originally Posted by Champ967
What's the latest on Zaxby's? I have't thought to look at the progress lately.
Quote:
Originally Posted by CutiePie72
Karl's establishment has great potential. Hopefully the new development meets the potential. I've heard rumors such as: retail, whole foods store, and maybe an emu farm(lol).
I would like to see Mayor Hollingsworth and the city would go after Tanger Outlets and build a Foley, AL or San Marcos, TX -sized Tanger Outlet center in Ruston. I'm not talking Vicksburg or Terrell,TX...i'm saying a 150-200 store outlet mall. A BIG HUMMER.
Imagine the tax revenue, jobs, and ripple effect economic development something like that could mean to Ruston/Lincoln! You're an hour east of S/B, 30 minutes west of M/WM, 90 minutes north of Alex/Pineville, and 45 minutes south of El Dorado. Folks would drive in from all over, stay overnight (particularly during the holiday shopping season), eat at your restaurants...and would probably be a strong drawing card for folks to just relocate to Ruston.
Do any of y'all know if a project like that has ever been pursued at all?
Bernice has the market pretty well cornered.Quote:
Originally Posted by ChuckK3
The first random thoughts that popped in my head were:Quote:
Originally Posted by ChuckK3
1) the example in Arcadia isn't lighting any motivational fires
2) retail won't come unless they can be directly on I-20
3) Ruston doesn't have enough residential housing
4) people "from everywhere" would just assume drive a little further to Monroe or Shreveport/BC
Personally, to use someone else's words from a meeting I was in this morning...I'd like to see Ruston become a college town, instead of a town with a college. But that requires effort from everyone working together.
See my last post about being too far from I-20. And at this point they are just (baseless) rumors.Quote:
Originally Posted by Crowdaddy
Dirt piles and a lovely wooden "coming soon" sign.Quote:
Originally Posted by ITdrummer
Nicely played, sir.Quote:
Originally Posted by Champ967
You mean to put together a plan like this?Quote:
Originally Posted by Champ967
Ruston21
No, not to put it together. That plan is top shelf. I've admired it since it came out.Quote:
Originally Posted by RhythmDawg
But a plan is only as good as its implementation. Are you confident the community has the ability / willingness to carry it out? To see it through to the end?
As in Whole Foods with capital letters? Pshaw! We can dream! :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Crowdaddy
I have heard rumor of Mac's Fresh Market, but that ain't no Whole Foods.
yes over time, but it's one step at a time. Progress has been relatively nonstop. They have been and continue to move all utilities underground and renovating the streets, which all needed to be done first. They will be done with trenton by the peach festival. Mississippi is next. This is all in relation to city driven infrastructure. Anything private business or privately driven, who knows. An example would be the sports complex. And for Tech related pieces, its from year to year. Though i think expectations for enterprise campus are high.Quote:
Originally Posted by Champ967
Unless another mayor comes in and tears it up, yes my confidence is high. But it will be a long term vision and work in progress. I'd like to see Tech, and especially tech athletics, develop a similar plan to compliment it beyond just enterprise campus...and I don't mean just facilities. I hope LG is reading this. The potential of Tech, the City, the Chamber, and the CVB all working together is higher than most can even imagine if they would all just do it.
Did anyone ever say what is being built across Alabama from the BCM? It's certainly "different."
found the perfect time to go to What'a'damn'burger. passed by on the interstate this morning at 5:30am and there was nobody in the drive through or in the parking lot.
Vette braved the drive thru of Whataburger one day of the first week. I didn't find the burgers to be anything special. Tasted like any other fast food burger to me. Glad to hear the service is great, though. That will set them apart from the other places. I wonder what it says about a town that there is a 45 minute wait in the drive thru of a fast food joint the first week and counting of its opening?
well, if nothing else we're consistent. same thing happened when Wendys opened years ago. funny how that was the first major opening of a place like that here.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dirtydawg
Felt the same about the burgers as you. Tasted more like a Sonic burger to me. A little too much mustard for my taste. Didn't find the service "great" though. It was "average to decent" the night I stopped by.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dirtydawg
I tell people in Texas all the time that Whataburger is Spanish for "too much mustard".Quote:
Originally Posted by LABulldog
I like lots of mustard
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQPrZTjPBZI
Awright, den.Quote:
Originally Posted by maddawg
Burgers are OK. Chicken strips with gravy are excellent. Apple Pie is very good. Breakfast on a Bun (BOB) with sausage is excellent. Biscuits and gravy are great. Did I mention that I like gravy. The service at all locations has always been excellent from what I've seen. Wait till the new is gone and you will note the service.
We braved the crowd for our big night out Saturday, but it wasn't that bad. I suppose the crowd goes to hamburger joints during the week and somewhere "elegant" for Saturday nights out. We decided the hamburger was good, but it wasn't any better than a Whopper Jr. and/or Sonic burger. Just a new place with new scenery. When they brought our order, they forgot the shake and after waiting a good long while, we had to go find it after she said she'd be back in a minute with it. Other than that, it was fine. Clean and new at least. Oh, and one of the ice machines was frozen up, so they were down to just one of those.
I grabbed a lunch there today. Drive-thru was out to the entrance. Inside tables were filled. 5 people waiting to take out their order.
Sat at one of those two-people seat/bench tables jammed next to a couple whose conversation I could easily hear:
She-"I was sitting here waiting on you to return from ordering and someone asked me if I had eaten yet cuz they needed a seat".
He-"I got you their spicy ketchup!"
She- "I don't like spicy."
He-"I wonder how long the order will take."
She-"No telling. It's packed in here."
Wait at the 5-7 minute mark, an employee comes by to make sure we had not been waiting too long.
She-"That was nice and considerate."
He-"She's just doing her job."
Order somes.
She-"Wow, the burgers are big, but they don't hold back on the onions, do they?"
He-"I love the onions!"
She-"This does not quite remind me of that one back home that we ate at 15 years ago. The meat's gotten thinner."
He-"Well, we've been here."
She-"Yeah, we'll come back in a year or so."
You gotta love it!
Wait at the 5-7 minute mark, an employee comes by to make sure we had not been waiting too long.
She-"That was nice and considerate."
He-"She's just doing her job
Is there another fast food place that does this besides that chicken joint?
Chick-fil-AQuote:
Originally Posted by maddawg
A 5-7 minute wait does not a "fast-food" restaurant make! :(Quote:
Originally Posted by maddawg
Chik Fil A is obsessed with being fast. I went to one in Atlanta and I ordered a spicy chicken with some fries. Apparently, they didnt have any spicy chickens ready, so I had to wait 5 to 7 minutes for my food. The guy must have apologized 3 times and when he did bring my sandwich out, he gave me a coupon for a free sandwich the next time I came. I was just laughing and telling him it was no big deal, but those guys take customer service and fast food serious.
Quote:
Originally Posted by maddawg
chicken joint?Quote:
Originally Posted by Dawg06
So McDonalds isn't fast food?:icon_razz:Quote:
Originally Posted by LABulldog
Gotcha. I assumed you were talking about Whataburger when you said chicken joint. Maybe because I usually order chicken at Whataburger.Quote:
Originally Posted by maddawg
Not in Ruston or West Monroe @ Well Road!Quote:
Originally Posted by maddawg
You assumed a place called WhataBURGER was what he meant by chicken-joint? lolQuote:
Originally Posted by Dawg06
He quoted a post about Whataburger and said "besides that chicken joint." I assumed he was still talking about Whataburger. I wasn't paying close enough attention to interpret what he may have meant. Cane's is also a popular "chicken joint" around here.Quote:
Originally Posted by ITdrummer
First clue that Dude needs a new girlfriend. :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Dawgpix
For those of you who believe Whataburger is no better than Wendy's, Burgerking, et al, watch for something very soon that beats them all.
5 guys?Quote:
Originally Posted by RhythmDawg
twssQuote:
Originally Posted by Dwayne From Minden
Ruston is rockin' right now with the new food joints. What a great time to be in and around DAWGTOWN!Quote:
Originally Posted by Dwayne From Minden
I wouldn't be surprised if our new Whataburger set some kind of grand opening record...that place hasn't slowed down yet!
It sure is fun to get excited about restaurants with drive thru windows coming to town. Ruston sure is moving up the food chain. :icon_wink:Quote:
Originally Posted by ChuckK3
they have been rumored forever, but no.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dwayne From Minden
in fact, our new Whataburger did $135,000 in it's first week, a solid $15k more than the best week of any location in the entire company...ever. Or so I was told.Quote:
Originally Posted by ChuckK3
Louisiana's very first RED ROBIN?Quote:
Originally Posted by RhythmDawg
Not surprised AT ALL. Folks are actually driving from places like Monroe, Sterlington and Rayville...just to eat at Whataburger in Ruston.Quote:
Originally Posted by RhythmDawg
My preference would be In-N-Out Burger, but I don't think they've got the infrastructure in place to expand outside of DFW right now.Quote:
Originally Posted by RhythmDawg
They had one in Mall of Louisiana down here in hell, and somehow it managed to not stay open?! I love that place.Quote:
Originally Posted by ChuckK3
Whataburger is a good griddle burger, but not anything to compare to Five Guys or Cheeburger Cheeburger. In fact, Griff's can hold it's own against Whataburger any day.
Ruston needs that Zaxby's to open ASAP! And where the hell is a Cracker Barrel? The CBRL ticker would go over a $100 the first day they opened with the number of blue hairs in Lincoln Parish.
That's shameful really.Quote:
Originally Posted by ChuckK3
Cheeburger Cheeburger? My DH said he thought he saw an alcohol permit application in the paper. I thought he was wrong since I didn't think they served alcohol. I googled, and some locations do. So maybe he was right?Quote:
Originally Posted by RhythmDawg
http://www.publicnoticeads.com/LA/se...3_20178623.HTMQuote:
Originally Posted by CutiePie72
When I was living in Shreveport, I had an addiction to Whataburger. Now living in Winnsboro, when ever I get a chance, I eat there every time. My wife even craves it!!
I wish like heck they had one here or in Monroe!
In-N-Out Burger and Five Guys are fantastic. Never heard of Cheeburger Cheeburger. Red Robin is terrible!
Their Menu:
https://cheeburger.com/menu/main.asp
Ugh....Pepsi products....Quote:
Originally Posted by Dawgpix
Cheeburger Cheeburger is pretty legit. It's a chain, but the only one I have been to is in Baton Rouge right behind the Whataburger. I got hooked on Whataburger because of their little ketchup packs. Now other places like Chick Fil A are doing ketchup packs, but I still crave Whataburger sometimes. We have a five guys by the house and it's pretty awesome.
The Cheeburger in Shreveport is owned by Tech Supporters/Owners of Ponchatoulas and Log Cabin.
But at least they have Dr. Pepper! :DQuote:
Originally Posted by ITdrummer
So, my DH was right after all then? The only one I've been to is in BR, and I didn't think they served alcohol, so it seemed odd to me that they would here. Of all places, you'd think they would down in BR, but maybe they do by now. Anyway, I looked up to see where 1429 Eagle Drive was exactly, and that's the address of WOW Café & Wingery? That's going away? Went down after the original owner/manager moved to BR?Quote:
Originally Posted by RhythmDawg
closed a few months agoQuote:
Originally Posted by CutiePie72
No Coke! Pepsi!Quote:
Originally Posted by ITdrummer
Well Cheeburger Cheeburger will provide another exciting option to Ruston..I never got around to the one on Youree in Shreveport. It's unfortunate WoW went down. I really enjoyed their big wings. Mabye one day we will get a Buffalo Wild Wings.Quote:
Originally Posted by RhythmDawg
Is WoW closed???Quote:
Originally Posted by Crowdaddy
Well, that's how observant I am. I do avoid Walmart and now and then go to dollar tree, but I never drive down on that end. That's sad since it was going strong there for a while, or so I thought. I would have thought the other wing place (wing stop?) would have gone first. Or is it gone, too. Don't go that way much either or don't look up that way when I do.Quote:
Originally Posted by RhythmDawg
I went twice and wasn't impressed either time. The second (and last) time I was there, they were out of beer. Good riddance. Wing Stop has better wings anyway.Quote:
Originally Posted by ITdrummer
Awesome! I was hoping for a Backyard Burger, but that's great too.Quote:
Originally Posted by RhythmDawg
I've never heard Wing Stop advertising for Tech. WoW did often. I'd thump roaches off the food of a Tech advertiser over a non advertiser.
The guy who has the rights to Back Yard Buger in Louisiana told me a few years ago he didn't expect to ever open a franchise in Ruston. That may have changed now.
I've never heard a peep about it coming to Ruston.Quote:
Originally Posted by maddawg
Unfortunately they don't franchise.Quote:
Originally Posted by SpaceDawg
I loved WoW. Good place to watch a game and the wings were very large. I'm really gonna miss that place.Quote:
Originally Posted by odysseus
I think Wing Stop supports Grambling. I remember their coach's show being broadcast from Wing Stop.Quote:
Originally Posted by maddawg
To be honest, I never thought that physical location was particularly great/visible. I hope that the Celebrity area continues to build on out and it becomes a big retail center...maybe with Lowe's as one of the anchor tenants, and THEN, all those stores could benefit from more traffic.Quote:
Originally Posted by CutiePie72
Cheeburger, Cheeburger is only an average burger in my opinion as well, having ate at the one in BR several times. I guess the attraction is all the options you get. As I recall, though, they did have one of the best milkshakes I've ever had.
Cheeburger and five guys is not bad, but for a burger place I want a fast food drive-thru. Culver's is really good; In-n-Out and probably Braums is next on my list of burger places to eat.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dirtydawg
Whenever I have occasion to visit the NWA, I always stop in Braum's for a burger & shake.Quote:
Originally Posted by longdawgview
I would kill for an IN-and-out burger.
The fun thing about In-And-Out is the secret menu.
"An Animal Style burger also includes extra Thousand Island spread, mustard grilled patties, and extra pickles. Animal Style fries,on the other hand, are topped with cheese, spread, and grilled onions. You'll want to mix 'em up with your fork before the cheese starts to coagulate (of course, you can also ask for just plain old cheese fries). And these options are just the start."
I do love those In N Out burgers. Part of it is probably the fact that I just can't get them when I want them. Five Guys is a nice substitute though.
Drove by 5 Guys at 8 pm tonight (30 mins. ago).Quote:
Originally Posted by WWDog
Not a table filled. Not a person in line.
Sorry, but their gourmet pricing is killing them at this location.
Well, if I'm going to buy an overpriced hamburger, I thought Cheeburger was at least better than 5 Guys. Both are ridiculously overpriced, though. Braum's and In-and-Out are both better for half the money. I do agree about the milkshake there, though. They were good. Of course, you can get a good milkshake at Braum's as well. Until Braum's changes their business model, though, they won't be in Louisiana.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dirtydawg
Of the overpriced hamburger places, Smashburger is the best. Don't know if they've made it over toward Louisiana yet, though.
OK, so why has this website started asking me if I want to "leave this page" every time I go to leave a thread or post something in response? Is this a feature? Is there a purpose to it other than adding another click?
It has been doing that to me for quite some time. Also had a difficult time getting on to the site early this evening due to some DNS server error. Still getting the DNS server error for C-USA site. I think the Chinese are doing it.
there is a smashburger on youree drive in Shreveport.Quote:
Originally Posted by TechDawgMc
And the Cheeburger on Youree is much better than the Smashburger on Youree IMO.Quote:
Originally Posted by RhythmDawg
on Airline in Bossier too...Quote:
Originally Posted by RhythmDawg
Neither of those places can remotely compete to Papa & Company off of Youree on East Washington. By far the best burger in town maybe the state.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dawg06