Chick-fil-a (Madison's lack thereof) (Milwaukee, Jefferson: living in, price, mall)

[Drover]

Originally Posted by EnjoyEP

Sonic - It really is bizarre that they are not in MKE / Madison, as in most parts of the country, they sprout up like weeds. They are a nice fast food option.

It's really not that bizarre when you consider that Sonic operates on the "drive-in" business model, which isn't really a popular pasttime in Wisconsin in, say, February. That's probably the main reason why Sonic is concentrated so heavily in the South -- the further south you are, the more weeks of high traffic volume the weather will accommodate. Not to mention Culver's so has the burger chain market cornered up here.

[Chelito23]

To be honest, yes, Culver's does make up for the lack of other good fast food places. Still, you tend to miss them. I wonder if Chicago has Chick Fil A? I know SONIC prefers the South overall since it is a drive in restaurant and the logis is that way up north fewer people would be inclined to go to a drive in from say Novermber to March. Also, I think they know that Culver's is strong here...

Can someone please share their opinions about why Donut shops do not seem to make it well in Madison (and Wisconsin)? They are ubiquitous everyehere else in teh country...even with all of the new options nowadays. Or maybe it is just me liking them lol. Another local chain I like is Rocky Rococo, they have good pizza too...but I can't stand Pizza Pit, are they still around even??

[quijote]

Originally Posted by Chelito23

To be honest, yes, Culver's does make up for the lack of other good fast food places. Still, you tend to miss them. I wonder if Chicago has Chick Fil A? I know SONIC prefers the South overall since it is a drive in restaurant and the logis is that way up north fewer people would be inclined to go to a drive in from say Novermber to March. Also, I think they know that Culver's is strong here...

Can someone please share their opinions about why Donut shops do not seem to make it well in Madison (and Wisconsin)? They are ubiquitous everyehere else in teh country...even with all of the new options nowadays. Or maybe it is just me liking them lol. Another local chain I like is Rocky Rococo, they have good pizza too...but I can't stand Pizza Pit, are they still around even??

I too have wondered about the lack of donut shops (in the Milwaukee area). In most other Great Lakes cities I've been to, donut shops seem to do really well. They're kind of part of the old-economy blue-collar landscape--bowling alleys, taverns, donut shops.... Yet in Milwaukee it seems that bagel shops and donut-less cafes predominate.

My guess is that the donut market in Milwaukee has been cornered by Pic-n-Save and other grocery stores. For the same reason, I believe, there are so few corner delis in Milwaukee (and in many other cities). But I don't think supermarkets are the only reason for the hole in Mke's donutted existence.

In Milwaukee there are also very few places to go and just grab a cheap bratwurst. Most of the places I know of that serve bratwurst do so with dinner plates costing $6-$16--kind of contrary to the "cheap, quick" concept of brats.

Perhaps this is because, in spite of its blue collar presence, Milwaukee has more of a white collar presence than many other Great Lakes cities? I don't know. Chicago has a major white collar presence, but still there are places all over the city for old-style donuts and Chicago dogs....

[MidwesternBookWorm]

You're right about the paucity of national chain-type donut shops in Madison, but as long as the Greenbush Bakery on Regent Street keeps churning out those unbelievably WONDERFUL Kosher donuts, I can't say that I really miss the big chains.

If you've never tried a Greenbush donut, do yourself a favor and stop by some morning and pick up a half-dozen or so. They're a bit pricier than the grocery store variety, but once you try them, you'll never buy Pic-n-Save donuts again.

[goozer]

Chik-Fil-A is hands down the best fast food restaurant out there. When I lived in San Diego, I remember driving 30 minutes each way to get to one of the two they had in the county (one in Oceanside, one in Chula Vista, maybe more now, but I don't know). A couple of years ago I moved to Atlanta and now there is no driving to get to one. They are everywhere!!! Almost, but not quite, as common as Dunkin Donuts in Boston (I swear, in Boston I've seen D&Ds across the street from one another).

[EnjoyEP]

Originally Posted by quijote

I too have wondered about the lack of donut shops (in the Milwaukee area). In most other Great Lakes cities I've been to, donut shops seem to do really well. They're kind of part of the old-economy blue-collar landscape--bowling alleys, taverns, donut shops.... Yet in Milwaukee it seems that bagel shops and donut-less cafes predominate.

My guess is that the donut market in Milwaukee has been cornered by Pic-n-Save and other grocery stores. For the same reason, I believe, there are so few corner delis in Milwaukee (and in many other cities). But I don't think supermarkets are the only reason for the hole in Mke's donutted existence.

In Milwaukee there are also very few places to go and just grab a cheap bratwurst. Most of the places I know of that serve bratwurst do so with dinner plates costing $6-$16--kind of contrary to the "cheap, quick" concept of brats.

Perhaps this is because, in spite of its blue collar presence, Milwaukee has more of a white collar presence than many other Great Lakes cities? I don't know. Chicago has a major white collar presence, but still there are places all over the city for old-style donuts and Chicago dogs....

Yeah, it is kind of odd...there used to be quite many Dunkin Donuts all over Milwaukee, however, in recent years most seem to have closed down.

Don't know why this happened, but up until somewhat recently, there were DDs fairly commonly here, and no one has really stepped in now and filled their void.

And as for the quick brat type thing, yeah, that has always been kind of a complaint I have had with MKE - we do not have many really quick, really cheap dining options (that are not typical chain fast food joints); I really grew to love those places in Albuquerque, NM when living there (for quick Mexican delights) and you'd think things like brat stands, pizza slices, etc., would be much more common here. Downtown MKE during the workdays are probably the closest you find, with the hot dog / brat carts.

[Milwaukee Ronnie]

You can get quick, cheap, delicious Mexican in Milwaukee -- but you have to travel to the South Side. There are great taquerias down there, totally authentic and very reasonably priced. My favorites are the lunch counters located in the three El Rey grocery store locations. The new one on Cesar Chavez is especially good.

As far as good, quick pizza in Milwaukee, things are getting better. There are several decent pizza by the slice places that have opened in recent years. Downtown there's a great one in the basement of 770 N Jefferson .. next to a very popular good, cheap Pakistani place and a so-so cheap Chinese place. Popular with the lunch crowd.

Good, cheap Middle Eastern can be had, as well, like Alladin's stand in the Milwaukee Public Market, Shaharazad on Oakland, or Abu's on Farwell.

One area where Milwaukee is seriously lacking is good, cheap Asian noodle places. There was a little Thai joint on Wisconsin avenue that served up noodle dishes for three bucks but it closed a few months ago. The area around 35th & National is home to a few Hmong-owned noodle joints, but these places serve a very particular kind of noodle.

The Japanese noodle stand at the Whole Foods on East North Avenue is pretty good.

[Milwaukee Ronnie]

Originally Posted by quijote

I too have wondered about the lack of donut shops (in the Milwaukee area). In most other Great Lakes cities I've been to, donut shops seem to do really well. They're kind of part of the old-economy blue-collar landscape--bowling alleys, taverns, donut shops.... Yet in Milwaukee it seems that bagel shops and donut-less cafes predominate.

There are only two Dunkin Donuts in Milwaukee that I know of ... a few outlets of the "Honeydip Donut" chain which are decent, and two Krispy Kremes.

For some reason the chain donut places never took on much traction in Milwaukee. One reason could be the continued presence of ethnic bakeries, each with their own version of the "donut." Places like Scriotino's Bakery on Brady Street, National Bakery on Oklahoma, or the many Mexican bakeries that dot the South Side.

In a town where you can get the puntchtiki they serve up at National Bakery, who needs Dunkin' Donuts?

[EnjoyEP]

Originally Posted by Milwaukee Ronnie

There are only two Dunkin Donuts in Milwaukee that I know of ...

Not to totally hijack this thread (although maybe the Chick-Fil-A conversation is dead) but Ronnie, where are the ones you know of? I know of two - one is on East Wisconsin Ave. around the Wells Fargo building and one is on Layton Ave. (near Howell).

[EnjoyEP]

Originally Posted by Milwaukee Ronnie

You can get quick, cheap, delicious Mexican in Milwaukee -- but you have to travel to the South Side. There are great taquerias down there, totally authentic and very reasonably priced. My favorites are the lunch counters located in the three El Rey grocery store locations. The new one on Cesar Chavez is especially good.

Excellent call on this Ronnie, sometimes I forget about El Rey, and I need to force myself to get to the SE side a bit more (it isn't that close to where I live)...I really need to do that.

Originally Posted by Milwaukee Ronnie

As far as good, quick pizza in Milwaukee, things are getting better. There are several decent pizza by the slice places that have opened in recent years. Downtown there's a great one in the basement of 770 N Jefferson .. next to a very popular good, cheap Pakistani place and a so-so cheap Chinese place. Popular with the lunch crowd.

Good, cheap Middle Eastern can be had, as well, like Alladin's stand in the Milwaukee Public Market, Shaharazad on Oakland, or Abu's on Farwell.

One area where Milwaukee is seriously lacking is good, cheap Asian noodle places. There was a little Thai joint on Wisconsin avenue that served up noodle dishes for three bucks but it closed a few months ago. The area around 35th & National is home to a few Hmong-owned noodle joints, but these places serve a very particular kind of noodle.

Good recommendations, all of them Ronnie, man, you know your stuff when it comes to great, cheap Milwaukee grub. I work near the Milwaukee Public Market but really haven't taken advantage of it, I really should.

Originally Posted by Milwaukee Ronnie

The Japanese noodle stand at the Whole Foods on East North Avenue is pretty good.

This is the only one I probably wouldn't do much, I am sure it is great, but I really like the more local, mom-and-pop type stuff for quick good cuisine and Whole Foods, while good, is such a pricey chain. But all of the rest I would do!