Fast Food Critic : Scotts Valley Wendy’s.

On Thursday, July 28th, 2011, I visited the Wendy’s location in Scotts Valley, California. I am a Fast Food Critic, and this is my story.

Upon entering the Scotts Valley branch of Wendy’s, the first thing you notice is the menu. I am not a Wendy’s connoisseur, so I am not as intimately affiliated with their diverse menu as I am with say, Taco Bell. I mean, numerous salads? Baked potatoes?? What is this place? With this avalanche of choices in front of me, I decided to stick with what I knew. I stepped up to the counter to find it deserted, and had to wait a moment for a portly manager type to acknowledge my presence and take my order. When she finally realized I was standing there, she was very prompt and friendly, and judging by her demeanor, it looked like she ran the joint. I scanned the millions of choices on the menu, and decided on an All-American double cheeseburger with fries. Instead of a soda however, I ordered a bottled water, because that’s just how I do. She took my dollar dollar bills y’all, and I took a seat and waited for my order.
About two minutes later my food arrived. The first thing that I noticed was that Wendy’s had recently changed the recipe of their french fries. Instead of the usual processed, frozen, and chemically treated variety that we see at most other fast food restaurants, these fries were called “Natural Cut.” You could still see the skins on some of them, they were crisp but not too crunchy, and had just the right amount of salt. I am of the firm belief that a good French fry should be able to hold up on it’s own, with salt being it’s only seasoning. Ketchup is for the weak. And for cheaply made horror movies. Thankfully, these fries were delicious, and nothing superfluous was needed. They tasted like a french fry should, like a fried potato, which is what they were.
Next up was the double cheeseburger. I’ve always had a beef (zing!) with Wendy’s for their square cut hamburger patties. They make no sense to me, and aesthetically, they are not pleasing to look at. The shape of the meat makes it look extremely processed, and that has always put me off. Thankfully, this burger did not taste processed. Wendy’s always makes a big stink about their burgers not being frozen, and you can taste it. The patty was juicy and flavorful, and the produce surrounding it was crisp and offered a good contrast to the meat. Though I could have done without having a whole head of lettuce in my food. It was almost like eating Cabbage Head from Kids in the Hall.
Finally, before I give my this Wendy’s a score, I have to mention that in general, this fast food chain is a bit higher end then it’s competitors. I suppose that good ingredients cost more, and that’s what we’re paying for, but my combo meal was over $7, and that just seems way too high. Hell, I could eat like a king for that amount at Taco Bell! Overall though, if you’re willing to spend a little more, Wendy’s does offer a great variety of good food. Maybe next time I’ll try the chicken sandwich, I hear they’ll make you cream your corn.

Value: 3/5
Service: 3/5
Taste: 4/5
Ambiance: 4/5
TOTAL: 3.5 / 5 CREEPY REDHEADED CHILDREN