Ames: McDonald's, and B-Bop's

#1 posting 6.23.2008
a periodic look at life in the fast food lane

AMES TWO-FER
Yesterday I was down in Ames, Iowa for the All Iowa Attack girls basketball tournament and stopped by McDonald's for lunch and B-Bop's for supper. B-Bop's is an Iowa hamburger drive in type that harkens back to the 50's. There are only seven B-Bop's around and all are in Iowa.
This McDonald's was a bit slow in the lunch experience. We went with the take out method and there were problems with orders to our right where a store manager had to come and sort things out. Nothing was wrong with my order. It just took longer than normal because of the people in front were slow.
B-Bop's served up large drinks compared to McD's, and their fries were hot, but probably thinner, and had the deep fried feel.
Joining me on the excursion to Ames was Tony Geer and Stephen Froemming.

MC DONALD'S
Place: McDonald's, 534 South Duff, Ames, IA 50010
Date: Sunday, June 22, 2008
Meal: lunch
Order: #3 1/4 lb double with cheese meal and a Diet Coke
Total cost: $5.10
Method: take out
Time entered line: 2:07 pm
order time finished: 3:30
Wait to pay: 0:09
Wait for food: 3:28
Total elapsed time: 7:07

B-BOP'S
Place: B-Bop's, 1112 S Duff, Ames, Iowa 50010
Date: Sunday, June 22, 2008
Meal: supper
Order: #1 Single Cheeseburger meal with a diet coke
Total cost: $3.93
Method: drive through
Time entered line: 6:33 pm
order time finished: 1:00
Wait to pay: 1:10
Wait for food: 2:06
Total elapsed time: 4:16

After the order usually at other drive throughs we are told to pull forward. Not so here at B-Bop's.