(Re)Build It and They Will Come
After this Spy Diner wrote a piece on Bas Rouge in Easton, a friend called me an elitist, noting that relatively few Eastonians are lucky enough to eat there. They suggested that I visit a more popular restaurant. The friend suggested that Spy readers would welcome reading about a restaurant “in the mainstream.”
I followed the advice and set plans for a meal of Chicken McNuggets, fries, and a Coke at the McDonalds’s located in the Marlboro Plaza shopping center in Easton. I drove there, hungry, but ready to share objective comments on my meal. If the fries were cold or the Coke flat, Spy readers were going to hear about it.
Alas, when I pulled into the shopping center, the McDonald’s was gone, sort of. It is sort of gone because it is being remodeled.
Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of Eastonians likely experienced the same disappointment I did. A wait of two or three months for a meal is nobody’s idea of fast food.
Even the drive thru is closed!
When this unit reopens, the fries, Big Macs, and Happy Meals will return. If press releases are accurate, the food should also be a bit better. McDonald’s is promising to use fresh beef in its burgers and antibiotics-free chicken. Although I’m not a regular customer, I’ll see if I can tell the difference. I’ll also go regular size and leave the Super-Size offerings for others.
If the progress on the remodeling so far is any indication, the new McDonald’s will look quite different than the old one. A banner at the construction site promises “A Fresh New Look.” It should be as nice as any of the other 375 McDonald’s in Maryland. Expect an iteration of the current McDonald’s design motif. No huge golden arches but still unmistakably a McDonald’s.
Will Ronald McDonald attend a grand re-opening? Will pictures of Eastern Shore waterfowl grace the walls? Only time will tell. Patience is called for.
Stay tuned. Once this unit re-opens, I will venture back and hope to offer Spy readers my insights.
Kimberly Miller says
From one extreme to another. It’s almost as if the author was mocking those who couldn’t afford the one restaurant by going to a fast food restaurant. There are SO many quality, affordable, enjoyable restaurants in Easton for the author to taste and enjoy. Perhaps venturing out to the less pretentious restaurants will allow the author to notice that.
Spy Agent 4 says
Kimberly: Please know the piece was intended as tongue-in-cheek humor. I fully agree with you that there are many quality, affordable, enjoyable restaurants in Easton and hope to visit or revisit them soon. I did not intend to mock anyone in Easton. Please also, however, let me politely disagree with you on Bas Rouge. It is an excellent restaurant with great food and, in my view, good value. I do not consider it pretentious.
Kathy Bosin says
Lol!!!
Eva Smorzaniuk says
Well Agent 4 you blew it again! Going from elitist to fast food, and forgetting that there is a huge range of reasonably priced, wonderful food in Easton, without having to resort to fast food or chains. Take a look at the menus of Out of the Fire, Bannings, Osteria Alfredo, Victory Garden, the BBQ Joint, U Sushi, or Rusticana, and you’ll find many delightful eating options. Most of these have owners on site, and care about the quality of the food and service they offer.
I would hope that, in the future, you dont recommend industrialized food as an acceptable alternative!
Spy Agent 4 says
Eva: Thanks for reading the piece. As I noted to Kimberly, the piece was an attempt, apparently a poor one, at humor. You have listed several excellent restaurants on your list. Easton is very fortunate to have so many great choices. Please know that I would hesitate to call Bas Rouge elitist, but that is my opinion. I think we’re lucky to have them as an additional option when eating out. Finally, I agree with you on “industrialized food.” I am not a regular customer of any fast food restaurant, even on long car trips. My surprise at noticing the McDonald’s was closed for renovation is what prompted the piece–I had driven by it at least four or five times without noticing it.
Eva Smorzaniuk says
Perhaps it is not elitist, but it is part of “Disneyland on Federal Street”. I’ll pass.
Anthony C. Parkinson says
What they have done to Federal Street is fantastic! Beautiful and very classy. Excellent shops and restaurants. Maybe you forgot just a few years ago it was empty and forgotten. Now it is a vibrant area that fits very well in making Easton a great destination.
Eva M Smorzaniuk says
I’m sure it’s the pride of some commercial real estate developer!
Alan Boisvert says
MCDONALDS = GARBAGE FOOD
joan young says
Wow! Sometimes I forget how judgmental the world has gotten. Guess it’s not likely now that we will see a review of Popeye’s new chicken sandwich. Sorry, Agent 4, that Talbot county is so mean spirited. There are kinder ways to make the points they chose to express.