Opinions on Mac Donalds needed for Radio 5 interview tomorrow

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Cod, i honestly don't know anyone who takes their kids!
But it is obviously atypical in general, just from looking through Mcd's window!

I recommend Olley's Fish and Chip restaurant in Herne Hill, S London - excellent fish and chips, very good children's menu of smaller portions, kind Italian staff.

mn hardly typical, imo

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Blu, that's disgusting. But doesn't surprise me.

I agree.

Because apart from the fact that vinyl and plastic just doesn't cut it any more, you can't escape it, and people are beginning to get sick of that.

Even if you don't go the ads are atill everywhere and your child will know what the place is. I think people are wising up to the junk marketing bit, and moving away from all that.

If i'm looking to feed my children away from home, I look for an ikea (pasta always works) or I get a picnic if it's dry.

cafe rouge ggggrrr have been there 3 times in 3 different places and had to wait over 45 minutes for food. Personally, I don't think that's acceptable when you have small children.

I end up going to McD because it's convenient at the time (always near large shopping centres or retail parks). Having said that, we've only been twice this year so it's not like we're going all the time.

The best restaurants (for the children and us) have always been those that are run by people who aren't born and bred English. Our previous local Chinese restaurant adored the children and did a fantastic special kids meal (with proper food like rice and vegetables etc.) and the Indian restaurant has special children's portions (smaller and milder versions of the adult meals).

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dp's family make a living making and selling v tasty cheap authentic (probably not healthy) street snacks in a town on an island. His uncle respectably supports an extended family of 10 from his one mobile stall. McD's moved into the island, and offered lots of 'planning gain' to the local council - BUT stipulated that if they were granted permission, the council would have to revoke the licenses of the street vendors.

I wish there was an organic fast food place, somewhere properly child friendly - i.e. they're welcomed and there are staff who understand about them - with FAST (and this is important when children are baying with hunger), decent food. It wouldn't have to be cheap, I don't expect cheap necessarily, I think often you get what you pay for but I would just love to be able to buy healthy (really healthy, not McD's version of healthy) fast food, I really would. But since this wonderful place doesn't exist (although proper restaurants do, I know) if we're out I carry raisins, apples, bananas, mini sandwiches with me atm.

I take dd1 (9) there about once every 6 weeks or so. She is a very fussy eater and its about the eating place I can take her to where I know she will eat the food without any bother, where I don't have to spend 10 minutes telling a waiter how and what to prepare for her, and where I can have a milkshake which I absolutely adore. I love their fries too. Our local mcd's is usually very fast, pretty clean, and the food hasn't been standing for ages. Its pleasant enough to sit there, and she loves getting a toy, and comes out happy and with a full tummy. She also had the best party of her life at mcdonalds - couldn't fault it, excellent value for money, great games and prizes, very nice and jolly staff and all the kids had a fab time.
I wouldn't want to eat there all the time, but its very handy.

we have chips from the chippy once every couple of weeks. with lots of ketchup.

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Oh, just read the thread and hardly anyone seems to consider it a treat!

dd1 noticed the golden arches much more in france than over here...

I agree, www - I think McD's days are numbered.

No, they have McDonalds in France.

You can get garlic Mayo for your fries

I don't think there is anywhere you can escape to, although Ireland didn't have any to my recollection but that was a while ago.

I love "toys of shame"

We don't have a Cafe Rouge, but we do have a Pizza Express and I nearly had that salad in foxinsocks link last time I ate there (glad I didn't now!)

We do go to McDonald's very occasionally (maybe 4 times a year). I don't really think of it as a treat - it's fast, cheap and convenient. If there was a nicer, child-friendly alternative round here I would go there - but, honestly, Macclesfield is the back of beyond!

one small part of our decision to move to France was the thought that we just might be able to avoid taking junior to McDonalds

I haven't read the other responses but I very rarely take my children to McDonalds. Ds is 7 and has been there, what, 7 times maybe in his life and then only because other people we were out with wanted to go. Dd has never been and maybe she never will. I don't consider McDonalds a treat. A treat is chocolate or home made cake or the cinema or a toy or an outing or, actually, another restaurant, one serving decent food. I dislike them for McLibel, for peddling unhealthy food, for exploiting workers, lying to the public and for being arrogant. I think they've had their day and I think they know it. Supersize me and Fast Food Nation were both fascinating on the subject but in my case were preaching to the converted. Looking forward to reading the other responses now!

Why do we go to McDonalds?

Well, we like it. We don't eat burgers, chips etc at home so we have them there or at BK. I obviously wouldn't go in there if we all thought it tasted foul!

Mmmmmm McTasty, yum yum.

Oh, and Petitou even does organic wine!

I am another person who doesn't think it's a treat. I am not taking some moral position here, or even talking about the food particularly, it's just that bleak striplighting, dirty floors, plastic chairs bolted to the floor, queing with a plastic tray for food in paper bags, plus the lack of wine (!) does not in my opinion add up to a great place to go.
Yes, my ds eats chips and chocolate and he might even enjoy Mcds but I wouldn't and while I'm in charge and he's too young to know any different, we won't go. Agree with Blu about the merits of a cafe rouge lunch - and I've breastfed both ds and dd there perfectly happily. ds gets chips with mayo and loves it. we also go to local independent cafes. Can I recommend Petitou in Peckham for the ultimate in child friendliness, breastfeeding friendliness and excellent coffee and cheesy muffins!