My trip to Burger King..

So I've been reading lately about how Burger King has changed. They've been getting some attention lately for their new menu items (chicken wraps, smoothies, frappes)... and for a general change in their marketing approach.

I've always been a fan of the Whopper and the "Have it your way" attitude at Burger King. Meanwhile, I've sometimes found the stores to be not very busy and with something of a gross feeling about them.

So, I tried out my local store. It still looks the same on the outside. But on the inside, there were pictures of people sitting around tables of BK food and seeming to really like it.

They also had a Coke Freestyle Fountain. A GREAT idea. I had Cherry Vanilla Coke. Yum! They only had one, though. And there are tons of choices... So, it took some time for people to figure out the touchscreen machine and to choose what they wanted. There used to be two fountains with the standard selection of seven or eight drinks. So, two people could easily and quickly fill their cups. Not so anymore. This will definitely take some learning -- or, it will make people not want to come back. I guess two freestyle fountains would be too much. But at lunch time, this could be a hassle.

Of course, on this visit, which was actually just after 1 PM, so missing the key lunch rush, there was quite a crowd. And, lots of waiting. Orders came out very slowly. More than 10 minutes AFTER my order was keyed in, my name was being called for my food.

I did happen to notice that BK now offers a Bacon Sundae. Yep, BACON! Soft serve ice cream, pieces of real bacon, and one slice of bacon shoved in the ice cream. Also topped with caramel and chocolate. Now, this sounds like it might be tasty.

But, if Burger King is going to stage a comeback and reclaim its place as the #2 burger joint in America, the service will have to be faster at its restaurants and the challenges of the freestyle fountain will need to be worked out. Plus, more stores will need to be upgraded quickly. Otherwise, people will think it is the same old Burger King with a bigger menu.