Wendy’s

This is not so much a review of this Wendy’s. Or Wendy’s more generally. It’s a review of the new (temporary?) black bean burger. And, as you can tell from the stars, it’s surprisingly good!
You can tell that a lot of thought went into the black bean burger. This isn’t just a token dish so that they can say there is a vegetarian option. No, it was designed to be something that just tastes good. That people will want to eat. That even MEAT eaters might want to eat. I know I did. I might again.
First off, obvious attention was paid to the texture of the sandwich. Any time you have a black bean burger, you run the risk of ending up with a mushy texture. And the patty itself does have a bit of that. But they counteracted that by adding texture elsewhere – specifically the bun. The bun they use is heartier and firmer than the other buns and gives a solid heft to the sandwich. It makes it seem more substantial.
Next, the sauce they chose, a ranch sauce, is perfect for the sandwich. It’s the sauce that says to me they were really trying to make something that tastes good for what it is, not just imitate a hamburger and call it a day. That’s because I wouldn’t usually think of adding ranch to a burger. But on the black bean burger, it works perfectly! Indeed, it’s only a small part of the sandwich, but it ties it all together into a nice whole.
Finally, the patty itself, the star of the show, is really good. It has nice flavor and visible pieces of vegetable and beans. This isn’t an overly processed piece of fake meat. It is a straightforward vegetable patty.
I’m really impressed that Wendy’s took the time to put this sandwich together and bring it to market. I hope that it rolls out nationwide, and I hope that it is a sign of things to come for the menu in the future.

I’m not sure why saying «hamburger, with no cheese, do not put cheese on it» is so complex, but it is. I love Wendy’s as a company, but when I get home, open the bag, and catch that whiff of cheese after the exotic ‘no cheese’ mantra I have to go through, it is so depressing.
This last time, I went in. I did not use the drive thru. I watched the cash register say (finally) cheeseburger, no cheese. Why it needs to say that instead of hamburger when getting a single is a corporate mystery.
No dice. Still a cheese covered disaster.
Your Frostys may save you for another day, but I doubt I will ever get another ‘burger here unless I eat in the dining room.

So first of all, your experience at a Wendy’s will differ based on whether the building is renovated or not. The renovated ones will have those new DIY soda flavor customization machines with free refills. The non-​renovated ones still has the soda fountain BEHIND the counter so you need to line up to ask for refills.
As I like my free soda refills, I am partial to the renovated Wendy’s. So even though there’s a Wendy’s just 3 blocks from my house in Upper Arlington, I come to this one in Grandview because the one near my house is still not renovated.
In terms of food quality, this location is on par with the other Wendy’s in town. Service is pretty good. However, the parking lot is kind of small, and due to its proximity to the OSU Medical Center, the crowd can be horrible at lunch time.

I usually stop here for a quick bite before the late service at church on Sundays. I’ve never been inside, just the drive thru. It’s a typical Wendy’s and I have no complaints. In my experience, this location is no better or no worse than other one’s I’ve been to in the central Ohio area. The food is always fast, hot, and fresh. The staff is friendly.
It’s fast food… not a whole lot can really be said otherwise.

Ok, so I get that I’m reviewing yet another Wendy’s, but this location is awesome!
The interior has been remodeled and looks updated, fresh and most importantly — clean. I noticed more than a few groups of people actually sitting down and enjoying a meal, which is not really typical for fast food. But they have lots of TVs and free WiFi, so maybe that draws some people in.
They have one of those fancy soda machines that has a bajillion flavor combinations (I still just get plain Diet Coke, but I feel cooler doing it). They got my special order correct — usually a hit or miss at some locations. The service was good and she was able to accept my coupon with no problem or questions for the manager. I was in and out in a few minutes and back home before my food could even start to get cold. Solid location!

Bad service