DawnPapuga.com — Reality 101

I’m all for chain restaurants and the comfort they provide with their never changing menus, their regulars, their reliably cranky service, and their consistency.  After the game Wednesday night @DJLunchbox and I dropped by the local Eat ‘n Park to have some coffee and solve the world’s problems.  When we ordered our drinks I got my coffee in a traditional ceramic mug, but my water came in a plastic cup.  @DJLunchbox’s iced tea came in…. a plastic cup.

Are you serious?  At what point does a restaurant make the decision that using plastic cups instead of glasses is some how more efficient?  I worked in restaurants, I know that cleaning dishes is a PITA, but creating more bags of garbage isn’t solving any problems.  PLASTIC! 

If I wanted to drink out of a plastic cup I’d go to a fast food joint.  I’d even order my drinks from a diner to go. Then you expect it!  But there was something distinctly unsettling and unattractive about being served a beverage in a plastic cup when you’re sitting down to eat and not at a picnic or graduation party.  I know I’m not eating at Ruth’s Chris, but come on!

I don’t like it.

I already have a long standing beef with Eat ‘n Park for the great Cookie Fudge Fantasy disaster of the late 90’s.  They used to serve this ice cream sundae sent from heaven in a gigantic glass pedestal bowl and it was large enough that one of these babies could sate two commiserating best friends.  Now they come in regular bowls, are half the size, and they use cheap cookies.  I haven’t had one since they switched.

And now this.

Good thing there’s an IHOP close by…