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Waffle House's Magic Marker System

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Re: Waffle House's Magic Marker System

#111

Post by korv »

bombcar wrote: post #78
sp332 wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sure but aren't those all the same price?

They're used rarely these days, but in some places they're busy enough that they will make have someone making the drinks and marking them. Which is why they don't have to indicate "sprite" or "orange" because you can see the color through the lids. Where drinks are self-serve they're not needed, but usually still exist.

>They're used rarely these days

If you don't order different drinks, sure.

>Which is why they don't have to indicate "sprite" or "orange" because you can see the color through the lids.

The paper (cardboard?) lids aren't translucent.

Re: Waffle House's Magic Marker System

#112

Post by lasermatts »

jiveturkey wrote: post #43
wannacboatmovie wrote: post #4

Eating at a Waffle House (preferably at 1am following a night out) is a unique American cultural experience that especially those confined to the Bay Area have been denied. It's a place where those from all walks of life come together.

Well, not VC or tech elites, apparently.

The tech elites of Atlanta and the Waffle House outside of Georgia Tech beg to differ

Re: Waffle House's Magic Marker System

#113

Post by TheGRS »

tivert wrote: post #105
TheGRS wrote: post #101

I can't help thinking its simultaneously ingenious and hilariously convoluted. Looks like it would be fast to setup, easy to read from the line cook area, and also simple to modify. I'm sure if I was doing the work I could learn the system pretty quickly, but glancing over it as an outsider all I can think about it how ridiculous it sounds that an upright jam packet over a mustard packet means 3 eggs. And they use wh…

> I can't help thinking its simultaneously ingenious and hilariously convoluted. It's just ingenious, they're coding the order onto the customer's plate by partially setting it up. They're getting some of the work done, and they don't have to fumble with some separate source of truth.

Still would take a lot of training to get right. Its not intuitive. And I can certainly find a lot of humor in how its implemented.

Re: Waffle House's Magic Marker System

#114

Post by flyingswift »

madcaptenor wrote: post #68
skyyler wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>I don't think Waffle House has locations in any major Urban location. Columbus, Ohio and Atlanta, Georgia both have Waffle Houses. I don't think it's universally a rule that they stay out of cities.

Here's their map: https://locations.wafflehouse.com Waffle House started just outside of Atlanta, and you can still see that. In other big cities they seem to stay outside of the core - I suspect they don't want to have locations without parking. (But off the top of my head I can name two Atlanta-area Waffle Houses that don't have their own parking, namely the one right off Centennial Olympic Park and the one in down…

The one at Georgia Tech also doesn't have parking

Re: Waffle House's Magic Marker System

#115

Post by wil421 »

PopAlongKid wrote: post #47
wannacboatmovie wrote: post #4

Eating at a Waffle House (preferably at 1am following a night out) is a unique American cultural experience that especially those confined to the Bay Area have been denied. It's a place where those from all walks of life come together.

I have never lived near a Waffle House, but did eat lunch at one in Mobile AL about ten years ago. I found nothing particularly unique about it.

Was it between 12am-4am?

Re: Waffle House's Magic Marker System

#116

Post by 082349872349872 »

082349872349872 wrote: post #86
seanmcdirmid wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That is incredibly state dependent however, looking at https://www.libraryjournal.com/story/How-Serious-Is-Americas... , you are in a different world of literacy if you live in Washington State vs. Texas. The south happens to be where Waffle House is common.

Luckily https://dollyparton.com/imagination-library is a thing

On a county level, the south doesn't look too bad as long as you're in an urban area: Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Miami, Tampa, etc.

https://preview.redd.it/adult-literacy-in-the-us-by-county-v...

Re: Waffle House's Magic Marker System

#117

Post by gnicholas »

wannacboatmovie wrote: post #4

Eating at a Waffle House (preferably at 1am following a night out) is a unique American cultural experience that especially those confined to the Bay Area have been denied. It's a place where those from all walks of life come together.

True, but we have In N Out. I've been there in flip flops and in a tux (as has Paul Giamatti, apparently [1])

1: https://ew.com/paul-giamatti-in-n-out-burger-awards-8426387

Re: Waffle House's Magic Marker System

#118

Post by jmward01 »

gnicholas wrote: post #117
wannacboatmovie wrote: post #4

Eating at a Waffle House (preferably at 1am following a night out) is a unique American cultural experience that especially those confined to the Bay Area have been denied. It's a place where those from all walks of life come together.

True, but we have In N Out. I've been there in flip flops and in a tux (as has Paul Giamatti, apparently [1]) 1: https://ew.com/paul-giamatti-in-n-out-burger-awards-8426387

There are in-n-out Waffle House crossover cities. Yes, I did plan one cross country trip just to have this perfect day.

Re: Waffle House's Magic Marker System

#119

Post by wizerdrobe »

IncreasePosts wrote: post #65
js2 wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Anthony Bourdain, upon visiting his first Waffle House, remarked "This is better than the French Laundry": https://youtu.be/bct8stbZafI?si=ru9hL8xH_a_75J5I

Yes, but it isn't.

It’s simple comfort food consistently cooked by an often sassy staff. Sometimes that beats a Gucci plate with opaque aioli at absurd prices.

If Bourdain says my old Waffle House beats a French laundromat who am I to argue?

Cultural institutions are something to behold.

Re: Waffle House's Magic Marker System

#120

Post by jmward01 »

Closi wrote: post #31

While I sort-of-love-it, it does seem very complicated for new starters. I'm sure this system is great once you know it, but it is a high learning curve and I do struggle to imagine a world where ePOS with a ticket system doesn't work better (both for the 'caller' and for the chef).

I suspect it forces out people quickly which may actually help keep better qualified workers. I've personally found the average Waffle House employee a cut above other places so maybe this is the reason.
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