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Waffle House's Magic Marker System

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Re: Waffle House's Magic Marker System

#71
post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

C'mon. Super pretentious viewpoint to think that employees at Waffle House are illiterate enough that they can't assemble orders without symbols.

This stuff can be Googled to level-set the conversation. First search result says: - 54% of adults have a literacy below sixth-grade level. - 21% of Americans 18 and older are illiterate in 2022. We can dig further to find more sources of data and judge how reputable they are. If those numbers are incorrect, correct them and go from there.

These are totally different versions of the concept of "literacy", though. Being able to read/write abbreviations of "eggs, scrambled", or "oatmeal" falls well below sixth-grade reading level. Literacy statistics involve much more comprehension than reading/writing food orders. Plenty of illiterate people do work in restaurants writing food orders. This is just a systemized way to remember orders, one that is used across all Waffle Houses, so that an employee from one restaurant switching to another will be just as effective, with no cross training or cultural difference.

Re: Waffle House's Magic Marker System

#72

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.

I've been eating there all my life (I'm from the south). No there's nothing unique about it to be gauged from a single visit. You'll need to go multiple times to understand and appreciate 1) the consistency in both the food and the service 2) how cheap it is (or really, was) compared to other diner places 3) how they never run out of anything despite being open 24/7 4) how you never really know what's going to go down, especially late at night.

Re: Waffle House's Magic Marker System

#73

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.

This comment does not substantively contradict its parent.

Re: Waffle House's Magic Marker System

#75
post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I first saw this at McDonald's. Drink lids (everywhere) have those little bubbles that can be pressed to indicate what type of drink as well. Diet, Sprite, etc.

Sure but aren't those all the same price?

Yeah but if you order a diet coke and your friend orders a regular coke you want to make sure you get the right drink out of the carrier.

Re: Waffle House's Magic Marker System

#76

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.

fun fact: Waffle House used to sell Chick-fil-A sandwiches

Re: Waffle House's Magic Marker System

#77
post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sure but aren't those all the same price?

Yeah but if you order a diet coke and your friend orders a regular coke you want to make sure you get the right drink out of the carrier.

Especially since I'll probably spew as soon as I taste the Aspartame!

Re: Waffle House's Magic Marker System

#78
post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I first saw this at McDonald's. Drink lids (everywhere) have those little bubbles that can be pressed to indicate what type of drink as well. Diet, Sprite, etc.

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.

Re: Waffle House's Magic Marker System

#79
post #32

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 don't think Waffle House has locations in any major Urban location. I really wish we had them in Boston also. It is an experience that even other diners don't really replicate. Especially the price, I am always shocked when I go to visit parents just how much you get at Waffle House for multiple people for what I am used to spending on just myself. But it is more than that. The size, the layout, the code words for…

They have quite a few in Houston, only the 4th largest metro area in the US.

Re: Waffle House's Magic Marker System

#80
post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think Waffle House has locations in any major Urban location. I really wish we had them in Boston also. It is an experience that even other diners don't really replicate. Especially the price, I am always shocked when I go to visit parents just how much you get at Waffle House for multiple people for what I am used to spending on just myself. But it is more than that. The size, the layout, the code words for…

Come to Atlanta, down the street from me are two completely separate Waffle Houses built right next to each other that share the same parking lot.

How do you decide which one to enter?
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