First look at McDonald's 'create your own gourmet burgers' in Australia
The fast food chain is bringing table service to its restaurants Down Under
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.One of McDonald’s first “gourmet” make your own burgers has been filmed in Australia – and it looks pretty good.
The fast food chain is ditching its plastic trays and counter service for the wooden boards and mini chip baskets usually seen in trendy, smaller, burger joints.
A branch in Castle Hill, Sydney, is trying out the new format before it is rolled out across Australia.
A customer filmed his experience negotiating the new digital kiosks, where people can choose their own burgers and toppings from a 19-ingredient list.
The following array of individually-priced options offers cheese, sauces, salads and toppings including bacon, beetroot and fried eggs.
When the order is completed, customers choose to sit in the restaurant or outside and the food is brought to them by serving staff.
The impressive list of extras chosen in the video included an extra beef burger, four kinds of cheese slices, an egg, two sauces, tomato, gherkins, lettuce, red onion, grilled onions, mushrooms, pineapple, guacamole and tortilla strips.
The meal, with medium fries and a drink, came in at $15.95 (£8.70) and footage showed a towering burger arrive on a wooden board with chips in a wire basket.
“I know it looks a bit big because I ordered everything to try it but it was really nice, and something different,” the customer said.
Many McDonald’s fans are excited about the change but others have criticised the world’s largest fast food chain for moving in on the territory occupied by smaller businesses and independent restaurants.
“McDonald’s is innovating and changing again to meet the needs of our customers,” McDonald’s Australia CEO Andrew Gregory said.
“What we’re really doing here is simply what our customers have asked us to do.”
The move comes after the company attempted to banish rumours of “pink slime” and unappetising additives in its burgers by allowing cameras into a factory.
But in the same week, a Canadian man claimed to have found a dead mouse in his “McCafe” coffee.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments