A few weeks ago, Long John Silver’s introduced a new selection of menu items called “Freshside Grill”. It might seem odd using the term “fresh” to describe what we all know is actually frozen, but don’t blame me… I didn’t name them. The menu consists of three entrees: Shrimp Scampi, Grilled Tilapia, and Grilled Pacific Salmon.

All three entrees come standard with a serving of rice and a breadstick, and each is also available as a ‘Full Meal’ with vegetable medley and corn on the cob. I’ve tried all three new seafood options, and chose the full meal platter with each of them.

The Shrimp Scampi was a disappointment, easily the weakest part of this new menu. They’re almost flavorless, except for the garlic butter, and the shrimp’s texture was tough and rubbery. They ‘looked’ appetizing and the pieces were good size, but those looks were deceiving, and their size became irrelevant once I tasted them. It reminded me of the unsatisfying experience I had with their large fried shrimp. [ D ]

The Grilled Tilapia was the standout among the 3 new entrees. It was flaky, tender and had a surprisingly fresh taste. The herbs and spices, along with a hint of Romano cheese, were an appropriate blend for the mild whitefish. They provided a nice background flavor and lite crust, while still letting the character of the fish come thru. For a brief moment, after squeezing some lemon juice on my filet and taking the first couple bites, I almost forgot that I was eating fast-food. Almost. [ A- ]

The Grilled Pacific Salmon tasted decent, coated with garlic, onion and red peppers, but the fish itself was too dry and the flavor a bit weak. It wasn’t bad tasting salmon, it just seemed washed-out. I’m certain that’s at least partly because it’s not fresh. Compared to the relatively long and stable lifespans of frozen beef and chicken, fish and seafood’s clock starts ticking immediately after processing and runs out quickly. The window of opportunity for a satisfying fast-food-from-frozen seafood experience is small. The Tilapia beat the odds, while the Salmon was less successful. [ C ]

The Vegetable Medley consists of steamed green beans, yellow and orange carrots. Long John Silver’s veggies were OK, but not as good as I hoped, and eerily familiar to the type found in many frozen TV dinners. And no matter how much seasoning or butter they apply, it doesn’t change the facts. They’re average at best. [ C- ]

The Corn Cobbette was much better than the other vegetables. It tasted very good, slightly sweet, and was already buttered, leaving me nothing to do but eat and enjoy. Having the wooden stick inserted made eating a little easier, though 2 sticks (one in each end) would have given optimum corn cob handling. Still, good corn. [ B ]

The Seasoned Rice was also quite tasty, and provided a great base for all 3 entrees. It’s long grain white rice flavored with carrots, garlic, onion and butter. It was cooked near perfectly, firm on the outside and tender inside. Each grain of rice remained loose and separate, without sticking or clumping. I could eat a whole bowl of this stuff by itself, although I should say that I’m a big fan of rice to begin with. [ A- ]

The Breadsticks were toasty and crisp outside, warm and chewy inside, with a little garlic butter brushed on for seasoning. They’re just as good as the type served by large pizza chains, and similar to refrigerated dough Pillsbury breadsticks from the supermarket you cook at home. Nothing special, but simple and satisfying. [ B ]

The full meal platter with your choice of the three seafood entrees is $6.99, which is not cheap, but keep in mind you’re getting five different items on the plate. I’ve graded each of the 7 new menu items individually above, and also given an overall score to the Grilled Tilapia full meal platter below, where the normal FFC rating goes.

Long John Silver’s new Freshside Grill is a welcome addition to a fast-food world dominated by deep fried, high calorie items. This is not health food, but it does provide the benefits of fish protein and omega-3 fatty acids without the extra grease, calories and fat of many fried foods. One of the full meals is enough to satisfy an average appetite, but a big hunger will be left wanting more due to fairly small portions. The Grilled Tilapia earns top honors in this class, while the Shrimp Scampi fails to make a passing grade, and the Grilled Pacific Salmon is best described as OK.

Price: $6.99 (Grilled Tilapia Platter) / Website: LongJohnSilvers.com

Fast Food Critic Score: B-

Click here for rating system details.

Nutrition Facts - Long John Silver’s, Grilled Tilapia (Full Meal).

Calories - 750
Calories from Fat - 195
Total Fat - 22.5 grams
Carbs - 95 grams
Saturated Fat - 5.5 grams
Trans Fat - 1.5 grams
Cholesterol - 55 milligrams
Sodium - 1600 milligrams
Protein - 36 grams

NOTE: Nutrition facts are the total for the full meal, including entree, rice, veggies and bread. For individual numbers visit this page on the LJS website.

While our feathered friend the chicken has been exalted to fast food stardom in recent reviews, our ocean dwelling pals have taken a back seat and been nearly forgotten. Let’s change that by reviewing a fish sandwich. Not just any fish sandwich, but a classic that’s been around for over 40 years… the Filet-O-Fish from McDonald’s.

A man by the name of Lou Groen created the Filet-O-Fish back in 1962. His Cincinnati area McDonald’s franchise needed to capitalize on the heavily Roman Catholic clientele. A practice of abstaining from meat on Fridays was commonplace in those days, and especially during the 40-day period of Lent. He was able to take advantage of the situation and help his hungry customers by offering the Filet-O-Fish sandwich as an alternative. To this day, you’ll notice it’s advertised more often during the Lent season and sometimes there are special sale prices on those Fridays.

The Filet-O-Fish works well in it’s simplicity. A battered fish patty with half a slice of processed American cheese and tarter sauce on a steamed bun. There’s nothing particularly impressive about it, but it’s tasty and satisfying when you need to mix it up from the normal burger, taco or chicken routine. The rectangular shaped fish patty is made of whitefish (Hoki / Pollock) and is basically the same type you’ll find in many supermarket frozen fish sticks and filets. It has a nice even batter with a very subtle crispness. It’s a pretty bland tasting fish patty, though definitely improved by the healthy dose of tartar sauce which is made tangier by the addition of pickle relish.

The half slice of American cheese keeps things interesting, but sometimes I wonder if it’s only a 1/3 slice, because it’s barely noticeable. For that matter — why only half a slice? At one time, McDonald’s offered a “Deluxe” version of this fish sandwich with lettuce and a whole slice of cheese. That version never took off and got removed from the menu, but why can’t those things be standard? Does the inclusion of a little lettuce and the other half of that cheese slice really hurt McDonald’s bottom line? This is a small sandwich for $3.09 and those 2 little extras would make a big difference.

The Filet-O-Fish sandwich isn’t great, but it’s decent enough to continue occupying a space on the McDonald’s menu for added variety. I’m satisfied with the sandwich overall but it’s not something I would order very often. Not everyone eats beef or chicken, and it’s good to see a fish sandwich option on many fast food menus these days. McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish is a fast food classic that has stood the test of time, and will continue to be just as good (or just as average) as you remember it.

Price: $3.09 / Website: McDonalds.com

Fast Food Critic Score: C

Click here for rating system details.

Nutrition Facts - McDonald’s, Filet-O-Fish Sandwich.

Calories - 380
Calories from Fat - 170
Total Fat - 18 grams
Carbs - 38 grams
Saturated Fat - 3.5 grams
Trans Fat - 0 grams
Cholesterol - 40 milligrams
Sodium - 640 milligrams
Protein - 15 grams

Last month at Fast Food Critic, John reviewed a burger from Five Guys Burgers and Fries. His photos and description left me craving 5G, so I decided to revisit the rapid growing quick serve establishment. I’ll be honest and say I’ve never been a big fan of Five Guys, despite rave reviews they’ve received from others. I hadn’t been in several years, and wanted to give them another shot. John’s review inspired me to do that, and even try something new. 5G is primarily known for burgers, however they also serve an item rare in the fast food industry these days… the elusive hot dog.

On this occasion it’s the Bacon Cheese Dog, and I was not disappointed. It’s a very good dog. I decided to add diced raw onions and mustard/ketchup to the bacon and American cheese. One thing which makes Five Guys special is the ability to pile on a large variety of free toppings to your burgers and hot dogs. In fact, 5G’s recently revamped website says there are “15 FREE Toppings”. Today I felt like standard, typical ingredients, but will get more adventurous with choices in the future.

As I waited for my food I munched on whole peanuts in the shell, a nice perk offered to all customers. I watched the burgers and dogs sizzle on the grill, which made me hungry. It’s a nice change from many fast-food restaurants where you have no idea how, or by whom your food is cooked. Upon getting my order I noticed the dog is a good size and the beef frank is split right down the middle. Having it split in half was a nice touch, and helped distribute the toppings generously and evenly. The diced raw onions were tasty and fresh, the bacon was crisp and salty, and the frank was full of flavor. The American cheese tasted fine, but unfortunately was barely melted. It would have been improved with a more consistent melt. Having part of the cheese warm and gooey while the rest stayed refrigerated cold and firm… was a minor turnoff.

The frankfurters are supplied by Hebrew National, containing 100% kosher beef with no artificial ingredients. Not the best I’ve eaten, but still one of the better franks around. The buns were soft, fresh and toasted on the inside, though nothing special.

A single dog is not enough to satisfy a hungry appetite, and at $3.89 each it could get expensive to fill up. I’ve yet to try the fries, either Cajun or Regular, but I’ve heard a lot of positive response from people who have. FFC founder Timothy plans on reviewing both in the near future. The bacon cheese dog plus fries and drink will cost you about $6 and change. It’s definitely worth trying and something I can easily recommend. Since hot dogs are a rare breed in the fast food world, go show them some love. Yes, Five Guys is a burger place, but it’s nice to see every dog does have it’s day.

Price: $3.89 / Website: FiveGuys.com

Fast Food Critic Score: B+

Click here for rating system details.

Nutrition Facts - Five Guys, Bacon Cheese Dog.

Calories - 695
Calories from Fat - 425
Total Fat - 48 grams
Carbs - 40.5 grams
Saturated Fat - 22 grams
Trans Fat - 0 grams
Cholesterol - 96 milligrams
Sodium - 1700 milligrams
Protein - 26 grams

So, you thought the Pizza Hut golf balls were cool, but you’re more of a Chick-fil-A fan, and would rather not spend 50 bucks. No problem, for only $6 you can purchase this nifty thrifty 2-pack of Top Flite Pure Distance golf balls with the Chick-fil-A logo printed on each. Purchase them directly from CFA using this link on their website. Grab these balls today and you can start intimidating KFC, Popeyes and Church’s eaters during the next 18 holes. Feel the power — you are king of the chicken golf course.

Chick-fil-A is best known for one thing — the classic chicken sandwich.

But, have you tried the other Chick-fil-A sandwich? Chargrilled Chicken? Don’t feel bad if you said no. I’ve met people that have eaten at Chick-fil-A for 20 years, and never ordered anything except the classic. Not because something is wrong with the other CFA food, they simply love that original sandwich so much they can’t imagine eating anything else. And while that breaded, pressure cooked version remains the most popular and famous item on the menu, it’s chargrilled cousin is a worthy alternative with a unique taste and character of it’s own. Currently available in 2 varieties, the standard “Chargrilled Chicken” and the “Chargrilled Chicken Club” which adds Provolone cheese and smoked applewood bacon. Let’s take a look at the Club.

The first thing you’ll notice is the big black carton, instead of the classic’s foil envelope. Once you open the lid, you’re greeted by a wholesome looking golden wheat bun. It’s hearty bread, the type your mom wanted you to eat as a child, instead of always using white bread. A couple large whole leaves of lettuce are overflowing the carton, as if happy to be released from their packaging prison. There’s a plump little corner of grilled chicken breast visible, peeking out from underneath. The edge of a bacon slice is snuggled up next to the chicken, with a hint of melted cheese between. It’s not the classic CFA sandwich people are used to, but don’t be afraid… it’s still good.

The wheat bun is fantastic and has a wonderfully hearty taste and texture. It might not be my choice for everyday eating, but it’s great for a change of pace. It’s lightly toasted, but lacks the buttered treatment of the classic’s bun. The chicken breast filet is naked and grilled, instead of being breaded and pressure cooked. As usual, CFA has used their bag of magical seasonings and marinade to give this bird a terrific flavor, slightly similar to the classic but different enough to be unique. The grilled chicken is very tasty, but I have to be totally honest… it’s not as juicy or delicious as the breaded filet on the classic. In short, I would describe the flavor as being Chick-fil-A “lite”.

The most intriguing things about this sandwich are the smoked applewood bacon and Provolone cheese. Despite the obvious attraction of such tasty things, they’re simply unheard of among eaters of the classic. I’m hoping that might change, because I’d like to see these toppings made available on the classic sandwich. I really enjoyed the extra depth they added to the grilled version. There’s just enough of each to create an excellent balance of rich, mellow flavors. The bacon is thin and tender, without being slimy. It’s almost like ham, as opposed to the crispy strips found on many fast-food sandwiches. And even though it’s a strip too, it’s wound up and cooked into a circular shape. I’m not sure how they do it so neatly, but it looks cool and tastes great.

In addition to the lettuce, there’s a few slices of tomato and dill pickles. The veggies are fresh and taste good. There is no sauce or other condiments on the sandwich, but it comes with a packet of barbecue sauce on the side. One thing that I find unusual, even humorous, is the size and amount of lettuce leaves included. The first time I tried this sandwich a long time ago, I assumed they gave me a double portion. But I’ve eaten it many times between then and this review, and it’s usually the same. I feel like there’s enough lettuce to build a small salad, and I end up removing about half of it. That’s not really a complaint, just a curious observation I wanted to share.

The Chargrilled Chicken Club from Chick-fil-A is a very good sandwich with a nice variety of flavors and ingredients. It’s not the same finger-licking love-fest I have with the classic, simply because I don’t like the grilled chicken as much as the breaded, pressure cooked bird. That’s the bottom line, and the reason this doesn’t get as high of score. However, this version has less fat and calories, includes extra veggies, and gets credit for being the healthier choice. The problem with making the best chicken sandwich on the market, is that even your own company’s alternatives are faced with trying to match it’s quality and success. Still, I feel certain that Chick-fil-A, CFA fans, and founder Truett Cathy would agree with me… it’s a good problem to have.

Price: $4.19 / Website: Chick-fil-A.com

Fast Food Critic Score: B+

Click here for rating system details.

Nutrition Facts - Chick-fil-A, Chargrilled Chicken Club.

Calories - 370
Calories from Fat - 100
Total Fat - 11 grams
Carbs - 34 grams
Saturated Fat - 5 grams
Trans Fat - 0 grams
Cholesterol - 75 milligrams
Sodium - 1590 milligrams
Protein - 35 grams

It’s decent food… but fails to reach it’s potential due to service problems.

When I was a kid growing up in Connecticut, I would occasionally see these stores named “Wawa” but at some point they all disappeared. Wikipedia says the company abandoned most of the New York Metro area and New England because it was too competitive. Wawa stores remain in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia. It’s a basic convenience store, similar to 7-11, and most newer locations also sell gas. For me, what makes Wawa great are their delicious hoagies.

There’s a self-service touch-screen ordering menu in each store where you can order hoagies, soups and more. The chicken salad hoagie with extra provolone cheese is my standard choice, and I would pick it over Subway or Quiznos any day. For the amount of meat they pile on, and the price, those other chains don’t compare.

I’d never eaten other items from the hoagie shop, but recently a billboard for their Hot Turkey and Stuffing Bowl got my attention. I hoped their bowls would be just as good as their hoagies, and since Thanksgiving is right around the corner, it might help me get into the holiday spirit. After trying it twice, it appears my order was incorrectly made both times. According to the WAWA website I should have received hot turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, and stuffing. When ordering the first time, there was no stuffing in my bowl. I’m not sure why… maybe they ran out. For that matter it was NOT an option on the menu screen. They did offer cranberry sauce, which I decided to add.

So I got my first bowl and was quite excited. It felt pretty hefty, though I suspected it was probably just mashed potatoes weighing it down. When I opened the container and got a whiff, for some reason my first thought was cat food. After a few seconds, and to my relief, I was getting a familiar aroma of turkey and gravy. There was a lot of gravy, so much I worried it was going to spill. As I thought, the majority of the bowl was mashed potatoes. Thick sliced turkey was sitting on top, with a small amount of cranberry sauce finishing it off. When I finally jumped in, I devoured everything pretty quickly. The potatoes and gravy were great, but the turkey didn’t stand out. If I took a piece of turkey alone, I could taste it, however it wasn’t very flavorful. If I took an entire forkful of different ingredients, the turkey flavor got lost completely. There wasn’t much cranberry sauce but it was strong and tasted great. I kept thinking it would have been better with stuffing, and how it should be mandatory in a Thanksgiving Bowl.

On my visit to another WAWA location, I discovered they had stuffing available there. Problem solved, right? Not exactly. This time, I received NO turkey and NO gravy. Yeah that’s right, my second bowl was just stuffing, cranberry sauce, and mashed potatoes. Maybe something went wrong with the automated ordering process, or maybe since it was 11:30 at night the person preparing it just wasn’t in the mood to do it correctly. Whatever the reason, it was very disappointing to see no turkey in my Hot Turkey Bowl. I didn’t want to waste my $3.17 and didn’t feel like driving back, so I dove in. It was actually not too bad. The stuffing was very tasty and just moist enough. The mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce tasted just like the first location. Even though it was incomplete and made incorrectly, I still enjoyed what was given to me.

This was a tough review for me to grade. Despite the lack of stuffing in the first bowl, and lack of turkey in the second, I still enjoyed both. They’re not in the same league as the excellent hoagies, but they’re good. If I had received all of the correct ingredients, I would probably be giving the Hot Turkey Bowl a score of B, but with errors on both visits and turkey taking a backseat to other ingredients, a C- feels appropriate.

Trying something new and different from the Wawa sandwich counter was a decent overall experience, but I think I’ll be sticking with the hoagies in the future. They actually offer this bowl in hoagie sandwich form, so maybe I will try that next. At the very least, eating two of these bowls from Wawa has gotten me excited for the real Thanksgiving meal that’s coming soon, and I know my mother and sister will prepare it right!

Price: $3.17 / Website: Wawa.com

Fast Food Critic Score: C-

Click here for rating system details.

Nutrition Facts - Wawa, Hot Turkey and Stuffing Bowl.

Calories - 871
Calories from Fat - 414
Total Fat - 46 grams
Carbs - 78 grams
Saturated Fat - 16 grams
Trans Fat - 0 grams
Cholesterol - 51 milligrams
Sodium - 2783 milligrams
Protein - 37 grams

There’s not many mushrooms… but otherwise it’s a solid big burger.

How many of you have succumbed to the countless terrible television commercials for Burger King’s new Mushroom and Swiss Steakhouse Burger? BK has made a mockery of Simon and Garfunkel. How dare they! Well, even those awful commercials were not enough to deter me from trying this new behemoth. Available for a limited time only, this burger offers up a new taste and unique ingredients worth trying.

The ‘Shroom and Swiss is a large flame-grilled Angus beef patty, mushrooms, Swiss cheese, crispy fried onions and A1 brand steak sauce. I don’t usually care for mushrooms on my burgers, so I was a little wary, but I’m glad I gave this sandwich a fair shot. If you’re not crazy about the idea of ’shrooms on your hamburger, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised. They are very, very subtle, and there’s not many of them. Just enough to add a tiny bit of extra flavor. Of course if you’re a mushroom lover hoping for a big payoff, you’ll be disappointed by their small numbers, so buyer beware.

The flame-grilled Angus beef tastes good, and it’s huge, overhanging the bun. The patty is not exactly round, it’s more a rectangle shape. The tasty bun is corn dusted but maybe a tad undersized for the load it has to carry. There’s a good amount of melted Swiss cheese, though it’s mild enough to not be overpowering. The sharp tangy taste of the steak sauce gives this sandwich a different character than typical burgers, and it’s a nice match for BK’s blend of Angus beef. The sauce and crunchy fried onions are my favorite parts of the unique ingredients, but everything works in harmony.

I’ve ordered this burger twice and one thing that I immediately noticed both times was how greasy they were. Literally, there were pools of grease left behind after I was done eating. So be aware of the potential mess you are getting into, especially if you’re on-the-go. Also, the corn dusted bun will shed its corn dust all over the place, and there’s a TON of melted Swiss everywhere. Price wise, this burger is definitely on the expensive side. At $7.49 for the combo, and $5.09 for the sandwich alone, you might find a better deal elsewhere. To it’s credit, it’s a big hearty meal for the money.

So… if you’re a big mushroom lover, be warned there’s not many. However, if you’re tastes are similar to mine, this might be just the right amount. Your reaction to that point will determine whether it’s worth a shot. I was happy with this burger, but admit my expectations were not very high, and I found a small amount of mushrooms to be a good thing. I don’t see this sandwich being around much longer. It’s expensive and probably won’t be a big seller. While it’s still available, I recommend trying it, obviously not on the strength of it’s mushrooms, but just a big beefy burger with good tasting meat, cheese, crunchy onions and steak sauce. It’s a solid flavor combination.

Price: $5.09 / Website: BurgerKing.com

Fast Food Critic Score: B-

Click here for rating system details.

Nutrition Facts - Burger king, Mushroom and Swiss Steakhouse Burger.

Calories - 840
Calories from Fat - 430
Total Fat - 48 grams
Carbs - 53 grams
Saturated Fat - 19 grams
Trans Fat - 2 grams
Cholesterol - 130 milligrams
Sodium - 1860 milligrams
Protein - 40 grams

I’ve been breakfast sandwich shy for the past few weeks since eating the ugly named BagelBelt with it’s equally ugly taste. But eventually I found the courage to visit my local Country Style Donut store (Ontario’s 2nd largest chain of coffee and donut stores) for their morning sandwich, “The SUNRISER”, a 5-layer egg ‘n cheese BLT.

It started out like a replay of the Belt disaster. A precooked egg hockey puck was plucked off the top of a teetering tower of patties along with a few strips of precooked bacon. Both appeared microwaved into submission. Instead of a bagel, this sandwich is held between a freshly toasted and lightly buttered English muffin. With the addition of a few ripped leaves of crispy lettuce and thinly sliced tomato, the sandwich was prepped and ready for the final ingredient, a slice of *real* medium cheddar cheese. I’d expected the standard processed plastic-textured cheese-product so this indicated things were looking better, and maybe headed for a positive review.

Indeed, I enjoyed it. The warm English muffin was good bread, the heated egg and bacon were better than expected, the cheddar was melted slightly, and it gave the sandwich a rich, quality taste. My biggest surprise was the satisfying mouth feel, the taste and texture of this sandwich. The egg was actually juicy! Bacon was nice and salty. Melting cheese mixed with crisp cold lettuce and moist tomato in each bite. Each ingredient tasted good, and together they combined to create something great.

This sandwich has given me the confidence to start reviewing food again knowing that fast-food can be done well. It’s a great breakfast for an affordable price.

Price: $3.29 / Website: CountryStyle.com

Fast Food Critic Score: A

Click here for rating system details.

Nutrition Facts - Country Style Donut Store, Sunriser Sandwich.

Calories - 350
Calories from Fat - n/a
Total Fat - 20 gramsCarbs - 28 grams
Saturated Fat - 9 grams
Trans Fat - 0.3 grams
Cholesterol - 180 milligrams
Sodium - 630 milligrams
Protein - 14 grams