Fine Dining - Taco Bell Proved Me Wrong (But Not About Everything)

Episode Date: March 12, 2025

After avoiding it for over a decade, I finally stepped back inside a Taco Bell—and I was not ready for what I found. The Baja Blast? Genuinely delicious. The Crunchwrap Supreme? A smart design, poorly executed. The guacamole? It's giving Home Depot. In this episode, comedian & actress Priya Pappu joins me to break down the good, the not good, and everything in between about eating inside a Taco Bell. From its strangely sterile atmosphere to its impressively bad beef portions, we’re analyzing it all to find out if it truly represents fast-food mediocrity. 🎙 IN THIS EPISODE: Does Taco Bell’s food go bad faster than any other fast food? Why the Chalupa was my biggest disappointment Should you trust Taco Bell’s guacamole? (Spoiler: No.) How Taco Bell’s weirdest marketing collabs have kept it relevant Why their kiosks make the dining experience feel less personal 📢 JOIN THE COMMUNITY & SUPPORT THE SHOW: 🔥 Patreon (Exclusive bonus content!): https://www.patreon.com/c/finediningpodcast 💬 Discord (Fast food talk & horror stories!): https://discord.gg/6a2YqrtWV4 🎥 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FineDiningPodcast 🔗 All links: www.linktree.com/finediningpodcast Patreon Producers: Sue Ornelas & Joyce Van 👉 NEXT WEEK: Everything you've ever wanted to know about Dairy Queen Grill & Chill – Will the story of the DQ Blizzard turn your life upside down?

Taco Bell, an exclusive Mountain Dew flavor that actually makes the dew delicious, but the guacamole tasted like building supplies at Home Depot. A crunchy taco so perfect I'll physically fight the haters, but a temperature to quality ratio that negatively impacts your meal. The hexagonal delivery of the Crunchwrap Supreme is architecturally genius, but their stinginess with the beef was egregious. We put our health and our lives on the line to dine at a Taco Bell whose Yelp reviews agree that the beef here is risky at best.

One hour removed from this meal and so far we're holding up. Will fortune continue to smile upon us or has our luck run out? Today we dive into everything good about actually eating inside of a Taco Bell before covering the not good to see if they're in balance in an effort to locate the absolute midpoint of chain restaurant dining. This is the Fine Dining Podcast. Your table is ready, take a seat The flavor of the day is mediocrity Wouldn't you like to try a pie? Guarantee it'll be the perfect pie

Fine dining Better than you thought, worse than you hoped Fine dining We don't treat mediocre as a joke. Breaking every single place we've been. Looking for the perfect five out of ten. Hello and welcome back to the Fine Dining Podcast, the search for the most mediocre restaurant in America.

I'm your host Michael Ornelas and this is the show where I'm looking for the precisely in the middle dining experience, the perfect 5.00 out of 10, because only once you know what's directly in the center can you tell what's good or not good by comparison. Currently the question I ask, is it better or worse than Cracker Barrel, which sits at a 5.01 out of 10 on the fabled tchotchke of mediocrity, the massive scoreboard behind me on the wall. Joining me today to decide Taco Bell's fate once again is actress, comedian, and improviser Priya Papu. Hello.

Hi, Michael. How's it going? Great. How are you? I feel the Taco Bell in me way more now than I did in part one. Okay. You're holding up? A storm is brewing. It's the high wind alert before the Santa Ana winds arrive.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's like the, hey, maybe pack a suitcase. That's where I'm at right now. I'm not evacuating, but I am packed up. Okay. It's so gross. Oh, what did you think I mean? That's where I'm at right now. I'm not evacuating, but I am packed up. Okay, it's so gross. Oh, what did you think I made? Oh, I don't know. I just feel very burpee and like, you know when you eat like a full basket of bread

by yourself or is that not an experience you've ever had? Yeah, no. That's how I feel on the inside right now. And I didn't, I don't think I finished a single item that I ate. I took a lot of bites and I was like, all right, I get the idea. Yeah.

All right, well, we are going to dive into this review of Taco Bell, starting with only talking about everything that was good. Play the jingle. This is the good, done like it should be. The stuff that's faking licking, or stinking the land in. This is the good, I knew that you could. I want to fill out the low end of the tchotchke of mediocrity. I do.

I want to see... Well, you won't be doing it today. I want to see what's at the absolute bottom. And I wanted to go to Taco Bell because at the very least, I thought it would be a suspect to be toward the bottom. And while I will say, I don't love Taco Bell after this experience. But I changed your mind.

I did have a little bit of like- You had a good experience? I had a little bit of a reprieve in, I don't think it's a garbage fire of a place anymore. Then my work here is done. The bar is so low then. I ended up writing more good things than I thought, but you love Taco Bell.

I love Taco Bell. I'm gonna have you start us off. What's your first good thing? As I said, I didn't realize how like emotionally charged it would be until I got there. And I was like, oh, where do I start? You were all tears. I was like, I was in tears.

Yeah, I put my shirt on. I loved walking in there. For audio listeners, she is wearing a Taco Bell shirt. She's not just bragging about, I wore clothes today. I was like, you know, looking at people, giving them like the finger guns. The Spider-Man three. Yeah.

Finger guns. I just, you know, it makes me happy going to Taco Bell because I really love the food. And so I'm like, I get excited to eat it. So I was excited. I've loved it since I was a child. Yeah. I cannot physically walk out the door

without ordering a crunchy taco. Cause I think it's like one of the most perfect fast food bites. Yeah. And I will physically fight anyone that wants to disagree with me. It's not such a basic take. So you got, was yours the beef taco? Yes, I got a regular crunchy taco.

I didn't even get a taco supreme. And I told you this story. I was laughing as I was ordering because I was like, one of my friends had this long running gag where at any party, any house party, he would show up with like a 10 pack of tacos. Yeah. And people would kind of like groan and laugh, but they were always all gone instantly.

Of course. Because it's like the perfect little snack. And everyone loves them. So I ate my whole taco. I loved it. I added some hot sauce, because I also really love all the sauces. They do have a bunch of hot sauces. Yeah. And I like to put on like two sauces per item, really.

Yeah. So did a bunch of that beef cheese lettuce No tomato, right? Yeah, the regular one is you did not go she's in the frame. Yeah, it's just a simple little guy Just a simple little guy. Yeah, I get described often Okay, and if you had to score that out of ten, Oh, I did score it out of 10, and I scored it an 8. Okay. So you think that's a great food item. I think it's a great food item.

All right. And I said this to you too, like, I know we're just supposed to like objectively rate things, but I just can't because I'm going to spend, God, I should have looked at the price. Is it one? Are they one? It's like, it's cheap. Yeah, cheap is a fair. Right. Yeah.

So it's like cheap. And I think what really upsets me when I'm eating is spending money on something, we'll talk about this more later. That doesn't live up to the hype. Yeah, that just like sucks. And I'm like, okay, well, I just spent whatever on this. Like you tricked me.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. And I'm like, no, I know exactly what I'm gonna get. I know I'm gonna be happy. Yeah, value, yeah. And I'm like, no, I know exactly what I'm gonna get. I know I'm gonna be happy. Yeah, value is something that I don't go into much on this show, largely because it's just so, it's so personal to people of like, some people are willing to spend 20 bucks for something that someone else may only deem worthy

of $5 on a principle level, even if they both agree that the food is delicious. So I like to offer up the experience that you're gonna get, and then you decide if you want that price point for it. But my lens is not the only lens to view this through, so I totally respect the value factor being such a heavy thing for a lot of people.

And it comes with the territory of Taco Bell. It is its reputation. I will go ahead and say the lobby of this place was crisp, clean, dare I say high tech to ordering kiosks and their soda machine was like four nozzles for 12 drinks or 16 drinks or something. So it's like, oh, they've got that ability to kind of toggle. That's neat, you know? And adding to that, I made a New Year's resolution for 2025 that I would only drink water for the whole year. And I knew at the start of the year,

one exception I would make would be to try Baja Blast Mountain Dew, which I've never had because I'm not really a Mountain Dew guy. And I've gotta say, Baja Blast Mountain Dew, which I've never had because I'm not really a Mountain Dew guy. And I've gotta say, Baja Blast found a way to make Mountain Dew genuinely delicious. Nice. I love that. Have you had Baja Blast?

So I've had it before. I think I had a Baja Blast cocktail at one of the cantinas, which was fun, because I think I was like, same kind of thing, I have to try this thing. I typically will just get like a Pepsi, or today I had Dr. Pepper. But I love that you loved it. Also, I think this is a great point.

I think one of the things that Taco Bell does expertly well is like the marketing gimmicks. And I think that's like the name of the game in fast food, right? But Taco Bell has done it so well. The Baja Blast, the Doritos Locos Taco, like, oh my God, I hope that they watch this. And they're like, we need to talk to this girl. We have so many collabs.

We've got Cheetos x Taco Bell. We've got Cinnabon x Taco Bell. We've got Priya Papu x Taco Bell. Well, it's like the Baja Blast is like, I don't know if you spend a lot of time on Twitter. It's a meme. It's a meme, yes. Yeah.

Because it's like so funny and it's- That you can only get this one exclusive, but it's genius. Yeah. On both sides, on the Mountain Dew side, on the Taco Bell side. And as someone who genuinely does not care for Mountain Dew, I really liked it.

What did it taste like? It was like tropical, fruity, refreshing. I gave it an eight out of 10. Nice. Which was not expected. Especially the fact that it's a meme. Usually things are memes because they're a little bit trashy.

Yeah. People say like, I'm not really having a Baja Blast right now. Yeah. And it's a corny name, which I love. I love corny names like Kitchy Decor in restaurants. I love that kind of stuff. And so the Baja Blast impressed me. That warms my heart.

Off of very low expectations. Okay, now I'm thinking more about like the overall experience. And I will say like, God, there's probably science and psychology behind how well lit those places are. A lot of natural light here. Yes, you feel like you're walking into like a little, I don't know, just like a breezy little sunroof area. I'm struggling to not say... Your vocabulary just left your body. I don't know, just like a breezy little sunroof area.

I'm struggling to not say- Your vocabulary just left your body. I'm struggling to not say the exact things that I've already said, but it's almost like you're in a sunroom, right? Well, yeah, I mean, it's just a lot of natural light. And you walked in and specifically you- specifically, the burps, they're getting me. You walked in, you pointed out across the street,

and you're like, wow, what a view. Oh yes, let me talk about this. Okay, so I'm from Northern California. Something about the Glendale, like the 134, the view on the 134 with all the hills, I think is the most scenic part of LA besides like the beach, you know. Oh sure, sure, like just when you're driving that freeway.

Yes, I always look for, if I ever get to drive to like Pasadena, I love that. It kind of reminds me of Northern California because LA for the most part is pretty like, geographically speaking, is pretty like want-want. Like it's a pretty ugly city. Okay. But yeah, we walked in and I was like, God, what a beautiful view.

It's a nice view of, dare I say mountains. Is it tall enough to be a mountain? But you know, it's like, it's a range, hills or mountain, whatever you want to call it. It was really nice. I hope you'll post a photo. So I'm sitting there eating some of my favorite food in the world with my best friend in the, like,

with a beautiful view. Looking at a smart final that if you can kind of squint your eyes and not see, beautiful mountains behind it. No, I was happy. I like the view. I have it in the positives as well. I think also, I think the food makes me happy because I have so many happy memories associated with it.

And I was telling you like childhood, late nights in high school and college, super late nights in college and adulthood where I've been out all night. We're like, hey, let's get some tacos. Even times the next morning where I've regretted my decisions the night before, but I'm like, you know what?

Taco Bell is gonna be the cure. I'm gonna get myself a beefy flayer. Literally. I'll get out of bed and I'll be like, all right, I'm gonna go get some Taco Bell and it's gonna be all right. Do you do their breakfast? Oh yeah, their breakfast is good. Okay. I can do a separate episode. I just did the McDonald's breakfast specifically episode. So I think I can at some point down the road do a Taco Bell breakfast episode. See, I think the problem here is that you are wanting to rate things very objectively.

And I get that because of your scale. They all have to fit against each other. I'm trying to compare everything. Cause I'm like, Taco Bell breakfast is good. But if you're getting a fast food breakfast, McDonald's breakfast, you can't touch it. But then it's like, if you're getting a fast food lunch, I would say, if I'm getting, if I'm on the freeway

and I see a sign. Fast food lunch, I'm Popeyes or Wendy's. Ugh. No. Popeyes? Their sandwich is fire. Have you had the Popeyes chicken sandwich? Yes.

I got the Meg the stallion collab. That was Popeyes, right? Okay, yeah, I think so. Women supporting women. Yeah. I'll be honest. I don't specifically love fried chicken. Oh, okay, well then it's just not for you. Yeah, so I'm like, okay, whatever.

You don't have to make a boo boo face over it. Popeyes. Ew. I saw. I would never choose to go to a Popeyes, sorry. Yeah. But I think that's kind of a regional cultural thing. But also if you don't like chicken,

I mean, I prefer Dave's Hot Chicken over Popeyes, and the price point is pretty similar. I say that, and I love hot chicken. I just, yeah. Yeah. All right, what else was good? Let's talk about the sauces. First of all, Hooters has the little wet naps

that come in the little squares, and they have little sayings on them. Taco Bell does that with their sauces. But I don't think like none of these jokes hit. They're not really jokes. They're personality quirks at best. Yeah. But like, I don't know, one of them just says, I do.

And then. Okay, but people use those in their like, engagement. Proposals. Yeah, announcements or whatever, which is funny. No, it's not. If you love Taco Bell. No, it's not. I saw.

You're married, did you do it? Did you use Taco Bell at all in the process? Okay, I swear to God, the first Taco Bell sauce packet I got after I got engaged organically was an I do packet. And I was like, okay, that's special. Calm down. If you love Taco Bell, it's kind of fun.

I don't think it's, yeah, they're not jokes, but I do think it's another really clever marketing thing. That's the thing, I didn't see anything on them that I thought was clever. The only one that was like a little bit like, at least on brand for what it was, was on the Diablo sauce. It was like, we double dare you.

And I'm like, okay, the hottest one, we double dare you. I like that. Well, Diablo is the hottest, right? Yes. There was one that just said, first of all, and I was like, yeah, I love, I say that all the time. No, I hate incomplete sentences. No, you get to fill in the blank while you're there.

With what? Just whatever you're feeling when you're at the top of it, I don't know. I don't like this. I like the attempt at making personality on these packets. It kind of did, none of them delivered. It was kind of like a week late night monologue. Yeah.

Where it was just like, I guess these are jokes, or I guess these are something. You know what I think though? I think that maybe they, yeah, they need someone to either punch up the jokes or they're just meant to be conversation starters. And I think they should just say that plain and simple. Right?

Well, then you know what? I'm gonna stop giving them the air that they so desperately crave. But talking about the sauces in particular, I got four or five, I only tried two. I tried the avocado verde salsa and the Diablo salsa or sauce, I don't know what it's called. I gave them both a seven out of 10.

They both enhanced what I was eating with them. Diablo in specific, I thought was delicious. I know you said you're fine with the heat level, but didn't love the flavor of it. You didn't have it today. I really was impressed how much I liked the Diablo sauce, but also the avocado Verde salsa added a lot. So.

The Diablo one is like a little bit smoky, right? It was just a little bit though. It wasn't overwhelming. See, that's why I don't like it. I think I do notice like I'm the kind of person that if I forget or they forget my hot sauce packets, I will be upset because it does make a difference. And I love spicy food too.

So I need a little like kick, but I don't like the smoky flavor so much. But I love the hot sauce. Yeah. You had the hot level sauce, right? Yeah. Do you have a score for that? I know that's like not its own thing, but like, how much?

It's probably like a seven, because it really is just about having the kick. Like, I mean, otherwise it's like sauce in a packet. And some moisture. Yeah. Yes, yeah. Especially for the Crunchwrap. Yeah.

When you went straight into your Crunchwrap and you were just eating it and you were like, this sucks. I was like, whoa, whoa, whoa. Hold on, hold on, hold on. I didn't say that. And also I have the Crunchwrap Supreme in the good. In the good category. So dial back a little.

Okay. You needed sauce in it. I just took a bite and I said no meat again, which I'll talk to you later. One of my items was very skimped and I got you to corroborate the story. It was more of I was upset about them skimping. Yeah.

I think that the construction of the Crunchwrap, I didn't have it right when it was warm, and I wish I would have. And I will probably go back to a Taco Bell to try it warm. But even as is, they did skimp on beef, but I thought that the construction was phenomenal. This hexagonal-shaped folded tortilla with a hard shell inside, like an inner layer, was so satisfying to bite into, and the veggies did taste fresh.

I went six and a half out of 10. I thought this was a pretty solid good concoction. It is gotta be one of the best things on the menu. And yeah, I mean, it really is. You do kind of have to take like two bites inwards to kind of get that perfect bite that has like the meat and everything, but a delicious item.

Also really good to eat when you're driving if you need to do that. I can see it, because I expected spillout and there wasn't much. Everything stayed in it and I wonder if that was a specific to the hexagon thing, where just something about the structure of it holds stuff in a certain way. But genuinely, I thought it was like a cool little compact thing. Yeah, the innovation is there. Like they are, I would love what I wouldn't give

to spend an afternoon in like the test lab. The R&D center, and then you can do some work. Yeah. I love the beefy five layer burrito. I ordered one today. It's another delicious bite. To be fair, it kind of is like a tube full of slop, but it usually hits the spot. You could describe any Taco Bell item as a tube full of slop.

That's true. And that is part of why I look down on it. Yeah. It's kind of just like different configurations. It's prison food. Rolled up and served. Yeah. But man, a hot beefy five layer burrito when you really need it, it's kind of like a hug. I'm giving it a seven, the beefy five layer burrito because I always order it and I always enjoy it.

I will say the minute that it sat for a second and got cold, the- The fall off. Yeah. It was sharp, yeah. Yeah. Okay. So that is everything for the good for me and for you. So now we get to be a little bit negative, which I won't say it pleases me to get to do, but I will say

you've been waiting all day. I will say with Taco Bell, I expected this list to be long. And I'm going to be honest, it's not as long as I thought it would be. So play the jingle for the not good. Okay, forced kiosk ordering always bothers me as someone who likes the the face to face human interaction, the ability to ask questions, the idea to emphasize like, hey, please recognize I don't want cheese. I will like I will send it back. If it has cheese, can you please make this again with no cheese?

So just being able to verbalize that instead of typing it into machine gives me a step of assurance, I think. Yeah, I would agree. I was surprised. This was the first Taco Bell I've ever been into that had only kiosks. Sometimes there's one kiosk,

but there's also like counter service. When is the last time you ate at a Taco Bell versus drove through? Oh, I typically drive through. Right. I would imagine. I guess that's not special. No, I think it's been a while.

I wonder if there, is that all California Taco Bells are doing that maybe? I mean, this is the first Taco Bell I've been to in a decade. But like McDonald's also same thing, big kiosk, the one like there's a McDonald's right down the street from that Taco Bell. But can you still order the counter if you want to?

No. Oh wow. I don't know, there's still people employed that are working in the back though, so I don't really know from a business standpoint. They're food runners. Yeah. When the food's right, they prep it and then they hand it off to you and if you have a problem, I guess you can get their attention, but they don't hang out at the front desk. They go to the back when they're done. I used to love, you know what's funny? The Taco Bell by my house where I used to live in Nashville, I would laugh because honestly,

the people working there were part of the reason I liked it so much. Because they would sometimes forget things in my order, different things would happen, but I was like, but the people that work there are so nice and they always make me laugh just because of their own cute little personalities. They would always say something funny to me.

I was like, I can't even be mad because like I'd come up to the window, you know, looking like garbage or whatever. And they would be like, hey girl, have a great day or you know, whatever. Like it always made me happy. And I'm just realizing that. Like in a you need it kind of way?

No, just like in a funny, like they were just funny or they'd be like, oh, I'm having like a day. And I was like, I feel you, like, you know, do whatever you need to do. And I'm just now remembering that. So yeah, there's something about the personal aspect of it. I love it, I love it. I love a rapport with a waiter.

Yeah. Like, look, I've said this so many times on the podcast. I like to be able to make a dumb joke to break up the monotony of their day because I recognize that they are just having impersonal interaction after impersonal interaction after impersonal interaction. So to be able to make one thing where they're like, hey, this guy today said this one funny thing and I thought it was whatever.

I like to offer that, but also I like to partake in that. Also, to be fair, like, yeah, definitely. And I sometimes think that even if you don't make it, what I'm sure is a hilarious joke, sometimes I think just being pleasant, because I know for me, I work in restaurants, when people are just pleasant to me, I'm like, thank you. Because yeah, maybe I was having a shitty day or whatever.

But I think even if you, it's funny, you were saying earlier, I'll chat with my Uber driver. I'm kind of like 50-50, sometimes I want to talk, sometimes I don't, but I'll chat with my Uber driver. I'm kind of like 50-50, like, sometimes I wanna talk, sometimes I don't, but I do just appreciate, like, the human interaction. And I think it just reminds me that, like, we're all just humans, we're all doing our best,

we're all, like, you know, working hard. Well, it also goes so far to cover for bad service. I've had so many bad service experiences that I didn't feel any emotion about because the server was just communicative. They were literally just able to say, hey, I'm so sorry, we're smart. Or it just humanizes on both ends. Just tell me what's up.

Don't ignore me for 20 minutes and then finally get to me and then be flustered when I'm annoyed. Yeah. You know, just come over right as you see me sit down and be like, hey, it might be 15 minutes before I come. I'll be like, cool. Now that I know that I can be on Reddit for 15 minutes instead of trying to figure out what am I doing with my body language that's making them ignore me? The talk about on Gallatin Road that I always used to go to, they would always forget something in my order,

but I could never be mad because I was like, they're nice about it. They're so nice. I'm rooting for that guy. Like, whoever, like, what a nice guy. Yeah. So, yeah, all this to say, not a fan of forced kiosk ordering. I don't like it when it's the only option. That's the layout of the machine. I thought it was pretty easy to navigate the menus personally. Did they have the menus up above the counter then?

They had like a couple choice items that they were advertising, but no, they did not have a full menu of them. Okay, see now I'm realizing it was a lot harder for me to order through the kiosk, because I was like, I need to look at every item, which harder for me to order through the kiosk, because I was like, I need to look at every item, which I feel like is harder on the kiosk.

I agree. And just having, you know. I'll go so far as to put that in a not good category. And I didn't even recognize it until you said it, but yeah, being able to see a full menu laid out instead of having to go tab by tab. And especially when you have something like, get a box, a Lux box, I think is what they

call it. And you can get one that has two items, you can get one that has three items plus a side plus the cinnamon twist or whatever it is. But some of the items are swappable, some of them are not. Like I started off trying to get one because I was like, oh, I want to get three things. I want to get the crunch wrap. I want to get the chalupa and I want to get the soft taco with potatoes. And there was no substitution policy. I didn't realize that they were set items in those boxes.

Yeah. I thought it was just like any three entrees or whatever it is. So that was an on-the-go learning experience where I did have to make up an order and then delete items and re-approach it from a different angle, go more a la carte, which also makes it more expensive.

So, yeah. Anyways, now I want to talk about the chalupa. The chalupa. First of all, fun little fact. The word chalupa comes from the word shallop, which means a small sailboat, and it's because of the boat-like shape of the shell of a chalupa. I learned that. That is so cute. Wait, did Taco Bell invent the word chalupa?

No. But it is adorable. And just the notion of like the texture of this hard shell, not a normal hard shell taco, but like a little bit crispier almost appealed to me so much. The chalupa was the thing I was looking forward to trying the most. I've never had one before. I got the beef chalupa, came with lettuce and onion and maybe tomato. I don't remember, but I opened it up and it was basically 90% lettuce and almost no beef to the point that like, you know, the Wendy's slogan, where's the beef?

This is where I feel like it had to have come from, even though it isn't. This was an insanely small amount of beef. Like this was like someone put some in and was like, nah, that's too much and scraped it out. There's no way one spoonful turned into how little I got. They were like, we can't give him all of that. Yeah.

Okay, but how was it when you took a bite? Disappointing. Okay, yeah. Disappointing as hell because it was all chalupa shell and lettuce, so little beef flavor. I hated it. I was so excited about the shell too. And it tasted like, you know when you get,

when you're like a kid and like seat belts are like at face level. And you like bite it or something and you like taste what seat belt tastes like. That's what their shell tasted like. It was like a little bit metallic. You got a bad one. No, they did not have a good showing.

It was metallic, oh well. Yeah, so yeah, I'm gonna go three and a half out of 10 on the Chalupa. First, don't skimp on the beef, come on. Like, I'm gonna put a video, you guys will see how little beef this is. This isn't me being an unreasonable complainer. This is like 8% of the total volume of this item.

Maybe was beef, maybe even less, maybe 5%. I'm realizing now that as far as like fast food that gets cold, like Taco Bell has a very sharp drop off because I was sitting there thinking like, when I eat a cold McDonald's hamburger, it's still pretty good. If I have to eat cold nuggets, they're still pretty good. Eating this food cold. Cold McDonald's fries though are like,

cause they need that crisp. They need the texture. My cold beefy five layer burrito, I was like, I think I'm good here. So, but when it's hot, it's so good. Now, one thing that I am shocked they dropped the ball on, I got chips and guac. And this guacamole,

you said this definitely came from a tube. I don't want it to come from a tube. I want it to come from an avocado. Sure, but I'll also take it back. I think that it's crazy that you ordered chips and guac at Taco Bell because that's so strange to me. It's Mexican. Yeah, but like I would never.

From Glen Bell. I would never go to Taco Bell to eat guacamole because clearly it comes from a tube. I had to know. And you know what it tasted like? Drywall. Yeah, no, it wasn't good. It was like, it didn't even taste like avocados really. It tasted like paste. And it was like, it had like a sheen on it.

It was like reflective in a way that guacamole shouldn't be. I will say it was not good, but I will also say I would never have ordered that. So. They put it on their menu. It is a valid thing to judge them by. If it's not good, take it off the menu

because like they have to just have that in the kitchen, just waiting for people to order it. They never do. So who knows when or where that was from like as a topping and as a dip, two out of 10. Yeah. Two out of 10 for this guac. It was bad.

It was bad. It was bad. Something else, not good. So I ordered a Mexican pizza, which they recently just brought back on the menu. And I was excited, people were excited. I just think they're not very good. And I had a bite of it when it was hot.

I had a bite of it as it got colder. I just think they're very saucy. They also kind of just like slide around a lot. Yeah, it did not look like it had structural integrity. No. Like it's just, yeah, it's kind of like layers of sauce. It's sliding. I don't really care for the crust.

Taco Bell is slop. Taco Bell is slop. In almost every metric. And it's sometimes delicious slop. But it is slop. And this looked like slop in a box. Yeah, I didn't really care for it. I don't think I'll be ordering it again,

especially because they're about $5, which goes a long way in fast food. So not my favorite. Yeah. Yeah, what else? Yeah, we already talked about it. I didn't like the impersonal nature of the service setup. I didn't like that it was kind of designed

to discourage you from eating in. The tables were really small. And it was very, the dining room was very small as a whole. Like I wonder if it was an older one because it felt very small in there. But even, I feel like a lot of these big chains do renovate frequently enough to uphold a brand image that if one is outdated,

it does end up getting that facelift. So I do think it was like a deliberate change to make things a little bit harder to stay there longer. I guess one thing to consider though, is they did have a good amount of outdoor seating. No one was sitting outside because of the air quality, but like they probably just assumed that if you're in California, you will just sit outside.

That is true. I wanted to and then I was like, actually, no. But yeah, because when we walked in there, it was full in there. Yeah, that's all for me for the not good. Cinnamon twists, also not good. I never order those. They came with the box.

Yeah. Would never order them again. It was basically like a little piece of styrofoam with cinnamon on it. Do you have a score? Oh, I think it said four. Oh, sorry my Mexican pizza also a four. I won't order that again. Yeah and Cinnamon twists also four which I'm like, that's the thing like did I still eat three slices of the Mexican pizza? Absolutely I did. Yeah, so it was just kind of like meh Yeah, overall, I'm gonna give the service one thumb down. And it's not that the team was doing anything.

It's more that the setup I just like. The atmosphere of the place, I'm gonna go thumbs in the middle on that. And I think the food for me ultimately is one thumb down. I expected two thumbs down. So one thumb down is okay for me. Before we go into the just there for those three categories,

atmosphere, service, and food, would you go thumbs up, thumbs down? For food, thumbs up. I still love it. Two, one thumb, how many? Come on, we're comparing it against all meals you've ever had in your life. I'm gonna give it one thumbs up.

And I have to say, today changed some things for me. Well, like your innards are different. I'm gonna give it one thumbs up. I'm still a fan. I'm sure I will always be a fan. Service? Service, I'm gonna give like a thumbs in the middle. Yeah, it wasn't so bad that it would ever keep me from going.

Also, if you go to the drive-through, totally fine. Yeah, I was gonna say, I'm sure it's a different experience and way more customer-facing. And again, like you never, I never go to a fast food place to specifically sit inside unless it's out of necessity. And I, like you never, I never go to a fast food place to specifically sit inside unless it's out of necessity. And I've done it so many times and it's so odd. Yeah, well because it's like, what are you expecting?

Yeah, so, but no, it was very cramped in there and the kiosk thing was not my favorite. So atmosphere. Oh, I'm gonna give atmosphere like a middle to down thumb. Middle to down thumb. Okay, yeah, I'm about the same. Okay, cool. thumb. Middle to down thumb. Okay. Yeah. I'm about the same. Okay, cool.

Now we'll just go into all the neutral things, play the jingle for everything that was just there. This is a weird one. I'm not quite sure what to say about it. Yeah. This is for the stuff that is just there So I got a spicy potato taco softshell taco This is one that just looked and sounded good to me. It was kind of like almost like home fries a little bit

And by the time I had it, it had cooled off a little bit, but the potatoes were still warm. But all the other ingredients were just by nature, cold, the lettuce, the onion and the tomato. Uh, and just that mix of temperature. It's kind of like pick one, but at the same time, I don't want hot lettuce. So I don't know what the answer is here, but I do notice that difference and it feels inconsistent and makes me, uh me not love it as much as maybe I could. That said, it didn't taste bad.

It did taste fresh. And when I added the Diablo sauce, I actually enjoyed it quite a bit on the whole. I'm going to go four and a half out of 10. So still middling to me. But it was one that that let me down. I guess I thought spicy and potato. That'll be delicious together. OK, so here's a development I didn't expect.

I've been back to Taco Bell three times since recording this episode just because I wanted this spicy potato soft taco again. And what I realized is when I went for the episode, they left off the Chipotle sauce, like the spicy mayo ask or whatever it is that goes inside and it is good. So this should not be getting as low of a score as I gave it in the episode on repeat visits. It gets an eight out of ten. So the spicy potato taco can get it. It is the best thing that I had of all the things that I ate at Taco Bell.

And I wanted to admit that. And the potato pieces were they like kind of like French fries? They were like home fries. They were like little or like breakfast potatoes. Got it. The way you'd like dice them up and- Okay. I've never had that before. Yeah. I give it a soft recommend. I would eat it immediately if I were you because of that I as I said, I am

Fairly low maintenance when it comes to food The one thing I do care about is food temperature because and only because it makes food taste so much better Basically anything like I'm the kind of person I'll sit down to eat I'll get up and I'll reheat my food only because like it makes it taste so much better Yeah, and talk about I feel like feel like is the best example of this. Have I put Taco Bell in the microwave before? Yes, I have. Taco Bell puts Taco Bell in the microwave.

You're not doing anything different than the restaurant. I just mean I'll reheat it when I get home because I'm like, and it makes it taste so much better. Yeah. Okay, for me, in just there is the Cinnamon Twists. I remember these from my childhood and they would come with the box, and my dad would order a box, and I'd be like,

get me one taco, and can I have your cinnamon twists? And I'd get them, and I remember them being hotter and crisper and fresher, and it just seems like somewhere along the way the recipe has changed. They're still very wispy. They don't have a rich flavor. It's very empty feeling. I agree.

It was almost like styrofoamy. Like it was just kind of. The taste was just like not right. And even the cinnamon itself tasted a little, not like it had gone bad. That's not a thing that really happens with cinnamon, but it did taste a little off. It left me with an aftertaste that seemed unfamiliar

given what the food item is. I went five and a half out of 10, still slightly above average, but enough for me to just say, it's just there, it's whatever. I don't need it. I would eat them again, gun to my head, but I don't need them.

The chips on their own were fine. The guac is what really brought them down. Chips or chips? Five out of 10. I have to say in my entire life, I don't think I've ever ordered chips at Taco Bell. It just would have never occurred to me. That just seems like the de facto side

that you get at a fast food Mexican place. You try their chips and salsa or their chips and guac. It's just what you do. I don't know. I just always think like- You may not get sides. Like it seems like you just don't get sides. You got a bunch of entrees and then the cinnamon twists. I think that's it. I think I just don't know. I just always think like you may not get sides Like it seems like you just don't get side. You got it. You got a bunch of entrees and then the cinnamon twist I think that's it. I think I just don't order sides cuz I'm like I'm getting tacos. Yeah, I'm getting crunchy tacos

I'm getting soft tacos potentially. I always want to get something from each category of the menu So if they have sides, I want to try a side chips and guac seemed like the most distinct from the other things I had ordered. So that's why that's a good point why I got got that, because I'm not going to get the nacho fries because I don't eat cheese. That reminds me. Somebody in a Yelp review mentioned that like nachos were the where can I get nachos except Taco Bell? I was like literally anywhere else. I would order nachos from before I went to Taco Bell.

That's the thing. I love a good like nachos at like a, you know, a bar or whatever. Not at Taco Bell. That's the good thing. I love a good nachos at a bar or whatever. Not at Taco Bell. I wouldn't know. Here's the thing. Everyone needs to just ask me what to order and I will tell you, there are four things that you should order.

They are delicious. They never miss. And if you stick to that, you will love Taco Bell as much as I do. Crunchy taco, Crunchwrap Supreme. Beefy five layer burrito, soft taco if you're feeling wild. That's about it.

And then the other thing I want to bring up, Cinnabon is just a slut with co-branding. They have items that in the past have popped up at TGI Fridays, at Applebee's, at Pizza Hut, at Subway, and now there's a Cinnabon coffee. at Applebee's, at Pizza Hut, at Subway. And now there's a Cinnabon coffee. And I'm just like, how? There's also a lot of Cinnabon,

like they've done like makeup collabs too. That's crazy. But the coffee at Taco Bell specifically. I was just like, at some point, just say you're putting cinnamon in. Not everything needs to have that cinnamon. And I love a Cinnabon, but calm down. This is like when you find out,

like you have that one friend from high school and you're like, they have how many kids? They have eight kids? They're out of control. Slow down. You're gonna forget their names. I think it's just a smart marketing decision. I don't know.

Get that name and that trademark out wherever it can be. It's too much. Anyways, that for me is everything that's just there. Do you have anything else that was just there about that dining experience? It did seem very just like stripped down and devoid of personality. And I think the kiosk thing is part of that.

And this is where I'm like, I want something. When you think back of what the old Taco Bell used to be and it made a choice. Am I allowed to talk about this now? Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Like if you look at a retro Taco Bell with that like pastel ombre, like coloring,

the boots and like, that was a whole other thing. And I think that they modernized it so much that it like lost personality. And I think that they modernized it so much that it lost personality. And I think they assumed people were tired of the old thing because they probably aged enough to where it's like, oh, we need to replace the upholstery, let's redesign. And it's like, no, no, no, don't redesign, just freshen.

Yeah, because this is more modernized, I guess. But now that I'm realizing, I walked in and there was nothing, not even a person to interact with. Nothing flavorful, like from a personality standpoint. Really not a lot of color. I feel like Taco Bell was like known for their like, you know, purple. Bright. Yeah, like.

And it's still on the sign outside, but once you go inside, that theme kind of leaves other than these like, you know, bright yellow, bright purple. And I think there was like a green print or painting or whatever it was on the wall. But again, they're of things that just don't mean anything so they don't stick with you. And the vast majority is just like almost sanitary, medical surfaces.

And it's just like, am I supposed to put on the thing where the- A lab coat? No, when you're at the doctor's office, like the paper sheet that covers you and like your butt sticking out and back. Yeah, I'm like, am I supposed to wear that in here? Like, I feel like I'm about to get like, because there are some restaurants, I feel like I would

be like, okay, whatever. But Taco Bell, I almost feel like Taco Bell has like a personality. And so I want to like feel that when I'm walking in the restaurant doesn't match the marketing. Well, I just feel like in my mind, I'm like, oh, like this is the Taco Bell personality, just because it's been a thing, like for as long as I've been alive, you know? And I did not feel that personality. I did not interact with that personality today.

It wasn't there. It wasn't there. Okay, well, we need to put all of these factors together into a numeric rating, so that Taco Bell can go up on the tchotchke of mediocrity. But before I do that, Priya, this is your first time on the Fine Dining Podcast. You haven't been to, this is now my 96th restaurant that I've gone to. I'm very calibrated. I know how to rate Taco Bell against the places I've been to.

You are calibrated. I will say that. You are not. This was very hard for me. So to that point, I need you to define your low end and your high end. So I'm going to stop at the calibration station. ["Calibration Station Theme Song"] Calibration station

Comparing this needle to the best or the worst Calibration station Chugga, chugga, chugga, chugga, choo-choo So Priya, the way this is gonna work,, I'm going to ask you to calibrate your scale by telling me about the worst dining experience you've ever had and the best so that we know what your zero and 10 are. And then Taco Bell will fall somewhere on the spectrum in between those. Start with whichever one you like.

Don't feel like you need to have like a crazy story, but if you do, I'll hear it. But like, don't feel pressured to be like, I have to talk for five minutes. If this is 30 seconds, it's fine. I thought long and hard about this. And at the risk of sounding like an asshole, I think to me, what makes the Diney experience bad is spending money on something that is just not good and you feel like you've been kind of like tricked

or taken advantage of. And like where it had the potential to be so much more. So like, for example, I think this can happen a lot when you're traveling. Like if you're like, okay, I'm just gonna go to this place and then it sucks. So I'm gonna say for me, my worst dining experience was, I went to Italy and the first meal that I had there was, cause it was like late at night, it was like the hotel.

It was Taco Bell in Italy. Oh my God. With horse meat. I was in Milan and it was like on my way to like my rest of my trip. So it was like in the hotel restaurant in Milan. Yeah. And I think, and the food was like not good.

I'm sure that it wasn't cheap and it was like pasta. But I was, it was just like knowing that I had spent the money on it and I was there and I was like, and the entire country of Italy is like outside waiting for me and I'm like eating this meal. In a hotel. Yes. Yeah. Hotel food is always a risk. Yeah. Because it's just not their primary business. Their primary business is shelter. Yeah. Because it's just not their primary business. Their primary business is shelter. Yeah.

If you want to be more sure or more likely to have a great meal, go to a restaurant and a restaurant alone. Yeah. I think. Because then it's like, okay, I should have just eaten like the granola bar in my purse at this point and like try it again tomorrow.

Yeah. But I think like. What do you remember? What about it made the pasta so bad? I just think it wasn't good. And I think it was more just feeling like I had been like. Like the head space of I'm in Italy, all the pasta should be amazing.

Yes, yes. That's what makes the dining experience bad to me. Cause like I was trying to think, I was like, I can't think of a time that I've ever had like bad fast food because at the end of the day, I'm spending $5 on something like whatever, I can't think of a time that I've ever had like bad fast food because at the end of the day, I'm spending $5 on something like whatever, I'll forget about it. That doesn't bother me.

Have you ever had like a really bad experience at a restaurant because of the service or the company you were with or something that happened or that you witnessed or not? Nothing that sticks out really in my mind. Cause I think for me, it's more about like, but when I'm describing this kind of story, it's happened to me multiple times.

Cause that's what really gets me is I'm like, I spent a lot of money on this. And it's just devastating to not live up to it. Yeah, like it's not what I expected. Otherwise if I go to somewhere else and I have bad service or whatever, it's kind of like, okay, well, whatever. Yeah.

Okay, and then your best restaurant experience, your 10th, would you not say Taco Bell? No, no. And then my best, okay. I love a small plate wine pairing experience. I love small plates because I'm the kind of person that when I go to a restaurant, like I wanna order everything on the menu.

Like I just wanna try it all. I wanna try like one bite of everything. So small plates are a great way to kind of do that. And then wine pairing, I love wine. I don't really know a lot about it for real, but when someone like professionally pairs things with wine. Who's like, hey, this brings out this and all that.

Yes. Yeah. I just think it's such a cool experience. I also like love wine and it's true. Like it is amazing when it's like paired correctly. So went to this restaurant in Whitefish, Montana, called Cafe Canda Heart. This was a special occasion, really small restaurant. It was in the Whitefish Lodge,

which is a beautiful historic hotel. Another hotel meal. Yeah, right? Isn't that funny? I didn't even think about that. You're best and you're worst. Literally, the full opposite. Yeah, because this is a place that I had like, I had even like researched it. I had to call and get on a waiting list.

I think there were like eight tables or maybe less, reserve months in advance. And then had a really special dinner that had wine pairings. And all of the courses were seasonal and also kind of had like a local flair to them. Like we had trout something, cause you're in Montana. And then I remember specifically,

I could care less about presentation. Like I am not a person that's like, oh, like- Certainly when I prepare food, presentation is a 0% factor for my own meals. Even when I've like, I've, you know, I've gone to some nice places before. I never remember presentation. I'll say this. I like it when it's cool. I don't care some nice places before. I never remember presentation. I'll say this.

I like it when it's cool. I don't care if it's not. Well, I don't really care. And I also, to be honest, I don't find it memorable. And that's why this is like one of the instances that I can remember, which is why I think it was so special. One of the dishes was, it had like wildflowers all over it because it was wildflower season, they're beautiful.

It had like wildflowers placed on it and it was so pretty and I love flowers obviously. And I like took a picture and I was like, this is so cool. So I think to me, the fact that I remember how this plate looked makes it really special. So that's gonna be my best. You really special. Yeah. So that's going to be my best. You're 10. Yes.

All right. Somewhere between shitty pasta at a hotel in Italy and wonderful small plates at a hotel in Montana lies today's lunch at Taco Bell. So we're going to hear all about it as we give it a final rating. Final score, final score, final score. Final rating. Final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, final score, Priya, we've talked a lot about every... We've talked a lot about every... Every possible...

Aspect... Taco Bell on a 10-point scale to two decimal points. How does it fall for you? Yes, Michael, thank you so much for asking. I'm giving Taco Bell a 6.25. So 6.25... Yeah, what are all the factors that lead you to calling it good over mediocre over,

because like, yeah, I don't know. Small tables, weird kiosk forced thing, food cooled off, bathrooms that didn't impress, only a few items that really hit for you. You're really editorializing here. I'm just curious. I think... You're rating set in stone.

Yeah. I'm not changing it, but I just wanna understand. Not only is it set in stone, I tattooed it on my body. Prove it, unless it's like, you can't. But where would you get a Taco Bell tattoo? Would you commit to a back tattoo of the OG Taco Bell logo just right across your shoulder blades?

The logo is pretty cute. Yeah. A little bell. Little bell, like right behind the ear, or one of those inner lip tattoos. No, it'd probably be like on my lower back. I would get a little taco. You know, I'm giving it a 6.25

because the truth is I just really like the food. Yeah. And if I'm driving, that's where I'm stopping. If I'm... Is it your like legit go-to? Yeah, and I do... There's not a rotation? There is, actually. Yeah.

I like McDonald's a lot too, but it's pretty much one of the two. Interesting. Like, and when I haven't had Taco Bell in a while, like today, I was- I get mad. No, I was excited. I was excited.

I was like, I'm gonna eat some food that I love. Yeah. That crunchy taco. You know what? Throughout my life, a lot of things have changed, okay? Presidents, partners, climate. One thing that hasn't changed, that crunchy taco. I have loved it since I was a child, and I love it today.

And it made me happy to eat it today. I believe that. That to me feels like a, okay, a passionate validation of your own score, I accept. Yeah. I did not have the same experience as you. I do not have the same nostalgia for Taco Bell. What I will say is while I expected an experience

that I would call on par with White Castle, it did not give me, it did not give me that. A one? I expected a bad experience. And what I got was a less than average experience that was fine and manageable. Okay, give me the numbers. So for me, Taco Bell, first of all, an average experience that was fine and manageable. Okay. Give me the numbers.

So for me, Taco Bell, first of all, the food does go bad too quickly. Not go bad, but underwhelm too quickly. This lobby ain't sexy. There's nothing about this. I'm like, yeah. Oh man. My third highest ranked restaurant is Casa Bonita, which are you familiar with Casa Bonita? Yes, but can I, I can't, I wouldn't, I can't, you,

your whole podcast is about comparing these two. I cannot compare these two. It's an experience. I would want to hang out there. I don't want to hang out at Taco Bell. But yet that is what we're rating. Okay. That is what the thing is,

is what is it like to eat at Taco Bell? Not what is it like to eat Taco Bell's food, but what is this whole... Okay, that's fair. What is this whole brand offer? And for them, it is the food, and most fast food places is just the food. They're not putting a lot of thought to the experience, but this show is about the experience. So, for me, it's quite a bit lower. That said, Baja Blast put Taco Bell on its back and climbed out

from the depths and got at least partway up Everest. Our Father who art in heaven, Baha be thy blast. 3.41. Yeah. 3.41, I think, is so much higher than I thought this was gonna get. Below Sizzler. Below Sizzler, but that's a sit down restaurant. I love that all the fast food restaurants

are higher than this. Well, I love, I mean, that's crazy. No, but that's my score. Okay. It's score here will be the average of the two. Oh, thank God. Okay. So when we put your score with my score, Taco Bell goes up on the charge of mediocrity at a 4.83. Okay.

That's fair. Yeah. It tied an entire food court. The Burbank town center food court also scored a 4.83. So Taco Bell is carrying the weight of six food court restaurants. Because of my nostalgia and my emotional pull, literally. Because of you.

I do think it should be lower, but that's not how this show works. This is a democracy and you're, because I am a feminist, equality. Our scores factor in equally. That said Taco Bell is underneath a 5.001, which means it is officially less than mediocre. ["Less Than Mediocre"] That's that mediocre, not quite as good as Cracker Barrel. And what that also means is Taco Bell was not the perfect five point

double zero out of ten, which means this search needs to keep going. I need to go somewhere next week to see if I can find the perfect five point double zero, because I need to know what is week to see if I can find the perfect 5.00 because I need to know what is that litmus test against which all things can be compared to determine if they are good or not good. So I am going to turn to the You Must Bowl. The You Must Bowl is a bowl full of restaurants

that I will draw from to determine where I go next week. Do you want me to draw for you? No. Oh, oh. Priya. Oh, okay, interesting. Tradition must be honored. Is that what it is?

Next week, I will be going to Dairy Queen Grill and Chill. Priya, thank you so much for coming onto the Fine Dining Podcast and joining me to review your personal baby, Taco Bell. I hope it was as fun for you as it was for me. Actually, what I called it was one of the great passions of my life, and you are so welcome.

Thank you so much for having me. It was really fun. Also, it warms my heart that you had a better experience than you thought. That's all I can ask for. I will say markedly so. I expected to hate the food, and at worst, I was like, -"Hey, I don't love this." -"Hate the food. Never speak to me again." Well, that's happening regardless, but that's on your end.

I've already seen you block my number in your phone. He hates women. No, no, no. It's the other way around. Will you go back before it's been 10 years again? Probably. Okay. I am curious about what a hot crunch wrap is like. Oh, it's so good.

And look, if they do a salsa verde Doritos Locos taco, I'm there opening day. That's a great idea. I'm there opening day. Tell people where they can find you on social media. Yes, you can find me on Instagram at queen underscore pre underscore. That's P.R.I. And that's the best way to stay on top of shows and whatever else I'm up to.

Yeah, P.R.I. as in Priya, not as in pre-workout routine. Eating Taco Bell, that's my pre-workout routine. I do believe it. That's a great way to just... I do believe it, to just get amped. Awesome, well, you can follow me on social media at Fine Dining Podcast on Instagram, TikTok, and Blue Sky. Come interact with me there.

I now have a Discord, so come find me on my website, join that server, we'll have some fun chats, and I'll figure out, I'm very open to suggestions, so if there's other cool things that Discord's capable of that you want to see me do, tell me and I'm here for it. We did not find the most mediocre restaurant in America. The search does in fact continue. I'll see you next time.

Have a fine day. The search continues. We still need the perfect file. Have a fine day! Mother rep and search continues, Raddison iTunes reviews. And hey, while you're at it, why don't you go ahead and make it five stars, huh? Come on. Follow us on TikTok, the same on Instagram,

all the socials, at Find Dining Podcast. We have a website, finddiningpodcast.com. Buy our t-shirts, then put them on. And don't forget, you can always suggest where we go next. OKAY! We're going to find it! Mediocrity!

The search continues! See you next week! Cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough-PHAVE AVE AVE AVE AVE AVE A