[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

I used to love their fish sandwiches. It was a treat growing up, every few weeks Dad would take us to McDonald's - before they had dine-in, there was just a stand-up counter against the front floor-to-ceiling window or an extension of the red and white tile on the side of the building that served as a bench. There was no drive-thru either. It looked a lot like the "1953" photo on this website: Sutori

It was built in 1958, the very first McDonalds in Connecticut, in my hometown of Hamden. My first memories of going there was when I was maybe 6 or 7 years old, so within 10 years of it being built. Burgers were 20 cents, Fishwiches were I think 30 cents.

The fillet-o-fish (we always just called them fishwiches) were definitely bigger, and I'm already accounting for the fact that I was just a little kid so everything "seemed" bigger. Dad would always get an extra small fry for us to share on the way home. We rarely ever ate there, because in the winter there was no place to eat - it really was mostly just a take-out joint, and in the summer it was beset with wasps outside.

Today's fishwich is maybe half the size, and the bun is more air than bread, and the cheese - I can't even deal with that tiny strip that they always place hanging off one end so more than half the sandwich gets none at all.

For almost $6 I want 3 ounces of fish, a full slice of cheese, and a bun that doesn't have a mouth-feel like aerated rubber.

I remember about 20 years ago often going to McDonalds to order a fish sandwich which I felt was healthier than the burgers. The taste seemed pretty good back then for fast food. The bun left a lot to be desired. I can't remember the last time I was at a fast food restaurant, but I sometimes go to Paneras, which I enjoy as the high point of my culinary sophistication. I know that most Villagers ine out often and range far and wide to find the pinnacle of culinary perfection. It seems like almost an obsession with The Villages retired folks, like an expensive hobby.