Could it possibly be true? Was there any chance that I wasn't going to go and find out? At 8.20am Patrick, Dana, Sara (Dana's mum) and I were waiting in line at our local franchise. Freshly baked donut holes were handed out to the waiting crowds as the manager flitted up and down the line taking names and party numbers.
We arrived just at the right time and watched smugly from our booth as the line steadily grew. Soon breakfast arrive - eggs, bacon, sausages, pancakes, whipped butter, enough syrup to drown a hippo...we ordered water to drink (for free!) and tucked in.
How were they going to make money? Aside from the minuscule amount recouped on coffee and orange juice, it was noticeable how friendly all the waiting staff were. Maybe this is what it's like every day (one waitress saw our cameras and offered to take a photo! "That looks beautiful!" she gushed) but my suspicion is that the whole stunt was to get people through the door, sat down, and thinking "hey, Denny's isn't quite as bad as I remember..."
Was the food good? Who can tell when it's free?! But maybe next time I'm on the road and hungry I'll pop in. Then we'll see what the eggs and the waiting staff are really like.
The early bird catches the pancake.
Security was extremely tight. And quite old.
In position and ready...
...while the line outside grows.
Patrick showed me that my new camera can do this strange black and white/colour substitution thing. We played while waiting for food:
Cool, eh?
A lot of media interest. Or were they just there for the free food like everyone else?
Fake maple syrup, the best!
Before.
After.
And here's the proof! We tipped over 20%.
Some people are never satisfied.
