Fast food...
I've probably ranted on this before... but in Baltimore, there's a ton of restraunts, mostly rat-hole-in-the-wall places. Including the 7-11's and McDonalds, because Baltimore is basically a bunch of rat holes glued together by concrete and asphalt. They can be classified in a few categories beyond the usual "casual" or "brewpub" or "coffee house" or "AVOID."
- Locally owned, locally operated, locally founded (Atman's)
- National chain operated like clockwork (Burger King, one Subway)
- National chain operated chaoticaly (McDonalds)
- National chain operated by foreign immigrants who barely speak English, and keeps making mistakes in the order despite making an extraordinary effort to correct them on your part (another Subway)
- Local shop, steriotypical ownership with just enough English to communicate, chaotically run but hammers it each time... and makes the chaos look like a kung fu flick, with expert timing. (Pagoda House, local oriental food place)