By Kathleen McLean
FB: @kathleenmclean
Sunday funday, the day I had been looking forward to all week was finally here. I had been seeing the Crack Shack posts for months on Instagram and my friends, and I decided to celebrate a birthday there.
At first glance, I had thought the long line in front was for take out. Upon entering the establishment, I had realized they had a unique system. The customers immediately get in line to order food off the wall menu, from there you receive a number.
As I got in line with everyone else, I started to panic. What if I ordered the five piece fried chicken and didn’t have a place to sit? Or worse what if there were only seats for two of the four people we were with? This whole situation freaked me out. I decided on the Coop Deville sandwich; I figured if my worst case scenario came true and I was without a seat I could stand and eat a sandwich, which I loathe having to stand up while I eat. My anxiety was warranted, and I would find it hard to believe other people didn’t feel the same way. I just wasn’t expecting what I got. In my mind, I would be met at the door by a hostess whom would lead my friends and I to a table then we would order our meal. I don’t feel this anxiety when I go to a fast food place because I know what to expect. This environment hit me sideways.
Finally, I had reached a threshold of nervousness I hadn’t reached since having to walk across a stage to receive my diploma. I couldn’t take it anymore. I handed my friend a $20 told them what I wanted to set out to snag a table for four. It only took a few minutes before I was able to stake my claim. Once seated I started to feel a sense of calm. I decided at that point I needed a drink. But, I couldn’t just hop up and go to the bar, what if someone stole my table? Once my friends sat down, I ordered a Bloody Mary. They had a great picture online, and it was my first drink of the day. It wasn’t amazing. It was actually below average. My Bloody Mary looked nothing like the picture online. I’ve made better at my house.
The staff was super friendly, and once our waiter, if that’s what he was, brought our food I was thrilled with the way my sandwich and fries looked. I took my first bite, and it was decent. Meh, ok. Nothing to rave about. Crispy Fried Chicken on El Cajon Blvd has better fried chicken. I’m not saying it was bad, but, it didn’t immediately strike me as a place I just HAD to get back to order this sandwich. The french fries, on the other hand, were FANTASTIC! The best fries hands down.
This was not the place I thought it was going to be. I can’t say it was horrible or anything because the service was great. However, I don’t feel the need ever to go back. I went, I ate, and I’ll go somewhere else next Sunday.
