Second guest review: My dad on food court items

Two years ago, in honor of Father’s Day, I asked my dad to write a guest post for the blog (because, really, is there any better way to celebrate someone than by asking them to do extra work???). He wrote a review of the packaged corned beef (Happy Father’s Day and first guest product review: Meal Mart Corned Beef).

This year, I asked him to contribute another post. It was supposed to be posted on Father’s Day, but, in typical style of my dad, it is a little late. He was not sure about what to write, so we decided on some comments about the food court. I have written several posts already about the food court (Secrets of the food court; “Costco Kimchi” in South Korea…taking the “free sample” concept a little too far?; Costco food courts around the country and the world; Out for lunch…at Costco?) but have not provided any personal reviews…so, here is the first…

Written by CruisingCostco’s father (I have added a few comments  after each paragraph in brackets because I can’t help myself)

“I’m glad that Costco has a  snack bar, but it’s not the strongest department. When I go there, I generally purchase a hot dog, occasionally a frozen yogurt, and once a pizza slice. I don’t like their pizza, the crust is too thick and the sauce tastes as much like spaghetti sauce as pizza sauce. I don’t think I have ever had good pizza that is baked on a conveyor belt. I’m not sure why that is. I don’t think it’s the method of heating. My theory is that any establishment that uses conveyors doesn’t specialize and uses the conveyor to get consistency among workers at the cost of excellence. I also don’t think it’s as much of a bargain as the other choices.

[[I don’t think I have ever had the Costco pizza…at least not from the food court (I think I may have tried it from the refrigerated section once but I am not sure if it is the same). Although my dad and I do not agree on all foods, I do trust his opinion on pizza. We tend to have the same taste in terms of preferring a thin but chewy crust, strong tomato flavor in the sauce, and relatively light on the cheese so that we can taste the sauce and crust.]]

The frozen yogurt is an amazing deal. They serve a large cup for 1.35. I generally get swirl. I like ice cream better than yogurt, but this will do. It used to have an aftertaste, but it seems to be barely noticeable now. Yes, the flavors are limited, it has no atmosphere (no cows mooing, no farm atmosphere, no cutsie ice cream shop decorating, but certainly acceptable.

[[It certainly is a good deal! As an ice cream lover, I cannot get into frozen yogurt (it often does have that artificial taste and feels watered down) but I have to admit that there is something very appealing about a huge portion (when it comes to frozen dessert, I’m all about the big portions) of soft serve! I am all for premium ice cream but sometimes soft serve really is the best. But I agree with Dad about the atmosphere. Although I eat most of my ice cream at home (um…almost every night), it is always a treat to go out for ice cream in the summer and enjoy the selection of flavors, the ability to mix flavors in one order, and to eat outside…while trying to ignore the hefty price and the ice-cream loving bugs.]]

The hot dog deal is amazing. You get a very large hot dog and unlimited soda for $1.50. For New Yorkers, sauerkraut is available–but you have to ask for it. There are a few tradeoffs that enable them to sell it so inexpensively. The dogs are boiled not grilled–less labor to make, less time to serve. The rolls, which are too bready although they have improved, are warmed but not toasted. Including a drink seals the deal.

[[Hot dogs are gross so I will not be trying these. However, this deal clearly is one of the favorites of the food court. I would not have known that sauerkraut is available…I wonder why they do not offer it automatically? I’m surprised that my dad would eat these actually…he has complained many times about places that boil the hot dogs and has always insisted on grilling the rolls. In fact, whenever my grandma comes to our house, all she wants is a grilled “frank” on a toasted bun…to her that is better than any restaurant…and she loves the way my dad prepares them. I think I recall that they used to be kosher…Hebrew National, maybe? But I guess that, as other companies started making (nonkosher but at least not pig!) all-beef hot dogs, people did not care,  (and really, I doubt many people who observe kosher laws would be eating in a Costco food court!!)]]

All in all, if you want a quick,  very inexpensive meal, Costco meets that wish. What do you think?

[[Thoughts? What have you tried? What would you like to try?]]