Hard Rock cafe in London

This is actually the original Hard Rock, it isn't an American company, people seem to forget that.

My favourite American tourist story concerned a New Jersey couple visiting the Acropolis. They scale the hill to gaze upon the Parthenon, jewel of Classical Athens, and the husband - puffing and red-faced from the heat and the climb - stares at it, eyes bulging in disbelief. Finally, he complains to his wife:

"I don't know WHY we bother coming to these places! All of their buildings are falling down!!"

And as he turns to stomp back down to the city, he delivers his parting shot:

"AND they're only copies of OUR buildings anyway!!"

"AND they're only copies of OUR buildings anyway!!"

Ima start claiming to be Canadian, even before I go traveling. Sheesh.

I can totally imagine getting thoroughly overwhelmed with all the new food choices when abroad, and occasionally needing to retreat to the familiar.

The first time we went to Japan, Pete was not yet very adventurous about food. So yes, we did eat at a McDonalds in Tokyo. Once. Out of self-defense, because neither of us spoke a word of Japanese, and we were feeling very overwhelmed.

ND is right about the first Hard Rock Cafe being in London, and I believe that one of the purposes was so that people could have a hamburger in London. If I'm in London, I'd still rather have a meat pie.

A quick shameless plug for my blog, in which I discuss discovering New Orleans food (since we are talking about food tourism.)

Tonight we are going to the Bacchanal, as recommended by smonster!

I ate at a McDonald's in London once on New Year's Eve, but that's because all the other restaurants around Trafalgar Square were closed for New Year's Eve. We were often gobsmacked by the marketing differences in Britain. (Some tourist things cost more during the off season, because, you see, fewer people came....) We stayed across the street from a McDonald's in Sydney, so we grabbed a few quick breakfast there when we had to head out early. They had plain toasted English muffins with single servings of jam or Vegemite.

I'm really curious what they serve in McD's in India, where cows are sacred.

The Maharaja Mac! (Which I thought was mutton-based, but that article claims it's chicken.)

We went to Pizza Hut in India. I was so confused about the "capsicum" on everything.

Having eaten there, NO. McDonald's burgers totally better.

I don't know who designed Wimpy burgers, but they had never tasted anything from anywhere near America. You can't change burgers to make them more British. Or, you shouldn't.

the hotdogs at Leicester Square are hands down better than anything I've ever eaten in the US.

They are good, if I'm thinking of the same ones you are - but the wild boar hotdogs at Borough Market in Southwark are among the best things I've ever eaten. In any category of food.

I wouldn't eat there all the time, but I like McDonald's (especially their breakfasts) and get irritated when Brits are snobby about it. It's a great formula that works. Same with Starbucks, where I spend hours (more for the wifi and comfy seats than the coffee, on account of being a tea drinker). Although my local cafe's little pots of tea usually win out over free wifi eventually.