OT: If you’ve ever worked in a restaurant…

NawlBennyDawg

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Jan 23, 2023
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… where was it and what is something that, if you go back and eat there, you can not eat anymore because you’ve seen how it’s made and it grosses you out (if the place still exists)?

I worked at McAlister’s Deli during my senior year of high school and all through college. If you ever go there, do not eat the chicken. Please. Comes in a questionable plastic bag and tastes like a Goodyear tire if you don’t drown it with honey mustard or sweet chipotle sauce. Everything else is fine. I also feel sorry for anyone that ordered tuna salad whenever they still had it years ago. We would go DAYS without anyone ordering it.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, even after eating it almost every time I took a break for almost 5 years, my go-to is still the Smoky Pepperjack Turkey on croissant or a Memphian. Peppers Deli is still so much better than McAlister’s though.

R.I.P. Bulldog Deli
 

M R DAWGS

Well-known member
Apr 13, 2018
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… where was it and what is something that, if you go back and eat there, you can not eat anymore because you’ve seen how it’s made and it grosses you out (if the place still exists)?

I worked at McAlister’s Deli during my senior year of high school and all through college. If you ever go there, do not eat the chicken. Please. Comes in a questionable plastic bag and tastes like a Goodyear tire if you don’t drown it with honey mustard or sweet chipotle sauce. Everything else is fine. I also feel sorry for anyone that ordered tuna salad whenever they still had it years ago. We would go DAYS without anyone ordering it.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, even after eating it almost every time I took a break for almost 5 years, my go-to is still the Smoky Pepperjack Turkey on croissant or a Memphian. Peppers Deli is still so much better than McAlister’s though.

R.I.P. Bulldog Deli
I do miss bulldog deli. I never worked there but I was a regular during my time at State.
 

horshack.sixpack

Well-known member
Oct 30, 2012
9,245
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… where was it and what is something that, if you go back and eat there, you can not eat anymore because you’ve seen how it’s made and it grosses you out (if the place still exists)?

I worked at McAlister’s Deli during my senior year of high school and all through college. If you ever go there, do not eat the chicken. Please. Comes in a questionable plastic bag and tastes like a Goodyear tire if you don’t drown it with honey mustard or sweet chipotle sauce. Everything else is fine. I also feel sorry for anyone that ordered tuna salad whenever they still had it years ago. We would go DAYS without anyone ordering it.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, even after eating it almost every time I took a break for almost 5 years, my go-to is still the Smoky Pepperjack Turkey on croissant or a Memphian. Peppers Deli is still so much better than McAlister’s though.

R.I.P. Bulldog Deli
McDonalds. Anything after 8PM.
 

tenureplan

Well-known member
Dec 3, 2008
8,210
718
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… where was it and what is something that, if you go back and eat there, you can not eat anymore because you’ve seen how it’s made and it grosses you out (if the place still exists)?

I worked at McAlister’s Deli during my senior year of high school and all through college. If you ever go there, do not eat the chicken. Please. Comes in a questionable plastic bag and tastes like a Goodyear tire if you don’t drown it with honey mustard or sweet chipotle sauce. Everything else is fine. I also feel sorry for anyone that ordered tuna salad whenever they still had it years ago. We would go DAYS without anyone ordering it.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, even after eating it almost every time I took a break for almost 5 years, my go-to is still the Smoky Pepperjack Turkey on croissant or a Memphian. Peppers Deli is still so much better than McAlister’s though.

R.I.P. Bulldog Deli
Flos. Haven't made the cheese sticks in a minute
 

HailStout

Well-known member
Jan 4, 2020
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Worked at chic-fil-a at north park mall when I was 15. This will come as a surprise to no one, but everything on the menu is safe to eat and you could damn near eat off of the floors.

eTA: the old school chicken salad sandwich from the 90’s was a million times better than the crappy one now
 
Last edited:

PooPopsBaldHead

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2017
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Nothing nasty. It's just funny how much stuff that people think is great is not necessarily made in house.

Them: "Your wings are so amazing. Most places just coat them in Franks right out of the bottle... What's your secret recipe?"

Me: "Can't tell you."

My Dumpster: Full of gallon jugs of Frank's.
 

ZombieKissinger

Well-known member
May 29, 2013
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Worked at a hipster bakery as a sandwich maker. First day I walked in and opened a box of lettuce to clean it, and it was full of slugs. I was like “oh ****, the gross restaurant stuff is real.” Fortunately they were like “wtf” and threw it all out and everything else was fine
 
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57stratdawg

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Mar 24, 2010
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People bleed in kitchens alot. I picked about about 5 beer mugs one time by threading my hand through the handles and felt a tiny ‘catch’. Got to the sink and looked down and there was blood everywhere. A really sharp piece of glass and you’ll barely feel it. Staffs are always cutting themselves with a knife or broken glass.
 
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BELdog

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Aug 23, 2012
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The Little Dooey…nothing really gross, but after watching 200 lbs of pork cool on a table and smelling that smoky, greasy mass of hot pig flesh, you won’t be a fan of pulled pork. Took several years before I would eat pulled pork again. The building is old and when I was there, it was in desperate need of repair, but those ladies in the kitchen worked hard to keep it clean and to make sure they were serving fresh, safe food. I still can’t eat there, but it’s really just because I was around it too long to ever enjoy it again.
 

Hugh's Burner Phone

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Aug 3, 2017
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But to answer the question I was a waiter at Lusco's in Greenwood for a while back in college. One night they ran out of bread and we were told to go around to all of the empty booths and and grab the baskets the bread was served in and save the uneaten pieces to serve to other guests.
 

Bulldog45

Well-known member
Oct 2, 2018
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… where was it and what is something that, if you go back and eat there, you can not eat anymore because you’ve seen how it’s made and it grosses you out (if the place still exists)?

I worked at McAlister’s Deli during my senior year of high school and all through college. If you ever go there, do not eat the chicken. Please. Comes in a questionable plastic bag and tastes like a Goodyear tire if you don’t drown it with honey mustard or sweet chipotle sauce. Everything else is fine. I also feel sorry for anyone that ordered tuna salad whenever they still had it years ago. We would go DAYS without anyone ordering it.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, even after eating it almost every time I took a break for almost 5 years, my go-to is still the Smoky Pepperjack Turkey on croissant or a Memphian. Peppers Deli is still so much better than McAlister’s though.

R.I.P. Bulldog Deli
Tuna salad gets better with age because it gets to soak up the flavors. Not to mention you get an added benefit of a good clean out after eating some week old tuna salad.
 

dudehead

Active member
Jul 9, 2006
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Ate there literally four times a week
Is Bill Curry - the original owner of both Bulldog Deli and District Cafe - still alive? I spent many an hour eating, imbibing, and visiting with him back in the early 80s. Last I heard he was living in the Jackson area.
 

greenbean.sixpack

Well-known member
Oct 6, 2012
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But to answer the question I was a waiter at Lusco's in Greenwood for a while back in college. One night they ran out of bread and we were told to go around to all of the empty booths and and grab the baskets the bread was served in and save the uneaten pieces to serve to other guests.
Lusco's is having some type of limited reopening soon. I'm a Crystal Grill man.
 

Maroon Eagle

Well-known member
May 24, 2006
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Chick Fil A, Sawmill Square in Laurel. I'd eat there weekly if I still lived there. Not to mention, one of the best jobs for a high school / JUCO student to have.
Chick Fil A was good.

But I preferred Taco Casa — and of course Swensen’s.

There was also a not bad pizza place near the middle of Sawmill— can’t recall the name though.
 

patdog

Well-known member
May 28, 2007
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Nothing nasty. It's just funny how much stuff that people think is great is not necessarily made in house.

Them: "Your wings are so amazing. Most places just coat them in Franks right out of the bottle... What's your secret recipe?"

Me: "Can't tell you."

My Dumpster: Full of gallon jugs of Frank's.
 
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patdog

Well-known member
May 28, 2007
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Chick Fil A was good.

But I preferred Taco Casa — and of course Swensen’s.

There was also a not bad pizza place near the middle of Sawmill— can’t recall the name though.
Yeah, TC was good too. Bout once a week I'd swap out my break CFA sandwich for a chili burrito with the guy who worked there.
 
Feb 25, 2018
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I work in the food service industry covering an area from Meridian to Monroe up to Southaven. Schools, Casinos, fast food and single proprietors operations you name it I’ve been in the kitchens of hundreds of restaurants and there are some places I wouldn’t eat the crackers in.
 

vhdawg

Well-known member
Sep 29, 2004
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No one here will ever admit to being in the drive thru line after midnight at Krystals.
I was in the drive thru line at the Starkville Krystal TWICE after midnight after the 1999 Egg Bowl. Sat there for a while the first time before we were told they were out of Krystals and Krystal Chiks until 1:30 AM, so we drove to West Point to see if there was anything open. There was not, so we drove back to Starkville, by which time it was past 1:30 AM, and true to their word, the Krystal was restocked, and we ate and slept happy.

Edit: To this day I have no idea how the Krystal restocked after midnight the night after Thanksgiving.
 

Dawgbite

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Nov 1, 2011
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I've been doing some part time consulting work that puts me in restaurants and commercial kitchens Hands down the cleanest places are grocery store delis I've been in over 150 Jacks in the past year. All I can say is the farther a Jacks is from a population center, the more likely I am to eat there.
 
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BoDawg.sixpack

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Feb 5, 2010
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I worked in several restaurants as a youth. When I saw what went on in there it motivated me to get my degree.
 

The Peeper

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Feb 26, 2008
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Is Bill Curry - the original owner of both Bulldog Deli and District Cafe - still alive? I spent many an hour eating, imbibing, and visiting with him back in the early 80s. Last I heard he was living in the Jackson area.
I thought Robin Fant started Bulldog Deli, back in about '82 or so? It was next to Sack N Save grocery in the building about where Rubys Liquor and Pet Sense are today? The guy that owned District Cafe back then always drove a golf cart around the District and wore a baseball hat every day, was that Bill Curry?
 

57stratdawg

Well-known member
Mar 24, 2010
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But to answer the question I was a waiter at Lusco's in Greenwood for a while back in college. One night they ran out of bread and we were told to go around to all of the empty booths and and grab the baskets the bread was served in and save the uneaten pieces to serve to other guests.
Don’t care. I miss Lusco’s.

(Also, I do kind of care).
 

PCHSDawg

Member
Nov 12, 2014
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I was in the drive thru line at the Starkville Krystal TWICE after midnight after the 1999 Egg Bowl. Sat there for a while the first time before we were told they were out of Krystals and Krystal Chiks until 1:30 AM, so we drove to West Point to see if there was anything open. There was not, so we drove back to Starkville, by which time it was past 1:30 AM, and true to their word, the Krystal was restocked, and we ate and slept happy.

Edit: To this day I have no idea how the Krystal restocked after midnight the night after Thanksgiving.
They were probably out of the buns/rolls. My brother ran a bread route and he worked crazy hours on holidays and weekends to keep everyone stocked.
 

KentuckyDawg13

Active member
Aug 15, 2006
1,751
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I worked in restaurants when I went home from college during the summers (1986-1988).
Broadway Beach Hotel/Resort in Biloxi (destroyed by Hurricane Katrina) and Vrazel's Fine Food (closed permanently) in Gulfport. Both had decent food, but I NEVER wanted to go eat there again after working there. As someone mentioned, one sees things one is NOT supposed to see at restaurants when working there.
Having worked in food service has made me an exceptional tipper. It's a difficult job.
 

NawlBennyDawg

Active member
Jan 23, 2023
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The Bulldog Deli's "Big Nasty" was my go-to sammich with that HUGE non-stinky cup full o sweet tea. MMMmmm.
What made up the Bulldog Deli Big Nasty? McAlister's also had a Big Nasty back in the day when I first started working there, it was an open roast beef sandwich on French bread with gravy and cheddar-jack cheese. All I remember is that my dad was a regular at Bulldog Deli back when he was in college, and he ordered the Big Nasty at McAlister's one day thinking it would be the same as Bulldog Deli's, and he was downright offended.
 
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