MickeyDavis wrote:Now that the first season is almost over let's talk food again. With this disclaimer: Yes there are better and cheaper food options all around the arena area. But sometimes the situation is such that you don't have time to eat anywhere but the arena.
Early on I was happy about some of the places they chose as vendors. I realize it's not the same experience/food as their restaurants, they can't make everything to order. That said I've been disappointed. In the food and service. Now I haven't eaten at all the places yet. Chick-fil-A I generally like outside the arena. I'm not as huge fan like many. But at FF I thought it sucked. Much smaller patty. They got my order wrong both times. Not good. Laughing Taco. Thought it was terrible. Gold Rush chicken. Awful. I had the 3 piece dinner, very little meat on the bones. I had the chicken tender. Small and dried out. Terrible. I had Soblelmans. Probably the "best" food I've had at FF. Hard to wreck a burger I guess, so it was decent. Something Pizzeria. Bleh. Haven't had Iron Grate BBQ or Klements.
Try Iron Grate. The Double Pork (shoulder, pork belly bites) is my favorite item at the arena. Have had it numerous times.
Have had Chik-Fila more than once. Sometimes it's great, sometimes, not so much, good price value, but long, long lines.
Have enjoyed the Gold Rush chicken strips, but the bone in chicken was not great, very tough to eat at an arena as well.
Read an article that they hired the Sorge couple (Smoke Shack, Bombers) to come in and consult to tweak operations after the opening month. Can't say I've noticed anything improve. It seemed food/service quality were very high at the beginning of the season and has kind of tapered off as the season has progressed. Places that can't move their lines quickly end up creating log jams to walk around.
Rather stick to eating before going in the arena unless that is not an option. Seems you need to plan for an extra 30-40 minutes to eat at the arena unless you get lucky with a line.
