THE EATBEAT: The Frescata hits the scene in Wendy's
By Marilyn Hagerty
May 10, 2006
For the past few years, the mandarin chicken salad has been drawing me over to Wendy's Old Fashioned Hamburgers on South Washington Street. The salad gives me plenty to chew on and with only 360 calories (before dressing), I figure it's healthful. I know it's reasonable at $4.39.
Occasionally, I stray from my salad routine and order one of Wendy's unique square hamburgers. I like the baked potato and the relatively low-fat chili, too. At times, I indulge in one of my secret sins - the soft, slushy chocolate Frosty. And lately, I have been trying Wendy's new creation - the Frescata sandwich. The sandwiches are served on a large squarish bun that comes in parbaked and is finished off in batches at regular intervals during the day.
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The other day, I ordered a Frescata Club, which comes alone for $3.49 or in a combo meal of Dasani bottled water and Lay's baked chips for $4.39. I used a $1 off coupon from a current promotion. I found it tasty and filling. And I probably will try the Black Forest Ham and Swiss Frescata next. There's also Roasted Turkey with Swiss or with Basil Pesto.
As I chewed on the sandwich and looked around at what other people were eating, I got to wondering if the new Frescata will cut into the other staple items in Wendy's. Manager Ryan Jarombek says he doesn't think so. He said people still are eating hamburgers. He sees the Frescata as a sandwich they can pick up and take with them on a fishing trip or weekend outing.
My frequent stops in Wendy's on South Washington are a natural. The shop is a nice walking distance from home. It's a pleasant place to grab a quick bite and to linger over the newspapers. I read the Herald the first thing in the morning. Then, I peruse the Forum of Fargo-Moorhead and the Minneapolis Star Tribune for free in Wendy's.
I like sitting there because the place is clean and orderly. The customers around me seem to come in all sizes, shapes and ages. Some of them stick to their burgers and fries. Some of them nibble on salads. Some eat a baked potato with chili and have a Frosty.
If you ask, you can get a guide giving nutritional information about each item sold in Wendy's.
Service in Wendy's usually is pretty good. Occasionally, you wait a few minutes in line to order, but the rails help you find and keep your place in line.
Besides having strong management teams, the Wendy's shops are under the watchful eye of owner Ken Towers. He also owns, with his son, Brad, the Italian Moon on South Washington Street. Towers says more than 60 percent of the business at the South Washington Wendy's is done at the window. On 32nd Avenue South, it's about half and half.
Towers, a former educator and basketball coach at Red River High School, got into the restaurant business years ago. He opened Wendy's on South Washington 22 years ago and the Wendy's on 32nd Avenue South in December 2004. He still oversees his businesses each day, although his son actively manages Italian Moon and handles its catering services.
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One of the pluses of Wendy's is the nice landscaping. There are a couple of minuses - such as an occasional wait and attendants who sometimes talk too softly. And they could use a bigger, or higher, shelf for newspapers so the papers aren't so close to the stack of used trays.
Why square hamburgers? Well, the late Dave Thomas, who founded the company, says at Wendy's they don't cut corners.
Wendy's Old Fashioned Hamburgers
Owner: Ken Towers.
Managers: Ryan Jarombek, 1503 S. Washington St.; Frank Basting, 3760 32nd Ave. S.
Hours: Drive-through, 10:30 a.m. to midnight; inside,10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Pay: Major credit cards accepted.
Report card: You can find healthful fast food in Wendy's, where the new Frescata sandwiches are in the spotlight. Service is fast. Stores are clean and inviting with newspapers available and flowers at the doorstep.
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Reach Hagerty at 772-1055, 780-1124 or (800) 477-6572, ext. 124, or mhagerty@gfherald.com .
© 2006- Grand Forks Herald
