It’s no mystery that people love McDonald’s, but it’s a shame that anyone who needs a quick fix of his fast food delight needs to go to the center of town. Even then, that McDonald’s is less than sub par, with a high frequency of ice cream and coffee  machine breakdowns.

If you have the need to stuff your gross face hole with delicious fried fast food, then your answer has come. In the blink of an eye a McDonald’s was erected in Butler near G & A’s going southbound on Route 23. The establishment features brand new utilities such as an electronic menu, and one of those super awesome Coca-Cola machines with 100 different sodas, and much more. The atmosphere is rather pleasant, with a mid-restaurant counter and stools and cushiony booths. With soft lighting and a neatly organized area for condiments, straws, lids, etc., it can be seen in many ways as superior to the McDonald’s in town. The service is run pretty much the same, where two cashiers are placed to take orders then you move to the side and wait for your order. This can be seen as a nuisance in some cases because from personal experience the orders are out of chronological order and get mixed up.

The inside is vastly different between the two restaurants. The one in town is a little more dark inside, and due to the greenhouse-esque windows, it allows heat to enter and offers no ventilation. These same windows are also double paned, so that dirt and grime is caught in the middle of the two panes and cannot be cleaned with ease. When it comes to a comfortable eating experience, the McDonald’s on 23 is much better. Also, most people who live on the tail end of West Milford have quicker and easier access to the McDonald’s on 23, because they do not have to trek along Macopin to get their fast food fix.

Oddly enough, because the McDonald’s in West Milford is much older, their equipment seems not to produce the same flavor as the one on 23. The noticeable differences are quality of taste in McNuggets and fries. Characteristics that are shown in Route 23’s McDonald’s over West Milford’s is crispiness of the nuggets. The nuggets provide a more tender and delicious rush of chickeny flavors. The fries are often fresh and neatly salted, providing that old fashioned McDonald’s trademark fry taste and smell.

A key to the success of the McDonald’s on 23 is the amount of commuters going through and those living near Route 23. The building is busy throughout the day, and can be seen as a threat to the Burger King across the street. One thing that the establishment provides is a Drive Thru, which is instrumental in a fast food restaurant’s success, whereas the Burger King lacks in this, and does not provide that same convenience. It may not come as a surprise if the Burger King closes, but, for now, we can rejoice in the beauty that is commercialism  and   fast food.

Overall, the McDonald’s on 23 is superior in every way, but it is not so convenient for anyone who lives in the heart of West Milford. If you find yourself needing McDonald’s, both are viable, though keep in mind that the shining diamond on 23 is only a short drive away from the McDonald’s in town.