Oreo Frappe returns to McDonald's in Rockville

The Oreo Frappe has returned to the McCafe beverage menu at McDonald's. Originally released 7 years ago, it is scheduled to pop back up on menus nationwide May 17, 2023. But it appears to be arriving early here in Montgomery County. Check your local McDonald's location for this blend of mocha and coffee flavors, Oreo cookie pieces, and whipped cream, available for a limited time only.

Spicy McNuggets, Spicy McCrispy return; Strawberry Shortcake McFlurry debuts at McDonald's in Rockville

McDonald's has new, limited-time only menu items in Montgomery County, whether you are seeking something hot or cold. The fast food chain's popular Spicy Chicken McNuggets return for a third time. Also back for an encore are the Spicy McCrispy and Spicy Deluxe McCrispy chicken sandwiches. And for the first time, McDonald's is offering a Strawberry Shortcake McFlurry. It combines vanilla soft-serve ice cream with "strawberry flavored clusters," and shortbread cookies. 

McDonald's challenges Chick-fil-A with new lemonade

McDonald's has already attempted to muscle into the chicken sandwich market with the very Chick-fil-A-esque McCrispy. Its spare pickle accompaniment and buttered bun leaves no doubt as to which fast food chain inspired its inception. Now the Golden Arches are again displaying the sincerest form of flattery toward America's favorite closed-on-Sundays restaurant, with a new beverage many Chick-fil-A customers find goes best with that famous chicken sandwich: lemonade. It's appearing in select markets across America right now, including New York City, Dallas, Chicago, Seattle, and...Montgomery County, Maryland.

But this lemonade isn't what you might have expected, given McDonald's' Coca-Cola partnership. It would have been easy, cheap and predictable to simply promote Minute Maid Lemonade. After all, Minute Maid has one of the best store-bought lemonades on the market.

Pre-made bottled or frozen lemonades haven't been the tradition at Chick-fil-A, though, so McDonald's is again turning to a formula that has worked for its upstart competitor. Chick-fil-A lemonade is made with "three simple ingredients: real lemon juice, cane sugar and water," according to the company's website. The new McDonald's Lemonade is made with...real lemon juice, cane sugar and water. Chick-fil-A lemonade has bits of pulp in it, due to being squeezed from real lemons. McDonald's Lemonade also has bits of pulp in it.

Wow, what a coincidence!

It's safe to assume that if customer reaction is favorable enough, the new lemonade will be added to the menu nationwide. For now, check your local McDonald's in Montgomery County, and you can be one of the first in America to sample it. Even on Sundays.

Bacon Ranch McCrispy arrives at McDonald's in Montgomery County

The new Bacon Ranch McCrispy has arrived at McDonald's restaurants in Montgomery County. While the limited-time-only menu item is scheduled to be available nationwide on March 13, 2023, it is popping up early at McDonald's locations in Montgomery County. The Bacon Ranch McCrispy sandwich features a "whole muscle chicken filet," topped with a special ranch sauce on both the top and bottom buns, applewood smoked bacon and crinkle-cut pickles. A Deluxe version adds sliced Roma tomatoes and shredded lettuce.

Rare Montgomery County test item Smoky BLT Quarter Pounder now on McDonald's menu nationwide

When fast food restaurants try out new menu items, their test markets are usually places like Ohio and Southern California, not Montgomery County, Maryland. Last year, McDonald's tested a Smoky BLT Quarter Pounder with two slices of American cheese, Roma tomatoes, Applewood smoked bacon, shredded lettuce and "smoky sauce" at several of their restaurants here in the county, including Bethesda (River Road), Rockville and Silver Spring. The burger was apparently well-received, as it has now been added to their menu nationwide for a limited time this month. Joining it is an Oreo Fudge McFlurry.

I'm only aware of one other time that a fast food chain has tested a possible menu item in Montgomery County, In the mid 1990s, McDonald's tested Mighty Wings. That iteration apparently wasn't ready for prime time, as a meatier and spicier version of Mighty Wings didn't get the green light for nationwide release until two decades later in 2013. Let's hope there will be more test items from McDonald's in the future, and that other fast food chains will recognize our usefulness as a test market.

McRib Farewell Tour finds McDonald's taking a page from Taco Bell's marketing book

McRib Farewell Tour? Signs popping up at local McDonald's restaurants - and nationwide - are warning McRib fans that "this could be your last bite." Only a few years after the fast food chain answered the call of the McRib cult to offer the sandwich at virtually every location again once a year, McDonald's is now threatening to pull the plug on the popular pork sandwich...forever.

McRib fans (like me) are sure to be outraged. It's been hard enough to get a McRib as it is. It wasn't offered in Montgomery County - or even most of Maryland - for about eight years last decade. And just when the BBQ sauce-laden sandwich finally returned in 2019, McDonald's is threatening to yank it away for good.

McDonald's may have taken a marketing page from Taco Bell's book in this latest, if questionable, McRib campaign. Taco Bell has removed several popular items from its menu in recent years, only to tease their return months or years later. Mexican Pizza, anyone? 

Of course, some items like the Beefy Crunch Burrito never returned, despite a well-organized campaign by the Beefy Crunch Movement. Will this be the fate of McRib, as well? 

McRib fans may not be able to control what the corporate boardroom of McDonald's decides, but by ordering as many McRibs as possible while it's available, fans can keep the pressure on the company and franchisees to keep the greatest fast food sandwich ever on the menu. McRib sales, like concert ticket sales, can make sure the McRib Farewell Tour is as final as the Motley Crue farewell tour. 

And if not? Ending the annual McRib Season could backfire bigtime on the Golden Arches, by angering their most loyal customers.

Spicy Chicken McNuggets return to McDonald's in Rockville

Spicy McNuggets drive-thru
advertisement at McDonald's

How do you make America's favorite chicken nugget better? Make it hot and spicy, of course. McDonald's has brought back Spicy Chicken McNuggets for a limited-time. A six-piece is $2.50 - not bad, considering what you pay for a four-piece McNuggets. Ranch is probably the best sauce for this McNugget variation.

McDonald's Smoky BLT Quarter Pounder arrives in Rockville (Video+Photos)

A new sandwich has arrived at many McDonald's locations in Montgomery County. The Smoky BLT Quarter Pounder with Cheese features the 100% all-beef patty topped with smoky bacon sauce, smoked Applewood bacon strips, Roma tomatoes, shredded lettuce and two slices of American cheese on a sesame seed bun. It cost $6.89 before tax. There is also a Chips Ahoy McFlurry for a limited time.

I have seen the burger at McDonald's restaurants in Bethesda (River Road), Rockville and Silver Spring so far. The secretive sandwich is either a test item, or a near-future release that came out early in our area. Which is great news, because the burger is delicious with the mystery bacon sauce. Watch my review, and then try it yourself.

Second Derwood McDonald's to get renovated interior

Renovations are ahead for the McDonald's at 16701 Crabbs Branch Way in The Grove shopping center. Unlike the complete overhaul seen at the other McDonald's in Derwood recently, this project will update the interior of the restaurant. 

This location already got a remodel to a newer McDonald's exterior design in the last decade. Other Rockville-area McDonald's have gotten varying degrees of updates in recent years, including the flagship Rockville Pike and White Flint locations.

McDonald's adds Glazed Pull-Apart Donut to menu

McDonald's has added a new item to its McCafe line of baked goods designed to go with coffee beverages. The Glazed Pull-Apart Donut is shareable, with donut holes attached to the center that can be torn off. McDonald's says it is a limited-time item, and will be available all day, not just for breakfast. 

The new donut has already appeared at some McDonald's locations in Montgomery County, and will be available at all McDonald's nationwide on September 1, 2021. How does it compare to Krispy Kreme? Watch my review to find out.

McDonald's BTS Meal arrives in Rockville (Video+Photos)

The McDonald's BTS Meal officially arrived nationwide yesterday. In partnership with the K-pop boy band, the meal includes a 10-piece Chicken McNuggets, medium fries, a medium Coca-Cola, and two sauce packets: Cajun and Sweet Chili. 

While most media outlets have lauded the sauces as both being new to the United States, McDonald's actually offered Sweet Chili sauce some years back. The Cajun sauce is brand new, however. Watch my in-depth review on YouTube.

BTS fans have reacted enthusiastically to the promotion on social media, but there has been significant dissatisfaction among them that McDonald's did not provide BTS-branded packaging for the meal nor any BTS-themed prize, cards or toys in the United States. Some overseas countries have received special packaging for their BTS meals, which led some fans to ask why an American restaurant chain did not provide this BTS packaging for its American customers.

Derwood McDonald's reopening in six days

The McDonald's at 15801 Frederick Road in Derwood looks just about ready to open after its remodeling. That's because it is! The restaurant will reopen in six days. Celebrate with a Big Mac!

Derwood McDonald's to expand

The Derwood McDonald's at 15801 Frederick Road is planning an expansion. Under the site plan submitted by McDonald's USA, LLC to Montgomery County, the restaurant will increase in size on the lot from the current 5586 SF to 6082 SF.

The drive-thru will be changed to the dual lane design found at many McDonald's locations these days, allowing two rows of cars to line up at once. There will be "three small building additions" to the restaurant itself, and bicycle parking will be added.

McDonald's' site plan will be reviewed by the Montgomery County Planning Board on November 7, 2019. Planning staff is recommending approval of the site plan.

McRib is back at McDonald's (Video review+Photos+McRib Locator)

McRib is back! McDonald's legendary sandwich, one of a handful of fast food items to earn my 6 star rating (out of 5 stars), has returned to Montgomery County and Maryland for the first time in seven years. I hadn't had a McRib since 2012, and am pleased to report they are just as good as they were in the past. Watch my detailed review of McRib 2019, and find the McRib nearest you using the official McRib locator. Many thanks to McDonald's and the local franchise for listening to their loyal customers and bringing back McRib!

McDonald's testing Blueberry McGriddles at Washington, D.C. area restaurants - here's my review

McDonald's is testing Blueberry McGriddles at select Washington, D.C. area locations, including some in Montgomery County. The new McGriddles have the same sausage or bacon, cheese and egg fillings found in the original McGriddle sandwiches, but swap the maple syrup-filled pancakes for blueberry pancakes.

The blueberry pancakes retain the
McDonald's Golden Arches imprint
of the original McGriddles

This is a rare event, as the D.C./Maryland/Virginia area is rarely used as a test market for potential menu additions by fast food chains. McDonald's did test Mighty Wings at the former 4500 East-West Highway location in the 1990s. The chicken wings were introduced briefly nationwide almost twenty years later, in a fancier box than the plain white one the test wings came in.

The Blueberry McGriddle came with a
thick, folded scrambled egg, but
deletes the maple syrup filling found in
original McGriddles pancakes

Should Blueberry McGriddles be added to the permanent menu? Watch my review for my thoughts and a detailed look at the test item, which comes in sausage and bacon versions, and is only available during morning breakfast hours.

Quarter Pounder Deluxe returns to McDonald's

It's been awhile since McDonald's had a Deluxe Quarter Pounder on the menu. Or any burger topped with mayonnaise, for that matter. Even the venerable Daily Double is no longer recognized as a secret menu item. But McDonald's has just brought back the Deluxe Quarter Pounder - with a few changes.

First, the name has changed. It's now called, "Quarter Pounder Deluxe," instead of Deluxe Quarter Pounder.

Second, it now features a freshly cooked beef patty. Patties were still frozen when the Deluxe was last on the menu.

Third, it features Roma tomatoes, almost unheard of for a fast food burger.

Fourth, and most importantly, they have added ketchup as a topping on the Deluxe. McDonald's hasn't offered a burger topped with both ketchup and mayonnaise together since the much-missed Big and Tasty. This gives the Deluxe a Whopper-style flavor.

Whole leaf lettuce, raw onion, pickles and two slices of American cheese round out the Deluxe toppings. At $5.99, it's mighty pricey for a single-patty burger, though.

Rockville McDonald's gets more than a makeover (Photos)

Now it's clear why the McDonald's at 1390 Rockville Pike had to close for an extended period for its renovations. The building looks nothing like it did before. In place of the traditional McDonald's one-story design is a building now two stories in height. The cream-colored exterior walls and brown roof are now replaced with a monotone beige with dark brown accents. Drive-thru windows remain in the same spot, but now have small canopies directly over the windows, instead of the angled overhang of the original building's roof.

Inside, you will find another transformation. Darker floor tiles and lighter interior walls complete the redesign. There is still an outdoor seating area at the front. The famous Golden Arches and delicious foods remain the same. Annoy the Fellow Travelers on the Montgomery County Council, and stop by for a an All-American meal today.

Rockville McDonald's closes for renovations (Photos)

The McDonald's at 1390 Rockville Pike has temporarily closed for renovations. It's a major project that required the restaurant to close, unlike some of the makeovers the chain rolled out earlier this decade. Customers are being referred to the Derwood McDonald's location during the project. There are also McDonald's further down the road at 11564 Rockville Pike, and at 2101 Veirs Mill Road in Rockville.

MCDONALD'S BACON CLUBHOUSE CHICKEN SANDWICH REVIEW (VIDEO)

What if you put Big Mac special sauce on Fried Chicken? McDonald's just answered that question. The new McDonald's Bacon Clubhouse can not only be ordered as a quarter-pound burger, but as a crispy or grilled chicken sandwich, as well.

I tested the crispy chicken version, and here is my review. This sandwich features all the same ingredients as the burger version I tested last week, including Big Mac special sauce, white cheddar cheese, grilled caramelized onions, tomato, whole leaf lettuce and thick-cut Applewood smoked bacon, on the brand-new "soft, warm Artisan bun."

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MCDONALD'S BACON CLUBHOUSE BURGER REVIEW (VIDEO)

Montgomery County is one of the first places in America to get a historic new sandwich from McDonald's: the new McDonald's Bacon Clubhouse. The Bacon Clubhouse can be ordered as a burger, or as a chicken sandwich (grilled or crispy).

What makes the Bacon Clubhouse historic? It is the first time McDonald's has used its famous Big Mac special sauce on a non-Big Mac product. In this case, you're getting the special sauce on a quarter-pound, all-beef patty, with premium leaf lettuce, tomato, grilled caramelized onions, Angus seasoning, and thick-cut smoked Applewood bacon.

One other big deal with this sandwich? The bun.

The Bacon Clubhouse features a special new bun, which McDonald's is calling a "soft and warm Artisan roll." A shiny egg wash effect tops off the premium bun, which is slightly sweet in flavor, and has the toasted exterior and soft interior of a high-quality dinner roll.

What's the verdict?

Watch my review to find out!