What we ate: P7A77 - Five-Star Philly, French Fries w/Mayonnaise, Coke; Amie - Delidinger, French Fries, Coke
Amie had made some last-minute plans to be in Scottsdale to show some photographs to a gallery, and since we still had some film to use up, we took a chunk out of the plethora of Phoenix-area Denny's.
This Denny's was moderately shitty. The waitress was prompt with our food, but she was scowling at us the whole time, and fairly inattentive once we were served. The Philly was interesting - a bit different than standard Denny's fare - but nothing worth writing any more about. The Delidinger was crunchy.
In fact, the only thing this Denny's has going for it is that the manager looks like "Weird Al" Yankovic.
WAY: Yes (Manager)
Free Stuff: A Crayon
Denny's #6348
Scottsdale, Arizona
9-Mar-97, 2:40pm MST
9160 E. Indian Bend Rd. at Pima Rd.
(602) 991-2909
Attendees: P7A77, Amie
Wait-person(s): Donna
What we ate: Nothing
Donna started shaking her head 'no' before I even finished asking her my questions. I think she gave us stuff just to get us out. I hope that, if I ever leave my house keys at a Denny's, they don't give them away to any random freaks that walk in asking stupid questions.
WAY: No
Free Stuff: House Keys and Barbie Shoe (from lost-n-found)
Denny's #1023
Scottsdale, Arizona
9-Mar-97, 3:05pm MST
3315 N. Scottsdale Rd. & Osbom
(602) 946-4754
Attendees: P7A77, Amie
Wait-person(s): Joanne, Angie
What we ate: Nothing
They gave me a little metal Denny's lapel pin! Wow! I wear it all the time. It's spectacularly stupendous. Spiffy, even. I accidentally walked out with one of their pens, tho'.
This Denny's looked like it had been converted from some other fast-food restaurant. It even had a spot where the drive-through window looked like it would have been. Katie said that it had been a Denny's for at least seventeen years, so I suppose they just like it that way. The counters and seats, for some reason, were incredibly short. We pointed this out to a waitress, and she didn't seem to know what we were talking about. But trust me - they were really short. Close to the ground, that is; not inconsiderate.
They gave us lousy free stuff, but they were exceedingly friendly during our entire tenure, so we let it slide.
WAY: Wasn't Sure
Free Stuff: Bib
Denny's #1069
Tempe, Arizona
9-Mar-97, 4:10pm MST
4403 S. Rural Rd. at 60 Fwy.
(602) 839-9392
Attendees: P7A77, Amie
Wait-person(s): Misty
What we ate: Nothing
We had driven all around Tempe trying to find the other Denny's in the area, but to no avail. When we got here, we asked for directions to the other ones. Some random guy who was standing in line overheard us and answered all our navigational queries.
We didn't eat anything this time, but we had been to this Denny's previously (I didn't have my notepad or camera with me), and just had a grand old time doing it. They're very friendly at this place. They also have a thick bullet-proof sheet of plexi-glass over the Denny's sign on the front wall.
WAY: No
Free Stuff: Save the Children Pin
Denny's #6644
Tempe, Arizona
9-Mar-97, 4:30pm MST
1994 W. Baseline Rd.
(602) 431-1818
Attendees: P7A77, Amie
Wait-person(s): Tracy, Tom (Manager)
What we ate: Nothing
Tracy was not at all amused by us, so she ran off to get Tom. That's all I can remember about this Denny's. It was getting to be a long day.
WAY: Undetermined
Free Stuff: New Menu Cover Insert
Denny's #1013
Tempe, Arizona
9-Mar-97, 4:45pm MST
1343 W. Broadway at Priest
(602) 966-3136
Attendees: P7A77, Amie
Wait-person(s): Joe
What we ate: Nothing
Not only did this Denny's have a big rig in the parking lot, it was an older style store (but with a new sign). It was all green and yellow inside, not the crappy black and neon that the newer ones have. They even had a WAY. I tell you, this store is what Denny's is all about. Joe said that he had been working at this store for three months, but had worked at another one for a month, and yet another one for two years before that. That's dedication. He was nervous about just giving us something - what with the security cameras looking down at us - so he made as if he was going to seat us, walked us out of the view of the camera, and gave us an omelette menu. What a guy.
WAY: Yes (Cook - Jerry)
Free Stuff: America's Favorite Omelettes Menu
Denny's #6306
Tempe, Arizona
9-Mar-97, 5:15pm MST
825 S. 48th St. at University & Hohokam Expwy.
(602) 829-0907
Attendees: P7A77, Amie
Wait-person(s): Shirley
What we ate: P7A77 - Hot Fudge Sundae, Water; Amie - Cocounut Cream Pie, Coke, Water
I've never hated a Denny's as much as I hate this one.
Okay. Here's the deal. We drove down University looking for the Hohokam Expressway and 48th street. We passed the expressway and saw 48th on the left. We drove down it. We kept driving down it. No Denny's. We turned around and went back down University. We saw 48th street on the other side of University (and the other side of the expressway). We turned into what we thought was the road, but it was in actuality the on-ramp for the expressway. About a mile later, we took the next exit, which turned out to be a junction for another expressway. After making a big loop, we turned onto the other 48th street. We drove down it. We kept driving down it. No Denny's. We turned around and were about to go back down University again when we saw the Denny's - hidden in some trees - across the street. It seems that there are two 48th streets that run parellel to each other on either side of the expressway.
In addition to this store being impossible to find, the wait-staff was boring, the water tasted awful, there was a crazy ventilation system in the ceiling, and the atmosphere was just no fun at all. There were even two entrances. I asked one of the waitresses if they had a separate bar or something, and she looked confused. I asked why there was a second entrance on the outside, and she looked even more confused. On our way out, I investigated it on my own and saw that it was some sort of banquet room or something.
I hate this Denny's.