Breakfast at McDonald's. Review on McDonald's, Kharghar, Navi Mumbai

I’d wanted to try out the McDonald’s breakfast ever since I heard it was introduced in India. And I finally managed to give it a try this weekend, when  I happened to be with a friend who is an even bigger foodie than I am, if that’s possible. McDonald’s serves breakfast at some outlets across the city between 7 am and 11 am. I visited the one at Phoenix Mills, Lower Parel, since we’d planned to watch a movie (2012, pretty good even though it’s not my type of movie at all) at PVR Phoenix after. We also happened to have lunch at Spaghetti Kitchen (probably my next review), which was really good!

We managed to try out almost everything on the breakfast menu, which isn’t very vast, but it is quite interesting. My friend sampled the non-vegetarian breakfast platter, while I got the vegetarian breakfast platter. Both included a cup of piping hot, surprisingly good coffee, a serving of hash browns, and a McMuffin. The vegetarian platter included a Veggie McMuffin and the non-vegetarian had an Egg with Chicken Salami McMuffin. Strangely the vegetarian platter came with a little container of some dressing, very similar to thousand island, while the non-vegetarian platter came with a little container of jam. We just couldn’t figure out what the jam was supposed to go with. Both platters cost Rs. 90.

We also got extra helpings of hash browns, at Rs. 20 each. The hash browns were delicious, nice and hot, but way too oily. And I tried the Spinach and Corn McMuffin, which was better than the Veggie one and cost Rs. 40. My friend tried the Sausage McMuffin with Egg that cost Rs. 55. You can choose to get your McMuffins with or without cheese. We ended our meal with some Hot Cakes with Maple Syrup and Butter. For Rs 50 you get two pancakes and a helping of maple syrup and butter. I was surprised at how good these were, although they’re passing off pancake syrup as maple syrup. There’s a major difference, maple syrup costs a lot more and tastes better.

They also serve hot chocolate at breakfast, but they refuse to swap that with coffee, if you’re getting the platter. Or maybe they will if you ask them too, we just happened to have a surly, grumpy lady at the counter when we were there. Why is it that men behind counters are usually so much sweeter and more obliging? :) Also, if you’re confused about how McMuffins go with stuff like veggies and chicken and eggs, these are not the same, sweet muffins (like chocolate chip and blueberry) that you get at coffee shops and bakeries. The muffins here are savory, not sweet, almost like little buns.

I really wish the McDonald’s breakfast menu would be expanded to include at least fruit juice or something healthy, but I guess that’s asking too much from McDonald’s. I was even shocked to find cucumber slices in my Spinach and Corn McMuffin, first time I saw something uncooked and unprocessed there :) I also wish they would use less material in the packaging. The soft cardboard boxes used for the breakfast platter and the hot cakes were huge and a big waste of paper. It felt like breakfast for two at McDonald’s meant sacrificing a tree. You’d expect an international fast food chain like McDonald’s to be more ecologically aware, but I guess not.

My verdict: Breakfast at McDonald’s is quick and fun and relatively cheap. I’m glad I tried it once, but it’s not something I intend to deliberately repeat. For me, breakfast means a nice, healthy meal. It should be a meal that includes maybe cereal, fruit juice, and some whole-grain bread. But I knew what I was in for… I mean it is McDonalds after all. So if you’re looking for a healthy meal, head to the breakfast buffet of any five-star, or Tea Center, Crepe Station, or even Mocha. But if it’s just some fun, quick, empty calories you’re looking for, which is not a bad thing once in a while, be sure to give the McDonald’s breakfast a try!