Zannee’s Blog at BargainsLA.com

What the hell has happened at Fair Oaks Pharmacy and Soda Fountain?

It was no longer charming, or old fashioned or affordable now, but a giant rip off.

As a final farewell to summer we drove my daughter and her girlfriend over to this South Pasadena landmark. I thought an old-fashion Root Beer float would be fun for the girls. Outside of the kids Root Beer float ($3.95) the kids also got one kids hamburger ($5.50), one kids grilled cheese ($4.50), one kids soda ($1.50) and the adults split a tuna sandwich ($8.50) and 2 cokes at $2.95 each.

We stop in to this place about twice a year for the last 10 years the ambience and nostalgia, usually sitting at the fountain for a float. This time we had a corner table.

After we had been there 10 minutes, I had to ask for a menu. Since I was with chatting it up with a girl friend, I didn’t scrutinize the menu.

Regardless of my lack of scrutiny, a kids meal at most restaurants usually includes a drink. I expected a Root Beer float in a glass with a serious scoop of ice cream. What we got was a small McDonalds kids size plastic cup with a teeny tiny scoop of ice cream. My daughter’s friend finished the ice cream in two bites. At $3.95 it was way too small a serving and all floats should be served in a float glass.
The $8.50 tuna sandwich was a laugh. The bread was from a sandwich loaf like Van De Kamps served with one tomato and one piece of lettuce. The kids hamburger was like a McDonalds kids hamburger in size with no fries or drink included. I do expect more. How about a pickle or a plate?

The food here sucked, was overpriced and barren of any thoughtful presentation or content. We had to ask for the bill, ask for an extra plate since we were splitting the sandwich. The waiter never came back to see how we were doing. What should have been a bill for about $22 was $32.
But the issues that made me raise my voice and ask for the manager was the soda drinks. This is what people come here for, not the service or mediocre overpriced sandwiches. I ordered a soda fountain coke. What I got was an oversized thin plastic cup (like you’d buy for a BBQ party at Smart & Final - not a plastic restaurant glass) for $2.95. It should have been served in a coke fountain glass.

Is the management here so incredibly stupid or greedy that they think people come here for the food? Hello! They come here for the old-fashioned soda fountain. That means serving sodas in fountain glassware and a little service.

Of course the manager was on her break so the poor help got an earful. I didn’t lower my voice either… I was that ticked off. That was the worst dam service with overpriced boring food I have had anywhere. I won’t be back …ever.