I think that's a little harsh - at least here in the UK the word restaurant conjures up an idea of a more expensive establishment, likely with tablecloths and wine involved, and possibly French. It's not difficult to see the humour in the juxtaposition of that image with the reality of McDonald's. I've nothing against McDonald's btw, and eat there from time to time.

Oh no, that was well from harsh.

I'm fine calling that guy smug, because that's an extremely smug thought.

Also, you do have an internalized bias against McDonald's and you just showed it. To you, a restaurant isn't "a place that serves food" but "a move expensive establishment..." That's not to say you're a bad person, just that you're shifting definitions from what something objectively is to what you think something should be.

Here in the US, restaurant workers across the board are not paid enough and there are massive labor issues tied to the industry. Fast food workers especially are treated abhorrently because "that's not even a real restaurant" or "that's a job for a kid to get out of high school".

I'll fully admit that my past influences my thoughts on the matter, but what I'm trying to do is say that this sort of behavior isn't cool, and remind people that these places are often franchises run by a guy employing people from your neighborhood.

McDonald's food is objectively of a lower quality than that of other restaurants. It's still a restaurant, no matter how dismissive people want to be.

Ok then, have it your way: next time you're going out on a date trying telling your date you are taking her to a restaurant, and then go to McDonald's. I suspect it might be a short date.

Well of course it would be a short date.

It's fast food...

Likely you probably wouldn't even make it to the 'restaurant'!