HEREFORD'S McDonald's restaurants are always a popular choice for those seeking a fast food fix.

But which one should you choose if you want the best burger and shake?

With an overall rating of 2.5 stars, Hereford's Belmont Road restaurant and drive-through looks to be off to a shaky start, despite regularly commanding long queues of hungry drivers.

Just 14 of its 62 reviewers on Tripadvisor rated the branch as excellent or very good, while 17 said it was average, nine said it was poor, and 21 said it was terrible.

So what did diners think of the Belmont Road McDonald's?

"Excellent service, helpful and professional staff," said andybM8983JI, who gave the restaurant five stars in September last year.

"I visited this branch today with my family. Despite being very busy, all the staff were friendly and couldn’t do enough to help us. They found us a table, cleaned it and helped us with the track and trace form. The food was great and delivered to our table by a friendly team member. I made a point to find the manager and pass on our thanks - really impressed, great team. Thank you."

614necdetk also had praise for the franchise, giving it five stars and writing: "We always use this McDonald's in Hereford for quick eat in or grab and go. Always helpful and very good customer service, guaranteed good food and service with good value. So far so good, this is the best McDonald's we have been to."

But others had less praise and more criticism for the restaurant.

miketG8109GE gave it just one star.

"Having not eaten any fast food in months I was looking forward to a McDonald's so stopped here," he wrote.

"How I wish I hadn't. The sight of the cashier hanging out of her window with her hand held out shrieking " £4.36 mate" when I hadn't even got to the window was where the rot set in. At the next window my food was all but thrown at me, how I wish I'd thrown it back! Warm, flat diet coke, stale bread rolls, and burnt burgers that a skip rat would have declined. If I had time, I'd have gone back for a refund but instead binned the lot. NEVER again!"

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GlobeTrotting695892 was similarly unimpressed, also leaving one star.

"Worst McDonalds ever," they wrote.

"Love a McDonalds, however, Hereford Belmont McDonalds really test that love. Firstly, they seem to never, ever get your order right, always missing or wrong items, no matter how you buy it, whether through the drive through or via Just Eat Delivery. Also, even though you pay for sauces and dips they never provide them, why ask customers if they want something, get them to pay for it only to then not provide it? That, McDonald's is just stealing from your customer."

And the Commercial Street restaurant?

This city centre branch fares slightly better on Tripadvisor, with an overall rating of three stars.

Of its 46 reviewers on Tripadvisor, 19 rated it excellent or very good, 10 average, six poor, and 10 terrible.

What did diners think?

"My grown up daughter and I making the most of a voucher offer and the eat out to help out scheme," wrote T_Carter067, who left a five-star rating.

"We were greeted immediately by the manager who then kindly offered to input our order as we weren't sure how to apply our voucher. We were then told to go upstairs and our food would be brought to our table. After a few minutes the food arrived. Food was great but no ketchup. This was dealt with swiftly by a young lad. It felt clean and very safe. McDonald's unlike some restaurants I've visited recently are taking this Covid-19 situation seriously. Well done."

And 721scotia said it was excellent, also leaving five stars.

FROM THE COURTS:

"In for lunch on a Friday. Very busy, especially with college students (well mannered)," they wrote.

"Friendly and efficient service, my meal was there within 3 minutes, which was very quick considering how busy it was. My food was well prepared and crisp. Most enjoyable. Surroundings were clean/tidy. The cleaning staff were exceptional with their effort and speed. Top marks."

But SleepySleepy was among those with a very different opinion.

"Young kids ruining the joint," they wrote, leaving two stars.

"What a shame that an evening treat is spoilt by youngsters playing in and out of the building. Not purchasing anything! Asked to move by the manager, but back 10 mins later, the cleaner ignoring them all being part of them continually running the place! Come on McDonald's, get a sign up saying no purchase no seat!"

And Jo7lene was unimpressed with her order.

"I popped in to buy a chocolate milkshake on my way home and it was just awful," she wrote.

"I was half way home when I started drinking it so I at the time didn't think it was worth going back to complain. The milkshake was so watery and the taste was foul. Usually I only go there because I like their shakes so I was surprised that it was so disgusting it had a terrible sour and bitter taste. I had a few just a few sips, tried giving it a stir and another sip then had to throw it away because it just wasn't drinkable."