The Heart Attack Grill

Wednesday

The "Flatliner Fries" are deep fried in pure lard. The burgers are number of coronary artery bypass grafts:patties. They've got your Single, Double, Triple and Quadruple Bypass Burgers loaded with cheese and mayo. It goes without saying that filter-less cigarettes are sold here (as if the absence of a filter at this point would make much of a difference). But, the kicker is...if you weigh-in at over 350 lbs...you get as many "Single Bypass" burgers as you can eat for free!

The Heart Attack Grill opens in Dallas' West End District on June 1st and it would not be at all surprising to me the owners made money hand over fist. More power to them. We live in a country where free choice is our hallmark and it's not as though the restaurant is trying to deceive anyone. How much more 'in your face' do you have to be than to call yourself a "Heart Attack Grill"?

Public Service Announcement

  • If you plan on eating at The Heart Attack Grill in Dallas and especially if you should be over 350 lbs and/or smoke, be aware that the closest paramedic unit is about 1/4 mile from the restaurant and that Baylor University Medical Center's E.R. is a short 1.6 miles away. The real nurses and doctors there will have you in the Cath Lab before you know it.
  • Carry an aspirin with you. In the event that you should exhibit any signs or symptoms of a heart attack, call 911 and chew the aspirin.
  • Know the Warning Signs of a Heart Attack ...Chest Discomfort, discomfort in other areas of the upper body, shortness of breath,breaking out into a cold sweat, nausea, and/or lightheadedness.
  • And while I'm at it... know the Warning Signs of Stroke ... sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, leg especially on one side of the body.  Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance. Sudden, severe headache. Sudden trouble seeing. Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding. Call 911. Don't wait for the symptoms to go away.
Just sayin'. If you're at risk for a Heart Attack...you're at risk for a Stroke.

Now what bugs me most about this whole concept is not the fact that by knowingly ingesting animals fats and quite possibly topping it off with a smoke keeps me (as a Critical Care Nurse) in business but it's the gender-specific roles of their waitstaff that ticks me off.

The Heart Attack Grill "Nurses" are female. 

Not surprisingly, the restaurant does not offer contact info...potential waitstaff candidates must apply personally to be considered for "Medical Careers".

And do they really have to wear cruel shoes all shift?  

"Doctors" are  male.
And get to wear comfortable shoes.

What's up with that? 

I know it's all about marketing but I still don't have to like it.

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Heather said...

There are so many things wrong with this concept!

As a native Hoosier (resident of Indiana), I am disgusted every day by people around me. They top off their cheeseburger and fries (and DIET coke) with a smoke. We're one of the fattest, smokiest, least educated groups of people around.

I am horrified by this restaurant concept. I'm guessing if people protested by showing signs of some of the 1000-lb people they had on TLC last night, they've hopefully get a few less patrons!

joanyspot said...

Heather - Obesity and nicotine addiction is rampant in Texas too but I've come to the conclusion that it's not so much of an education issue as much as it is a self esteem issue.

Could it be that The Heart Attack Grill temporarily massages the egos of some by giving permission for self-abuse?

Heather said...

I definitely agree that obesity can definitely stem from a self-esteem issue. I'm not sure about nicotine since I don't smoke.

I think it's ironic that some of my obesity issues related to over-eating are directly related to NOT being accepted for who I am.

It's like a vicious circle: I am told that I am ugly because I am fat. I try to soothe myself (or at least make myself numb) by eating, which only makes me even uglier.

I can't imagine that my ego would be stroked by having a restaurant agree that I am fat, drawing attention to it and then rewarding me for it.

Perhaps it's different for men. Men are stroked for being "big" guys. But perhaps that's just a sick and twisted midwest mindset.