I tried the polarizing McDonald's McRib sandwich and thought it didn't deserve the hype from the chain and its devoted fans

However, a magnificent sign reading two simple words, "McRib Now," immediately put my fears to rest.

I decided to get my McRib as part of a meal, which ended up costing $8.39, but the sandwich by itself costs $4.49 at my local McDonald's.

I was excited to see what all the hype was about, and whether the sandwich lived up to my huge expectations.

The McDonald's McRib is topped with onions and pickles and served on a toasted bun.

The promotional photo of the McRib on the McDonald's website shows the pork fillet practically drenched in barbecue sauce. I was expecting a finger-licking, napkin-filled eating experience, much like eating actual ribs. Immediately, I knew that wasn't going to be the case.

However, nothing could distract me from the glaring lack of enough barbecue sauce.

Granted, this was the first day my local McDonald's was offering the menu item, so perhaps there will be a bit of a learning curve when it comes to getting the sandwich just right.

Before trying the McRib, I have to admit I was a little nervous because, frankly, the whole concept didn't sound that appetizing to me. However, I wasn't turned off by the menu item at all.

It was well-seasoned and really juicy. There was a slightly more lunchtime flavor to it from the toppings and the barbecue sauce, but it did remind me of the breakfast item.

The bun was also nicely toasted.

In fact, I felt the toppings were the most flavorful part of the sandwich.

I completely understand that the lack of sauce could be chalked up to an error at my specific McDonald's. Looking at other people's McRibs on Twitter, I noticed that a majority of theirs were much saucier than mine.

However, it should go without saying that no matter what McDonald's you go to, you should expect to receive the same product. Maybe next time I'll ask for more sauce on the side, just to be sure I'm getting the full experience.

The meat was juicy, the toppings were fresh, and the flavor was pretty different from other McDonald's menu items. If I had one critique, it was just a little bland.

Due to the positive aspects of the sandwich, I perhaps understood why it might be some people's favorite menu item and remind them of simpler times long before the pandemic.

However, did it deserve entire websites devoted to begging the chain to bring it back? I don't think so. Maybe this is simply a case of fast-food fans wanting items they can't have.

• Read more:
• KFC releases vintage buckets of fried chicken, as brands from Burger King to Budweiser tap into nostalgia to counter 'collective loss' in pandemic
• How brands like Chips Ahoy and Kraft are boosting sales by playing to people's cravings for comfort in the pandemic
• 12 fast-food releases customers loved in 2020
• 12 fast-food items that have been removed from menus in 2020, so far