Worth a Detour in Santa Rosa or Anywhere
What inspires me to make an effort to find an In-N-Out Burger during our short stay in California is the penchant of actors to swing by on Oscars night. Who can’t relate to dieting all week (or all month) to get into a dress for a big event only to seek some substantive relief when it’s over? So, if this fast food joint is good enough for the stars, it’s good enough for me. And it is good!
The meat-eating Brawny Sherpa has a burger, fries, and shake (made with 100 percent real ice cream) while I indulge in a grilled cheese with onions. It feels like a throwback to the ‘50s, an era when no one worried about pink slime or stuff like that.
We are not alone in our interest in In-N-Out Burger. On a weekend afternoon in Santa Rosa, the drive-through line is a lengthy one, so long that we are greeted near the end of it by a friendly, highly capable staffer who answers all our questions with a chipper attitude, makes suggestions about the menu, and enters our order cheerfully and accurately.
So, at a moment when some of us are opting out of the fast-food lane, this is one time when it’s actually worth it.
In-N-Out Burger, 2131 County Center Drive, Santa Rosa, Calif. 95403
—Lori Tripoli