In & Out & Out & Out



You can scratch In & Out burger
 from places at which to dine

 I left work with only a few seconds left on the clock — on the clock of the crucial end of regulation of last night’s Mavs-Thunder game. The Mavs were down by two points with Dirk at the free throw line (where he’s been an astounding 50 of 52 during this series). As I drove from the lot I couldn’t help but notice there was no line of cars waiting to get into the In & Out burger joint across the street.

As Dirk calmly tied the game for the first time since it was 2-2 I was able to drive without stopping right up to the order microphone where I selected the No. 1 meal, comprised of a double-double (two patties, two slices of cheese) with everything, fries and a Coke. I got my meal and drove across the street to a parking lot to listen to the great Chuck Cooperstein (I’m willing to bet there’s not a better radio basketball play-by-play announcer in the world) describe overtime.

Here’s the summary: The overtime was far, far superior to the burger and the fries. Whoever is responsible for the marketing for this In & Out sham deserves the industry equivalent of the Nobel Prize. This person convinced a whole number of gullible consumers (true, they DO live in the farthest northern suburbs, so they might have never been exposed to the art of independent burger joints), that for some reason In & Out burgers are superior to say Jack ‘n the Box. They are not. They are average, chain-produced, drive-thru burgers, no better, no worse than you’ll find at any other chain drive-thru joint. I take that back — they are several notches below Whataburgers’ “A-1 Steak Burger,” but, unfortunately Whataburger only puts that gem on its menu periodically.

Of course, you’ll never hear that from those that waited in mile-long lines to get these Wendy equivalents because they have to justify wasting their time in a mile-long line. However, the real reason there might not have been a line tonight is that the truth about In & Out burger is finally setting people free.

Incidentally, anyone who wants a really good burger in the immediate neighborhood of the Allen location of In & Out burger only needs to go across Stacy to the Twisted Root in the Village at Fairview. It’s right behind Macy’s. Of course, you’ll have to park and get out of the car — there’s no drive-thru — but then I’ve never, ever seen a drive-thru at a REALLY good burger joint.