Cookout Restaurants - Fast Food Done Right

Cookout Restaurants are an enigma. With no website, no contact number and no historical information available, there isn't too much known about this low-key fast food joint. Urban myth dictates that this fast-growing franchise was formed by a disgruntled ex-Wendy's employee nearly fifteen years ago. Gambling that he could do better, Cookout was formed, and has been "doing better" ever since.

Whether or not this legend is true, there is no question about the quality of Cookout's products. From their focus on fresh material to their wide selection and great prices, Cookout has every angle covered.

Small Building, Fast Service

The first thing you'll notice about Cookout Restaurants is that there is no "inside" in which to dine. Quite possibly to keep menu costs down, drive-through and walk-up ordering are the only options available to the patrons of this burger joint. Their retro-style building is always pleasant on the eye and manages to convey a good level of distinctiveness and personality, a feat that many mass-market restaurants fail to accomplish.

Driving through at Cookout involves two lanes of ordering and pickup to choose from. This method performs miraculously, as Cookout's lines always remain full of hungry customers, yet they consistently manage to provide service more quickly than similar fast food restaurants. Waiting in line at Cookout is not something you ever think about, exactly the way it should be. Pickup windows are designed to provide comfortable service and easy pull up, with no hassle while exchanging money or receiving your food and drink. Why can't other places get this right?

Large Menu

If Cookout's building is small, their menu is anything but. A large variety of chicken, burgers, barbecue, hot dogs and more are available at all times of the day. Cookout's also offers 36 varieties of their "World Famous" milkshakes, Coke floats, and a plethora of side items with which to custom-fit your tastes.

It is this level of choice and quality throughout that raises Cookout above the level of most fast food chains. With so many options to choose from, even the most picky will find something to enjoy. Four different sizes of hamburgers and four different styles to choose from, multiple variations of their hot dogs, five different styles of chicken sandwiches (both grilled and otherwise)... the list goes on and on. With many of the items being within the range of $0.99 to $1.99, it is very tempting to try something new each visit.

The most astounding aspect of Cookout is, without a doubt, their commitment to freshness. Fast food is certainly not known for fresh ingredients yet Cookout travels to great lengths each and every day to please their customer. In speaking with a local Cookout manager, it was confirmed that Cookout ships freshly ground beef from their headquarters in Greensboro, NC every day. Nothing is frozen; mobile refrigeration trucks ensure that your hamburger is as optimal as possible by the time you sit down to it. While you would never imagine that they go through this effort each and every day, the proof is in the burger.

This emphasis on quality not only applies to the burgers; Cookout is obviously proud of their milkshakes, which they deem "World Famous," and they put an equal amount of effort into the creation of these shakes. The mocha shakes contain coffee ground at the time of order; the cheesecake shakes are made from actual slices of cheesecake; the strawberries, the blueberries, the bananas, the Reese's Cups and the Oreo cookies that are in your milkshake are made entirely from original ingredients -- no pre-made mixes or grounds can be found here. While the level of effort Cookout puts into the creation of their milkshakes may seem a bit over the top, it doesn't take long to realize that this is the reason their products are so exemplary.

Similarly, the rest of their items are equally impressive. While one has to doubt that every item on their menu receives this same level of detail, the other alternatives Cookout offers do not disappoint. Their chicken tastes fresh and is always cooked to just the right level, their fries are a good mix of crispiness and potato, and their original creations (such as their "Cheese Dog," a creation containing no hot dog) are always interesting and much more satisfying than one would anticipate.

Perhaps the only negative I can offer is a glaring one, if only due to the fact that the rest of the menu is so good: Cookout's chili is an all-around disappointment. Served in a small plastic container, the chili has very few (if any) redeeming qualities and should be avoided unless you are absolutely dying for some chunks of meat. How one item could be so wholly disappointing in comparison to the rest of the offerings is almost as much of a mystery as Cookout's origins.

Prices For Any Budget

Simply put, Cookout has reasonable prices that can stop any mass-market fast food joint in its tracks. Their hamburgers start at $0.99 cent and their combo meals, of which you have a large choice, all go for a flat $3.99. These combos, which include a choice of main item, two sides and a drink, contain more (quality) food than many competitors charging up to 50% more for their meals.

All is not perfect with pricing, however. Though it is a minor issue, Cookout Restaurants' low combo prices sometimes run their other items out of a similarly reasonable value. For example, if you wish to try an item that is not available in combo form, ordering the item plus two sides and a drink will easily run you higher than the price of a combo. While this is, again, a minor issue, it is an issue nonetheless and could stand to be fixed. The prices are great, but buying a meal à la carte seems slightly higher than it should be.

Lots of Good, Little Bad

While Cookout may not boast a Wendy or a Ronald McDonald, their food stands the test of time and has continued to build a solid reputation. Cookout Restaurants are a great place to take friends and family for a large number of reasons. Whether you're a college student on a budget or simply the looking for a great meal, Cookout's food and prices are in line to suit virtually every taste.

Restaurant Ratings
(Scale of 1 - 5; 1 being the worst possible rating, 5 being the best):
Food: 4.5
Ambiance: 3.5
Service: 4.0
Cost: 4.5
Overall: 4.0