I'm with you. Nothing makes me more suspicious of the food than culinary hygene. Sonic in Belton had waitresses on rollerskates, but haven't seen the skates lately. A&W across from Fairyland Park had the coldest, creamiest root beers, the cutest waitresses and the worst fries. That was in the '60s. Now all the A&Ws are paired with Long John Silvers as drive-throughs.
With the Sonic we have here in town, the best thing the server could do is walk past your car and dump the food directly in the trash! I don't know about others but ours is terrible. On the plus side, it is always easy to get a parking spot.
One in LaCrosse Wi. Along with another car hop type called Rudy's. Rudy's has a cruise night on Tues. that's always loaded....
Up here there are plenty of A&W's but only eat in/drive through. On every of my student's grandfather was a big shot at Cdn headquarters and he brought me a great birthday gift knowing I'm into old cars; leather bomber jacket with embossed A&W on the back and '56 on the sleeve. Around here the best was WhiteSpot and there are still a few with car hop service as well as eat in. The trays went from one side of the car to the other with the food spread out. Always loved it when a car hop dropped one of those trays and the sound of the horns announcing it.
Long gone here. During the time, BK Hot Dogs were prevalent. Never could duplicate that taste. After 50 years a local drive-in is still going strong with car hops, window trays and glass mugs. Dog & a beer is $5 now.
Who doesn't like a root beer float? While cruising we only stopped for ice cream or drinks and to look at the girls while out and about. I don't ever recall ordering anything more substantial than fries there. Gary
Hello, In Long Beach, near our old high school, there was an A&W drive in painted orange. It was in an area that people would call seedy, but it was right on PCH. The hamburgers and fries were ok, the rootbeer floats were great. But, the only time we spent there was because we teenagers needed something to eat and drink directly after a HS basketball game. We could not wait until we drove 5 miles north to Grissinger's in Bixby Knolls, where the real action took place. Plus, it was only 9pm and the other great drive in was not starting to get crowded until 10-10:30pm. Jnaki As all things go, the location is now a payday loan store that still has the look of the A&W.(big parking lot and all) It is still seedy. Even though it was in a seedy neighborhood, my friend parked his 55 Chevy 2 door post in his driveway, just two blocks down the side street.
UNSHINED 2 is right, Rudy's Drive Inn in Lacrosse is awesome! Order the double cheeseburger basket, rootbeer float and you are now living large!
We have got a few left in Kansas. All that I know of are drive thru or eat in. Still have car hops at Sonic but the food is not good. Pete
There are two near me, one in Southgate, and the other in Lincoln Park, Michigan. both owned by the same couple. the husband's dad opened the one in Lincoln Park in the late 50's.
There used to be one in Cedar Rapids Iowa, on Ellis Blvd, but I moved away from there 30 years ago Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Stayton Oregon has one. Also has a pretty decent cruise in every other Wednesday's in the summer time for a more locals feel. Root beer made daily inside
A&W was a favorite here in Canada when I was a youngster. Edmonton had a drive in that is long gone now and we always loved cruising in and having the tray hung on the window by the young car hops. Since then they have changed a lot (A&W). They are still one of the best choices for a burger. After marrying my Texas sweetheart we travel into the US often and in my experience I prefer the Canadian menu over the US one. I still love the cold root beer in a frosty mug. I do miss the drive in experience however. I know Sonic is big in the south and I thought that the drive in thing would be nice. I was greatly disappointed however as the food at Sonic sucks. I've tried multiple locations and keep hoping it would be better, so far it has not been. On the other hand their drinks and milkshakes are pretty good.
Both Boscobel WI and Lancaster WI have them. Just a few minutes across the Big River from eastern Iowa. Lancaster has cruise-ins once a month in the summer months either a Tuesday or Wednesday evening. Pretty good turn out and time.
There is still one here in Lansing, Mi. Original location, no car hops anymore but the awning? Still remains. It's famous locally because apparently Irwin "Magic" Johnson still likes to eat there when he is in town. So people go there hoping to run into him. I think it may be owned by someone in his family.
My first job when I was 14 was at a drive-in. Simonton Lake drive-in in Elkhart Indiana. Not an actual A&W, but it's still there. Miss the homemade root beer. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
No more A&W's around here....I remember how fun it used to be to sit in the back seat of my parents car, and they would bring me a ''tiny'' miniature frosted mug of root beer...not much bigger than a shot glass....and dad would pass around the fries and 'kids' hamburgers from the tray on the window....it was always fun!
Farmington , Mi still is going strong as is Berkely, Mi and its only 2 miles east of Woodward on 12 mile. Growing up we has mine a couple miles from me in Dearborn Heights on Ford rd. Friday night we would ride our BMX bikes up there and from there head to Telegraph to watch the cars cruising
Back in the day in Atlanta we did not have A&W, we had a drive in called the Varsity and every Friday and Saturday it was a car show also the food was very good. Today they are still in business and classified has the biggest drive in restaurant in the world. If you're driving through Atlanta on I75 stop in and enjoy the food, I recommend a chili cheese steak with fires and large PC.
Lebowski, we have one in town. They make the best vanilla malt shakes. Some time they have girls on skates still but not all the time. I love taking the old car I am working on down there during the summer times when the shakes are half price after 8 p.m.Bruce.
I used to work at a Stewarts Root beer place, same as A.& W .Real good root beer in frosted mugs.Bruce.
Have to admit, these see more beer than rootbeer anymore! My wife's first job was at an A&W in West DesMoines back in the day. Sure wish I had a picture of her on the job.
All of their ice cream items are good in my opinion. They had a special on the first day of school a couple years ago of 50 cent corn dogs so I got 10. My wife ate two and guess who ate the other eight? They were really good. The last time I went there last year I was third in line at the drive thru and had to wait 20 minutes. They closed a couple of months later due to poor service among other things I guess....
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