by Matt Konkle
Torque Editor-in-Chief
LAS VEGAS — When it comes to restaurants in the ‘Entertainment Capital of the World’, everything out here in the Nevada desert certainly lives up to that title.
You can find places all the way from super expensive down to dirt cheap, depending on what you feel like, where you are in the city and, sometimes, even how the gambling tables are treating you if you are in to that kind of thing.
We’re not really gamblers though, so as our flight descends out of the sky on a spotless blue Friday morning, we already know where we are headed for lunch before beginning our first day of preparation for the Specialty Equipment Market Association show.
In-N-Out Burger.
Now, we know not everyone is on board with the whole In-N-Out experience, but judging by the crowds each time we go, there certainly is no shortage of supporters.
Those of you on the west coast and surrounding states know of what we speak. For the east coasters, well, it is kind of hard to describe. Something like a 'fast food experience with a gourmet burger taste' really doesn’t draw an accurate picture. Kind of like trying to explain what a Wawa, Sheetz or Royal Farms is to someone on the left coast.
It is a bit more than that though, and pretty much a one-of-a-kind burger tasting experience.
At least for us.
As far as some history on the place, In-N-Out has been around since 1948 and everywhere you look, no matter which of its locations you frequent, the mantra seems to be that it prides itself on serving the freshest food possible, prepared by a friendly staff in a clean restaurant.
Sure, pretty much every food place says that, but when you have a corporate philosophy that no location can be more than a day’s drive from its processing plants, you know you are getting the freshest stuff around.
Plus, none of its locations has a freezer — or even a microwave. Everything arrives fresh, and employees are tasked with keeping it that way.
Incidentally, that is why there are no In-N-Out locations on the east coast. Those, like us, who have a special place in their hearts for these burgers and live out east, have to wait until vacations, or work trips, offer a chance to go.
As far as menu options, you won’t really find the same standard fare as other places. In keeping with that freshness philosophy, the choices are streamlined into really just burgers and french fries. For those not into the burger scene, there is a grilled cheese option, but that’s kind of like heading to the Jeep dealership and asking get a used, trade-in Prius. No offense to those folks, but just about everyone heads to In-N-Out because they love the burgers, right?
Fountain drinks and shakes round out the easy-to-process menu, but there are a few ‘not-so-secret’ options like extra patties on the sandwich, chili peppers, a protein style that eliminates the bun in favor of a lettuce wrap and ‘animal style’ that adds extra In-N-Out spread, cheese and onions to the burger or fries.
For us, it is the old reliable double-double cheesburger combo with animal style fries.
And also, for us, its time to finish up and start the prep for this year’s SEMA show at the Las Vegas Convention center.
The SEMA show runs November 2-5, and is the world’s leading automotive trade show — bringing together more than 1,300 manufacturers from every segment of the industry.
