Custer City Drive-In

I'm a sucker for these little independent roadside food stands that you can find in towns where they haven't been squeezed out by the big franchise chains. They're funky, and each one has a history in its own community. (Okay, granted, they do tend to be pretty similar, but at least they're not run off on a giant photocopier the way the big chain locations are.)

I also like the independents because I like variety in my food, and these places each have their own menus, so it's not like you get the same 12 (or whatever) choices that you get at every other location of the same chain. The Custer City Drive-In is more rewarding in that department than usual. Oh, sure, they sell ice cream, burgers, fries, and onion rings like you'd expect. What I didn't expect was options like buffalo chicken salad, or cajun chicken burgers, or side dishes like deep fried cauliflower, mushrooms, or banana pepper rings. I've seen sit-down restaurants with fewer choices. If you're a variety freak like me, then this place is definitely worth checking out.

The downside of these places is that the quality of the food can be uneven. The time we went, our curly fries and cauliflower were a little bit overdone, and my cajun chicken burger was just kind of randomly spicy, rather than the blackened Cajun chicken breast I was hoping for. (It wasn't bad, it just wasn't authentic. Nor, for that matter, all that spicy.)

And, for the sake of those who aren't familiar with this kind of fine dining establishment, there is no inside seating. Actually, you don't go inside at all: you order through a window. There are a couple of nice benches out front, and some picnic tables out back, but it was chilly enough that we chose to eat in the car, which is probably what most people do anyway.

There is a washroom in the back of the building, but you have to ask in the front to use it.

Always a great place to go. Good food, good employees and always clean & fast.