Will Massey
4/30/12
Today, CookOut opened. It was a sad sight around campus as individuals who had just finished the ritualistic 5:00pm moan’s meal flooded into their cars. They flew single file down 15 and attacked the store with a force which brought to mind tales of barbaric invasion from Homer’s Illiad. The lines were long, but CookOut persisted, rolling food out at speeds unmatched in Farmville. I decided to go with the platter, which includes one main item, (pork BBQ, chicken BBQ, or a hamburger) two side items, and a drink. I picked pork BBQ, fries, chicken quesadilla, and had to upgrade to the chocolate shake:
4/30/12
Today, CookOut opened. It was a sad sight around campus as individuals who had just finished the ritualistic 5:00pm moan’s meal flooded into their cars. They flew single file down 15 and attacked the store with a force which brought to mind tales of barbaric invasion from Homer’s Illiad. The lines were long, but CookOut persisted, rolling food out at speeds unmatched in Farmville. I decided to go with the platter, which includes one main item, (pork BBQ, chicken BBQ, or a hamburger) two side items, and a drink. I picked pork BBQ, fries, chicken quesadilla, and had to upgrade to the chocolate shake:
The pork BBQ is best described as a playful fusion of Bill’s BBQ that is found all around Richmond and the North Carolina legend, Smithfield’s. Ryan had a burger that looked delightful as well. The real strategy at Cookout is picking your sides. There are many different approaches due to the wide range of sides including: hush puppies, fries, onion rings, chili, slaw, chicken nuggets, chicken quesadilla, and a corn dog. I would consider myself in the semi-conservative camp, meaning I go with one traditional side item (fries, hush puppies, slaws, and onion rings) and one non traditional side like a quesadilla or chicken nuggets. Of course doubling up is always an option and encouraged.
Not only was the opening a success in the quality of food, superior service, and swiftness of preparation, but it also marked a new landmark for CookOut. This is the first CookOut, I have heard of, that allows for indoor seating:
Most of the time the patrons are left to their shameful face stuffing at outside benches or in parking spaces. It truly has been a magical year of palatal expansion in Farmville. We have seen the opening of new chains from Bojangles and Cookout to Sweet Frog and KJ Hibachi. I think Farmville may have hit its carrying capacity for new chains this year. Next year, I believe Farmville will move from a period of incredible expansion into a food diversity recession, where the older chains struggle to compete with their new rivals.
You should update that Best Restaurant Poll and reset it. The tides may have turned.
ReplyDeleteA cookout opened in Lynchburg a couple months ago and has inside seating as well.
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