Articles for April 27th, 2010

In-N-Out Burger in Dallas Debate: The Sequel

posted by Nancy Nichols | April 27th, 2010 2:41pm | filed under Celebrity Diners, Food Fight!, I'm a rumor monger, Procrastination is part of the creative process, Restaurant News | 72 Comments »

While the In-N-Out Burger rumors burn out of control, a loyal Disher suggests we open a different can of worms. Hear him out.

So, an interesting corollary to this In-N-Out debate would be “well, what other restaurant institutions in Dallas are over-rated”?

I’d throw the sacred Campisi’s on that burning altar.  Why do they consistently pack them in?

Perhaps Primo’s. Don’t get it.

Definitely Goff’s before Harvey sold it.  Why would anyone put up with his sh*t?

Burger House, an institution with an ordinary burger.

Snuffer’s.  I just don’t get the attraction of those nasty cheese fries.

What About Harry’s: I like Harry himself, but darn, it stinks in there.

Mi Cocina.  $8 to $10 margaritas?  And people pack the place.

Patrizio’s … bad service, generic pasta, great location.  And still proclaimed as a great date place.  Really, I don’t get this one at all.

Wow, I’m handing my keyboard over to this dude. He sure asks a lot of questions for a guy from New Jersey. Go. Fight. Wynne!

72 Comments »

In-N-Out Burger in Dallas: Let’s Talk About It

posted by Nancy Nichols | April 27th, 2010 10:21am | filed under AgriBusiness, Burgers, Celebrity Diners, Cheap trick for comments, Crazy Technology, Food Crime, I'm a rumor monger, Nutjobs, Procrastination is part of the creative process, Restaurant News | 64 Comments »
Animal style double double in Long Beach.

My good friend Evan and I like to go to In-N-Out Burger. On a slow news day Evan half-heartedly encourages me to “throw up a post” on In-N-Out to get SideDish moving. It’s a hot topic and it keeps Twinwillow busy.

Rumors about In-N-Out Burger coming to Dallas have been swirling for years. I am sick of calling headquarters and getting the usual corporate retort: “At the moment we have no plans, blah, blah, blah, but that doesn’t mean that blah, blah, blah in the future.”

So last week when I shared a meal with a commercial real estate dude who promised me he was “on the inside” of the deal, I kept quiet. He gave me specific sites and growth plans and business strategies. I thought, wow I’m finally going to get confirmation and this is really going to happen.

Then I started to think. If In-N-Out Burger came to Dallas, where would I eat when I go to Las Vegas? Or Phoenix? Or Napa Valley?

Jack Bauer couldn’t save Krispy Kreme Donuts in Dallas.

Any of you remember the craziness that surrounded Krispy Kreme Donuts when they opened in Dallas? It was like an intense rescue scene from Season 7 of 24: A helicopter hovers over an urban Krispy Kreme store where thousands of innocent customers wait for hot donuts. Inside, a Russian terrorist inserts tiny nuclear rods into the cinnamon twists rolling off the line. Jack Bauer dangles on a rope from a helicopter. Spoiler alert: He  kills ten terrorists and hands a small Middle Eastern child a bag of warm glazed donuts. Fade out.

Sorry, I  got a little off track there but the point is that even Jack Bauer couldn’t save Krispy Kreme. Last year they closed nearly half of their Dallas-area stores.

I love the thrill of hitting an In-N-Out when I’m out of town. It’s a guilty pleasure.  Perhaps putting an In-N-Out Burger location by Bachman Lake would ruin the allure, mystique, and fascination of procuring an animal-style double double. Should we be careful what we ask for?

64 Comments »