In N Out #1

This is a chronological recollection of my food travels of the West, namely Vegas. It will be updated each free moment so as not to wear myself out writing it all at once and making this collection monotonous.

Over the past week, I've made my way into Phoenix and Flagstaff, AZ and Las Vegas, Nevada. To date, this was the furthest west I've been. After being received in Phoenix, the first stop HAD to be In N Out.

Now, I've heard a million and one things about how fabulous In N Out Burger is supposed to be- namely fresh ingredients and numerous refusals to generous offers to sell the chain in an effort to retain and promote the consistency of the quality offered by In N Out to the customer. As a result, I was very, very excited to finally visit the chain. Upon entering, we were greeted kindly by a young girl who was replacing a trash bag- usually not something that one smiles about when receiving new customers. The floors and the entire establishment were nearly spotless, with no visible spills, promptly cleaned tables from those unruly patrons who leave their undesirables on the table, and even a very kempt soda dispensing area.

After waiting a short stint in line, I was greeted with a smile and a "What can I get for you today?" I kept it simple the first time and ordered the burger and fries combo. Now, for those who don't know, In N Out is famous for preparing each meal when its ordered. Looking behind the counter, this is certainly not a misconception. The employees in the funky paper and ball cap hats and white uniforms managed to stay professional, upbeat, and clean; offering what I believe is to be the best service I've ever had in a fast food establishment. The kitchen is easily visible and had little to no mess on the floor, very clean working areas, and frying oil that wasn't on the verge of turning into a black abyss of something that resembles crude oil. I even noted sanitation buckets- a HUGE surprise.

Back to the food- As I unwrapped my delicious smelling (and steaming hot) burger I noted again that the reason the chain does so well is because they don't compromise quality. At In N Out he buns are received fresh each day, the beef patties are formed on location, and the fries are cut in house in an attempt to keep as natural and preservative free as possible- all pretty decent qualities for a fast food chain to stand out among a million others. Picking up the burger, the bun was easily deflated in my hands- a sure sign that it was quite fresh. Upon first bite, moist meat juices flooded into the taste buds, but soon dissipated because of the thinness of the patty (not a bad characteristic). The flavors of the meat weren't of anything added, infused, or engineered. Just "plain ol' beef" which lets you know that you've got the real deal in your hands. The bun had the proper yeasty flares without the sense from overproduction of alcohol. The lettuce crunched with freshness, as well as the pickles (not that they're "fresh"). I polished off the burger itself fairly quickly.

The fries left a little something to be desired- which surprised me considering they're cut in house each day. On this trip, they weren't cooked completely and were a bit moist inside still. Now, for some this may be desired, but I prefer that golden brown color and accompanying slight snap of the outer layer breaking. They were, however, very well seasoned. The salt was not overwhelming, just enough to make you salivate and taste the (at the time) fresh frying oil.

Overall, my first experience at In N Out was a bit of a let down in the sense that I was partially mislead. Based on reviews and fan websites devoted to In N Out, I was under the impression that the seasoning and flavors were the big sellers; as is the case for many other fast food chains. My opinion is that In N Out has a more classical approach- fresh, natural food. My only fear and concern for the establishment is this: had I been just another everyday customer and not being aware of the devotion to quality that In N Out has, it could have been perceived as just another fast food burger. They may have even called it bland. Unfortunately, this has all too often become the case in this country. Customers have a hard time comprehending quality, even when it smacks them square in the face. As an informed customer, I applaud In N out for being able to offer an extremely high quality meal for a very competitive price in a fast food world dominated by chemically engineered smells and flash cooked foods. In regards to other fast food burgers, In N Out provides all of the ingredients a customer wants- fresh, made to order, and REAL quality food with a price tag that is less than the competitors. It is extremely unfortunate that others can't follow this formula. Thank you In N Out!