A&W Restaurant

As the years start piling up, it's natural for a person to stress over completing their Last Will & Testament, along with finalizing funeral arrangements as you come vis-à-vis with the Grim Reaper. And it's at this time when you morph into your parents, that which you swore you'd never do; the music's too loud, the clothes are too baggy-- what's wrong with kids today? You find yourself reminiscing about simpler times, better times (when you didn't work and pay bills!) Back when the world was still young and green.

For example, that little Italian bistro dad always took the family: red and white checkered plastic tablecloths, plastic flowers, plastic silverware, the waitress with too much makeup who looked kinda plastic. You and your siblings acted like it was Christmas morning when dad would pack you into the station wagon with the wood paneling and take the brood out to eat. Sure, the spaghetti and meatballs were probably just SpaghettiOs, but you didn't know: you were young and stupid! Ahhhhh, good times.

A&W was a fast-food restaurant I remembered from my youth. What made them exceptional were their root beer floats. Like most of the women I've known, I lost touch with A&W many years ago. (Unlike the women, 'twas unintentional.) I assumed A&W was defunct after all these years.

But driving back home from Vegas, I decided to stop off in Baker. I was driving down that long, long exit/Main Street, I swore I espied an A&W sign! I was so excited I even SLOWED DOWN! I ended up parking at the World's Tallest Thermometer, slightly disappointed, thinking maybe it was a mirage I saw, or possibly just the onset of senility. So, I checked, and I had indeed passed it by. I U-turned, and started singing the praises of Rooty, the A&W mascot.

A&W is located in a huge gas station's food court!! A perfect place to stopover. Gas, sundries, decent bathrooms, and several fast-food choices for the weary traveler.

I got the Bacon Cheeseburger combo and upgraded to a root beer float. Been decades since I last had one. So long that I forgot you need that combo straw/spoon! The menu is more limited than I remember, but still contains all the typical burger joint favorites. Service was good, price was good, food was good. Not the best burger I've had but hit the spot. Better than McDonald's, then again, who isn't? My wife's chicken nuggets, tenders, whatever they call them were MUCH better than McDonald's. The root beer float still as yummy as when I was a stupid, young kid who didn't know anything.

It's only 181 miles away, so a tad out of the way for a root beer float, but I'll definitely stop by again on the way to or from Vegas. Sure, I could just buy some root beer, some ice cream, put them in a glass, but where's the fun in that?

Good ole burger and fries

Really only go for the fresh made rootbeer.

Brings back memories

Great company and great customer service and great products and great prices