Exit Strategy: Where Do You Get Off the Interstate When You’re Hungry
Sure we talk a lot about organic, local, sustainable foods. But you can’t always find that perfect family owned local restaurant when you’re on the road, and you don’t always want to be ‘good’. So we asked everyone on our staff, where do you eat when you’re on the highway.
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Cracker Barrel for the Sunrise Sampler. This is my #1 favorite road food. You get a little of everything, and it’s all good. Two eggs, grits, gravy and biscuits served with fried apples, a cheesy hashbrown casserole, and best of all, all three meats. That’s right- sausage, country ham and bacon. And you can buy a chair on your way out.
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Outback Steakhouse for the Bloomin Onion, and a 9 oz steak. Why mess around? Go straight for the heart attack special with a steak on the side.
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Steak n Shake for the Double Cheese Steakburger with a Side by Side Milkshake, chocolate with banana, and all the fries you can give me. Make sure there is a motel near by because you will not be fit to drive after.
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Nathan’s French Fries. Plenty of rest areas in New Jersey and up 95 in the Northeast feature Nathan’s Famous. I’m not gonna lie to you and proclaim that I’m transported back to a bench in Coney Island, while sitting in a rest stop parking lot… but something about those thick cut crinkle fries, salted just right, eaten with that little red fork, can really hit the spot.
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Applebee’s Clubhouse Grill. As far as I’m concerned, this debate should end now. Not only is this one of the best fast food sandwiches, it is one of my favorite sandwiches of all time. Period. Bacon, ham, turkey, bbq sauce…toasted bread. AND, it comes with delicious Applebee’s seasoned fries.
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7-11 Big Bite hot dogs. How could hot dogs that spend hours turning on a questionably clean metal grill not be delicious? Who are we kidding? We’re not even sure that the hot dogs themselves are actually any good. The true strength of the 7-11 hot dog is that you can smother it with chili, cheese and other artery clogging toppings and completely overwhelm the taste of the hotdog itself.
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Stuckey’s. There aren’t as many of them around as there used to be, but if you find one, grab a milkshake and an old fashioned pecan log roll. I’m not even sure why I like these. It may just be nostalgia. But I’ll never miss a chance to grab one.
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Papa Johns, for cheese sticks. With extra garlic juice. What, you don’t like garlic juice?
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Taco Bell’s Caramel Apple Empanada. Wherefore art thou, churros? I don’t know when Taco Bell stopped serving churros but they’re gone. But luckily for the sweet-tooth-having traveler, they have another fast food style dessert. 99 cents will get you a warm pastry filled with tiny pieces of diced apple in an appley caramel sauce. I won’t turn one down.
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McDonalds Breakfast. Of course double down with 2 count’m two Sausage McMuffins with egg and cheese. You’ll need a coffee and heavily iced Coke to wash them down with. You may pull off the next exit and do it again. It’s America!
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Denny’s Mozzarella Stick Sandwich. This is the only thing I have ever ordered at Denny’s that actually looks like the photo in the menu. Cheese covered in cheese between two pieces of bread. Gross and delicious.
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Roy Rogers Gold Rush Chicken Sandwich. It seems like Roy Rogers only exists today on the New Jersey Turnpike but at those few still standing restaurants, you can still get the Gold Rush Chicken Sandwich — fried chicken patty, monterey jack cheese, bacon and honey barbecue sauce on a roll and 100% delicious. Pick up a holster of fries while you’re there. They even have slots in the holster so you can attach it to your belt if you so choose. Warning. Keep your windows down after eating.
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Chili’s for Boneless Buffalo Wings, Chicken Fajitas, and Molten Lava chocolate cake. With all the salt in this combo, its a good thing for free refills. Oh, and you’ll need extra buffalo sauce for your wings, extra cheese for your fajitas, and don’t be afraid to order a glass of milk for your cake.
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Dairy Queen for a Blizzard. I don’t know if I’ve ever stopped in a Dairy Queen unless we’re on the road. But you can’t be mad at an Oreo Blizzard…or a Reeses Blizzard…or Heath Bar…ya know, a nice Blizzard for yaself. Classic stuff. Maybe you’ll get some fries too? It’ll be good.
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