Okay, I know that it is less than a week after Christmas, but I want to talk about Kenosha’s favorite drive-ins. Thanks to one of DK’s most prolific forum contributors, “aaa” and his frequent references to Big Star, I have had drive-in cuisine on my mind. Not that it takes a whole lot to get me thinking of food, but our friend “aaa” has given me even more impetus to do so.
First of all let’s make it clear that there is a definite difference between a drive-in and a fast food restaurant. There are fast food joints all over America. In fact they are all over the world. You would be hard pressed to go anywhere and not find a McDonalds, Burger King or KFC. But go to those same places and try to find a Big Star or Spot. It’s just not going happen.
Fast food is fast food, no matter where you are. A Whopper is a Whopper and a Big Mac is a Big Mac, whether you are in Kenosha, Wisconsin or Los Angeles, California. But a Big Star double-cheeseburger is unique to our fair city, as is the Spot’s. We are fortunate to have two one-of-a-kind drive-in restaurants to choose from. But which do you prefer?
Having a rough time making up your mind? It used to be a lot tougher. Back in the ‘70s there were at least five drive-ins to choose from. Besides The Spot and Big Star, there was also A&W, Chat ‘n’ Chew and the legendary Fon Tan Blu. Each had it’s own distinct style and menu. And each featured things that stick out in my memory.
A&W was on Roosevelt Road and 30th Avenue. It has since become Andy’s Drive In. It has become more of a sit-down establishment, although they will provide service to your car if you leave your headlights on. Back in the day it was strictly a drive-in that featured carhops. I remember driving by and reading the daily special posted on the tall roadside sign. You couldn’t beat a one-dollar pizza burger.
Located on 52nd Street and 40th Avenue was Chat ‘n’ Chew. I don’t quite recall when it went out of business but I do remember the fragrant aroma that the small building exuded. The smell was different from any that of the other drive-ins. Like the other drive-ins, it stayed open late. I can recollect working at Burger King and heading over to the “Chew” with the gang after we got done closing up. Its focal point was an enormous billboard that doubled as a menu.
Kitty corner from Holy Rosary church was the Fon Tan Blu. The oddly shaped blue building was a destination spot for softball players who had been enjoying adult beverages after their game. It was not uncommon to have your burger or “Soakie” prepared by none other then Kenosha’s premiere double-play combination, Nick Perrine and Dick Laba. Mama Perrine’s Italian Bombers were second to none. Fon Tan Blu is terribly missed.
Alas, venerable institutions like Chat ‘n’ Chew and Fon Tan Blu no longer grace our hometown. In my humble opinion, with all due respect to Andy’s, Kenosha only has two true drive-ins. Restaurants that are primarily set up to serve you without leaving your car. The Spot and the Big Star are the two remaining survivors. And both have their loyal legion of supporters. Which of the two do you prefer? They both have their pros and cons.
The biggest difference between the two is the hours of operation. As I write this column, Big Star is “Closed for the Season.” While on the south side of town the carhops at The Spot have donned their long johns and are waiting on cars into the wee hours of the frigid morning.
Big Star is typically open from March until the Sunday before Labor Day and is closed on Memorial Day and the Fourth of July. Its normal hours of operation are 11:00 AM until 11:00 PM. Their cross-town rival opens at the same time, but stays open until 3:00 AM during the week and 3:30 AM on Friday and Saturday. Perhaps Big Star subscribes to the theory that “absence makes the heart fonder”, or in this case the taste buds.
Both of the popular eateries are located on busy thoroughfares. The Spot at the intersection of 75th Street and 22nd Avenue, while Big Star is directly across from Time Warner on Washington Road. Because of the traffic, coupled with their popularity, getting in and out of the parking lots can be a bit dicey at both drive-ins. But their scrumptious food makes it well worth the hassle.
Both Big Star and The Spot are known for their flavorful root beer and make it available in gallon jugs. The only drawback to the tasty, sugary beverage is the swarms of bees that it attracts during the summertime. I think the carhops should be eligible for hazard pay during bee season.
Another delight that each of the two carry is ice cream. The Spot currently features six different “hand-packed” flavors with Big Star offering soft serve cones of the vanilla, chocolate and twist varieties. If you enjoy rich and creamy ice cream, The Spot is for you, but be prepared to pay for the frozen treat.
The menus are similar at both restaurants, offering burgers, fish, chicken, etc. The burgers come in an array of sizes with Big Star tempting your appetite with a half-pounder. It should be noted both places have steak sandwiches on the menu. Having enjoyed both, I must report that Big Star’s is closer to an actual piece of steak, while Spot’s is more like Salisbury steak. Advantage to Big Star on the steak sandwich.
Another thing that is offered on both menus is a grilled cheese sandwich. Big Star’s is very tasty and cut on the diagonal, just like mom used to do. On the other hand, the last time I had a grilled cheese at The Spot, it was made on a hamburger bun! Maybe it has changed since then, but a hamburger bun for a grilled cheese sandwich? Please!
The last menu item that I will comment on is the double-cheeseburger, a standard that any good drive-in can be judged on. This is a tough one for me. They both have their own special qualities. Both get very high grades in my book.
The freshness of the ingredients that make up a Spot double-cheeseburger is second to none. The meat appears to have been ground and formed into a patty moments before hitting the grill. If you like your onions grilled, you will love the ample amount slathered on this sandwich. The only downside to this taste delight is that too much of the cheese sticks to the wrapper! But I am nitpicking. The Spot double-cheeseburger is outstanding.
Big Star’s double-cheeseburger is no slouch either. It too draws rave reviews for its unparalleled taste. There truly is nothing like a Big Star double-cheeseburger. The simple reason is the cheese! Some call it a cheese sauce, or Cheese Whiz and I have heard from others that it is actually Velveeta. Whatever it is, it’s good! And packaging the yummy sandwich in a Styrofoam container solves the oozing cheese problem. You just wait for it to cool and dig it out with your finger.
Well, there you have it. I guess you want to know which double-cheeseburger I prefer. I guess it matters on how much money I have in my pocket or how hungry I am. You see, the thing is, a double-cheeseburger at The Spot will run you about twice as much as its counterpart at Big Star. But they are both great and unique to Kenosha. With that in mind, I am calling it a toss up.
I will be interested to see where others stand on this not-so-earth-shattering subject. Which of these exceptional drive-ins do you prefer? Now, I’m not Lou Rugani, so I can only write about the ones that I do remember. Did I leave out any of your favorites from days gone by? Let me know. Maybe next time I can discuss a subject that I am truly an expert on – Kenosha pizza! Until then…
First of all let’s make it clear that there is a definite difference between a drive-in and a fast food restaurant. There are fast food joints all over America. In fact they are all over the world. You would be hard pressed to go anywhere and not find a McDonalds, Burger King or KFC. But go to those same places and try to find a Big Star or Spot. It’s just not going happen.
Fast food is fast food, no matter where you are. A Whopper is a Whopper and a Big Mac is a Big Mac, whether you are in Kenosha, Wisconsin or Los Angeles, California. But a Big Star double-cheeseburger is unique to our fair city, as is the Spot’s. We are fortunate to have two one-of-a-kind drive-in restaurants to choose from. But which do you prefer?
Having a rough time making up your mind? It used to be a lot tougher. Back in the ‘70s there were at least five drive-ins to choose from. Besides The Spot and Big Star, there was also A&W, Chat ‘n’ Chew and the legendary Fon Tan Blu. Each had it’s own distinct style and menu. And each featured things that stick out in my memory.
A&W was on Roosevelt Road and 30th Avenue. It has since become Andy’s Drive In. It has become more of a sit-down establishment, although they will provide service to your car if you leave your headlights on. Back in the day it was strictly a drive-in that featured carhops. I remember driving by and reading the daily special posted on the tall roadside sign. You couldn’t beat a one-dollar pizza burger.
Located on 52nd Street and 40th Avenue was Chat ‘n’ Chew. I don’t quite recall when it went out of business but I do remember the fragrant aroma that the small building exuded. The smell was different from any that of the other drive-ins. Like the other drive-ins, it stayed open late. I can recollect working at Burger King and heading over to the “Chew” with the gang after we got done closing up. Its focal point was an enormous billboard that doubled as a menu.
Kitty corner from Holy Rosary church was the Fon Tan Blu. The oddly shaped blue building was a destination spot for softball players who had been enjoying adult beverages after their game. It was not uncommon to have your burger or “Soakie” prepared by none other then Kenosha’s premiere double-play combination, Nick Perrine and Dick Laba. Mama Perrine’s Italian Bombers were second to none. Fon Tan Blu is terribly missed.
Alas, venerable institutions like Chat ‘n’ Chew and Fon Tan Blu no longer grace our hometown. In my humble opinion, with all due respect to Andy’s, Kenosha only has two true drive-ins. Restaurants that are primarily set up to serve you without leaving your car. The Spot and the Big Star are the two remaining survivors. And both have their loyal legion of supporters. Which of the two do you prefer? They both have their pros and cons.
The biggest difference between the two is the hours of operation. As I write this column, Big Star is “Closed for the Season.” While on the south side of town the carhops at The Spot have donned their long johns and are waiting on cars into the wee hours of the frigid morning.
Big Star is typically open from March until the Sunday before Labor Day and is closed on Memorial Day and the Fourth of July. Its normal hours of operation are 11:00 AM until 11:00 PM. Their cross-town rival opens at the same time, but stays open until 3:00 AM during the week and 3:30 AM on Friday and Saturday. Perhaps Big Star subscribes to the theory that “absence makes the heart fonder”, or in this case the taste buds.
Both of the popular eateries are located on busy thoroughfares. The Spot at the intersection of 75th Street and 22nd Avenue, while Big Star is directly across from Time Warner on Washington Road. Because of the traffic, coupled with their popularity, getting in and out of the parking lots can be a bit dicey at both drive-ins. But their scrumptious food makes it well worth the hassle.
Both Big Star and The Spot are known for their flavorful root beer and make it available in gallon jugs. The only drawback to the tasty, sugary beverage is the swarms of bees that it attracts during the summertime. I think the carhops should be eligible for hazard pay during bee season.
Another delight that each of the two carry is ice cream. The Spot currently features six different “hand-packed” flavors with Big Star offering soft serve cones of the vanilla, chocolate and twist varieties. If you enjoy rich and creamy ice cream, The Spot is for you, but be prepared to pay for the frozen treat.
The menus are similar at both restaurants, offering burgers, fish, chicken, etc. The burgers come in an array of sizes with Big Star tempting your appetite with a half-pounder. It should be noted both places have steak sandwiches on the menu. Having enjoyed both, I must report that Big Star’s is closer to an actual piece of steak, while Spot’s is more like Salisbury steak. Advantage to Big Star on the steak sandwich.
Another thing that is offered on both menus is a grilled cheese sandwich. Big Star’s is very tasty and cut on the diagonal, just like mom used to do. On the other hand, the last time I had a grilled cheese at The Spot, it was made on a hamburger bun! Maybe it has changed since then, but a hamburger bun for a grilled cheese sandwich? Please!
The last menu item that I will comment on is the double-cheeseburger, a standard that any good drive-in can be judged on. This is a tough one for me. They both have their own special qualities. Both get very high grades in my book.
The freshness of the ingredients that make up a Spot double-cheeseburger is second to none. The meat appears to have been ground and formed into a patty moments before hitting the grill. If you like your onions grilled, you will love the ample amount slathered on this sandwich. The only downside to this taste delight is that too much of the cheese sticks to the wrapper! But I am nitpicking. The Spot double-cheeseburger is outstanding.
Big Star’s double-cheeseburger is no slouch either. It too draws rave reviews for its unparalleled taste. There truly is nothing like a Big Star double-cheeseburger. The simple reason is the cheese! Some call it a cheese sauce, or Cheese Whiz and I have heard from others that it is actually Velveeta. Whatever it is, it’s good! And packaging the yummy sandwich in a Styrofoam container solves the oozing cheese problem. You just wait for it to cool and dig it out with your finger.
Well, there you have it. I guess you want to know which double-cheeseburger I prefer. I guess it matters on how much money I have in my pocket or how hungry I am. You see, the thing is, a double-cheeseburger at The Spot will run you about twice as much as its counterpart at Big Star. But they are both great and unique to Kenosha. With that in mind, I am calling it a toss up.
I will be interested to see where others stand on this not-so-earth-shattering subject. Which of these exceptional drive-ins do you prefer? Now, I’m not Lou Rugani, so I can only write about the ones that I do remember. Did I leave out any of your favorites from days gone by? Let me know. Maybe next time I can discuss a subject that I am truly an expert on – Kenosha pizza! Until then…
1 comment:
Okay, not fair to make me crave a Spot double cheeseburger now! I have to admit I am ALL about the Spot double cheeseburger. But Big Star has the best grilled cheese hands down. You forgot to mention one of the best things to get at the Spot - the Rootbeer Whirl! That is a Kenosha classic, for sure.
And...omg...the "Soakies" at Fon Tan Blu! Those were so good! It's one of those foods you try to describe to someone who's never had the pleasure and they just look at you with an "ew" look on their face! But the "Soakie" was a great, great treat! I miss Fon Tan Blu! I would take that over the Spot or Big Star any day!
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