It was neat to see those old-fashioned jukebox play stations atop each table — until I noticed they were all marked "out-of-order." The big jukebox was broken, as well, and looked like it might never have been functional in this restaurant. So there'd be no toe-tapping to hits by Elvis, The Supremes or The Four Seasons. Just the droning background noise of a TV and a muffled radio playing Fleetwood Mac. So much for "Happy Days." In spite of 1950s and '60s memorabilia on the walls, the atmosphere at Joe's Diner was dreary.
But after all, most people come for the food, right? I opted to order the Classic Burger with fries ($7.99), figuring it would be hard to botch up such a simple dish. The third-pound patty was passable but it was drenched in too much mayo. Lettuce, tomato, pickles and onions were nestled amidst the goop.
My dining companion went for the Western Burger with fries ($9.99). This also featured a third-pound patty, with cheese, barbecue sauce, an onion ring and the other, aforementioned condiments. His reaction was about the same as mine: "Eh ... it's okay."
Portions of fries at Joe's were generous, but the spuds were limp and unspectacular. Beverages were not included with our meals and we had to flag our server for refills, even though the place was nearly empty. We won't be heading back to Joe's Diner.
A consistently satisfying and less expensive burger restaurant is farther South on the same stretch of road. At In-N-Out Burger, 8215 S. Virginia St., a Hamburger combo (1/8 pound burger, fries and medium, refillable soft drink) costs $4.85. The Cheeseburger combo is $5.15 and the Double-Double combo (with two burger patties and two slices of cheese) will set you back $6.15.
In-N-Out Burgers typically are served on a toasted bun with a special sauce. I've also ordered them "Protein Style," wrapped in lettuce with mustard instead of the sauce. Equally yummy, with less fat.
The dining room at this immensely popular South Reno fast-food spot is small, so nabbing a table can be tricky at peak times. It's no wonder that the drive-up window at In-N-Out Burger is so long. But everything here is fresh and flavorful, including the fries which are made in-house. Service (at the counter) is fast and friendly. Within minutes, your number is called and you are in In-N-Out Burger heaven.
Now THIS is one of the perks of living in South Reno! You won't find many locations of In-N-Out Burger outside of California. Cali ex-pats and former Nevadans make a beeline for these burger joints when they're back on home turf, like displaced Chicagoans jones for Chicago-style hot dogs when they're not in the Windy City.
For more information about In-N-Out Burger, call (800) 786-1000 or visit: http://www.in-n-out.com/
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